Ivor lewis operation, post op symptoms.

[Temprell]

Hi people, my names Michael, I had the ivor lewis 2 years ago, a life saving operation I was very great full to receive obviously,since coming off all the morphine ect, and returning to work in the steel industry, I am experiencing severe pain on my right side that pain killers don't really relieve, but worse of all get bile reflux that burns like he'll and goes into my lungs even though I sleep chest well raised. Dose any body out there go through the same and if so how do you cope? Please advise me, many thanks Michael .

[Magpuss]

Bile reflux is foul stuff, and like you I've suffered with it getting into my lungs. It may be coincidental but I now have COPD so have to be extra careful. I found that it helps if I take acidophilus - (a pro-biotic) once a day preferably am., always take Gaviscon at bedtime and make sure that my pillows (one very chunky wedge shaped one, one memory foam one and three plump feather pillows) are arranged like a semi upright recliner. Initially (I'm now 5yrs post op) I tried sleeping in a more upright position but then found I was getting pain in my side, back or neck and shoulders depending on which way I'd 'slumped'. Once I was up and moving around this would ease and eventually go, I didn't need painkillers. I haven't experienced any permanent pains so don't know what maybe causing the pain in your side.

[HONORIUS in reply to Magpuss]

Hi Temprell,

Pain in the right hand side of your chest is an almost inevitable outcome of the procedure: even a cracked rib takes an age to recover from and you don't even want to know what your surgeon had to perform on your ribcage to gain access during the post-laparascopic part of the IL procedure. My surgery took place in June 2015. I have awakened this morning to the familiar pain; fainter, but omnipresent. However, it's six months since I took any pain relief (tramadol hydrochloride) and it's OK - just a vague white noise which only gets bad if I'm tired, have over-exercised or twist awkwardly. As for bile reflux, everything that Magpuss says is spot on. However, I have found Tung acupuncture gives amazing relief, a single one hour session sorting the problems for around two to three months. I take 15mg of Lansoprazole every other morning. I often wake up - despite an arrangement of pillows which likes like an illustration of The Princess & The Pea - flat on my back. And no reflux. However, a slight burning is the sign I need to get needled again: I can't go back to those horrors.

As you say, we're the lucky ones, eligible for surgery. Whatever it takes...

[Temprell in reply to HONORIUS]

Thank you so much, I'm trying pre gabaline for the pain, ( dare not watch the op on video) and trying to flush down the bile with Guinness at night lol, seriously thanks for your advice.

[sabbikins]

Hi Temprell, my hubby was having bile reflux every night too, horrible! We figured that since bile is produced to break down fats maybe he should limit fat in the evenings so that he doesn't produce bile, and it worked like a charm! He eats what he wants up until 4pm and after that for the rest of the day has little to no fat. So he eats chicken, lean meat and veg, fruit, even meringue and marshmallow. .... as long as it's low or no fat. He only gets bile reflux now if he eats the wrong thing after 4pm. We eat our main meal at lunchtime now, and just have something light in the evening. Give it a try

[Temprell in reply to sabbikins]

Thank you, I will try that , my problem is I like a Guinness or two in the evening and that makes me feel hungry and start raiding the fridge lol x

[sabbikins in reply to Temprell]

My hubby is exactly the same, he's an evening muncher! He eats all his 'bad' stuff before 4pm and then munches on apples and bananas, low fat popcorn in the evening. i know it doesn't sound all that exciting but better than the alternative just make sure it's low fat and you'll be fine. Try it for 1 night, you'll be amazed I'm sure

[Temprell in reply to sabbikins]

Will do , thank you very much ,will try that x

[Spikey]

Sabbikins is absolutely correct. The only way to reduce bile reflux is to avoid creating bile in the first place, which means following a low fat diet. Drinking Guiness itself will not cause a problem, but if you accompany it with eating crisps, or a bacon sandwich!, you are asking for trouble. I even find that eating fish and chips at lunchtime causes me a problem with bile and means I have to take Gaviscon before bed.

[Temprell in reply to Spikey]

Thank you for your advice it is appreciated

[gutlesswonder]

The severity of this problem very much depends on whether your gallbladder was removed, or not, during the Ivor Lewis procedure.

[Temprell in reply to gutlesswonder]

No , I still have my gallbladder, feels like they took everything else though lol

[gutlesswonder in reply to Temprell]

If you are engaged in manual labour with any element of bending & stretching and particularly lifting, then the effect of this on your pull-up and the compression of the abdomen will likely give you severe problems. There may be long term implications, for instance a rupture of the anastomosis could be fatal.

The primary purpose of pain is to act as a warning and disincentive.

What cough symptoms do you have?

If you are inhaling reflux then that can lead to permanent scaring even if you escape pneumonia.

Is your sputum stained orange?

[Temprell in reply to gutlesswonder]

Thank you, yes I do lots of heavy work ,it is unavoidable my sputum is bright orange.

[JDMC16]

i am on orodispersible lansoperazole to combat reflux post Ivor Lewis it seems to do the job majority of the time unless i am doing a lot of bending/lifting of heavy materials then it can play up a bit !