sternum pain following hiatal hernia and wrap surgery (successful surgery though!)

Hi everyone: I am new to this thread but have been reading lots of posts since I found out about my large hiatal hernia many months ago. 10 days ago I had a very successful large paraesophageal hiatal hernia repair with a Toupe wrap. Everything is going well. I have been on soft diet since day after surgery and it is going fine. No problems with swallowing, gas, etc. My only issues are pain in my neck and back of shoulders that improves and then worsens....also have had sharp pain in the sternum that feels like an ice pick is in there...it even goes through to the back. it eases sometimes but then comes back. At first it made breathing tough but that has improved slowly but surely....is this normal? When I called the surgeons office they said the neck business was postoperative myalgia but I forgot to mention the sternum pain. I go back to see him in two weeks so I am inclined to wait till then to bring it up if folks have had this and know what I mean and/or have had the same thing happen. I also wonder if it related to what I eat...I at a small soft chocolate covered creamy mint and I think that may have made it worse??? any thoughts or advice would be very appreciated.
Nan

Hi there.

I can't respond to your question specifically but I am in a similar situation in terms of the paraesophageal hernia and Toupet approach recommendation.

My symptoms have been all over the map and relatively recent - current one is sternum-area pressure.

I think there is a way we could privately e-mail - would you be open to doing so? I'm struggling with the surgery decision right now.)

I hope someone comes on board soon with a helpful response for you.

Take good care.

Thanks Denise! I had the surgery two weeks ago tomorrow and I have started walking within hours of the surgery and have been walking a lot ever since. I called the surgeon's office about my neck and shoulders and they suggested that it is post operative myalgia which is likely since it comes and goes. I only the gas issue for about 24 hours....this pain is quite different...achy and stiffness in my neck. As to the sternum it is almost tough to take a deep breath at times so I wonder if it is related to the fact my left lung was pretty flattened (according to the physicians) because of the size and location of my hiatal hernia....they said that it would take awhile (specific time mentioned) for it to fully relax again. I am an avid swimmer and so they think that is why even though I had pressure in my left chest from the hernia I did not really suffer from shortness of breath....that said, if feels so much better since the surgery. I don't seem to have any difficulty with swallowing or food get stuck at all, thankfully. this pain is actually worse after I have been stationary for a time (like when I sleep during the night). I just wondered if others had this experience? I am so happy I got this surgery despite this annoying lingering pain....no regrets and would highly recommend! Nan