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sliding hiatus hernia repair 24 March 2014

Posted , 18 users are following.

sallyann1964
sallyann1964

Hi, just wanted to say that I had my sliding hiatus hernia repair carried out Monday of last week and am more than happy (so far) with the results! I had the hernia for about 10 years taking the usual medication (espomeprazoland ranitidine) in varying doses depending on the severity of the discomfort. The op itself was apparently very straight forward with the repair and the nissen fundoplication (where they wrap stomach around your esophagus) taking around 1 1/2 hours - albeit a blink of an eye to me! I was in quite a lot of discomfort (discomfort though and not pain) for the first 3 days and feeling weak from the lack of calories but am now moving better and not feeling as though I need to rest all the time. I have also started using complan to build calories and strength. Eating still a little hit and miss and am trying different things to gauge my bodies response to textures etc but as long as you are eating within your limits (i.e. take each stage sensibly) don't panic when something doesn't feel like it's going down as with relaxation and patience, it does eventually. I know my experience won't be the same as everyone, but I am kicking myself for not having had this done years ago.

3 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • sallyann1964
    sallyann1964

    Posted

    update - 4 weeks post op.   Well, i can say that the refulx side of things has improved greatly to the point where I can bend down and do gardening again without re-visiting lunch!  What hasn't gone completely is the acid indigestion and to be honest, this op is to repair the hernia and won't stop your body producing the acid it always did but with the hole repaired, it should at least reduce the severity and frequency of the acid attacks. I am thankfully, taking a fraction of the amount of pills I took previously for the acid but when it does get through, the pain is almost unbearable.  Food is a bit hit and miss still, one day I can eat a few mouthfulls of lasagne and the next can only manage custard but after only 4 weeks I am not entirely sure of what my progress should be.  Am seeing the consultant tomorrow as asked for an earler follow up appointment and will let you know what he says.
    • marie19160
      marie19160 sallyann1964

      Posted

      Hi Sallyann, I am about 10 weeks post op. I am pretty much the same way. I still feel a little bit of the acid reflux, but am only taking half the medication. I still have some issues with certain foods and they make me feel a little nauseated, but it is alot better than it has been in over 15 years.  I am so glad I had this done.

    • sallyann1964
      sallyann1964 marie19160

      Posted

      Marie19160. Thank you, that has put my mind at rest a little over the food issue.  Sometimes it's really hard to relax to let 'stuck' food go down. I just wish that it wasn't so unpredictable. I can eat one mouthful of food and think 'well that was fine' but then the second mouthful gets stuck and then it's half an hour of pain and nausea whilst it slowly goes down.  I wasn't happy with such rapid weight loss either (needed to lose some but slowly so that it stayed off at the end) so decided to start using complan on those days when my food calorie intake was very low. On the whole though, I too am very glad that I had the op. x
  • Joy_Oregon_U.S.
    Joy_Oregon_U.S. sallyann1964

    Posted

    Hello to those that have had the haital hernia repair.I live the U.S., and I do have questons and concerns regarding surgery for this.

    Through a Barium Swallow it was discovered I have a 7cm hiatal hernia, I am experiencing esophagus spasms that is being medicated with Bentyl ( anti spasm med for pain ) I am also on Prilosec once a day and Zantac 2 x a day. I am scheduled for the esophagogastroduodenoscopy  (EGD ) in 2 weeks. Then I can only assume from there it will be decided if I'm a candidate for surgery.

    I have have been on meds for gerd for several years now and the spasms started just recently, very painful when they hit and not once have they hit while I was eating, its various times of the day or week just out of no where they start. Have any of you had esophagus spasms before your surgery and if so did the surgery end the spasms? Are you back to eating normal foods after healing from the surgery? Which surgery did you have?

  • clareybear
    clareybear sallyann1964

    Posted

    Hiya, for the past two years a have been suffering and am on esomeprazole and zantac.  Have been diagnosed with a hiatus hernia and gastric reflux disease.The medicine are not helping. The consultant is saying the surgery will not help. They have requested a CT scan as they are thinking the pills are not helping my symptoms so it could be something else wrong as well. How did you get your surgery done?

