burping and flatulence issues 4 weeks after nissen fundoplication

Ellen C
I too have the same problem with belching and gas only one week after surgery....and also now pain again in my right shoulder and breast bone....It is so uncomfortable but I have been told this is normal and should resolve later into my recovery!

Wishing you well and a speedy recovery

I am 76 years old and had a HH repair and floppy 360 NF nearly three years ago. I am the poster "boy" for a successful recovery after a lifetime of reflux. You can search the archives for my previous posts because I am a big advocate for NF for people who had problems similar to mine -- reflux without Barrett's or other debilitating stomach problems.

I can now eat anything, any way I want to. I never get reflux and therefore no heartburn. I can now drink carbonated drinks, alcohol etc. -- even through a straw if I want to. However, if I drink carbonated beverages with a meal, it limits how much food I can eat due to air pressure build up in my stomach. Food and carbonation do not mix.

I regularly eat lobster, shrimp, crab,-- gas inducing veggies -- whatever and whenever I like. I live in "Cajun" country and eat spicy foods without any problems. However, I still have the "burping" and flatulance problem -- it will probably never go away. It is inconvenient, but a far cry from the days when I had to force myself to vomit prior too going to bed because otherwise I knew I would be awake coughing from reflux all night.

Most of my present day burping and flatulance is simply venting air/carbonation from my digestive tract -- it is not true burping. I cannot force the gas out until my stomach is ready to do it. If I consciously try to force it, my esophagus seems to lock tightly to prevent gas from passing through the LES. However if I just relax, the gas will gradually vent into my esophagus and then I can force it on out. It is not involuntary burping.

At the same time some of the ingested air seems to rapidly pass through my gut into the colon. I have great ripping "Farts" but thankfully no noxious odors -- just noise. That is not to say that I never have regular gas, but this pressure buildup occurs immediately after eating and is obviously just air that needs to be vented.

If you have any comments or questions about my personal experiences, my E-mail address is listed on my profile.

I think it is pretty normal -- it just takes some getting used to. I am 4 years in and i have not experienced any reflux since the 360 degree Fundo...again knock on wood. I can burp but differently from pre-fundo. The air/gas seems to gradually leak or vent into my esophagus and then I can force it out. I can drink carbonated beverages but not with meals. If I drink with meals I get full very fast and tend to overeat and it seems to lock the venting process up. It aches until the pressure goes down.

Best of health and full recovery to you

Retired Seabee.

Did you still get the sensation that even though its not, you could feel depending on what it was going past thd wrap and it gives the sensation its going to get stuck. I dont get this all the time. Just occassionally.

J24O890, the mini burps are just air needing to get out. After all, there is a wrap now and the breakdown of proteins can be a bit difficult. Also the breakdown of grains. So continue to eat right and in small quantities, small bites, chew well, ingest slowly. Drink herbal teas - they helped me a lot - something like ginger or mint tea.

J24O890, I'm 2.5 years post surgery! So, I'm really very well, thank you. I know you're just 10 months in; so there's still a lot going on. Give it time - it will all get better. If you are able to work out a little bit, that too will help. Walking is really beneficial and low impact. I loved being able to go back to working out 3 months after surgery and was able to lift weights, do burpees, crunches, punch a punching bag, etc. I just used lower weights than before and worked my way up to lifting more than I ever did before surgery. But I would ask the doctor if you are ready to work out - just to be sure. Walking, swimming, yoga, pilates are all low impact so you don't have to opt for intense workouts - I just enjoy intense workouts mixed with pilates. Juices that helped me were the Low Sodium V8 vegetable juice and Prune Juice. Teas that helped me were Trader Joe's Ginger Turmeric Herbal Tea or Ginger Chamomile Tea and Trader Joe's Peppermint Tea.

Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Also, if you are lifting things, some shortness of breath is expected. Remember the top of the stomach is now wrapped around the lower part of the esophagus and the whole contraption is attached to your diaphragm. What helped me the first 15 months post surgery was making sure I wore clothes that were lose around the stomach and chest. And going slow, taking deep breaths and stopping when I needed. While that hasn't entirely gone away 2.5 years later, it is so much better and I've just got a system that works for me. You are still healing ...

@CoachCS, my husband had gastric a few years ago & the only way he can control the gas is with an OTC medicine that contains simethicone, it works. I buy one Phyzeme, I think I misspelled it. Anyway, give it a try it will not hurt you.

Hve you tried talking to your surgeon. He might want to do a repeat endoscopy to make sure the wrap isn't compromised. Did you have a manometry done before your surgery?

Sharon