How is a Hiatal Hernia diagnosed?

Well, acid reflux and GERD can be symptoms of a hiatal hernia, which is diagnosed either via a gastroscopy (as in my case) or via a test where you swallow a barium solution which then appears on xray.

It really doesn't matter if you have HH or not.

The main problem of HH is reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus, which causes heartburn.

The treatment protocol is the same, and if the symptoms are resistant to medicine, the surgery is the same for both which is almost always a Nissen Fundoplication.

Sometimes, the HH surgery also includes tightening up the hiatus (the natural opening in the diaphragm that the esophagus goes through, and through which the stomach herniated through

As far as diagnosing a hiatal hernia, the hernias are seen during a barium swallow test, or an upper GI endoscopy. They can also be seen on routine chest x-rays and ct scans.

The way I see it, hiatal hernias are very much different from inguinal hernias, because hiatal hernias occur through a loosening of a naturally occurring opening in the diaphragm, and inguinal hernias occur through a defect in the diaphragm where an unnatural opening happens through what should be a solid wall

Good luck. Hope your treatments resolve your problems.

Hi Sevenbundy, my HH was missed during an endoscope but seen during a barium swallow, not sure why! Laura