During surgery, a nasogastric tube (NG tube) is placed in the stomach through the nose and throat. Some surgeons leave this tube in for a few days after surgery, while other surgeons choose not to.
There is typically a one- to three-day hospital stay after a laparoscopic surgery, and a two- to six-day recovery with the "open" procedure.
Eating small, frequent meals while avoiding foods that trigger heartburn are important both during recovery and afterwards. Foods to avoid include:
- Fried foods
- Fatty foods
- Citrus fruits
- Tomato products
- Caffeine
- Alcoholic beverages
- Citrus fruit drinks
- Chocolate
- Peppermint
- Pepper
Sources:
"Heartburn Or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)" American College of Gastroenterology. 25 Nov 2007.
"Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)" NIH Publication No. 03 07-0882 May 2007. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). 25 Nov 2007.
