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Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety Post A Hiatal Hernia Repair

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Posted on Wed, 15 Mar 2017
Question: 5 weeks since hiatal hernia repair + nissen fundoplication surgery.

I have had a great 5 weeks and everything was great; without taking medicine for anything.
but yesterday; on my birthday; I was in the sauna for 5-7 minutes ( not extremely warm ); and then did go into a shower for 1-2 minutes; then I did get a jacuzzi bath for 10 minutes; I was not sitting really in it, because it felt uncomfortable; and I just sitting so water was around my chest. Of course Jacuzzi is warm; and then I did go up and I felt fine; but a little tired because of the heat.

after that I did go to a restaurant on my birthday and did try a dark sandwich; ( I have already slowly changed from soft food to solid food ) like soft bread and other stuff; this sandwich was a advocate sandwich and I eat a half of it; because I felt full really was, but it did go down fine and I drank a cappuccino also.

2-3 hours later I felt really ill;
I started to have anxiety and felt pressure up agains my rips and my stomach was very bloated and felt cold and warm all at once;
my heart pressure was 140/90 and my pulse 140; for like 15 minutes until I tried to relax and when the pulse came down to 80 the heart-rate was again 118/81. then I did go to bed, woke up every hour from something weird until 8'clock in the morning. In the morning I felt better; drank a lot of water and took a walk and felt better.
and then I eat something small bites of bread and everything was going down great; without getting stuck.
but tonight I got a horrible pain in my chest and back felt like the worse reflux ever; and I took a ranitidine 150mg and a extra strenght Tums(antacid) and it didn't helped at all. Then I took 2 normal painkillers and everything was gone after 30minutes and now I feel better again. " does this mean it maybe wasn't reflux and the pain was from something else " ?

What can be wrong ? I have been very careful about no activity for 5 weeks; and I didn't think sauna for a few minutes and Jacuzzi hot tube bath for 10 minutes, was going to destroy my surgery ?

Do you think this was something that just happened or do you think maybe my stomach didn't like going to dark sandwich bread again ? this was the first time for 5 weeks. Maybe I should just cut back and start with liquid again ?

do you think any of this could destroy my hernia or nissen fundoplication ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Endri Katro (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Something you've eaten....

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking HealthcareMagic.

I am Dr.Endri Katro and I will be answering all of your questions.

As you have mentioned above, it has been 5 weeks from the time you had the surgery for the hiatal hernia + nissen fundoplication.

Let me explain a few things to help you understand how our digestive tract works.

In normal conditions, between our esophagus and stomach there is a "valve" (we call it a sphincter). This sphincter is formed by muscles. It allows food to pass from esophagus to our stomach. Also, it let air go back from our stomach to esophagus and our mouth (burping).

In your case, this valve is damaged so air is trapped in your stomach and it needs to pass through you bowel. Our stomach needs a lot of hours to empty itself.Also most of the patients have symptoms and can not tolerate all kind of food from 6 to 8 weeks after the operation.So yes,i think that it was too son for your dark sandwich.

You have no reason to have only liquids again,but don't use any kind of fast food, spicy food, fries at least for 2 to 3 more weeks. Also at this moment, alcohol and coffee might worsen your symptoms for the next 2-3 weeks.

Give your digestive track (your esophagus and stomach) the necessary time to heal properly and probably you will not have any more problems.

If you have any other question, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Wish you good health.

Dr.Endri Katro


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Endri Katro (8 minutes later)
thank you.

so in your professional opinion; even I feel reflux and pain; there was no damage done to the surgery ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Endri Katro (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Probably no...

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

With the symptom that you describe I don't think that there is any damage done to the body part (your digestive tract).

It is normal for patients to have these symptoms once in a while. If your surgery had failed (let's assume this for the sake of discussion) tean you would have the same symptoms prior to the surgery or even worse.

In my opinion, you may be having reflux and pain (rarely) symptoms but only due to the diet and not due to the procedure itself. But also, you need to keep in mind that there is always a small risk that the already performed procedure fails.

I don't think that it has failed in your case because from 5 weeks you had no symptoms and no problems in passing food.

Anyway, as i mentioned above, give it a few more weeks before testing your body with fast food.

While only one time having these symptoms, you should not be worried.

Wish you good health

Dr.Endri Katro

Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Endri Katro

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 342 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety Post A Hiatal Hernia Repair

Brief Answer: Something you've eaten.... Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for asking HealthcareMagic. I am Dr.Endri Katro and I will be answering all of your questions. As you have mentioned above, it has been 5 weeks from the time you had the surgery for the hiatal hernia + nissen fundoplication. Let me explain a few things to help you understand how our digestive tract works. In normal conditions, between our esophagus and stomach there is a "valve" (we call it a sphincter). This sphincter is formed by muscles. It allows food to pass from esophagus to our stomach. Also, it let air go back from our stomach to esophagus and our mouth (burping). In your case, this valve is damaged so air is trapped in your stomach and it needs to pass through you bowel. Our stomach needs a lot of hours to empty itself.Also most of the patients have symptoms and can not tolerate all kind of food from 6 to 8 weeks after the operation.So yes,i think that it was too son for your dark sandwich. You have no reason to have only liquids again,but don't use any kind of fast food, spicy food, fries at least for 2 to 3 more weeks. Also at this moment, alcohol and coffee might worsen your symptoms for the next 2-3 weeks. Give your digestive track (your esophagus and stomach) the necessary time to heal properly and probably you will not have any more problems. If you have any other question, please don't hesitate to contact me. Wish you good health. Dr.Endri Katro