Hiatus Hernia Surgery

Ron, I hope you find a surgeon soon. I am having some issues with solid foods and am going back to soft foods for a few days. I wake up at night and feel as though something is stuck in my throat. My surgeon said he fixed the hernia, but not the acid reflux. So I am assuming that it is from the acid reflux. But it is still 90 percent better.

Beccy, I had a hiatal hernia for about 10 years, just within the last few years had gotten very large. I also have Barretts esophagus which is pre cancerous, I think that is the only reason they wanted to do surgery, to slow it down. Good luck to all

Hi everyone:

Gee Marie, that's too bad. In one of the spare bedrooms I raised the bed about four inches or ten centimeters at the head and that helped me. You never know....LOL. It seemed so simple.

John01315 I do hope you come back for another visit. Right now there seems to be a disagreement on what is causing my abdominal pain. An incisional hernia just might be my answer. My scar runs about nine inches or maybe 25 centimeters diagonally across the left side. Does your pain get really bad and produce symptoms almost like is hard to find exactly where the pain is? Hope you're able to answer.

I'm a retired communications technician. Comfortable at this point in life but not wealthy. If you can't wait you might try Medical Tourism. Offered by countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand and India. It might the way to go. I'm emailing back and forth with Mexico and Costa Rica. Each, according to the World Health Organization, have medical systems rated higher than the U.S. Go figure....LOL

Hopefully tomorrow we'll all feel just a little better.

Ron

Hi Ron. My scar from bowel cancer surgery runs from just below my sternum to below my navel. The hernia began developing about 4 months after surgery. There was a sizeable infection 'crater' but that was beneath my navel and the hernia is above it. There is no pain and it goes back when I lie down. This is good, because I have read worrying things about strangulation but I think they happen if they are irreducible. Hope so anyway! I see the specialist for a private consultation on Tuesday. Will keep you posted. Good luck!

Hi To All:

Hopefully everyone is feeling terrific or even better today. John, allow me to wish you the best of luck on Tuesday with your consultation. Once I tried to keep such a consultation light by supplying a quick joke. Although the doctor was amused it ruined the serious level of the consult. Staying 100% serious is important. Why did I do that? When I'm nervous about something I use humor as a crutch.

In the next couple of weeks I also have an appointment with a surgeon here in my home state (Florida, U.S.A.) at one of our best hospitals, the Cleveland Clinic. With a little luck the surgeon with just find and repair my problem which is looking more like a Incisional hernia than a Hiatal or other diaphragm hernia. Who knows, maybe I suffer from one of each? Again, best luck on Tuesday and let us know.

Marie, are you okay? Please feel well.

Ron351

Hi Ron, I am feeling pretty good, just been busy as I am back to work full time. Good luck with your surgeon. Keep us informed on what you find out. Hope everyone else is doing good.

Marie

Hi All. I have been reading all your comments and by the looks of it the surgery is the best way to go, i was diagnosed with my hiatus hernia just over a month ago. Im 20 years old, thing is it never really bothered me before, i ate well, drank like a fish, okay i had the occasional heart burn but nothing that a antacid couldnt fix. now that i have been given the diagnosis my appetite has gone down, dont eat as much as i use to. and the heart burn and chest pains get so bad to a point where i want to rip my stomach out. i have a doctors appointment on friday, going to speak to my GP and see what he thinks would be best. i really just want to go back to the way i was before. it feels like my mind is also taking control because i often think about it and i think that is making it worse, i dont know if its normal but also been getting really sharp chest pains and my stools are darker than usual, i was also diagnosed with other stomach complications ulcers ect... but i was told that was all alcohol induced. so that may still be the cause of the dark stools, the doctor said my stomach could take a few months to heal, ahhhh so confusing, so young i really didnt think all of this could start so soon on in my life.

Stop drinking! I too used to drink like a fish but not a drop for 6 years, 2 months and 4 days now. Feel much healthier, physically and mentally and so is my bank balance! Hope you get things sorted very soon.

markyboy193- the dark stools may well be a sign of blood loss. Blood shows as black, not red if loss is from the upper GI area. The doctor should take a blood test to see if you are anaemic and prescribe iron tablets if you are. He may well suggest that you have an endoscopy too and have your a stool sample analysed for blood. My problem was Cameron ulcers resulting from the hiatus hernia - causing some of your symptoms and you should ask your GP if that is what they might be. Unless he's a GI specialist he's likely to have to look them up!

