Recent Nissen fundoplication: Will I be normal again?

Hi, @sallyvic - that doesn't sound like a super fun surprise. What was the formal name of the surgery you had?

It is identified as esophageal/nissen/fundoplication surgery. The surgeon told me they also discovered a cyst on my ovary/fallopian tube that has to be checked out.

@sallyvic Tagging a few Mayo Clinic Connect members who have talked about a Nissen fundoplication they had or someone they know had: @lindabeth421 @joyceinil @ranchwomen60 @jord @terrijwright @ken82. I'd also like you to meet @jlharsh.

Hoping they can provide input on your questions:

- Will my life ever get back to normal, including diet?

- What is the chance it will happen again?

@sallyvic That sounds like the kind of luck I have. I was going in for a breast biopsy and as I was laying on the table they said, oh, by the way, there is a spot on your lung which was found in your X-ray before this surgery. I also have had a cyst on my ovary which required no attention. But DO get it checked out.
Back to the fundoplication surgery, I had this surgery when I was 77 years old. I had a Hiatal Hernia for years and for some reason it twisted and I too had a very quick surgery. I have to say this surgery was very hard on me. While still in the hospital I had a blood clot in my leg which went to both lungs. Very scary. But God pulled me through. The journey back is slow and eating all that food slurry is not fun. But you will get back to normal. Be patient. Don't push yourself. Do what your doctors say. Sadly, my fundiplication failed in two and a half years. I am having all of the old reflux problems I had before. I'm hoping this was not your problem. I was told that about 5% of these surgeries fail. Lucky Me! I'm too old to go through that operation again. Don't know what is next for me. My condition is getting worse by the day. I have an appointment with my gastroenterologist in May but think I am going to try to go earlier. If you have any specific questions I would be very glad to try to answer them. Best of luck as you return to health.

Thank you for responding. I am 82 years old and didn't have any difficulty with the surgery. It's the anxiety now that's worse. The doctor told me the surgery fix could last ten years if I don't gain 30-40 pounds! Never did I realize how much I would appreciate the word “normal” instead of “exceptional.” Good luck to you. Let me know if you have any options for your further treatment.

I had 2 fundoplications, the first was a Nissen wrap in 2011 and was done incorrectly. Wrapped too high too tight. I really suffered with that for almost 6 yrs. In 2017, they undid that wrap and did a Toupet wrap. It did help somewhat, but I still have reflux symptoms. The problem is these wraps loosen up over time. I really regret having these surgeries, and would never do it again. What compounded my digestive issues is my GB was removed with the first surgery, convincing me my gallstones were aggravating my reflux. My GB never bothered me. It just made my recovery that much harder.

Thank you for the tag @lisalucier, and it is nice to meet you @sallyvic.

I have not had a Fundoplication procedure but can speak to a stomach needing some healing, a digestive system and esophagus that doesn’t cooperate.

I would love to tell you life will get back to normal a week from tomorrow. Understanding our situations are not exactly the same, I certainly do not want to discourage you. I can say, however that I eventually had to accept what my “new normal” would be. In fact, that has changed more than once. It has been a process but one that I’ve gotten more comfortable with.

I see your comment that the worse challenge right now is anxiety. I generally do understand. It will help, though if you expand a bit and describe more of what that means to you. Are you describing a fear you have, maybe a physical feeling in your upper abdomen that is unfamiliar, or perhaps something altogether different?

I felt that, at 82, healthwise, I was doing great. Then, wham, this twisted stomach thing happened. My “normal” won't be so normal. When that was being fixed, they discovered I had a cyst—one person said on my ovary and another said on my fallopian tube. Now I have to get that checked out, to add to my anxiety. What else will happen! That's where my anxiety is. I'd hoped I could take after my mother who is 106!

For what it’s worth, @sallyvic being 82 is an accomplishment to celebrate! You remind me of my dad who at 95, recently expanded his financial planning out to age 115 because like you, he has something ahead of him he is aiming for. I love that you plan to take after your mother who is 106. You can do it!

- So, your twisted stomach has been fixed and you don’t know what “normal” will look like.
- Doctors found a cyst on your ovary or fallopian tube.
* How may 82 year olds already are missing ovararies and/or fallopian tubes?
* Finding the cyst is what gives you the best chance of moving past it. What great news.
- Your mom is 106 and you plan to be. What great genes you have.

Have you been through difficult situations in your past, and if so how did you do it?

@jlharsh - you are so right! You do sound like you have great genes and like you are keeping on top of your own health, @sallyvic. Kudos to you.

Depending on what happens when you get further details on the cyst you mentioned that is on your ovary or fallopian tube, here is another Mayo Clinic Connect discussion you might check out:

- Ovarian cysts https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ovarian-cysts/

There are also more recent discussions on ovarian cysts, but they have more specifics that may or may not pertain to your situation. You might check out all the discussions in this Mayo Clinic Connect group and see what might be a good fit for that situation:

- Women's Health Support Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/womens-health/

Back to your anxiety related to the surprise stomach surgery and your concerns about getting back to normal again, especially related to diet ... How is this going today? Has your surgeon or your primary care doctor considered putting you on an antianxiety medication for the meantime?