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From: Robin David
Remote Name: 68.1.158.223
Date: 03/27/02
Time: 07:32:59 PM
Hi Heidi! Welcome aboard!
Have you searched all, or most, of the archived message boards? I know there are plenty of posts there you will benefit from reading.
It's important to remember that hundreds of people " do the fundo" every day and a lot of them have reasonably "normal" recoveries with very few problems. You'll probably be one of them. However, given the caring support and open exchange of dialog available at this message board, a lot of the people that post here have had either a rough time before and/or after fundo surgery. I assure you, most folks who have a fundo performed by a competent and experienced surgeon have no abnormal troubles whatsoever. Again, you'll probably fall into that category. I'm just trying to help you keep what you read here in perspective.
Like you, I spent a whole lot of time wiped out on the bathroom floor. That was a horrible part of my life. So post-fundo, I have occasional gas pains that are very few and far between and well controlled with medication. I will gladly trade the odd gas pain post-fundo for the living hell I was in, pre-fundo.
Assuming you're reasonably healthy otherwise, you may spend a day or two in hospital. Swallowing will be a little difficult early on but you'll get past it - your diet will be designed to slowely introduce more solid foods. Walking will be a little uncomfortable early on, but you'll get past it. In fact, walking is a great way to dissipate and get past the "normal" post-surgical gas pain that may develop in your shoulder(s). You'll have to take things slowely for a few weeks and let your digestive system re-orient itself now that some of your plumbing has been moved around, but you'll get past it. Before you know it, within two or three months, you won't believe what it is like to be able to eat anything you want and not suffer even a hint of reflux. And this Heidi, is the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for you. You've probably felt so poorly for so long, that you have no idea what it will feel like to feel, well . . . , normal! You will have a whole new lease on life and feel blessed for having had the surgery.
There are no promises that your surgery will be 100% perfect - no troubles - nothing to worry about afterwards. But the odds are greatly in your favor especially if you keep a positive, healthy attitude about your recovery.
I can't answer all of your questions here but I can assure you that you can ask as many questions as you like and there will always be someone here to give you honest and direct answers. God bless and keep us posted.
TTFN, Robin