The other parameters for recovery are as follows:

1. To commence drinking and eating

Generally, 1-2 hours after returning to the ward. One is awake and starts with sips building up to free fluids and diet in a few hours.

2. Mobilisation

Within an hour or two, building up to walking to wash room with supervision and support within four hours. Walks in corridors can be commenced after 6- 8 hours. Sitting on chair outside bed is preferred and recommended. Early mobilisation helps to reduce the post-operative shoulder (mostly left) tip pain post-surgery.

          3. Post-operative pain


In an ideal world the pain should be 0/10. However realistically one can expect pain scores of 1-3/10 after Laparoscopic Nissen’s Fundoplication. Pain is generally in the right upper abdomen or the shoulders (especially right shoulder), but can be present in the right shoulder too. AT times one experiences pain in the upper middle back (area of repair of diaphragm).

One expects to have pain and discomfort for 4-6 days after surgery and requires regular pain killers for this period. After this period, if one gets any further pain then they can continue taking pain killers for longer according to their situation.

Though a person is reasonably comfortable by the end of first week, however, one can expect slight discomfort and at times pain for up to two weeks as one increases the activity while the healing is still going on in the body. Very few people may feel pain for up to three weeks or longer.

4. Opening bowels/going to the toilet

Passing water/urine commences within a few hours after surgery. One will pass flatus /wind from the day of surgery or one day afterwards. Bowels will generally open day 2-5 after surgery.

On is likely to get constipated because of eating less during this period and getting constipation causing pain killers after surgery. In cases of known history of constipation or not opening bowels after surgery, taking laxatives is advisable. Any laxatives that a patient is familiar with or the surgeon advising, will suffice.

A patient after Laparoscopic Nissen’s Fundoplication getting sudden left sided abdominal pain 4-5 days surgery generally has faecal loading and constipation. If worried, then medical advice from surgeon should be sought.

5. Discharge home/ stay in hospital

The same day after the surgery or after one-night stay in the hospital. Generally, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates we keep the patients in the hospital for 1-3 nights after surgery.

Even in United Kingdom most patients will stay in the hospital for 1 night after surgery by a good surgeon.

If there were any complications including conversion to an open operation during surgery or any observation of a problem needing addressing, one may need to stay in longer.

6. Dietary restrictions

There are some dietary restrictions. One is advised to slowly build up to normal diet over 6 weeks period after surgery. One starts from liquids from the day of surgery to sloppy diet one day post operatively. Detailed advice is provided to the patients and they are reviewed by the dietician after surgery.

The general advice is to:

• Take small bites
• Chew well
• Eat slowly
• Small portion sizes
• To avoid hard red meet or slice of bread for the first 2 weeks

Now a days we rarely chew; we just gulp our food! Fast pace of modern

life!! A good number of patients miss one or more of the points mentioned above; only to learn their lesson and not to repeat the mistake.

One can expect to be 90% back to normal, 6 weeks after surgery and 100% back to normal after 3 months, in terms of swallowing.

One must remember that the stomach capacity is reduced by 30% after the surgery and food portion size (quantity that one can eat) becomes less after Laparoscopic Nissen’s Fundoplication and the person is likely to lose some weight after this surgery. For some weight loss is an added bonus of surgery.

For other if it’s an issue, then they are advised to eat more frequently. Four meals a day rather than three and snacking in between.

7. Road travel restrictions

One can travel for reasonable distance by road on the day of surgery or the day afterward. Longer and bumpy journeys can cause discomfort but do not interfere with surgery or its outcome.

8. Return to light exercise

From the day after surgery with light walks, but being sensible and slowing down or stopping if one feels pain or discomfort.

9. Return to moderate exercise

From 4-5 days after surgery onwards, once the patient is off the painkillers. Excluding core exercises and those exercises requiring to hold breath and strain; like over head presses with weights, dead lift or pulling a bus or a plane!

10. Return to heavy exercise

From 6 weeks onwards, while listening to the body’s recovery and slowing down if uncomfortable, before it becomes painful. Different people will have different recovery times in accordance with their pain thresholds. Be sensible and do not cause yourself pain and discomfort.

11. Return to driving

Generally, when one is pain free and can focus on driving and road safely with a safe margin. Its variable and can be 4- 7 days after surgery with no complications. Insurance companies may not cover if one drives too early after surgery, while having pain.

12. Return to swimming

In the sea after 1 week

In the pool after 2 weeks

13. Return to air travel

Withing 2-5 days after surgery

14. Return to work

“After a day if you are self-employed; after 6 months if you are a civil servant”, is what I told my patients in United Kingdom.

Probably allowing 2 weeks after surgery will suffice in most cases. If in doubt then consult with your doctor.