Tuesday, 2 August 2011

Op day plus (nearly) 10 weeks

Well, I think I can do a summary now.  Firstly, in short the results of my operation have been fantastic.   Here are some bullet points.

As I've said, I can go the night without worrying at all about reflux.  If I've had a few drinks, I can once more drink a glass of water without any problems later - so I'm not getting hangovers any more.

I can eat all the things that I couldn't before:  onion, any spicy food (e.g. curry), orange juice, any sort of alcoholic drink, oily/fatty food (bacon, sausages)... the list of stuff I can eat again is huge.

I never have to take antacids - e.g. Rennie, Gaviscon or my prescribed Pantolprazole (or its predecessor, Pariet). Not once in 10 weeks.

I can bend over, stretch and so on without worrying about reflux.

I've lost a bit of weight - I need a new hole in my belt - but I don't expect it to stay that way.

My stomach capacity is smaller - I went out for a meal last week and couldn't manage all of a burger, although to be fair it was a big one.  However, I would not have had a problem before.

My scars are no longer sore, but occasionally I get a twinge from them.  I guess there's still underlying scar tissue which I'm sure the doctor said will heal after about a year.

I can burp happily, though not as easily as before - you can no longer call them a belch.  But as an added advantage, I've got a cast iron excuse to burp loudly whenever necessary!

All in all:  a success.  On the Internet, I've read a few disaster stories of Nissen Fundoplication results.  Mine are just about perfect.  My life has changed.  OK, I wasn't crippled by my problems, but they had severely cramped my lifestyle, and now I'm normal and average for my age.  And my relationship with my partner T has to have been improved - no more worrying about what I eat and what we can do.  And I'm saving loads of money of antacids and prescription medicine (anyone want a nearly full bottle of Gaviscon?)

If you are suffering my symptoms - acid reflux, interrupted sleep, restricted diets, permanent upset stomach - find yourself a surgeon, preferably one experienced in this op, like mine is, and talk to him/her.  Consider having this op.  I hope - I think - you'll revolutionise your lifestyle.

Good luck.

1 comment:

  1. Hello! I stumbled upon your blog while searching for info on the procedure. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to document this...I will be having the surgery next month and I feel much better after reading your assessment. Even at the most uncomfortable times post-op it can't be nearly as bad as the reflux I have suffered with all this time. Again, many thanks from Leah in the US

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