Hiatal Hernia Surgery - Hernia Message Board

bacchus99 · 02-01-2007, 03:59 PM

I have been diagnosed about 3-4 years ago with an average size Hiatal Hernia. Doctor said it was 2cm. The day I went in for the Endoscopy(about 2 years ago) I felt great so I am convinced the hernia was down alot from where it normally likes to ride. It feels from time to time to be big as an orange. My first symptoms were irregular heartbeat. It took a year of thinking something was wrong with my heart before I finally was finally diagnosed. I could finally be at ease with the PVC's. Doctor has had me on prilosec but now 40mg of nexium does the trick. The nexium does a good job of keeping the acid burning away. However, the hernia itself is a mechanical defect...nothing medical about it. The diaphragm has a bigger hole than normal around the esophagus and the stomach slips up thru the hole alittle into the chest. Here is my simple answer to fix this...instead of doing a Nissen Fundoplication just go in there and put the stomach down to where it is supposed to be and stitch up the hiatus with some really strong thread. Problem solved. If you still have alittle reflux they can laser burn the LES with an endoscopy to tighten it up. It seems that many have a big problem with the WRAP the surgeons want to do. I'll never get the wrap surgery. I am just sick of feeling bloated, burping alot, PVC's, and feeling of anxiety because the stomach is sliding around in my chest. Has anyone had any luck convincing a surgeon to just fix the hernia and NOT WRAP the fundus around the esophagus? If so please tell me your story. I believe this will relieve the symptoms i hate...the bloat, PVC's and anxiety...the hernia won't be present anymore. I have learned how to manually push the hernia down and when i can actually get it down i feel MUCH better than before...of course it doesn't last but a couple days and it is back up. That is why i believe if they just fixed the hernia i'd feel great. My G.I. doc said it would be hard to convince a surgeon to just fix the hernia and not wrap the stomach. I am 28 year old male and am tired of this holding me back...any advice or help is welcomed! Thanks!

andilyn · 02-01-2007, 06:52 PM

I am actually just 7 days post op...had the Nissen Fundoplication surgery last week, and a hiatal hernia repaired. My surgeon told me that if you are having symptoms from your hernia, like pain, then you should get it taken care of because there is a big risk of it bleeding and causing more problems. I had the surgery mainly for my reflux, it was always coming up and it burnt my vocal cords, so I was looking at getting cancer from it within a few years. Anyway, the surgeon said that when people get a hiatal hernia fixed, he always wraps the stomach around the esophagus because that is a way to keep the hernia from coming back and allowing the hole in the esophagus to heal properly. So from what he said, it sounds like you might have a hard time finding someone to only fix the hernia, but you never know. Just ask around and see if it's a possibility. But honestly I was scared to death of the surgery myself, and here it is 7 days out, and I am doing waaaay better than I thought.

bacchus99 · 02-01-2007, 07:31 PM

Glad to hear your feeling better. I understand why they want to wrap it...to help the hernia not to return and to create a tight new valve in affect. I just hear so many people having problems with the wrap...i do know some that love the surgery and would do it again. I never had reflux until the hernia showed up so i figure if i just get the hernia fixed the reflux should go away. Even if it doesn't i know it will be much better...i'm willing to bet i wouldn't spit food up, burp as much and the anxiety feeling of my stomach being close to my heart would be gone...that to me would be worth it. I can deal with alittle reflux even if i still had to take medicine. For anyone dealing with a hiatal hernia i HIGHLY suggest learning how to adjust it down. You will have to endure some pain but it can mean a few days of relief before you have to do it again. Some Chiropractors also know how to adjust hernias down. Anyone else have any insight into just getting the hernia fix with no wrap? I have not talked to a surgeon yet.

brownie314 · 02-08-2007, 08:26 PM

So how do you adjust it down? I also have the PVC's and have had for years. It is such an unnerving thing even though I know what is causing it. thanks

Roscoe36 · 02-09-2007, 10:26 PM

Bacchus,

I am sooo glad that you started this thread. Like you, I am also 28 and I have been back and forth between the heart board and the acid reflux (in addition to a lot of independent research) because I also have irregular heartbeats (sometimes "irregular" because it is fast, but more often because it is too strong/hard -- which I guess are palpitations???), indigestion, some throat issues, and chest, back and rib pain. In the year since I have had these awful, scary symptoms and been to four cardiologists (all tests fine and they think I am crazy) the only thing I have learned is that I have a hiatal hernia.

However, no one thought to eloquently, as you did, explain that what is going on is that my stomach is actually pushing up against my heart and that that is what is causing the heart issues. Is that right though? Are the organs really that crowded together that a little pushing would cause such major symptoms? It sounds plausible, but I am not 100% convinced. Also, I know it depends on the size, but generally how much up does the stomach travel?

And you said that chiropractors can help relieve the hernia (and hopefully the symptoms)? Very interesting. Like the other posters, I would like to hear how that is done.

Again, big props for the smart thinking.

Ross