Eating problems after hiatal hernia & nissen fundoplication

It has been two years this June since I had the surgery. It did take about 8 months to get to where I didn't have to worry so much about eating. That said, taking small bites, chewing food and sips of water is the way to eat anyhow. I didn't and don't eat too much meat if ever but fish, yogurt no problem. I still have my original bottle of Zofran and only took maybe 8-10 during the first year. I also had a mesh implant and they told me not to ever throw up again. The reason for Zofran.

After my surgery I wound up with gastroparesis. It’s a life changing problem. My vagus nerve was injured from the surgery. It’s not uncommon-check with your GI doctor.

Hi, and thank you for the lovely note. I will definitely take the suggestion to go back to more liquids and hot soups, etc.… I have a laparoscopic surgery and a hiatal hernia surgery at the same time. Everything else seems fine and I can actually even burp which most people don’t seem to be able to do. Even the laparoscopic surgery is quite painful and I’m so glad that I had someone to help me get out of bed. The first few weeks as the muscles are totally gone and it is very painful. Once again, thank you for a lovely note you sent to help me.

Thank you for your recommendations. I will definitely research some of these things. I’m so sorry that you have had to go through all of that. Sending you a big hug.

I had organioaxial volvulus stomach with periesophageal fundiloplication done laparoscopicly done 8/10/23. I am still having problems. I had an Hgb or 4.8, bilateral lung PE, aortic embolism, and small R basil ganglion lacunar infarct, I was given transfusions and blood thinners k but was not told of the stomach issue and it was not realized and surgically corrected for 6 months, This has resulted in vagus nerve damage, and now have bleeding esophagus. Health care in America is unfortunately broken, and doctors are given very little nutrition education, They don’t seem to be aware of how much they do not know .
PPI made things worse and after a few searches, I found out that they not only can cause malabsorption of iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and B12 but can relax the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). I also found out that GERD symptoms can be caused by low acid as well as high acid levels, , Before treating ask your doctor to confirm if acid is high or low, My doctors are looking into reactivation of varicella for esophageal bleeding as this requires a different treatment, I don't know if the reason is because Medicare only pays for a nutritionist if you have diabetes or kidney disease, or because doctors are given very little training in nutrition, or they are really not given enough time for a quality assessment and time to research more rare issues, but it is a vital part of healing, I now google every food to see how it affects the LES (relaxing or strengthening) and the effects on esophageal bleeding for better food choices,
I recommend googling every food you plan on eating and as if it is ok with whatever your diagnosis is, and then check out the results with your doctor, Healing can take a long time, so you are smart to be kind and patient with yourself, I have also found guided imagry tapes by by Bellruth Naperstek found at Hayhouse.com or on Amazon audio, to be very helpful, Request a PT referral to learn diaphram strengthening . Or google diaphragm strengthening breathing exercises to start, Breathing exercises are ap very important to strengthen the diaphragm and to balance sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, I think every surgeon should be sending their. Patients to a nutritionist and for PT to assist with the best surgical outcome,
You can also google the importance of sunshine, plants in your bedroom, and use of organic regenerative foods for quality, Hope this helps. .food luck with your recovery

Thank you both for your replies.It sounds like I need to be patient with myself and give my insides time to heal and adjust. I wonder when I will be able to eat ‘normally’. If anyone has had these operations I would love to hear from you and know that there is ‘hope’ down the road.
Thanks again for your positive responses as they are much appreciated:)

Hi, and thank you for the lovely note. I will definitely take the suggestion to go back to more liquids and hot soups, etc.… I have a laparoscopic surgery and a hiatal hernia surgery at the same time. Everything else seems fine and I can actually even burp which most people don’t seem to be able to do. Even the laparoscopic surgery is quite painful and I’m so glad that I had someone to help me get out of bed. The first few weeks as the muscles are totally gone and it is very painful. Once again, thank you for a lovely note you sent to help me.