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Large Hiatal Hernia

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Posted 1/29/2023 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. I am new to this forum but hoping to hear from anyone who has had fundoplication surgery. I have an extremely large hiatal hernia. I have pain most of the time and a lot of gas after eating. I also have mild chest pain and very high blood pressure even though I am on 3 medications. I am scheduled for a stress test and echo on Monday. I am.terrified of this surgery. The surgeons PA painted a very negative picture of what recovery would be like. Also I have heard and read several people's accounts of how difficult and long their recovery was. I am almost 70 years old and very active and really wondering if this surgery is worth it. My doctor said it would change my life for the better, but I am starting to question how accurate that is. I am looking for some honest feedback from anyone who has had this surgery.
Posted 1/30/2023 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
I had a large sliding one at age 56 (8 years ago). Any abdominal surgery - even when done laparoscopic - is a major surgery.

In my case I did not have much of a choice due to the size and nature of it - and it was getting worse. In fact a couple of weeks before it was scheduled I had to go to the ER and then was hospitalized as my stomach was becoming strangulated after it moved nearly completely above the hiatal. FWIW they used a biological mesh and I needed a full nissen wrap.

It is a long recovery (measured in weeks) but if you follow the diet recommendations, don't push trying to eat what you shouldn't too early, and follow the Dr's guidelines for what you can lift afterwards, it is manageable.

My biggest problem was either due to my stomach moving so far up or possibly a problem during the surgery, my vagus nerve was damaged which led to other GI problems as well as a heart pacemaker. Damage of this type can happen with any abdominal surgery but is not a high percentage of the cases.

However, even knowing this would happen, I really did not have a choice in having the surgery and was glad to have listened to the Doctors.

I have also had a small recurrence, but nothing which requires surgery.

Please note I am not a Dr and did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but if you are active then not having it repaired will likely begin to impact your quality of life more over time.
Posted 1/30/2023 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
The information that tde 44 x provided is correct. I had my surgery in my early 50's. Everyone's recovery journey is different, and age is a factor. My suggestion, before you commit to surgery, is to seek a second opinon. You need to have an endoscopy, barium swallow, 24-hour Ph testing, and a manometry to test for swallowing function. If you have swallowing dysfunction, then you wouldn't qualify for the Nissen. I was in my mid-50s when I had my surgey. I didn't feel much better until abou 6-months post-surgery and probably a year until I felt like the "new" me. The diet post-surgery is restrictive, and you can expect small setbacks along the way. I had a full Nissen, and my surgeon advised me that I would no longer be able to belch as before, and I that I would lose my ability to vomit - I was fine with both of those things. At almost 10 years later, I still suffer from bouts of nausea that come from nowhere - I keep anti-nausea medication (Zofran) with me at all times. Again, this is major abdominal surgery.

Good Luck,
Sharon
Posted 1/31/2023 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you td44x and SharonZ. To be truthful I am worried that I won't have the willpower to follow the diet. Three weeks on a liquid diet is a long time. The PA told me if I eat anything it will get stuck in my throat and would have to have it removed. I have had the barium swallow and waiting to be scheduled for an endoscopy. I am also experiencing uncontrollable high blood pressure. I had an echo and stress test today. Nothing is wrong with my heart but I cant help but to wonder if this huge hiatal hernia is a contributing factor. It is not a surgery that I will rush into without a lot of thought. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.
Posted 1/31/2023 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
It's possible that stress is contributing to your blood pressure, but could be due to the hernia, have you asked your doctor? You are right - if you can't follow a strict diet post surgery, it would be a huge problem.

Good Luck,
Sharon
Posted 1/31/2023 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
The past 14 months have been the most stressful in a very long time on so many levels. Just as things were finally settling down and finally calm my blood pressure shot up. I did ask the cardiologist yesterday if the hiaral hernia could be the problem and he said no....I really think it is. My blood pressure continues to go up a little higher every day. Waiting to hear back from my doctor today.
Posted 1/31/2023 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
I never experienced blood pressure issues with my hiatal hernia, but I guess everything is possible. Your blood pressure spiking could be totally unrelated to your hernia.

Sharon
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