paraesophageal hernia

I was diagnosed with a medium paraesophageal hernia within the past month. I meet with a surgeon this month. I will have a couple of friends helping me out as much as they can but they can't stay with me 24/7 and I live alone. Is this something do-able? I'll prepare all my liquids/foods beforehand and will have them checking on me. Or should I hire someone to come in and help? Or stay with a friend for the first several days or so? I've never had any kind of surgery so I'm not sure really what to expect. Thanks for any advice.

Thanks, Alcie. I'm not sure what procedure they will be doing yet. I should know on the 23rd when I talk to the surgeon. It's all a little confusing to me at this point as my GI doctor has not been super informative. I'm hoping the surgeon will be more informative. This website has been a tremendous help, reading others experiences.

I think you will be fine with your friends checking in on you.

Thanks for your response Yin. I wasn't able to see your email address.

I have the hernia and GERD as well. I've had GERD symptoms for years now. I've had a cough and nasal drip that has kept getting worse for years, I wretch and throw up almost every morning now. Constant bloating and get full very easily. Apparently, these are all classic signs of para. hernia. My GP thought my cough may have been sinus related or from my blood pressure meds. I did have a sinus infection when they did the scan. The ENT doctor gave me a round of antibiotics which did nothing. We switched my blood pressure meds and that did nothing.

I recently started having regular "attacks" where my stomach feels like someone has punched my insides. I get nauseated and can't eat and typically throw up several times. I went to the emergency room the last time and they saw on the CT scan that my bowels and intestines were inflamed and I should follow up with my GI doctor. That's when the testing began! In a way I'm relieved at least I know what is causing the cough etc. No one is sure what is exactly causing the severe stomach pains. They think it's probably related to the hernia but not definite.

The surgeon said I've had the hernia for a while as well. about 1/3 of my stomach has "squeezed" through. I've scheduled my surgery for the 30th of October. It will be done lapa. and he will be doing Nissen Fund. He said I would be in the hospital overnight and released the next day. He said the surgery would take 1.5 hours which seems quick from reading other's post.

I'm nervous because I've never had surgery and have never been in the hospital overnight so I don't know what to expect. I'm hoping I will be so tired and medicated that I won't care. I hope the surgery relieves my symptoms especially the coughing.

Thanks Yin. I just sent you an email. Would love more info. Thanks.