Post-Operative Info
LINX Post-Op Info
Fundoplication Post-Op Info
Hiatal Hernia Repair With LINX Post-Operative and Diet Instructions
Diet
- It is important to eat something of substance every 2-3 hours to exercise your LINX device. You will need to supplement your diet with a tablespoon of pudding, yogurt, or applesauce every 1-2 hours while awake.
- Eat small frequent meals.
- Slow down when eating and pause between bites.
- Cold fluids and food may cause spasms of the esophagus: No cold beverages or ice for 72 hours after surgery.
- If you feel food is getting stuck warm fluids may help. Starting a meal with warm fluids may help relax the esophagus prior to eating.
- You will want to stick with softer foods for the first 2 weeks after surgery. You will want to avoid meats and breads until your follow up appointment in the office. Once you do advance to meats you will want to avoid dry meats and make sure to cut meats into small pieces.
- You may have trouble with rice, salad, and peanut butter in the immediate post-operative period.
- Drink at least 6-8 glasses of liquids per day. No straws or carbonated beverages.
Daily Incision Care
- You may remove your bandages 24-48 hours after surgery.
- You can start to shower daily once surgical dressings have been removed. You do not need to cover your incisions.
- If you have staples they will be removed 2 weeks after surgery.
- If you have sutures/surgical glue they will dissolve on their own. Do not pull the glue off that is covering the incisions.
- NO swimming, hot tubs, or tub baths until incisions are healed.
- You may have swelling or bruising at the incision sites. This is normal.
Restrictions
- You can walk, climb stairs, and do household activities as tolerated. We encourage you to get up and move around daily.
- No heavy lifting greater than 10 lbs for 6 weeks after surgery.
- No sit ups or abdominal crunches for 6 weeks after surgery. No running or high impact cardio. You can use a treadmill or stationary bike.
- No driving for 72 hours after surgery.
If you have Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia)
It is not uncommon to experience difficulty swallowing after the LINX procedure. This may even temporarily worsen around 2-4 weeks after surgery and persist up to 6 months after surgery. It is important that you continue to eat soft foods even if it feels like it is getting stuck. Stretching the beads by eating prevents excess scarring around the device. Think of this as "physical therapy" for your esophagus. Reverting to a liquid diet will only increase the risk of long-term trouble swallowing and/or needing an esophageal dilation later.
If you have Shoulder Pain or Neck Pain
This is not uncommon due to the phrenic nerve irritation at the diaphragm during hiatal hernia repair and the air we use to inflate your abdomen irritating the diaphragm. This should improve significantly within 72 hours. Try a heating pad for relief and take over-the-counter pain medication as directed.
If you have Excessive Gas/Bloating
- Refrain from drinking carbonated beverages for at least 8 weeks.
- Eat or drink slowly over a 1-hour period so that you do not get overly full.
- Limit the "gas forming" foods or habits (e.g. carbonated beverages, gum, fatty foods, beans, nuts, citrus fruits, raw vegetables, fiber supplements, and using a straw). Take Gas-X or simethicone over the counter in between meals and Beano with meals as needed for gas.
If you feel like you are having Acid Reflux
This is likely due to food not going completely down. Eat or drink slowly over a 1-hour period, have multiple small meals a day, and avoid more dense foods.
If you are having Constipation
You may take Docusate or other stool softeners to help. You may also require Miralax which you can also get over the counter.
Medication Regimen
- Prior acid suppression medication (Nexium, Prilosec, Omeprazole, Zegerid, Prevacid, Dexilant, Protonix, Aciphex, Pepcid, etc) will be discussed with surgeon prior to discharge.
- You may be prescribed a mild narcotic pain medication such as Norco. You do not have to take this medication if you are experiencing mild pain. Alternative post-surgery pain regimen may consist of Tylenol 650mg and Ibuprofen (Motrin) 600mg. These will be alternated every 3 hours. You can buy the liquid form of these if you are having trouble swallowing pills.
- If you start to experience severe trouble swallowing (only able to get liquids down or struggling with every bite of soft foods) PLEASE call the office to let us know. If this problem persist you may be prescribed Prednisone 50mg daily for 10 days.
- You may continue all other home medications unless instructed by the physician team.
- Medications that are able to be crushed may be dissolved in liquids prior to make it easier to swallow. Please check with your pharmacist to ensure your medications are okay to crush prior to doing this. You may also take your pills with applesauce if you are having difficulty, especially if they can't be crushed.
