A Post Myotomy (Post Thanksgiving) Thank you

[Guest guest]

Having just undergone a Heller Myotomy with partial wrap, I wanted

to express my thanks to all the members of this group. It has been

said many times before but is still well worth repeating that the

help and information provided by this group is, quite frankly,

invaluable. Since joining I haven't posted much because there was

not a lot more I could add to what was already being said but having

now passed over to the post-myotomy stage, I hope at least I might

be able to add my two cents in responding to questions about the

op. But in the first instance – without mentioning names in case I

miss someone out - I want to again thank everyone (particularly

those who posted during September and October, whether up north or

down south, across the pond in the US/Canada or out in the wider

world) for all the help, advice and information I found here.

And as a starter, a brief – actually not so brief (sorry), summary:

I had my Heller Myotomy with Partial Fundoplication (a Toupet)

performed Laparoscopically (ie. Key hole surgery) on Monday. After

the usual admission procedure, I was called down to the theatre at

about 9am and knocked out soon after that. On waking in the

recovery area, I had an IV in my left arm (with a spare one inserted

further up just in case it was needed quickly) and an Oxygen mask

which was removed when I woke. I was then wheeled back to my room,

returning there just after 11am where I remained Nil by mouth until

approx. 4pm in the afternoon. To ease the dryness in my mouth, I

was given some swabs (they looked like sponge lollipops) which I

could dunk in a glass of water and rub around my mouth. I remained

for some time on the IV – which of course necessitated passing water

into a bottle – and when the IV bag had drained (I can't remember

whether I had one or two), they switched to an IV bottle of liquid

paracetemol. After that had gone in, I seem to recall the IV was

disconnected and tentatively I was able to walk to the toilet.

(Passing water was difficult at first but became easier over time).

At 4pm I was taken to have an X-Ray dye test (the same as a barium

swallow but with clear liquid) to check for any perforations and

once I was given the all clear, I was then allowed to gently start

drinking water. Fortunately I was able to drink without nausea and

that meant I was able to avoid having further fluids fed to me

through the IV. I was then shortly thereafter visited by the

Surgeon's Registrar and given the OK to drink clear juice and so had

over the course of the rest of the afternoon, evening and into the

night 2 glasses of apple juice to which I added some sugar and

several glasses of water.

The next morning (Tuesday) I continued to sip water and after a

further visit my surgeon (who I should say is a great chap – not

only brilliant but despite being a top chap in the hospital was

clearly warmly and genuinely admired by every Nurse I spoke to) at

approx. 11am, was given the all clear to go onto sloppy food and had

a couple of weatabix in warm milk. For lunch I had clear chicken

soup and mash potato which I watered down with the soup. After that

my surgeon had said if I wanted to, I could go home but I decided to

stay for another night to feel sure of myself and to avoid anxiety

and pressure on my parents. I therefore returned home on Wednesday

where I have continued to recuperate and have thus far had a diet of

Decaf Tea and very liquidy Porridge (with finely ground vitamins &

Minerals stirred in) for Breakfast, mash potato with vegetable,

chicken or lamb Soup (nothing beats Mum's soup!) for Lunch and

Dinner with an added variation last night of liquidy scrambled egg.

I also have been supplementing during the day with an Ensure shake

and had a yoghurt yesterday though last night I had a lot of stomach

ache which I assume might well be due to having too much milk type

products. I am therefore going to cut out the Yoghurt and I had my

porridge this morning with water.

As for the incisions, I have five incisions across my stomach – one

larger one in the centre (where the camera went) and two smaller

ones on either side. The incisions were stapled shut and I will go

back to have these removed at the end of next week (10 days post

op). I of course have had the referred shoulder pain and pains

around the stomach incisions. These pains were dealt with initially

by being given two 500 mg tablets of soluble paracetomol four times

a day however since leaving hospital I cut it down to one tablet

each time and as of now (Friday morning) I have not had to take one

today. I do though continue to get periodically short stabbing

stomach aches – diet adjustments seem to be called for, I remain

somewhat hunched over though I am trying to straighten up and on

Wednesday evening I had my first post-op esophageal spasm –much

worse – sharper - than before but still fortunately it responded

(ie. settled) by drinking water.

So I think that's about it. I should stress to anyone reading this

that I am acutely aware how everyone is different and that people's

recoveries go in fits and starts. I do feel extremely lucky that so

far (touch/knock on wood) my recovery has been very good since I

realise that for others it has been or will be more difficult. I am

however simply amazed at how quickly I have been recovering (for

instance I never imagined I would be able to walk – albeit very

gently – let alone get out of bed only four hours after the op) and

I therefore thought it might be helpful to set out the above in some

detail, not to show off how wonderful everything is going for me,

but so that anyone who is facing the myotomy op, will feel reassured

and confident that, even though any operation is a major hurdle, the

recovery from this one can be swift and the pain minimal.

With best wishes to the group,

(London, UK)