I had to have the hiatus hernia keyhole surgery last October. It went very well and I am fine now. They will only operate in the severest of cases and you are likely to be told to change your diet and take PPI drugs in an effort to avoid the need for it. Cutting down on the alcohol will help.

I had this surgery a year ago, I was diagnosed and had to have the hyeatle hernia repair done. I am still to this day sick with bloating, gas, and severe stomach pain, My doctors still do not know or understand what is wrong. I was wondering if anyone has had any symptons after surgery? I am also not able to throw up when sick,, I would appreciate any information you may share thank you

Hi Steph

I have suffered from HH for longer than I care to remember, in 2004 I had a CABG and I was sorry I did not have a word in the Surgeons ear ' while I'm open could you please address the HH'.... joking offcourse but in recent years the symotoms from HH mimic Angina or worse, and not able to do DIY work or essential maintenance is a real pain especially bending down etc. the trouble with me I seemed to have a permanent knawning in my stomach and tend to eat too often and too much while as we all know is a recipe for disaster. I hope you discomfort heals and even trying some 'Chi' excercises and meditation because sidelining or altrnative medicines and perscriptions, the only person to cure and heal you is yourself.I have taught about an op for HH but reading this web and 'Wrapping ones stomach' frightens the daylights out of me. trouble with having your bed raised by 6 inches is when you stay in hotel sleep in minimal, I often tried putting pillows under mattress and eventually i focus on just getting home to my cot. one of the subscribers metioned no late meals etc, well I have turned down going to weddings or  like functions or if i go i leave early what a bummer, but such is life,

joe

Hi everyone

I had my investigative endoscopy yesterday and discovered I have a 3cm sliding hiatus hernia, I've not suffered long with my symptoms but it has changed my life effecting work and life, I suffer from acid reflux every evening which interferes with my sleep, I've been on medication for the reflux but as of now nothing has helped, would any of you advise surgery for a quick fix as I want to get on with a normal life

Thanks

Hi All

Just joined after reading all of your comments.

Little bit about myself:

I was diagnosed with a 4cm sliding Hiatus Hernia roughly 4 years ago following an Endoscopy.

The reason being, I had just turned 17 when I started to suffer from horrific Heart Burn. Despite Gaviscon, Ranitidine and Rennie, nothing seemed to relieve the pain bar the odd concoction of my Mum's favorite heartburn solution; 2 scoops of Bicarbonate of Soda with some water!

I'm now 21 and the past 4 years have been hard to put it lightly. I've been placed on more antacid medication I care to remember, from Omeprazole, Lansoprazole to Motility drugs like Domperidone and Metoclopramide. (There was a phase where nothing I ate stayed down for very long).

After 4 Endoscopies, 3 Barium Meals and 4 ATTEMPTS at the Esophagus Manometry test, I was told that along with a small hernia, which apparently don't commonly cause allot of symptoms, I actually had a weakness in my Lower Oasophagul valve thus suffering with Acid Reflux and food regurgitation.

These of course were not the only symptoms I was suffering with. I also experienced allot of chest pain, esophagus spasms (which feel like a very heavy hiccup so to speak) and waking up every morning with a really sore and scratchy throat.

I write today for some advice and reassurance. I have as of yesterday signed the consent form to go ahead with Surgery to repair my small hernia and hopefully create a valve via the Nissen Fundoplication procedure. I opted for Partial due to the fear of it being wrapped too tight.

My reasons for surgery are I am at my wits end with Heartburn and all the symptoms associated with GORD. I was also informed by my Consultant that following my most recent endoscopy, I have many small Benign Polyps in the lining of my stomach which are harmless and simply caused by my reliance on Proton Pump Inhibitors for 4 years. When I say harmless, I'm more than aware that my risk of stomach cancer has now increased also along with the constant scarring of my esophagus thus leading to Barrett's Esophagus.

I believe that 'Nipping it in the bud' at my ripe old age of 21 puts me in a slightly better position of recovery time etc than my peers.

I’m currently on a waiting list in Arrowe Park Hospital (Merseyside) to have the procedure and would appreciate any comments regarding the procedure (hopefully positive!). Also anyone who relates a little to my particular situation as I can see many people on this thread mainly suffer with Large Hernias.

Thanks in advance.