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Fundoplication and hiatus hernia repair

Posted , 5 users are following.

stephanie66456
stephanie66456

Hello there!

I was on this site a lot prior to my operation and did promise I would update people on my experience, I have however been extremely busy due to personal circumstances, but finally here goes;

I had my operation at the end of October 2015, when I woke from the anesthesia I was in a lot of pain with my left shoulder, and being so drowsy I wondered if I had been given the wrong operation, however I was then dosed up with morphine and told it was normal, I later found out this pain was because of a nerve that runs from your digestive system to your left shoulder, for the following week I had this pain on and off, I'm not going to lie it was not pleasant.

Recovery in the hospital was a little longer than expected, I belive this was due to the fact that I was told by nurses to try and eat soup only a few hours after the op, and was being given several different tablets to swallow, this meant I actually kept being sick, aggravating the operation recovery, once they put me on IV pain relief and stopped suggesting I ate, I started to feel better.

Once home, my recovery was much better, the first week, understandably was the worse, lots of tenderness, lack of appetite and very lethargic, but this soon improved.

After three weeks I was eating solid foods again, albeit not large amount or anything like bread/biscuits!

And unfortunately food was just running back out of me. (not pleasant I know)

Since the operation, I have not had the slightest bit of indigestion/heartburn, I am on no medication and can eat just about anything.

My one downside from the operation is that my IBS is definitely worse than it was before, and as much as I hate this, I feel it's a small price to pay to help prevent the Barratts I was diagnosed with back in January 2015.

If anyone wants to know more details about my experience etc, I'm happy to answer people's questions more directly, if they think it will help them in making a decision on surgery, as I certainly struggled before but I can safely say 5 months in I don't regret it!

Steph

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • mag2
    mag2 stephanie66456

    Posted

    Hi Steph , its always reasuring when I read sucsess stories , Iam in the process of getting the op done myself , unfortunately waiting for the NHS to get a wriggle on and get me a date is stressing me out and my symptoms are feeling a tad worse ... the latest from them was a letter from my GP asking me to put into writing how severe my symptoms are and how the effect my day day life , so she can forward the info onto the " low priority commitee" so I can get the funding needed .. Ive been waiting for this funding since December after having Endoscopy , manometry and 24 hour PH tests and consultant more or less telling me I should have the op , I too have a HH and reflux but they didnt tell me how big it was just said a small one ... I thankfully dont have Barrets but scared of getting it which has kind of pushed me twords having the op , the consultant also said the phlegm I have is nuetralised acid coming up and could in time cause damage , Im not looking forward to the op when I finnaly have it but I deffinatly dont want problems further down the road if left alone . Well done to you and hope you continue to get a normal diet again .. Margaret.
    • stephanie66456
      stephanie66456 mag2

      Posted

      Coukd you request them to change consultant/hospital your under? After seeing my consultant to discuss surgery they offered me a date within 6 weeks, it was myself that put it on hold, I too had it done on the NHS, but actually in a private hospital. Easier said than done but do try to not stress, it aggravates the condition so much!
    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 mag2

      Posted

      Hi all - I have not been on this particular forum - I am on Gastritis but now realise I have not got that.  I am newly diagnosed with HH and reflux esoph - the letter from my specialist to my doc said "showed evidence of HH and reflux esoph."  and does not need to see me again.  No diet was mentioned - I am learning on sites about that.  My reflux is painful at times - but not every day - some days I don't have any symptoms.  Pain up the esoph and into the back and in the throat and strong smells now bother me and hurt my chest - like deororant or my husband's splash on which he now can't use. 

      A friend of mine has had heartburn for ages - everything he eats and even water give it to him and he has constantly chewed ant acids.  I told him recently something is going on there and something is going to happen suddenly and then you will know - but he would not go to the doctors.  Then two days ago he did go to the docs in severe pain and he was sent to A & E immediately - a few hours later he was operated on - a Hernia and he had no idea. 

      I don't know if my symptoms are due to HH or reflux esoph no one tells you - good job for places like this.  This has made me wary of both conditions, for the HH - strangulation and for the reflux esoph - Barratts (not got that tho as per camera).  I am prescribed Osoemprazole twice a day but really don't want to start so am taking Zantac 300 mg. 

      How do you know when you need an operation?  How bad do the symptoms get? 

      It's all so confusing. 

      So glad to hear on an op that has improved someone - onwards and upwards.

      Regards

      Gwen

  • mag2
    mag2 stephanie66456

    Posted

    Hi Steph , I dont think Im under any one particular Consultant , the hospital          ( Royal Berks) seem to have a panel of surgoens , I saw one off a list of consultants on duty that day , Im not in a huge rush but just want a date as Im self employed with long term regular customers they need to know too so they can arrange cover for when Im off , this is probably what is stressing me most . 
    • Barretts
      Barretts mag2

      Posted

      Hi Mag,

      Sorry I don't know the surgeons at Royal Berks but am in initial talks with the gastroenterologist, Dr Jonathan Booth about getting a support hub of Barrett's Wessex established there. Email me if interested.

  • Barretts
    Barretts stephanie66456

    Posted

    Thanks for the update, Stephanie. Sorry it wasn't as straightforward and easy as it could have been.

    A "funny" story regarding tablets.

    When I had my Collis-Nissen revision surgery, the pharmacy trolley came round the ward. The surgeon had said for me to have soluble omeprazole (though I knew I didn't need it) but she didn't have that on the trolley and insisted I took a non-soluble ranitidine - despite my saying it wouldn't pass through the scar tissue and narrowed gap. But she made me - and, as expected it stuck and slowly dissolved in my throat tasting horrible.

    I had an OG tube still inserted via my nose to remove any excess liquid from my stomach so I was amused when a few seconds later, I saw the dissolved tablet sucked back out!

  • Aprille
    Aprille stephanie66456

    Posted

    Hi, Good to hear your procedure has been, mostly successful.

    I was very anxious before too and researched as much as I could. 

    I had mine, for giant  HH and volvulus in July 2015 and have done very well indeed.

    Margaret, my surgeon was Mr Singh at Frimley Park which must be within

    striking distance for you if you are under the care of the Royal Berks ?

    I don't understand why you have been denied funding presumably by your CCG ? Surely  you either need a Nissens or you don't.

    best of luck anyway. 

     

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