1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Reflux Oesophagitis

Recent Hiatus Hernia repair Surgery

Posted , 9 users are following.

david61512
david61512

I had surgery 10 weeks ago for GERD. Don't know exactly what was done since I've not had the follow up consultation yet. However, for anyone waiting or considering it (if it helps), here were my symptoms and experience.

Experienced heartburn (on and off) since a small child. Mother was troubled by it too (interestinglly Rennies haven't changed since the early 60's). As I got older my heartburn got more frequent until I ended up on Acid inhibitors from the GP when I reached about 50. This is when I started experiencing what I call reflux, certain foods coming back up my gullet and into my mouth again. My stomach was rejecting them. Porridge and the like. eventually, most things came back up.

My surgery seems to have been a complete sucess. Acid has gone completely and reflux has gone too. I've not been sick one or even felt nauseous. My wife tells me my loud snoring is not as noticible, but she's not sure, will have to monitor this one. I've been looking to see what excersize can be done and whether there is anything  you cant do? Might have to wait for the follow up op. Went for a 5k parkrun last Saturday morning in Basingsstoke  and didn't feel anything amiss but would like to see any advice given to other patients.

 

6 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

Next
  • mo85382
    mo85382 david61512

    Posted

    Oh well done! Great! Hoping all is well on your next appointment follow up. Yes i am and have been looking into the Linx op. Mostly positive from what i have read. It does sound good? But possibly might be different for different people? Again from what ive read. I have done an awful lot of reading/looking into since last fri night. Think i should have been a doctor now - ha.
  • david61512
    david61512

    Posted

    Forgot to mention the real reason I felt compelled to get the op done. I couldn't risk eating too late in the evening or It could come back at me in my sleep. Woke up a few times choking (stuff had got into my lungs). That seems to be a thing of the past now
  • abc1234
    abc1234 david61512

    Posted

    Nice topic thanks David for sharing. I recently watched a commercial on TV about a new technique fixing the ring of muscles not closing. They stated it was an out of office procedure. I normally do not listen to any TV commercials when it comes to medical stuff, but you know when it makes it on TV it's close to an epidemic. David, may I ask what the surgery was called? Please keep us up to date on your success.
    • david61512
      david61512 abc1234

      Posted

      Happy to help.

      1. I will keep you posted

      2. I don't know the exact title of the operation I had but I believe it was the standard Hiatus hernia repair with Nissen stomach wrap. I recently watched some youtube videos on it, there's loads of them on there.

      3. i must admit I tried to contain this condition without surgery but eventually common sense took over (or maybe the realisation hit home) and I bit the bullet rather than spend the rest of my days governed by this condition. The operation has really high success rates.

    • angie43
      angie43 david61512

      Posted

      I too had the Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication about 18 months ago and it was a complete success.  It took me a while though to wean off the twice daily omeprazole because although the hernia is repaired your stomach has been used to dealing with only a fraction of the normal acid and you get rebound symptoms.  However, if you wean off slowly you can avoid too much discomfort.  I think there should be a success stories section with tips on things that have worked or types of surgery that were successful.  Angie
  • bronwyn97278
    bronwyn97278 david61512

    Posted

    Hi to all GERD sufferers;  the reason you have this condition, is that the Cardiac Sphincter (is a ring of Tight Muscles that is found at neck of stomach and bottom of oseophagus/gullet, that is mean't to stop regurgitation of food)..in yourselves, this sphincter is too loose...and therefore the food does come back up into the gullet, especially when lying down.  The op is to tighten this sphincter, and voila, the regurgitation does  not happen......anyone who is suffering from GERD, and not controlled by medications (including the use of Gaviscon and Mylanta) should seriously think of op...why suffer all the sypmtoms, including ulceration of gullet, ??   good thoughts on this......Bron
    • david61512
      david61512 bronwyn97278

