Hiatal Hernia surgery

[Daxter]

Well here I am back in hospital for massive chest tightness, palps, pain and burning. My GP and family have no doubt I must have a hiatal hernia as I honest and truly cannot.take a deep breath after eating no matter what I eat - the hernia has even affected my ears by bringing acid up to them and may well have sparked my recent appendecitis... Tonight all I had was toast and I was REALLY bad, I still am now. Unless I force myself to sit up and take many breaths I feel I will pass out.

So tomorrow I'm really going to push for surgery. I've been suffering this way for 7 months with no relief from medicine or lifestyle changes. I looked up the surgery for hiatal hernias... whoops. Someone said apparantly if you EVER vomit after the surgery in your life you will tear your esophagus apart and die. Is that true? Can anyone here offer advice if you've had the surgery? I need a good case to make at hospital tomorrow, this hernia is now a severe problem after all.

[vardnas]

Hey Dax,

Just to be clear—have you been diagnosed with hiatal hernia? Usually they are seen on x-ray and if you did have one, I'd discuss treatment options with your doctor.

I doubt very much the dangers of vomiting post-surgery. It doesn't sound like it would be a very effective surgery if it left you with such a fragile esophagus. Stop googling, too, that's not helping you any, is it?

Not to harp on the whole anxiety thing, but what you're experiencing, with the acid reflux and the trouble breathing, CAN be caused by anxiety. I went through a phase convinced I had hiatal hernia, too, but didn't. My digestion was just screwed up by anxiety. Just throwing that out there for consideration.

Talk to your doctor about surgery and other options, but if that's what you need, don't be afraid of it—this is a very common procedure.

[Daxter]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah an endoscopy plus my similar symptoms to my uncle (has a hernia too) pretty much confirms it. The docs thought I had Gallstones which I'm being scanned for  today but if that comes back clear I can persue the hernia side. :)