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Nissen Fundoplication...advice please?
Hello all..
I'm hoping I'm on the right board for this! I haven't seen any other posts. But....since it was my gastroenterologist that says i need the surgery...well, it makes sense, huh? Anyhoo...
I am writing in hopes that maybe some of you can help me with my issues.
I am having a nissen fundoplication on 9-26-11, which is coming up very quickly. A little too quickly, in my opinion. I am very anxious about the surgery! I have panic/anxiety issues, and I have been very scared about the surgery. For that reason, I have avoided reading forums, thinking that what I read might scare me. I actually only came here today looking for some ideas for what I might eat post-surgery. I love my food, and the diet following the surgery is really been on my mind.
I have dealt with GERD for so long, it's hard for me to even remember when it started. I will take a wild guess and say approximately 30 years. I've actively been very sick with it about 8 years now. about a year ago I had a scope because it was becoming intolerable. The heartburn is actually pretty well controlled, it's the stomach pain that is causing me so much trouble. I finally decided in may to take the doctor's advice and have the surgery. I've been terrified ever since! Not particularly because of the surgery, but because of my anxiety issues. I've had problems with anesthesia in the past, waking up during procedures. So I'm scared this will happen during the surgery. I do plan to talk to the people at the hospital during my pre-op visit, but it's still hard to feel comfortable. I had tried to stress my past problems when I had the scope done, and they didn't pay attention to me.
I am also afraid of the post-op swelling. A fear of choking is one of my anxiety issues.
I guess I'm just here for a little reassurance. I'm almost 54 (my birthday is on the 23rd, the day I go for my pre-op appt lol). My surgeon told me that it's harder to recover from the longer you wait. But he neglected to tell me if I fit in the "harder" or "easier" category! My hiatal hernia is 7 centimeters, so I am curious to see if anyone else can tell me what size hernia they were dealing with.
I'm also curious about the length of time anyone has had to take off of work to recover. My surgeon told me I could return after two weeks. I drive a forklift in a big warehouse. I'm totally cool with getting back to work quickly...I have an expensive surgery to pay for! That just seems pretty fast to me...
And advice would be great too! Particularly with food. I love to cook, but it's always been big family meals. Nothing of this nature. Here's a fun part....I'm going on a beach trip just about 2 weeks after the surgery. Thought it would be a nice treat to have a long weekend at the beach, for some healing time, and a treat for all I've been dealing with. It's hard to work a fairly physical job when you are sick all the time! But part of the fun of vacation is eating out. No fresh fried seafood when I'm at the ocean?!? Oh well...but still...jello by the sea isn't much fun.
Ok, thanks for the opportunity to ramble and feel sorry for myself. *sniffle whine* Everyone around here just doesn't want to hear it. It's hard tho, 'cos I'm really scared....
I'm hoping I'm on the right board for this! I haven't seen any other posts. But....since it was my gastroenterologist that says i need the surgery...well, it makes sense, huh? Anyhoo...
I am writing in hopes that maybe some of you can help me with my issues.
I am having a nissen fundoplication on 9-26-11, which is coming up very quickly. A little too quickly, in my opinion. I am very anxious about the surgery! I have panic/anxiety issues, and I have been very scared about the surgery. For that reason, I have avoided reading forums, thinking that what I read might scare me. I actually only came here today looking for some ideas for what I might eat post-surgery. I love my food, and the diet following the surgery is really been on my mind.
I have dealt with GERD for so long, it's hard for me to even remember when it started. I will take a wild guess and say approximately 30 years. I've actively been very sick with it about 8 years now. about a year ago I had a scope because it was becoming intolerable. The heartburn is actually pretty well controlled, it's the stomach pain that is causing me so much trouble. I finally decided in may to take the doctor's advice and have the surgery. I've been terrified ever since! Not particularly because of the surgery, but because of my anxiety issues. I've had problems with anesthesia in the past, waking up during procedures. So I'm scared this will happen during the surgery. I do plan to talk to the people at the hospital during my pre-op visit, but it's still hard to feel comfortable. I had tried to stress my past problems when I had the scope done, and they didn't pay attention to me.