      Posted

      I;d also point out (in my case) the things you can/can't do post surgery are minor compared to my expectations of what they would be. Can't eat white bread or drink fizzy drinks and have to chew food really well and eat slowly. Well they are factors that change after surgery, but for me, not a significant change. I still drink beer, eat white bread and eat a little more slowly.
    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 david61512

      Posted

      Hi David; I can agree with what you say re "what you can/can't eat, drink".  I don't, thankfully, suffer from GERD, but my husband does, and from watching him.....yes, he does eat his food too quickly (he amazes me how fast he can finish his meals); and he doesn't drink much softdrink (only Sarsparilla), and there are only two brands of beer he can tolerate...Hahn Light and Midstrength Carlton...that's here in Australia...I have often thought/told him he needs another Endoscopy, as there are times he needs to take an extra Pariet, but refuses as he says ALL medical issues interfere with his MEDICALS for work.....so be it.....Bron
    • david61512
      david61512 bronwyn97278

      Posted

      By the way, forgot to mention that 4 months on, I hardly chew my food any differently than I did pre-op. I probably should, but gullet seems to have settled back nicely. Glad to report that I don't need any medication now. Heartburn is a thing of the past, I hope it stays that way.
  • david61512
    david61512

    Posted

    Went for the follow up with the consultant last week, 4 months post-op. I'm glad I left it so long as I had more questions. Main things:

    1. As far as exersise is concerned, gym and running are now ok

    2. Backpain is unrelated to the hiatus hernia repair. So any backpain is likely to be muscular

    3. The wrapping of the top part of the stomach serves to secure the Hiatus hernia repair at the diaphram, it helps reinforce it.

    4. The permanent stiches do not come undone

     

    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 david61512

      Posted

      Thanks David;  I am pleased that all has been resolved, and you sound like ?back to normal (without the GERD)....and what about your back....is it better, or still a problem?     Bron
    • rex_44766
      rex_44766 david61512

      Posted

      Hi David - could you tell me if you can still burp please?
    • david61512
      david61512 rex_44766

      Posted

      Funnily enough, I haven't thought about burping since the op when It kind of preoccupied me smile Yes I can burp although I cant remember when I last did or needed to. It's true most wind finds it's way out the other way but this is where diet comes in, I guess. I also worried about being sick and whether I could but I haven't actually felt sick really at any time. I can also each late at night, which is a huge plus for my lifestyle.
    • david61512
      david61512 bronwyn97278

      Posted

      Hi Bronwyn, back ok. consultant told me anything to do with the hernia would likely manifest itself in the upper shoulder area rather than the back. Don't know if this is related to the post op shoulder discomfort, I was pre-warned about on the morning of the op. Funny place to get pain and assume it's referred pain
    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 david61512

      Posted

      Hi David; yes, for some unknown reason to me, (could go into all the nerves etc relating to this, but would get all too involved, so let's play ignorant)  our body does have "referred pain"....under the diaphragm radiates to the shoulder tips....lower abdominal/groin pain radiates to under the diaphragm....when suffering from appendicites, it's the funny one...it starts mildly in the R) groin...goes to L) groin up to around the umbilicus,/diaphragm and then settles in the R) groin....  so yes, if you have shoulder tip pain, probably is secondary to op....also if you had surgery done by Laprascope,,,the gas that they pump into your abdomen, rises, and also causes really bad pain....I used to cheat a little with my patients...instead of sitting them "completely upstraight"...I would settle them at a 45degress for a few hours, until they started passing the gas out through their rectum/anus  "fluffing", as we would call it.....then sat them up at the required 90 degress...so hope you continue to improve....Bron
    • david61512
      david61512 bronwyn97278

      Posted

      Interesting stuff Bronwyn and a good insight thanks for writing this. Fortunately my pain went after the first couple of weeks and the post-op pain relief was very good. I was nosey about how the op was done and back pain etc as I've read so much on here and worrie about excersize and whether it could affect the permanent stitches. One thing I can say is I wish I'd got this op done a long time ago biggrin
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.