This operation, for me anyway, had good and bad results. All considered, I would do it over again.

Prior to surgery I was reduced to eating boiled chicken and drinking water. All other food and drink substances produced stomach, esophagus, and chest pain.
I was not able to bend over or lay flat without pain due to reflux.
I went into the hospital with 1 problem and came out with 3 problems.

A nurse gave me an IV directly on my wrist. Seemed like it was right into the bone within about 20 minutes. The pre-op nurse said she would move it when I was put to sleep.

After the surgery, I did have chest pain and shallow breathing was the order of the day and coughing was not fun. It was all tolerable. I had questions, none of the nurses had answers for even the simplest questions. Wait for your doctor, they would say.(just great!)

Drinking felt like I was eating bricks. Fluids first then some solids later. (no problem!)

Well, then came the question, "Have you been to the bathroom?" No, but thanks for asking, I replied. I knew what was coming within a few hours if I could not produce some fluid.
Some hours later, my nurse informed me she would be right back to install a catheter. First time for me, I said. Be gently!
After 4 attempts, she gave up and went to get another nurse. This nurse got it on the first try. The other nurse apologized stating it was her first time doing a male patient. I wish I had a BAT in my hands.
(Note: Within 2 weeks of leaving the hospital, I developed epididymitis (the boys ache). I cannot get anyone to admit that the nurse caused it by inserting and removing the same catheter 4 times. They just say, Well, it could have been the cause.)

Prior to my surgery, I was able to talk with someone that had the surgery. He told me to watch out for the dressing. He developed a reaction to them that resulted in blisters, the shape of the bandage, on his skin.
I questioned the staff about it during pre-testing. Never heard of it, they ALL said.
Two days later, guess what I developed. Very painful blisters, the shape of the bandages.

Hours went by without seeing any nurse during the night. I did feel neglected.

Saturday: I had a fever that would keep me in the hospital longer. I wanted out. We prefer to let the fever break on its own, they said. No medication.
I brought my own (yeah!). Swallowing it was another trick all together. I pulverized it into a fine powder. Fever went away by 10am. Bladder empty. Wrist still hurting from the bungled IV. Get me out of here! We are waiting for the doctor to call.
You better get him or I am checking myself out.
While waiting, I had some food (jello). No problem. There was some solid food on the plate in case I felt like I wanted to try it. I did.
Very tiny tiny bites. The first piece of food got stuck somewhere down there. I panicked. It was a strange feeling. Throat clogged, breathing okay. I discovered I could take my time dislodging the food without dieing. I was never able to make myself gag. I learned fast.
(Note: Within 2 days of leaving the hospital, I was able to dislodge food quite easily.)
Still at the hospital, the doctor showed up and he asked me questions. I was out by 5pm.

From check-in to check-out, the St Mary's hospital staff was inexperienced and in one instance, I was ready to kill someone.
The surgical team proved better skilled except for the skin infection starting where I was shaved for grounding purposes.
The surgery was fine. The pain was what I expected. The post surgery was also what I expected. The blisters I was not supposed to get, hurt like hell.
I needed new eating habits. In one case, garlic, I can no longer eat it in any way shape or form. Within hours of eating any form of garlic, I develop multiple mouth sores. Guess what, I have a gel for that. Two years later, I am still using it.
For whatever reason, I no longer belch, even after a beer. This results in severe internal pressure which, (this is my opinion) inflates my stomach (it gets very hard) which pushes on a nerve in my spine which gives me a severe headache that medication will not help.
The pain starts in the center of my back and within 5 minutes I get this headache. I lay down for 2 hours and it is mostly gone but I feel like I have a hangover. No cream for this!
Doctors are puzzled with this one. They say my theory is not possible. Maybe so but it feels just like that is what is happening.
I found out that it is the amount not the substance that causes this. They agree but the doctors still don't know why it happens.
I used to get heartburn a lot. I was told I would still get heartburn like other people.
I haven't had any heartburn since the operation. All the foods that gave my heartburn before surgery I now enjoy without any heartburn.

Going on 3 year now, still get the rashes, still have epididymitis, can't eat garlic (I stay in at night now J), don't get heartburn, eating habits drastically changed, some physical activity (heavy lifting) eliminated, I can bend and lay flat without problems, and have 3 prescriptions, for creams and gels, with 3 refills.

After just about 4 years, major problems. See my Major Problem story.