I am also afraid of the post-op swelling. A fear of choking is one of my anxiety issues.
I guess I'm just here for a little reassurance. I'm almost 54 (my birthday is on the 23rd, the day I go for my pre-op appt lol). My surgeon told me that it's harder to recover from the longer you wait. But he neglected to tell me if I fit in the "harder" or "easier" category! My hiatal hernia is 7 centimeters, so I am curious to see if anyone else can tell me what size hernia they were dealing with.
I'm also curious about the length of time anyone has had to take off of work to recover. My surgeon told me I could return after two weeks. I drive a forklift in a big warehouse. I'm totally cool with getting back to work quickly...I have an expensive surgery to pay for! That just seems pretty fast to me...
And advice would be great too! Particularly with food. I love to cook, but it's always been big family meals. Nothing of this nature. Here's a fun part....I'm going on a beach trip just about 2 weeks after the surgery. Thought it would be a nice treat to have a long weekend at the beach, for some healing time, and a treat for all I've been dealing with. It's hard to work a fairly physical job when you are sick all the time! But part of the fun of vacation is eating out. No fresh fried seafood when I'm at the ocean?!? Oh well...but still...jello by the sea isn't much fun.
Ok, thanks for the opportunity to ramble and feel sorry for myself. *sniffle whine* Everyone around here just doesn't want to hear it. It's hard tho, 'cos I'm really scared....
I had the Nissen Fundoplication surgery in April, 2010, and it was a complete success. I frankly agree with you, going online and looking at chat boards gives a goofy slant to almost any medical procedure, but when I looked beyond chat boards and to medical research, I concluded that this surgery has a very high success rate. I'd make sure that your surgeon has a lot of experience with the procedure. My surgeon had performed over 100 surgeries. I asked for references, and they were very positive.
Selma gave you a link to a new type of surgery. I had the laproscopy type, which I think is far superior. I have to tell you, the recovery isn't easy, however. Be prepared for at least a month of dietary restrictions. I'm much older than you (70) but I don't think you will be back to work in two weeks, more like three or four weeks. I think the weekend at the beach will be fun, but two weeks after the procedure you will just be starting to eat semi-solid food.
It's a big surgery, but can have wonderful results. It changed my life in a very positive way. However, I'll give this warning, if you rush eating solid foods you will pay a big comfort price.
Email me privately on this site, and I'll become more specific. In summary, I'd procede with confidence with a surgeon who has had a lot of experience, and also be committed to a careful diet for at least three months.
Hope this helps. It's a great procedure, but it requires a skilled surgeon, as well as a patient patient. You have to eat carefully for about three months. The surgery is very much like the surgery done for overweight folk. Keep us informed.
Selma gave you a link to a new type of surgery. I had the laproscopy type, which I think is far superior. I have to tell you, the recovery isn't easy, however. Be prepared for at least a month of dietary restrictions. I'm much older than you (70) but I don't think you will be back to work in two weeks, more like three or four weeks. I think the weekend at the beach will be fun, but two weeks after the procedure you will just be starting to eat semi-solid food.
It's a big surgery, but can have wonderful results. It changed my life in a very positive way. However, I'll give this warning, if you rush eating solid foods you will pay a big comfort price.
Email me privately on this site, and I'll become more specific. In summary, I'd procede with confidence with a surgeon who has had a lot of experience, and also be committed to a careful diet for at least three months.
Hope this helps. It's a great procedure, but it requires a skilled surgeon, as well as a patient patient. You have to eat carefully for about three months. The surgery is very much like the surgery done for overweight folk. Keep us informed.
Hi...sorry I have not had the surgery...there is a post on here of someone that has - http://www.medhelp.org/posts/GERD-Acid-Reflux/post-op-surgery/show/1593792
That is not a good outcome...some have had positives benefits from it...others-not so much.U seem to have much more going on than just the hiatal hernia.
I pray u have a smooth surgery with positive benefits.
"selma"
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