had lap nissen 12/2-post op problems-is this normal?

[dee,rn]

Hi, I had a lap nissen fundi with a hiatal hernia repair on 12/2-it was done outpatient and I went home that evening.  Had the usual problems with swallowing the first couple of days, I have to remember to take smaller bites and chew thoroughly!  The biggest problem I'm still having is bloating after eating, lots of flatus, and very watery stools.  I'm taking digel to help with the gas, but I seem to be having a "dumping" like spell with everything I eat.  Within 10-15 minutes, my stomach starts churning, and I have to run to the bathroom.  Sometimes lots of gas, sometimes watery stool, sometimes gas and stool.  Is this normal?  And how long does it last?  Believe it or not, I'm a nurse at a hospital, but none of my docs have been able to offer any advice!  If anyone has had this surgery or knows something about it, please let me know.

Thanks

[cuzzie]

A related discussion, post op was started.

[Archi]

I had lap nissen/gall bladder surgery 7/00...I had a hiatal hernia so none of the suggested relief methods were working for me. The surgery recovery was tough to say the least and 2.5 years later I  was still having the exact problems mentioned (post op), especially  running to the bathroom after EVERY meal. In Dec 02 my husband and I started on the Atkins low carb diet.  I did it as more of a support to my husband, to my surprise, my reflux stopped immediately, my running to the bathroom after every meal stopped immediately and regulated to a NORMAL cycle. I no longer have that "lump" feeling in my diaphram area. Overall I feel 100% better than I have felt in the last 5 years. When I occasionally spluge and eat a lot of carbohydrates, I IMMEDIATELY go right back to the problems I was having. I don't know if a low carb diet would help anyone else with these problems... but for me, it isn't the spicy, greasy, or acid foods, I have the problems when my body has an unhealthy balance of carbohydrates.

[Archi]

I had lap nissen/gall bladder surgery 7/00...I had a hiatal hernia so none of the suggested relief methods were working for me. The surgery recovery was tough to say the least and 2.5 years later I  was still having the exact problems mentioned (post op), especially  running to the bathroom after EVERY meal. In Dec 02 my husband and I started on the Atkins low carb diet.  I did it as more of a support to my husband, to my surprise, my reflux stopped immediately, my running to the bathroom after every meal stopped immediately and regulated to a NORMAL cycle. I no longer have that "lump" feeling in my diaphram area. Overall I feel 100% better than I have felt in the last 5 years. When I occasionally spluge and eat a lot of carbohydrates, I IMMEDIATELY go right back to the problems I was having. I don't know if a low carb diet would help anyone else with these problems... but for me, it isn't the spicy, greasy, or acid foods, I have the problems when my body has an unhealthy balance of carbohydrates.

[mizmamie]

You had major surgery less than 3 weeks ago and your insides have been rearranged!  There is no way you're going to feel OK so soon.  

I had a Nissen 2 years ago, and it took about 3-4 months for me to be able to eat normally (i.e., meats, bread).  My surgeon told me to stay on a liquid diet for the first 2 weeks after surgery and then to stick to mushy foods for another 2 weeks, and then to start introducing other foods.  Things that still bother me when I overdo them are iced tea, soft drinks, pepperoni pizza and hard liquor.  Considering that before the surgery I had constant severe heartburn and was living on oatmeal and bananas, I'm extremely happy with the outcome!

For about the first 4-6 weeks, I got esophagus spasms after the first bite of food.  Drinking some warm or hot water took the spasms away.  I also had the gas bloat and took Gas-X which helped me a lot.  

I was able to really burp about 3 months after the surgery, and now I have no trouble at all burping.  I also am able to throw up, but since not as much comes up as before I'm nauseous for longer.  Well, it's only happened 2 times thank God and it's not very pleasant (but is vomiting ever pleasant)? :-)

There's an excellent messageboard at wwww.heartburn-help.com and you can probably gets lots of great information from the people who post there.

Please remember that you've just had surgery and it will take a few months for you to feel great.  Hang in there!  Sorry this got so long.

[Baseball_Mom]

I had this surgery in 1995 and I STILL have alot of the problems you are talking about.  The worst thing is not being able to vomit.  So if you get sick to your stomach, you are really miserable.  I wish you the best of luck.  Happy Holidays!