Toupet Fundoplication post op problem

Hi- I had my Toupet Fundoplication 2 weeks ago today @ Duke University Medical Center. It was a great choice. Duke is amazing.
The reason I had the procedure was due to on going chronic lung disease. Pulmonologist & Gastroenterologist have figured out the lung/ esophageal/ GERD connection. I have been sick for mostly 3 years & getting worse every year. In Jan., 2025 I had an EDG that found a Grade 3 sliding hernia. It would slide up my weakened esophageal sphincter into my chest. As a result, microscopic pieces of undigested food were doing more damage to my lungs.

Hence, the decision to have surgery. I ain’t gonna lie. The last two weeks have been rough. My follow-up post- op appt. is tomorrow. We live 3 hrs. from Duke and these last 2 weeks I have lived in the bathroom. I will be rescheduling my appt. this morning.
Just be sure to eat small meals often. I am on an 10, 10, 10, day schedule .
1st 10 days, liquids only including yogurt (which for me means protein shakes, smoothies (no fruit with pulp. We’ve been doing bananas & frozen peaches, etc., with milk or yogurt.) Second 10 days (which is where I am now) soft foods. I had a scrambled egg yesterday! Be sure to take small bites. It’s important.
I am allowed to take Imodium but not frequently. Don’t want to get constipated!
Today is a new day. When I can string 2-3 good days together I’ll feel like there’s been progress.
I will get back in touch soon. I hope this helps, but everyone’s situation is different. Stay in touch.

I had a 270 degree Toupet Fundoplication about three years ago. It was the best decision I ever made. I am able to eat normally, swallow normally, burp if necessary. I no longer have acid reflux or take medicine. I was concerned that I might not be able to vomit if I had to. That proved not true. At the same time I had a hiatal hernia corrected to prevent my stomach from entering my diaphragm.
I do remember very painful shoulders for about a day after surgery due to migration of the nitrogen gas that was used during surgery upward from the chest cavity. Eventually your body purges it. The slow advance from eating small soft foods to normal foods was not a problem. Again I am so very happy I did it.

Hoping this helps you. Sounds like it will. How are things going at two week mark ? Any difficulty swallowing , bloating , diarrhea etc ?

FWIW when I had the laproscopic procedure for partial nephrectomy and adrenalectomy at Mayo Methodist a year ago I didn't have the shoulder pain. They may have used a different gas, but more likely the gas couldn't get far enough into the chest cavity because of the membrane separating the heart and other organs from the intestinal area.

I had the Nissen flundoplication doctors choice. It was done laparoscopic and repaired hiatal hernia revised gastric bypass from 1978 so they removed part of my stomach. It ended up being a 5 1/2 hr surgery on a 69 year old woman. But I had severe GERd with bile reflux as well. I was a mess I couldn’t eat pretty much. It was a pretty rough recovery for me I got dehydrated because I couldn’t get hardly anything down it was so tight in my esophagus. Had to go and be dilated got little better after that. Couldn’t eat or drink much at one sitting. Took a few weeks. Couldn’t vomit until a few months ago a d it’s been 4 years. Now I have gastoporesis and I developed PBC (autoimmune liver disease). I don’t have reflux anymore!

Hello,
I can only speak with reference to Nissan Fundoplication. My BF had it done in conjunction with hernia repair. He doesn't know WHY it was done, his gerd problem was long resolved and he failed the 3rd test to see if he was a viable candidate. It was done without his express consent, he wasn't expecting it to be done. He has a ' half twist'...is probably looking at revision surgery because its too tight. He gets terrible nausea after he eats, lays down for hours waiting for this effect to subside. He woukd mostly certainly suggest you research the procedure very carefully. I am myself a SCS horror story. I urge everyone to consider less is more. Drs to this day experiment on us and 80% of my issues are the result of poor decisions by Drs. Personally im going to do everything holistically to regain what health I can. Wishing you luck...PLS research thoroughly.

Thanks so much for the reply@2longlife. It is good to read of your success. I am on day 16, post 270 Degree toupet Fundoplication. Instead of us driving to 3 hrs. to Duke yesterday we did a Zoom appt. with Dr. Jung. It went well. He expained that everything I am experiencing is normal. The shoulder pain is getting better. He said everyone is different... be patient. I have been on soft foods now for almost 2 weeks and will transition slowly to real food next week. He said to avoid steak, fresh leafy greens, and bread for now. I would love any other foods to avoid if you can think of anything.
This will be the third day in a row that I have been feeling better. I am encourage. Another piece of good news- where I used to have to nebulize 3 different meds twice a day, I only have to do it in the A.M. and one of those in the P.M. It is sodium chloride due one of my lung problems called Bronchiectasis. Twice a day helps keep my lungs healthy and prevents pneumonia.
For the 1st time I can see light @ the end of the tunnel!

I am 16 days out and doing much better. No bloating. Swallowing is better. I make sure to eat slow & small bites. Diarrhea is gone now that I'm on soft foods. Dr. Jung explained, yesterday, that the diarrhea was normal due to the liquid diet. I will carefully begin real food next week. I am having my 3rd good day in a row too. I am thankful and encouraged.
Please stay in touch when you can and I hope your surgery goes well.

That is good indeed . Are you on PPI medicine currently. Also, is pain manageable? I’ve heard an abdominal binder is a handy item during this time