GP REFUSING SURGERY, WHAT NEXT?

Hang in there but it's true what she said. The surgery can make it worse. I've read so many times where people had the surgery 2 or 3 times and still no relief. There are things you can do that does help. Like take a deep breath and tighten your stomach muscles when exhaling...it will strengthen your muscles. Stress makes it worse. I was diagnosed with one in 2014. I have my good days and bad days. Hope you get relief.

Find another DR.

Hi Stacey thanks for the reply, I think surgery is the best option for me, I'm young was active until my hernia came about. My sleep has suffered my digestion is now terrible! If my hernia is small wouldn't that make the op easier. My basic thinking is my stomach is in a stressful state out of its natural position maybe I am being extreme but think the tablets are just masking the real issue of the diaphragm tear resulting in an organ being dislodged.

Hi James, sorry to hear of your troubles with HH. You would think there would be a fix for these in this era of technology, so many of us are told we have to learn to live with it. I too have a small HH and coupled with gallstones and some other digestive ailments. I've had pain and trouble eating now for nearly 7  months, all they have said is I can have the gb out to see if that helps as "HH should not cause pain, only reflux" Huh, so many ppl would beg to differ on that but since the op is not the most successful for all, they don't want to do them. They keep cancelling my  gb anyway. I was made redundant and cannot find a new job in my current state of health, so I can guess what you are going through, life just gets put on hold. Some people have had some success with chropractic help, but this works out expensive if you have your income cut, I had some initial success with it then the pain on my left side got really bad after a treatment, that I have stopped going. There are a few you tube  videos showing how to manipulate the abdomen to help HH if you have not seen them already. Beyond that there seems to be only diet and lifestyle changes, drs give us antacids etc.

Myabe you could try another dr, although they all seem to say the same unless your hernia gets bigger Take care..

Go to a GI specialist and talk with him,

Have an endoscopy done and tell him or her everything. Don't give up. You can find a different Doctor. It took me a year to get to the best Doctors. God Blessings to you

I can relate to your situation . I was diagnosed in May 2015 with a 6cm sliding HH - undoubtedly caused by years of heavy lifting at work . Had previously been fit and healthy . In my case I was referred to the surgeon by the endoscopy consultant as he believed it was mixed paraesophageal hernia . Even then my GP tried to advise against it . It's the default opinion for GPs , even in apparently the more serious cases . Waiting for tests and results are a slow process - barium swallow/meal , oesophageal manometry and 24 hr ph study . You must have confirmed symptomatic reflux which doesn't respond to PPI , and no oesophageal dysmotility to be considered a good candidate for surgery . The actual size of a sliding HH is not the determining factor . However , it seems the NHS will only consider surgery in serious cases or they wait until you've had HH for decades , and have a bunch of additional conditions !

Don't know why some are in favor of doing surgery and others are not.   I didn't have much choice about having my surgery, as my hernia was the size of a volly ball.  Without the surgery, I probably would have strangled because of the size of it.   As of now, I have no regrets- although I do wish that I could eat the way that I used to eat.   I don't eat any sandwiches- mostly live on soups, ice cream, jello, etc. 

YES; find another GP!

Jazztrain

Im sorry to hear about your situation i too lost my job recently through ill health and the feeling of being lost is a common feeling i guess. I take it a sliding HH is a hiatus hernia? i know through a family member who has this and there doctor also recommended no surgery due to how complicated this type of hernia repair is and depends on size of hernia, however there condition is managed with PPI tablets. If you eat spicey foods etc they are known to aggrevate your symptoms. I hope you get better soon and keep on at your doctor for advice or possible referral to a specialist.

Thank you everyone for your lovely replies, had another week or so of pain doctors not budging but is sending me to a specialist. If the specialist refuses surgery then I will be going private! I am mid 20's lost my job, girlfriend, sleep and digestion to this hernia. An for me all I can do is gamble with the surgery. Well I say gamble as you read a lot of posts where this has gone wrong or not worked but my thinking is it if did work there would be no need to post on here. Decision is made, let's hope the NHS do the decent thing when I see the specialist as diet and lifestyle changes have not worked! I have sat up all night with heartburn burping and passing wind for 5 hours straight enough is enough!