Contact Information
For any questions, please call our office at 614-766-5050. Our office is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. After office hours an on-call service will answer and they will take a detailed message for the physician on-call. For any emergencies please go to the emergency room or dial 911.
When to call your Doctor
- Increased redness or drainage of the incision.
- Temperature greater than 101 degrees F.
- Worsening belly pain that is not controlled with pain medication.
- Unable to drink fluids.
- If a piece of food is stuck in your throat, drink some warm water slowly to see if the food will pass on its own.
Post Operative Follow-up Schedule
You will have a follow-up appointment with your surgeon in 2 weeks. Please call 614-766-5050 to schedule.
Hiatal Hernia Repair With Fundoplication Post-Operative and Diet Instructions
Diet
- It is recommended to eat 5-6 smaller meals each day instead of 2-3 large meals.
- For the first week, stay on a full liquid or soft diet. This includes broths, soups, milkshakes, puddings, and mashed potatoes.
- NO meats or breads until after your follow up appointment with your surgeon.
- Chew each bite of food very well. Eat slowly. You may need 20-30 minutes to eat a meal.
- If you feel full quickly, try to drink fluids between meals instead of with meals.
- Avoid drinking with straws as this may help you swallow less air when you drink.
- Most patient will return to their previous diet in about 4-6 weeks.
Daily Incision Care
- You may remove your bandages 24-48 hours after surgery.
- You can start to shower daily once surgical dressings have been removed. You do not need to cover your incisions.
- If you have staples they will be removed 2 weeks after surgery.
- If you have sutures/surgical glue they will dissolve on their own. Do not pull the glue off that is covering the incisions.
- NO swimming, hot tubs, or tub baths until incisions are healed.
- You may have swelling or bruising at the incision sites. This is normal.
Restrictions
- You can walk, climb stairs, and do household activities as tolerated. We encourage you to get up and move around daily.
- No heavy lifting greater than 10 lbs for 6 weeks after surgery.
- No sit ups or abdominal crunches for 6 weeks after surgery. No running or high impact cardio. You can use a treadmill or stationary bike.
- No driving for 72 hours after surgery.
If you have Shoulder Pain or Neck Pain
This is not uncommon due to the phrenic nerve irritation at the diaphragm during hiatal hernia repair and the air we use to inflate your abdomen irritating the diaphragm. This should improve significantly within 72-hours. Try a heating pad for relief and take over the counter pain medication as directed.
If you have Excessive Gas/Bloating
- Refrain from drinking carbonated beverages for at least 8 weeks.
- Eat or drink slowly over a 1-hour period so that you do not get overly full.
- Limit the "gas forming" foods or habits (e.g. carbonated beverages, gum, fatty foods, beans, nuts, citrus fruits, raw vegetables, fiber supplements, and using a straw). Take Gas-X or simethicone over the counter in between meals and Beano with meals as needed for gas.
If you feel like you are having Acid Reflux
This is likely due to food not going completely down. Eat or drink slowly over a 1-hour period, have multiple small meals a day, and avoid more dense foods.
If you are having Constipation
You may take Docusate or other stool softeners to help. You may also require Miralax which you can also get over the counter.
Medication Regimen
- Prior acid suppression medication (Nexium, Prilosec, Omeprazole, Zegerid, Prevacid, Dexilant, Protonix, Aciphex, Pepcid, etc) will be discussed with surgeon prior to discharge.
- You may be prescribed a mild narcotic pain medication such as Norco. You do not have to take this medication if you are experiencing mild pain. Alternative post-surgery pain regimen may consist of Tylenol 650mg and Ibuprofen (Motrin) 600mg. These will be alternated every 3 hours. You can buy the liquid form of these if you are having trouble swallowing pills.
- If you start to experience severe trouble swallowing (only able to get liquids down or struggling with every bite of soft foods) PLEASE call the office to let us know. If this problem persist you may be prescribed Prednisone 50mg daily for 10 days.
- You may continue all other home medications unless instructed by the physician team.
- Medications that are able to be crushed may be dissolved in liquids prior to make it easier to swallow. Please check with your pharmacist to ensure your medications are okay to crush prior to doing this. You may also take your pills with applesauce if you are having difficulty, especially if they can't be crushed.
Contact Information
For any questions, please call our office at 614-766-5050. Our office is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. After office hours an on-call service will answer and they will take a detailed message for the physician on-call. For any emergencies please go to the emergency room or dial 911.
When to call your Doctor
- Increased redness or drainage of the incision.
- Temperature greater than 101 degrees F.
- Worsening belly pain that is not controlled with pain medication.
