Eating problems after hiatal hernia & nissen fundoplication

Hello @wn77 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry that you are having uncomfortable symptoms since your surgery. My first thought would be to contact your doctor's office to see if they have any suggestions for treating this symptom.

For many of us who have had surgery involving the digestive tract, symptoms of fullness and other discomfort seem to be the norm. On Connect, we have a discussion group where we discuss the best way to eat (in terms of food quantity, meal timing, and meal types) that works best for us after surgical procedures. Here is a link to the discussion, How Do I Eat After Digestive Tract Surgery: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-do-i-eat-after-digestive-tract-surgery/

Did your surgeon provide any instructions after your surgery?

@wn77 possibly still have swelling. I read that it takes months to heal after this surgery.

Hi, @nadwa - these issues have arisen after a Nissen and a hiatal hernia, or aside from these procedures?

Have digestive problem and stomach pain issues

I had a 5 hr hiatal hernia with fundoplication 8 weeks ago. In the last week I have this stuffy feeling in my stomach and can't eat very much.

I had the surgery February 16 and am finding that I can eat most foods now, carefully, except "dry" fish (salmon steak, tuna fish) which gets caught. The only way to rid the discomfort is to walk it off. And, yes, stay hydrated.

@lisalucier
My surgeon said it usually takes about 3 months to heal. He is concerned that I’m losing weight quickly and is worried that I may be dehydrated. He mentioned dilation of the esophagus. I’m supposed to call him in 1 to 2 weeks to let him know if anything is better. My surgery was complicated because I had most of my stomach, some of my colon, and some of my pancreas up in the diaphragm which was also pressing against my lung. Also my surgeon had to add 6 inches to my esophagus. Considering all that I am feeling mostly fine except for the eating/drinking issue

Hi @lorusogirl - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Having to constantly burp to help food go down would be a bit tiresome, I imagine, and maybe not what you'd prefer to do in public, ultimately.

Glad that otherwise you are feeling okay.

Have you gotten to discuss the issue with getting food and drink to go down with your surgeon? If so, what did he or she say?

I am 5 weeks post hiatal hernia and fundoplication surgery. I struggle with eating and drinking and need to constantly burp to help food or drink go down. Anyone else have this problem? Other than that mostly feeling ok

Welcome to Connect, @mnogueiras. Your comment says you are one week postop from the same surgery. You included a comment, “Qbn also”.

I am tagging @qbnbgirl for an update after creating this discussion about having hiatal hernia & nissen fundoplication procedure 10 months ago. How are you doing @qbnbgirl

mnogueiras, when did you have your procedure and how are you doing?