February 24, 2013 ~ Marks one year post op Nissen Fundoplication
As you can see from my previous post there is no need for me to have an EGD as it was completed earlier this month, while in the Hospital. The Results: NO BE (Barrett's Esophagus), my esophagus looks good, my wrap is intact, my stomach issues are slowly going away and my life is returning to normal.
Let me start off with Diet ~ One Year Mark (via my journal - daily intake log)
I'm still eating several small meals a day (breakfast, snack, lunch, shake, dinner and the occasional dessert). I'm pretty much able to eat and drink what I want in moderation.
Example of a daily meal:
Breakfast ~ Fresh Fruit, greek yogurt, granola or english muffin (I've re-introduced bread into my diet - and with this addition I have seen an increase in my gas, bloat and gaining weight) or I have two eggs, fruit and toast.
Snack ~ one of the following: greek yogurt, nuts, fresh fruit (apple, orange - this causes issues sometimes but I live in Indian River County, FL the home of citrus, peaches or fresh berries - pretty much whatever is in season)
Lunch ~ Pretty much whatever my heart tells me I want - well my stomach anyways!
I can eat sandwiches (even Publix Subs), I've tried fast food - my stomach wants it but doesn't thank me after I eat it and Sushi - owe how I've missed you old friend. Probably, my favorite part of healing was being able to each sushi again.
Snack ~ Protein Shake - generally or just a yogurt (I eat lots of greek yogurt -it seems to help my gut)
Dinner ~ "my long lost friend" I cook, love to cook for my boys & husband and this was probably one of the hardest parts of healing. I ate items maybe before I was supposed to.. Well, at a year I can eat pretty much what ever I want. I've enjoyed steak (remember to chew), chicken, pork, fish, pasta, take out - not a fan.
Dessert ~ This is a hard one for me - it appears that sugar is a trigger (it burns my throat at times and makes my ears hurt). I can eat ice cream with a little bit of milk added to the top..yum yum!!
Triggers: I still have issues with tomatoes, onions (raw), foods associated with gas production, sugar
Health: Having trouble regulating my blood sugar - it is always very low, iron deficiency - it is very low even after the transfusion and my energy level declines as the day goes on.
Exercise: I still walk miles a day - love my daily walks along the river what a beautiful sight, I do minimal weight training - less then 10lbs and yoga.
Overall I am so happy that I decided to have this surgery. The side effects are worth the return to Normal and no longer living with GERD.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
January/February 2013 ~ Almost A Year
January/February 2013, were not friendly months..
Went to the ER extremely dehydrated and suffering from pain in my lower abdomen. The pain scared me as I have read all the horror stories about "Wrap Failures or Slipped Wraps". Sorry for the next couple of sentences - I was having trouble with dumping syndrome, yes this actually a condition and side effect from this operation. It got so bad that I started having pains and became really weak.
Per my journal note: The day was like any other day. I started off eating my normal breakfast of fresh fruits, greek yogurt, granola and a little drizzle of honey - followed by a trip to the restroom. Lunch normal ovengold turkey breast slices, cheese and a bannana - followed by a trip to the restroom. Afternoon snack was normal..you get the point every time I ate or drank anything I had to run to the restroom. This wasn't normal for me, I could eat the foods that I enjoyed, relax after and be normal. My husband said maybe you have the stomach bug. So, I gave it time and after a week of the same routine over & over again and my body feeling like my body had been hit by a Mack Truck I decided to drive myself to the ER. I had never felt so tired, never felt the pain that my stomach was feeling or use the restroom so many times in my life. When I arrived at the ER and explained that I had had a Nissen Fundoplication and Cholecystectomy. Was prepared to once again explain what a Nissen Fundoplication was and why I had the procedure..not this time the doctor that came in the room actually had the procedure as a child (loved picking his brain once the pain mediation kicked in). I was amazed that he had gone so many years with no trouble - this gave me hope!! The ER doctor admitted me because he felt that my pain and symptoms were coming from somewhere, where we had to find out. So the tests began..
CT w/contrast - dislike, ultrasound - easy peasy, blood work bloodwork bloodwork - was very anemic and ended up getting an iron infusion, EGD - showed no Barret's which was amazing news, Colonoscopy - so dislike, was not able to drink everything needed - started causing additional pain - My tests showed no reason for me to be suffering from my symptoms. My spirit was down as I began to believe that it was all in my head..Until the specialist from Miami appeared - he explained that for years I suffered from Silent Reflux and then GERD I'd taken medications not meant for long term use (PPi's), that these medications, the surgeries, the side effects and my overall health were suffering. So at that moment I decided that I was going to eat better and start exercising again..well once I started feeling a little better. I underwent a series of iron infusions which seemed to help once the sickness was gone - not a pleasant experience. He said "It will take over a year to undo the damage your body has caused you over the passed years - Have Faith that you will Be Normal Soon!!"