- Unable to drink fluids.
- If a piece of food is stuck in your throat, drink some warm water slowly to see if the food will pass on its own.
Post Operative Follow-up Schedule
You will have a follow-up appointment with your surgeon in 2 weeks. Please call 614-766-5050 to schedule.
Hiatal Hernia Repair With Gastropexy Post-Operative and Diet Instructions
Diet
- It is recommended to eat 5-6 smaller meals each day instead of 2-3 large meals.
- For the first week, stay on a full liquid or soft diet. This includes broths, soups, milkshakes, puddings, and mashed potatoes.
- NO meats or breads until after your follow up appointment with your surgeon.
- Chew each bite of food very well. Eat slowly. You may need 20-30 minutes to eat a meal.
- If you feel full quickly, try to drink fluids between meals instead of with meals.
- Avoid drinking with straws as this may help you swallow less air when you drink.
- Most patient will return to their previous diet in about 4-6 weeks.
Daily Incision Care
- You may remove your bandages 24-48 hours after surgery.
- You can start to shower daily once surgical dressings have been removed. You do not need to cover your incisions.
- If you have staples they will be removed 2 weeks after surgery.
- If you have sutures/surgical glue they will dissolve on their own. Do not pull the glue off that is covering the incisions.
- NO swimming, hot tubs, or tub baths until incisions are healed.
- You may have swelling or bruising at the incision sites. This is normal.
Restrictions
- You can walk, climb stairs, and do household activities as tolerated. We encourage you to get up and move around daily.
- No heavy lifting greater than 10 lbs for 6 weeks after surgery.
- No sit ups or abdominal crunches for 6 weeks after surgery. No running or high impact cardio. You can use a treadmill or stationary bike.
- No driving for 72 hours after surgery.
If you have Shoulder Pain or Neck Pain
This is not uncommon due to the phrenic nerve irritation at the diaphragm during hiatal hernia repair and the air we use to inflate your abdomen irritating the diaphragm. This should improve significantly within 72-hours. Try a heating pad for relief and take over the counter pain medication as directed.
If you have Excessive Gas/Bloating
- Refrain from drinking carbonated beverages for at least 8 weeks.
- Eat or drink slowly over a 1-hour period so that you do not get overly full.
- Limit the "gas forming" foods or habits (e.g. carbonated beverages, gum, fatty foods, beans, nuts, citrus fruits, raw vegetables, fiber supplements, and using a straw). Take Gas-X or simethicone over the counter in between meals and Beano with meals as needed for gas.
If you feel like you are having Acid Reflux
This is likely due to food not going completely down. Eat or drink slowly over a 1-hour period, have multiple small meals a day, and avoid more dense foods.
If you are having Constipation
You may take Docusate or other stool softeners to help. You may also require Miralax which you can also get over the counter.
Medication Regimen
- Prior acid suppression medication (Nexium, Prilosec, Omeprazole, Zegerid, Prevacid, Dexilant, Protonix, Aciphex, Pepcid, etc) will be discussed with surgeon prior to discharge.
- You may be prescribed a mild narcotic pain medication such as Norco. You do not have to take this medication if you are experiencing mild pain. Alternative post-surgery pain regimen may consist of Tylenol 650mg and Ibuprofen (Motrin) 600mg. These will be alternated every 3 hours. You can buy the liquid form of these if you are having trouble swallowing pills.
- If you start to experience severe trouble swallowing (only able to get liquids down or struggling with every bite of soft foods) PLEASE call the office to let us know. If this problem persist you may be prescribed Prednisone 50mg daily for 10 days.
- You may continue all other home medications unless instructed by the physician team.
- Medications that are able to be crushed may be dissolved in liquids prior to make it easier to swallow. Please check with your pharmacist to ensure your medications are okay to crush prior to doing this. You may also take your pills with applesauce if you are having difficulty, especially if they can't be crushed.
Contact Information
For any questions, please call our office at 614-766-5050. Our office is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. After office hours an on-call service will answer and they will take a detailed message for the physician on-call. For any emergencies please go to the emergency room or dial 911.
When to call your Doctor
- Increased redness or drainage of the incision.
- Temperature greater than 101 degrees F.
- Worsening belly pain that is not controlled with pain medication.
- Unable to drink fluids.
- If a piece of food is stuck in your throat, drink some warm water slowly to see if the food will pass on its own.
Post Operative Follow-up Schedule
You will have a follow-up appointment with your surgeon in 2 weeks. Please call 614-766-5050 to schedule.