Hiatus Hernia Surgery

Hi

I also have had surgery just over a week ago. I too feel really well. I can still burp thank god and feel as if I could eat as normal although I haven't and am sticking to the diet given to me by the hospital. Id really like to know how you went on with the pain around the diaphragm area as I am finding it hard to take in deep breaths without feelin pain. If asked I can only desribe it as "bruised ribs" if that makes sense?? Also contrary to what other people say deep breaths are easier , and less painful when I am sat or lay down. I just wondered if your breathing eventually returned to normal and how long this took. Hopefully you are fully recovered now and leadin a pain free life 😃. Kind regards

you need to chew you food very well and eat little meals often rather than large meals and take your time eating the repair needs to heal .good luck. 

debs0201 : Yes I feel the same way I had surgary May 2nd and the doc  took exrays and said I was fine, I was so glad to see your post I thought I was crazy or just being a baby. they checked me for broken bones and nothing I told them it was in side. Also when I burp I feel it travel up my left shoulder It sucks. I know we don't have the answeres but just knowing I'm not the only one, gives me soem sort of releif.

you need to eat small meals as they say a little often and no Alcohol the operation needs healing time . also gaviscon is good ,it can be expensive and chemists make a similar preparation that works just as well 

its a bit of a pity when the patient has to say wich op they want the Doctor is supposed to know best this comment is tounge in cheek why would they wrap your stomach around your eosophagus surly thats counter productive and cures nothing ,the second way must be the best and if they are putting you through surgery they should get it right 

Hi Nick,

a relief to read about a good outcome!  where did you get your op done and who was your surgeon?

thanks.

My operation was done privately at The London Clinic in Harley Street by Professor Mughal.

Thanks Nicholas - good to know.

I'd say two further things. First, these types of internet blogs do tend to attract comment from the minority of people who have problems. That dioes not mean that contributors are making things up; it is simply that those who don't have issues with their operation are unlikely to write about that on a blog- which is in part why I did. Second, I won't pretend it isn't a difficult operation- which is why it is usually only operated on if there is no sensible alternative. In fact, prior to my op I had very few of the usual symptoms and those I had were completly controlled with PPIs. My issue was that my hernia was of the rolling type causing ulcers and bleeding, requiring a transfusion of blood at one point. That was potentially life threatening, which was why I went ahead with the op.  

Good luck!

I agree with Nicholas. I also had a rolling hernia, and had a fundoplication and a patch on my diaphragm as my stomach was mostly in my chest cavity (causing lots of problems eating - and wasn't controlled by drugs at all). I had my operation and after about 4 weeks was eating a pretty normal diet, just getting hung up on chunky meat and doughy food like bread, and after about 3 months was totally fine and have been ever since (nearly 3 years now). I had my op done on the NHS, in Lothian, by Mr Simon Patterson-Brown or perhaps his registrar, with 1 night in hospital and then 3 weeks off work, and by then I was back to cycling and normal activities.

thanks Taura, - was feeling pretty down after reading the majority of the posts on this website so Its really good to know that not every op ends up badly!

 

Hello, just noticed your-comment. I to seem to have the same type of hihatus hernia as you, I must have had it for at least 15 years, because that's how long I have been suffering with anemia,I don't have all the problems that lots of other people seem to be suffering with and the tablets take care of that,but starting 18 months ago I started vomiting blood and also the other way about every 4 weeks. I had many tests but they couldn't find it until I had an attack and was rushed to hospital,they then found ulcers on the hernia,I think they are called cameron ulcers. I am worried about the operation as the heria is very large the doctors say,but what I was wandering is did you get to the point of vomiting blood? And if so did the medication stop it as I am now on my fourth week and waiting for the next one.and also how did your op go. The doctor said these only occur in 5 % of hihatus herna patients. 

 

Thanks Nicholas - very helpful.

Though your comment is not recent it caught my eyes as I have been researching the recovery time for the surgery. I too ended up in the hospital twice vomiting blood and was very anemic with low blood pressure. There was no option for me except surgery which I had 4 1/2 weeks ago and I did have the wrap done. I am in the US and apparently the wrap is common here. My surgery was done laparoscopically. I still feel bruising around my stomach area and am having trouble eating most solid foods. I have been confined to yogurt, soup, mashed potatoes, pastina (tiny pasta stars), pureed vegetables, oatmeal, applesauce, etc. I have lost about 20 lbs and have to eat at a snail's pace which is hard when I am eating such small quantities. This is the hardest part of it all. That and the feeling of weakness, which I am sure is in part caused by the minimal amount of nutrition. I look forward to the day of feeling normal again with energy to carry me through the day rather than feeling like sleeping in the afternoon. I am glad though that I had the surgery as the incidences of vomiting blood were bound to continue and the anemia worsen. Bending down is still uncomfortable and still avoiding lifting anything of any real weight.

Hi Taura, I know this post was a while back but just wondered how you are doing now?

Absolutely fine. I had a baby in December and the repair held up fine to the pressure of the baby against my stomach and diaphragm. I had acid reflux and heartburn through the later months of the pregnancy but that was controlled with Omeprazole and 4mo later I'm back to normal. Will be 4y post op in Sept. 

That's great to hear, so pleased for you. I have the same type of hernia and similar issues, surgery now the route for me albeit nerve wracking and like you, I'd possibly like children so that was a consideration but it sounds like there were no complications. Thanks for sharing.

I have had a large hiatel hernia for about 15 years.  All my doctors knew it was large but none of them sent me to a surgeon to evaluate weather I needed to have it fixed.  I recently had an esphogoial spasm which lasted 6 hrs.  Wound up in the emergency room.  They did a catscan and the doctor on call said I needed to see a surgeon.  I went back to my gastroentrogolist and he did an endoscopy and made me an appt to see a surgeon.  As soon as the surgeon saw the images he said I needed to hae it fixed asap.  Unfortunately because of his backlog my surgery is not scheduled for another 2 months.  My hernia is massive and should have been treated years ago.  I also had a problem with anemia caused by lesions.  The surgery is scary because I don't know what to expect after.  I have to be on a liquid diet 10 before the surgery and understand that I won't be able to eat regular food until 8 weeks after surgery and then 6 mini meals a day.  Looking for some positive comments from someone who's surgery had been success.  Just need to know what I am going to be experiencing.  I have read some horror stories.

 

Hey Tara I see that your post is kind of old but I have a question did you decide to have the surgery if so I'm scheduled to have the esophageal hiatal hernia surgery and I'll be honest I work in healthcare but I'm scared to death because I've never actually seen the surgery done and I've been in Radiology for 25 years so if you have had it done please contact me and let me know how things went actually if anybody reads this message please contact me cuz I am totally scared to death I'm 52 and my son is 12 and I want to make the right decision for him not as much from me

So it's been 3 years I know the post is old I just wondered how you did after your surgery I'm supposed to have it in two months and I am totally totally totally scared even though I work in healthcare I'm still scared would you have the surgery again or not

Hi Wendy, sorry about the delay (notifications went into Spam folder!)

I would totally do it again. It's been 6 years now and if I think about having those symptoms again I can't imagine how I would have coped without the surgery. Please don't be scared - you'll know from your job that fear is the worst part, the reality is that this is really routine and has really good outcomes. If your life is messed up by your symptoms (I was vomiting after eating and in horrible pain... not good) then you and your son will benefit from your increased quality of life after the op.

In all honesty, I've had some reflux symptoms return in the last year or so and had an endoscopy in July that showed that the stitches had slightly come undone, but at the moment it's well controlled with 20mg Omeprazole daily, the surgeon said he wouldn't think of operating again until I was needing about 40mg twice a day.