HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Giant 10 cm Type III Paraesophageal Hernia.

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/30/2015 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All, I decided it was time to post this. My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2015 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago with Dr. Nathaniel Soper. All my stomach is in my chest and the type iii paraesophageal hernia is 10 cm. I will have the full wrap and will most likely need a gastroplasty.

Have suffered from severe iron deficiency anemia and fatigue for 4 years and have had to have iron infusions every few months. All the tests were done to check for internal bleeding back in 2011 but doc never mentioned the hernia to me. Later came shortness of breathe and severe pain in my left shoulder, jaw, arm, neck, teeth etc. Had my heart checked and it was okay. As i have Fibro. I just suffered through all the pain and shortness of breath thinking it was the Fibro. But things got even worse. I thought I had bronchitis and i finally had some chest X-rays. I had been using inhalants because my primary physician thought i had asthma. The allergist who saw the X-rays was the doc who finally figured out all my problems were probably coming from the fact that most of my stomach was in my chest!. That was the first I even knew I had a hernia. Four years I have practically lived on my couch because of severe fatigue (anemia), shortness of breathe, awful pain, and all the time I thought it was Fibromyalgia. I have come so close to just giving up. Thankfully an Allergist knew something about paraesophageal hernias. By the way I have had no acid reflux, but the bronchitis was from the aspiration of stomach acid into my bronchial tubes.

So that's how I got to a Sept. 15th surgery date. Had a Barium Swallow Test, Endoscopy, and Manometry (took 6 attempts). I feel very confident with my surgeon, Dr. Nathaniel Soper . Does anyone here know of Dr. Soper? I'm waiting for him to return from vacation. My symptoms are getting worse. Shortness of breathe on exertion, sudden sharp burning pain along lower ribcage, have lost 15 lbs.as I have no appetite, etc. etc. So this surgery is long overdue.

I'll end this long post with a request with any advice, suggestions, or further info. on the surgery or Dr. Soper that any of you might have. Thanks in advance.
Posted 8/30/2015 6:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sylvie,
Glad to hear relief is on its way. I had a 9cm paraesophageal hernia with a full wrap about 5 months ago. Seems most people with large hernias on this site get the partial wrap treatment. Just wanted you to know I got a full and couldn't be happier with my results. My recovery has been very easy and without any problems. Totally not what I prepared myself for as the information found regarding most wrap recoveries can be concerning. My doctor was very experienced and used all the test data to make his decision for a full wrap. I mentioned I still wanted the ability to burp and he assured me that wouldn't be a problem, which caused me to question if the wrap would be to loose. I trusted him and his experience and I'm so glad I did. I now can eat anything I want, am off medications, and can breathe normally again.
I did experience the after surgery shoulder pain but walked a lot as suggested on this site. I stuck to soft foods for two weeks and introduced other foods slowly. Drinking and chewing slowly was the key.
Don't rush the recovery and listen to your body.
Wishing you a successful recovery.
Posted 8/30/2015 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
A lot of us getting fundoplication have needed the partial wrap (mine was Toupet) for reasons like weak swallow. That's why we get the tests.

There are a great many posts on GPEH or giant paraesophageal hiatal hernia. You can read them by putting the words in the search box at the top of the page.
Posted 8/31/2015 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you have finally got a diagnosis, its good that you've never suffered heartburn or similar as it suggest you wont experience too much pain or discomfort from the surgery. Just take it easy, check out the diets and advice on here to make sure you know what to eat and drink in the months after. Hope all goes well.
Posted 9/2/2015 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Andy1986
Posted 9/3/2015 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sylvie,

I know Northwestern has a lot of doctors that are well published about GPEH's and it's a very good hospital for that condition. I saw a doctor at U of C that recommended I not have surgery. The only reason I didn't consult at Northwestern is because it's farther from me and I found a surgeon local that was more in line with what I wanted.

I was having several of the same symptoms as you such as breathing and rib cage pain problems. Also pain in my shoulder, jaw, teeth etc and lost 30 pounds. My PEH was not as large as yours at only 50% of my stomach. I had a repair surgery 2 weeks ago (without fundoplication) and don't regret my decision at all. I can finally breathe again and have not had chest, rib, jaw etc pain since having the surgery. I'm not back to full eating yet as because my esophagus was bruised and diaphragm repaired I have a lot of the same restrictions people that have the fundoplication have. I have a repair journal going if you care to check it out. Also lots of great people on here that have the wrap that have great information too!! Good luck with your surgery, I hope it goes great and you get some relief!!

Post Edited (Michiganmom) : 9/2/2015 9:17:05 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/3/2015 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michiganmom,

I'm so glad to hear from you. Thanks for posting. It's also good to know that you are doing well
and hope that the bruising will soon heal and you'll be back to full eating soon.

I've been struggling with this since 2011 not knowing I even had a hernia! Thought all the pain was due to Fibromyalgia. People couldn't believe my teeth hurt! Of course I finally had my heart checked out and then my lungs. I still can't understand why my Gastro. Doc. who did all the tests in 2011 when i was first diagnosed with severe-iron deficiency anemia didn't order the Barium Swallow Test. He saw a 6 cm hiatal hernia (never told me about it) but didn't connect the dots. So now it's a GPEH 10 cm with all my stomach in my chest!

Anyway I live within walking distance of Northwestern, although now I'm taking cabs as I'm getting weaker and have more back and chest pain each day. I feel good about my surgeon but I also considered not having the fundoplication. My surgery will probably involve an extra procedure to lengthen the esophagus so that the wrap may be completed. I will read your journel to see how you came to your decision. Thanks for your good wishes and I hope you don't mind if i contact you if I have any questions. By the way, did you have anemia? And do you have any opinion as to how or why we developed these rare GPEH? All the best and Take Care, Sylvie
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply