HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What's the best test to diagnose a hernia?

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/27/2013 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

Can anyone tell me which is the best test to get a hiatus hernia diagnosed?

Some people say an endoscopy and others say a barium swallow.

I've had an endoscopy but they didn't say that there was a hernia but I still feel that I may have one. I know that if the hernia is only small then it can be missed so how to I get a correct diagnosis.

Maria
Posted 9/27/2013 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
I had both and my gi sawy tiny sliding hernia during my endoscopy. My surgeon said he could tell from my barium swallow but he was the only one who mentioned it. The barium swallow does a great job of showing reflux though and is a pretty painless test to get done.
Posted 9/27/2013 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
StephanieJean

Thanks for reply. I'm going to ask my GP for a barium swallow just to double check.

Maria
Posted 9/27/2013 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
It shows up well on a CT Scan, too. I had one for my lungs and the large hiatal hernia was quite evident and mentioned on the radiologist's report. The endoscopy does a better job at determining the type and the size. Mine was a very large sliding hiatal hernia, which was the cause of my problems requiring the Nissen.
Posted 9/27/2013 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
A hiatal hernia can be diagnosed with a specialized X-ray study that allows visualization of the esophagus and stomach (barium swallow) or with endoscopy (a test that allows the doctor to view the hernia directly).

Good luck with your testing.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 9/28/2013 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
The only problem with seeing it with an EGD is that if they inflate with too much air it will look bigger than it is. The barium swallow is what my surgeons looked at for mine.

Bill
Posted 9/28/2013 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
U really need a barium swallow test mayb even a gastric empty study . If u r having GERD or the symptoms it can also b the bottom of the stomach that needs repaired. If the docs didn't see a hernia w the endo it's likely u don't have one or it's very small and it's gotta b large to b fixed . Mayb have the docs look at ur diaphragm there might b a too large of an opening.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply