Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy, Care After

The following information offers guidance on how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.

What can I expect after the procedure?

• Some discomfort when swallowing.
• Soreness in the abdomen.
• A full, tight, or painful feeling in the abdomen (bloating).

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Ask your health care provider if the medicine prescribed to you:
  • Requires you to avoid driving or using machinery.
  • Can cause constipation. You may need to take these actions to prevent or treat constipation:
    • Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
    • Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
    • Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried or sweet foods.

Eating and drinking

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
• You may need to eat only soft foods, such as yogurt and ice cream, for a period of time.

Incision care

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your incisions. Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
  • Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
• Check your incision area every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
• Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you may take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths.

Activity

• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Go for a walk or get some physical activity one or more times a day. This can help to relieve bloating.
• Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that you are told, until your health care provider says that it is safe.

General instructions

• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco. These products include cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and vaping devices, such as e-cigarettes. These can delay incision healing after surgery. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have any of the following:
  • Pain that does not go away with medicine.
  • Painful bloating.
  • Trouble swallowing.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • An incision that opens up.
• You have any of these signs of infection:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain around an incision.
  • Fluid or blood coming from an incision.
  • Warmth coming from an incision.
  • Pus or a bad smell coming from an incision.
  • A fever.
• You have symptoms of constipation, such as:
  • Fewer bowel movements in a week than normal.
  • Trouble having a bowel movement.
  • Stools (feces) that are dry, hard, or larger than normal.
• You have symptoms of food and stomach acid moving back up into your esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD), such as:
  • Heartburn.
  • Having an upset or bloated stomach.
  • A feeling of having a lump in your throat.
  • A bitter taste in your mouth.

Get help right away if:

• You have any of the following:
  • Vomiting that is severe or does not stop.
  • Severe bloating.
• You cannot swallow.
• You vomit blood.
• You have trouble breathing.

These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

Summary

• Check your incision area every day for signs of infection, such as redness or swelling.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions. You may need to eat only soft foods, such as yogurt and ice cream, for a period of time.
• Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is generally a safe procedure. Contact your health care provider about any concerning symptoms following this procedure.