Guest guest Posted January 21, 2002 Report Share Posted January 21, 2002 Everytime I read a success story, it makes me more optimistic. I,m going March 7th for mine. Are you sore from the incisions? How long were you in the hospital? Did you get a wrap? Did you have a swallow test before leaving hospital to check for " leaks? " Thanks judy > I have not posted recently but just wanted to let everyone know I'll > be joining the myotomy club Monday January 14th in Memphis TN at St. > Francis Hospital. Dr. Guy Voeller is my minimally invasive surgeon. > Please say a prayer for me. > > A special thank you to for keeping us all updated on her > progress since surgery. I am anxious about mine but reading the > posts has helped. > > -Betsy > --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2002 Report Share Posted January 21, 2002 Judy - At first I was on the morphine pump and felt generally sore. A week later I just feel bruised, mainly at the primary incision above my belly button. When my surgeon came to see me the afternooon of my surgery he asked if I felt like I had been " run over by a truck " . " Yes. " I said. He humorously replied " Good! It was me " . I only stayed one night for observation. I had a half wrap. I did not have a barium swallow before leaving. I don't know if this is good or bad but Dr. Voeller only checked for " leaks " while I was in surgery. Everything has been much better than I expected...and I'm a wimp. > > I have not posted recently but just wanted to let everyone know > I'll be joining the myotomy club Monday January 14th in Memphis TN at St. Francis Hospital. Dr. Guy Voeller is my minimally invasive > surgeon. Please say a prayer for me. > > > > A special thank you to for keeping us all updated on her > > progress since surgery. I am anxious about mine but reading the > > posts has helped. > > > > -Betsy > > --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2002 Report Share Posted January 21, 2002 Thanks for your response. I'm full of questions. Just so curious! Where are your incisions? Are they near your belly button? I thought they would be right underneath your breast. How many incisions (4 or 5)? Did they just tape them? No stitches right? How long will you be off work (if you work)? I've heard other people say they also had spasms after the surgery. Are you taking any medication? > > > I have not posted recently but just wanted to let everyone know > > I'll be joining the myotomy club Monday January 14th in Memphis TN > at St. Francis Hospital. Dr. Guy Voeller is my minimally invasive > > surgeon. Please say a prayer for me. > > > > > > A special thank you to for keeping us all updated on her > > > progress since surgery. I am anxious about mine but reading the > > > posts has helped. > > > > > > -Betsy > > > --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2002 Report Share Posted January 21, 2002 Hi Betsy (and fellow "A's"): Glad to hear that your surgery went well, and that you are recovering and gradually introducing foods back into your diet. I had my surgery in September and continue to do well. There are still some foods that do not go down very well, but I can live with that. Rice is especially hard to get down, as is salad and bread on most days. I did have an attack a week or so after my surgery, and didn't know if it was reflux or spasm, and my doctor recommended Gas-X because it contained simenthicone. He said any anti-acid with simenthicone works faster than some of the other anti-acids. Now if I get an attack or feel that I might, I immediately chew on a Gas-X, and am relived. I too am so happy that I had the surgery. Can't imagine what life would continue to be like without it. Don't know what will happen later in life, but guess I'll cross that bridge then. Right now I am choosing to "live in the moment." Regards, Joanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2002 Report Share Posted January 21, 2002 Betsy!!!! I have been out of town to the beach, so I have not read posts for a few days. Welcome to the club, and I'm so glad to hear that you are doing well. I took arginine 3 times a day at 500 mg when I had my worst post op spasms. Things have calmed down a bunch since then....Sometimes I take it and sometimes I don't. Glad to hear things went well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2002 Report Share Posted January 21, 2002 I was checked for leaks in surgery too....no barium swallow post op. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2002 Report Share Posted January 22, 2002 5 incisions: two " ports " each side of abdomen varied distance below ribs and one " port " midline for the camera I think about an inch above the belly button. here's my attempt to draw: ....................... .....L................. L..................... .................R..... ............M.........R ...........bb.......... I have stitches (I can see/feel clear threads). I think I will be off work about 3 weeks. I think 2-4 weeks is what the doctor said I should expect. No medication for spasms...but if they continue (I had one today) I will ask for something/anything to try. -B > > > I have not posted recently but just wanted to let everyone know > > I'll be joining the myotomy club Monday January 14th in Memphis > > TN at St. Francis Hospital. Dr. Guy Voeller is my minimally > > invasive surgeon. Please say a prayer for me. > > > > > > A special thank you to for keeping us all updated on her > > > progress since surgery. I am anxious about mine but reading the > > > posts has helped. > > > > > > -Betsy > > > --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2002 Report Share Posted January 22, 2002 This is great. Thank you so much. This just explains so well. I'm going to try the arginine tonight. I called the health food store and my husband is on his way to p/u as I speak. I started belching yesterday and absolutely cannot stop. I'm not sick and I'm not in pain but I'm sick of belching. I'll try anything. It's disgusting. They're long and drawn out like I just drank a gallon of beer! I'm so happy your myotomy is done. I do think the spasms are par for the course. Could you take arginine for the spasms? Thanks again for your wonderful diagram. You've been so helpful. judy > > > > I have not posted recently but just wanted to let everyone know > > > I'll be joining the myotomy club Monday January 14th in Memphis > > > TN at St. Francis Hospital. Dr. Guy Voeller is my minimally > > > invasive surgeon. Please say a prayer for me. > > > > > > > > A special thank you to for keeping us all updated on her > > > > progress since surgery. I am anxious about mine but reading the > > > > posts has helped. > > > > > > > > -Betsy > > > > --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2002 Report Share Posted January 23, 2002 Betsy, if you continue to have the spasms, the arginine eliminated them for me as long as I was taking it. My scars look just like your scars....nice drawing! By the end of two weeks, I wasn't sore at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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