Anti-reflux surgery - discharge

When You Were in the Hospital:

You had surgery to treat your gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a condition that causes food or liquid to come up from your stomach into your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach).

Your surgeon probably repaired a hiatal hernia with stitches. A hiatal hernia develops when the natural opening in your diaphragm is too large. Your diaphragm is the muscle and tissue layer between your chest and belly. Your stomach may bulge through this large hole into your chest. This bulging is called a hiatal hernia. It may make GERD symptoms worse.

Your surgeon also wrapped the upper part of your stomach around the end of your esophagus to create pressure at the end of your esophagus. This pressure helps prevent stomach acid and food from flowing back up.

Your surgery was done by making a large incision in your upper belly (open surgery) or with a laparoscope (a thin tube with a tiny camera on the end).

What to Expect at Home:

Most patients go back to work 2 to 3 weeks after laparoscopic surgery and 4 to 6 weeks after open surgery.

You may have a feeling of tightness when you swallow for 6 to 8 weeks. This is from the swelling inside your esophagus. You may also have some bloating.

Self-care:

Wound Care:

Take care of your wound (incision):

• If sutures (stitches), staples, or glue were used to close your skin, you may remove the wound dressings (bandages) and take a shower the day after surgery.
• If tape strips (Steri-Strips) were used to close your skin, cover the wounds with plastic wrap before showering for the first week. Tape the edges of the plastic carefully to keep water out. Do NOT try to wash the Steri-Strips off. They will fall off on their own after about a week.
• Do not soak in a bathtub or hot tub, or go swimming, until your doctor tells you it is okay.

When to Call the Doctor:

Call your doctor or nurse if:

• Your temperature is above 101° F.
• Your incisions are bleeding, red, warm to the touch, or have a thick, yellow, green, or milky drainage.
• Your belly swells or hurts.
• You have nausea or vomiting for more than 24 hours.
• You have problems swallowing that keep you from eating.
• You have problems swallowing that do not go away after 2 or 3 weeks.
• You have pain that your pain medicine is not helping.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You have a cough that does not go away.
• You cannot drink or eat.
• Your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow.