laparoscopic Nissan Repair Post Op

[pina_colada00]

Hello to all. I am new to this. I was diagnosed with hiatal hernia, Barrett's esophagus in 2006 because I suffered since I was in my early 20's (now 53) with severe acid reflux.  Finally, in 2006 I went to a GI doctor in Venezuela and he conducted an endoscopy. That is when I was diagnosed with Barretts and a hiatal hernia. Thank God the biopsy indicated no cancer.  The doctor put me on 30 mg of Prevacid which I have taken up until about 3 weeks ago after having surgery to fix the hiatal hernia laprascopically NISSAN procedure .  I was doing fine with the medication up until about 2.5 years ago until I began to develop a need to clear my throat due to phlegm build-up in my throat.  The throat clearing began to worsen over time to the point that it severly impaired my quality of life.  I did a lot of research which indicated that the throat clearing was likely caused by the upward flow of reflux.  I saw many doctor's and so I concluded that the only hope to fix this problem was to close the hiatal hernia.  I found one of the most recognized surgeons in Argentina who is also the head of surgery in the GI department at the best hospital in Argentina.  He told me he had done at least a thousand of these surgeries.  Faced with a lifetime of throat clearing and cough I threw the dice and decided to have it done.  Today is 28 November and the surgery was performed on 15 Nov.  Since the operation the throat clearing seems to have worsened and today I tried eating raviolis with a cream sauce and it was extremely difficult to swallow.  Water is also kind of difficult to swallow, but not soups and oatmeal.  The problem that has me scared to death is that I did this operation for nothing and that the throat clearing issue will never be solved with this surgery. I am going back to soups and oatmeal tomorrow thinking maybe that I tried to move to solids too soon. Two surgeons have told me that the throat clearing is an automatice response after the surgery and that it should clear up within 3 - 6 months. The way this is going I do not believe that.  If anyone out there has any sound medical advice on why the throat clearing continues in a worse way please write me back.  After reading all these horror stories makes me feel like I made a grave error.     Thanks, DV

[pina_colada00]

Hi.  Since iHad throat clearing before the operation I was told by two surgeons that after the operation it may take 3 - 6 months afterwards for the throat clearing to improve. They said that the reason why it is occurring is because it is a "reflexive reaction" after so many years of acid reflux.  Based on my current condition I cannot be too optimistic that this will improve. Thanks.

[Flycaster305]

We have a very similar history, and I had the procedure about eight weeks ago.  I also had the throat-clearing problem, and it didn't go away right after the surgery, but by four weeks post op it was better.  In my case, it was explained that often the breathing tube employed during the surgery is a major irritant and can cause the need to clear the throat.  
My vocal cords were also damaged from the acid reflux over the years, and I sound like Kim Carnes singing Betty Davis Eyes when I talk now, and I have to clear my throat quite often just to get words out clear enough to be understood.  I'm not having to clear my throat as often now, but the damage to the vocal cords is forever.  Could that be related to your condition?
There is no way I could have had ravioli three weeks after the surgery, you probably pushed ahead too quickly.  However, I also kept trying foods to see what would go down comfortably.  I can now eat almost anything, but it has to be small bites chewed well.  
Hope that helps.