So After a week in the hospital I was finally home and started to feel this "Normal he spoke of Again"
Went to the ER extremely dehydrated and suffering from pain in my lower abdomen. The pain scared me as I have read all the horror stories about "Wrap Failures or Slipped Wraps". Sorry for the next couple of sentences - I was having trouble with dumping syndrome, yes this actually a condition and side effect from this operation. It got so bad that I started having pains and became really weak.
Per my journal note: The day was like any other day. I started off eating my normal breakfast of fresh fruits, greek yogurt, granola and a little drizzle of honey - followed by a trip to the restroom. Lunch normal ovengold turkey breast slices, cheese and a bannana - followed by a trip to the restroom. Afternoon snack was normal..you get the point every time I ate or drank anything I had to run to the restroom. This wasn't normal for me, I could eat the foods that I enjoyed, relax after and be normal. My husband said maybe you have the stomach bug. So, I gave it time and after a week of the same routine over & over again and my body feeling like my body had been hit by a Mack Truck I decided to drive myself to the ER. I had never felt so tired, never felt the pain that my stomach was feeling or use the restroom so many times in my life. When I arrived at the ER and explained that I had had a Nissen Fundoplication and Cholecystectomy. Was prepared to once again explain what a Nissen Fundoplication was and why I had the procedure..not this time the doctor that came in the room actually had the procedure as a child (loved picking his brain once the pain mediation kicked in). I was amazed that he had gone so many years with no trouble - this gave me hope!! The ER doctor admitted me because he felt that my pain and symptoms were coming from somewhere, where we had to find out. So the tests began..
CT w/contrast - dislike, ultrasound - easy peasy, blood work bloodwork bloodwork - was very anemic and ended up getting an iron infusion, EGD - showed no Barret's which was amazing news, Colonoscopy - so dislike, was not able to drink everything needed - started causing additional pain - My tests showed no reason for me to be suffering from my symptoms. My spirit was down as I began to believe that it was all in my head..Until the specialist from Miami appeared - he explained that for years I suffered from Silent Reflux and then GERD I'd taken medications not meant for long term use (PPi's), that these medications, the surgeries, the side effects and my overall health were suffering. So at that moment I decided that I was going to eat better and start exercising again..well once I started feeling a little better. I underwent a series of iron infusions which seemed to help once the sickness was gone - not a pleasant experience. He said "It will take over a year to undo the damage your body has caused you over the passed years - Have Faith that you will Be Normal Soon!!"
So After a week in the hospital I was finally home and started to feel this "Normal he spoke of Again"
Esophageal Spasms
Esophageal Spasms: What are they and how did I cope with the pain?? (They eventually went away around the one year mark)
What are they - The Mayo Clinic Describes them as painful muscle contractions that affect your esophagus, the hollow tube between your throat and your stomach. Esophageal spasms can feel like sudden, severe chest pain that lasts from a few minutes to hours.
Esophageal spasms usually occur only occasionally. But for some people, the muscle contractions are frequent and can prevent food and liquids from traveling through the esophagus. Esophageal spasms can lead to chronic pain and swallowing problems.
Treatment for occasional esophageal spasms may not be necessary. But if esophageal spasms interfere with your ability to eat or drink, treatments are available.
Well mine did - they interfered with my daily life, the pain was so intense that I eventually went on medication to help control and hopefully prevent the spasms from happening. Help? Yes Prevent? No - well not at first. At around three months post op, I phoned my surgeon and explained that I was experiencing what felt like cotton stuck in my throat, I had sharp radiating pain under my rib cage and I had a hard time catching my breath (He suspected that I was was feel was actually Spasms). So, being the great surgeon that he is he called me in for tests - to be on the safe side..
Diagnosis: Esophageal Spasms and had what appeared to be ulcers on my esophagus
Medications: First we tried Carafate (liquid) this helped with the pain in my esophagus not related to the Spasms but did not help with the Spasms themselves. Next step: Valium, this medication worked to lesson the contractions in my esophagus (let me just say I was so skeptical about taking Valium - when I went to pick the medication up I told the pharmacist "they are for my esophageal spasms" which he replied "yes, that's what it says on the prescription") - I felt so silly!! The Valium really did help..At first I took it regularly as prescribed and then PRN (as needed) when I had a flare up. Tried to lower my stress level, exercise and started drinking Yogi Teas (not selling just stating what worked for me).
Fast Forward to my one year mark: The spasms were all but gone - would occasionally get one if I was extremely tired or over stressed (have only had a handful since my one year mark)
Please check out the following links regarding Esophageal Spasms:
Wendy Ryan's Story - She is a local news anchor who underwent the procedure around the same time I did.
nlm/nih.gov - study Esophageal Spasms
Hope this helps :) and KNOW this to shall pass, as you move forward and heal. A wise person once told me it takes 6 months to year to heal from this surgery & a life time of living.
It's Been So Long
Wow.. It really has been a long time since I've sat down at my computer and wrote down what's going on - Almost Three years since my last post, let me catch you up! I'm going to give it a try (have lots of entries in my journal) and explain what life has been like over the past few years post Nissen Fundoplication. Here it goes!!
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