As many of you know I am headed under the tiny knife on Thursday. The procedure is called Nissen Fundoplication surgery, but in my research I've found that all the cool people call it "fundo."

Fundoplication is a surgery done to control Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Apparently reflux is a significant cause of rhinitis, which is inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes. It basically means I am full of snot all the time and regularly blow through a box of tissues in only a few days.

Most reflux is controllable by the use of medications but occasionally the medications don’t work or just aren’t enough. The medications did work for me, slowing the snot production considerably, but since I didn't want to take pills the rest of my life the only option was surgery. Here is a description of what happens during the procedure.

The "fundus" (hence the term fundoplication) of the stomach (top portion of the stomach) is wrapped around the back of the esophagus until it is once again in front. The portion of the fundus that is pulled to the right side of the esophagus is sutured to the portion on the left side to keep the wrap in place. Apparently when completed, the fundoplication resembles a buttoned shirt collar. The collar is the fundus wrap and the neck represents the esophagus inside the wrap. This has the effect of creating a one-way valve in the esophagus to allow food to pass into the stomach, but prevent stomach acid from flowing into the esophagus and thus prevent GERD.



My surgery will be performed laparoscopically (weak stomachs be warned) while I am under general anesthesia. Five tiny incisions will be made in my abdomen. One is used for the laparoscope, the other four are used to retract and manipulate structures in the abdomen.

I'm sure there are other details to mention, but of greatest consequence is that my diet will be radically different for seven to eight weeks. In fact, the first six days are crazy. Generally a person is on a "clear liquid diet" for three days after surgery. That includes:

• apple juice
• cranbery juice
• grape juice
• chicken broth
• beef broth
• flavored Jell-O
• decaf tea

After this, and if I'm doing well, I advance to the "full liquid diet" for three more days which includes:

• milk (no chocolate milk)
• cream of wheat or cream of rice
• strained cream soups (except tomato or brocolli)
• vanilla and strawberry ice cream
• sherbet
• yogurt (no strawberry or rasberry flavored because of seeds)
• Carnation Instant Breakfast (except chocolate)

If I'm still doing well after this I move on to the "Nissen soft diet." There are too many things to post here, but suffice it to say, the list does not include coffee. I'll probably be a minimum of seven weeks away from Starbucks and many other of my beloved foods. Please pray for the doctors on Thursday and my discipline over the next couple months. While I'm certainly looking forward to being less snotty, I also don't want to blow my testimony in caffiene withdrawl.

You can read the wiki for some additional info and links on the fundo.