Nissen Fundoplicaton Surgery Questions

Dear Daun,

Forgive me for not responding right away to your comment.  I was swallowng very well on the eighth day after the Cricopharngeal Myotomy but ever since the Nissen Fundoplication, I have to have only liquified foods.  I cannot have Ensure or any formula to balance my nutritional needs due to food allergies.  I think it's psychologically, but I feel hungry all the time.  I find that my stomach can take in quite a bit of fluid and liquified soup or smoothies but I just can't anything thick.  I'm so bored with my limited choices in food and anxious to eat a semi-normal meal.  Going places where food it served is quite a challenge for me. I attended a memorial service last Saturday and to my dismay, the only food I could consume was lemonade and the pudding & cream of a slice of pie.  Bummer! 

Today I will have my esophagus dilated at the hospital where I had my surgery.  I'm very hopeful that this procedure will allow me to eat a wider or near normal assortment of foods.  I do have a history of esophageal spasms so this is my second time having dilation.  The esophageal spasms have NEVER been this bad before. The Esophagram showed the esophagus as being extremely swollen and "beak shaped" or spastic to the point of only allowing drips of fluid to get through.  I was very dismayed to see how swollen my esophagus was around the Nissen surgical sight.  I think that swelling is much better now but whether or not my esphagus has stopped spasming so much is anyone's guess. When the GI doc goes in there today, he will tell  me if the swelling is a great concern or not.  I suspect if the swelling is significant, he will not do the dilation.  I mentally have a nice meal planned in my head if he is success at opening up the esophagus.  For me, I know my brain is sending signals for the esophagus to spasm. I have damage to my cerebellum and brain stem which coordinated muscle movement and much more.  My case is very complex and I don't want any one to think my experience means the same will happen to them.

Despite my difficulties, I do NOT regret having either one of the surgeries. When my brain calms down, I will be better off.  I just never know what unusual thing my CNS will do when under physical stress.  Mentally and emotionally I can handle all of this. 

How are you doing?  Worried you will never eat normal again? I was diagnosed with severe achalasia in my throat. Cutting the bands of muscles in the CP Myotomy was what needed to be done  Best of luck to you on the Botox.  I receive Botox (Myobloc)injections in my arms to relieve some of the skeletal muscle contractions in my hands. It helps.  Be sure to select an ENT doctor very well experienced in Botox injection to the throat.  You don't need more swallowing probems.

I'll post again after my dilation procedure is over.  My prayers are many for a good outcome.  God bless you and I pray you will find relief too.