    Thanks

    Clare

  • madeline47
    madeline47 sallyann1964

    Posted

    Hi Sallyann1964. I am due to have my hiatus hernia repair at Royal Berkshire Hospital in January and am glad to have heard it went well there.  I have had this for about 25 years and controlled well with medication until a couple of years ago and then the medications was doubled and trebled and after all the usual tests I have now been accepted for surgery. I have been well informed by the surgeon as to what to expect and that I will have to eat what they call "sloppy" for for six weeks.  What I really want to know is how long before one can be physically okaky again, I do ballroom dancing and walking and don't want to have to stop for too long.
    • sallyann1964
      sallyann1964 madeline47

      Posted

      Hi Madeline, great that you're having the op after so many years - was very pleased with the RBH staff and facilities.  I took two weeks off work  as although the first week was all about the discomfort, the second week was more about knowing my limitations.  I seem to remember by week 4, I was gently bending and stretching when doing gardening and feeling ok.  You'll need to take care of the wound sites as they will feel very bruised for a good few weeks and after that it'll only be when you accidentally press on your tummy, that you'll remember that you have had an op. Everyone's different but i'd give it a few weeks at least before you ease yourself back into ballroom  dancing as it's quite physical but gentle walking won't be a problem after the first couple of weeks. Best of luck x
  • glenn589
    glenn589 sallyann1964

    Posted

    hi there. i have found this thread very helpful.

    i have suffered acid reflux over the last year (though suspect i have actually had the symptoms quite a bit longer but not realised the cause). i have also had the palpitations feeling; felt not getting any energy from anything i eat - followed by poor digestion; have had to stop all sport and was formerly very active; acute tiredness; nausia; all of the above!!! i have been down the omeprazole/lanzoprazole routes - neither really did anything to help, regardless of dosage. i had tried changing diet etc etc etc.....

    i have had the ph manometry test and also had 2x gastroscopy (always go for the sedation btw - my first one i did not. never again!)

    i am due corrective surgery for a sliding hiatus hernia (2cm) next month. i honestly cannot wait for it as life is pretty rubbish with the symptoms. however, i will admit i have been nervous about the outcome.... i shall post my results & also taking note of other peoples' comments.

    i must say the consensus from all parties seems to be surgery to fix.

  • taylor07621
    taylor07621 sallyann1964

    Posted

    I loved reading about the issues on here! I was just diagnosed with a sliding HH and it has been giving me a lot of issues lately for the past 6 months I have been in so much pain and the doctors finally found out what has been causing it. Even though 6 years ago when I was 13 I was diagnosed with GERD and have been dealing with that. Now I am 19 and have this I thought I was going crazy cause I have been in so much pain and they didn't know what the cause of it was. I am so glad I am not going crazy though and I love reading other people's stories since I have just now been diagnosed a week ago. Thank you for sharing.
    • sallyann1964
      sallyann1964 taylor07621

      Posted

      Hi taylor07621, you're very young to have to put up with all that goes with a HH so hope you get it sorted soon. I'm sure it can be very lifestyle limiting for you.  Let us know how you get on. x
  • ulan52890
    ulan52890 sallyann1964

    Posted

    Dear sallyann

    its been two years since you had op. I wonder how is your condition today. Thanks

  • Chrysy
    Chrysy sallyann1964

    Posted

    So interesting to see I'm not struggling alone.  I have been battling for more than ten years doctors telling me no need to do anything except medicate for my sliding hiatus hernia, while I continue to suffer! and being told by doctors in general that hiatus hernias don't exist...  Yesterday after lots of pushing I finally got a upper GI consultant to talk properly to me about the keyhole surgery option, after he first tried very hard to fob me off.  He only stopped being condescending when I told him I was a vet!   I was diagnosed with barium and scopes years ago but only ever offered more pills and potions etc regardless of symptoms.  

    After a long lecture about elective surgery he finally offered me the option but still would not acknowledge that a sliding hiatus hernia causes any real pain or symptoms.  When I asked for a referral to therefore get a diagnosis explaining my symptoms from a different kind of specialist was when he suddenly offered to put me on his list. He then changed his mind again saying he still wants a further test with a tube down my throat for 24hrs before we go ahead? I didn't get an explanation of that one? has anyone else had that done?  I think it was designed to put me off again.  

    Meanwhile I suffer sometimes extreme painful symptoms on increasingly regular occasions which in my veterinary experience I would suspect are degrees of constriction occurring.  Certainly more than I would expect from passing indigestion and heartburn. Who am I to say after all animals can't talk but isn't it retched to have to prove to doctors that you are worthy of treatment, suffering or intelligent enough to deserve proper explanations of options.

    In his efforts to put me off the consultant gave me a huge list of negative effects of the surgery so it is good to hear that people have had good results and minimum long term problems.  I'm interested to find out more before I hope that I finally get the opportunity to get mine dealt with and I really don't see why I should medicate heavily for all the rest of my life for something that can be dramatically improved in a relatively simple procedure. Hey Ho!!!rolleyes

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