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Hiatus hernia and pregnancy

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 10/24/2015 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have a hiatus hernia and am currently waiting to have a barium swallow to see if I am ok to have the nissen wrap surgery as I have suffered for 10 years. I am 30 in January and so badly want a baby. When my husband and I tried last year, I found the progesterone increase from being off the pills made my acid reflux worse and I got quite sick.

I have asked my surgeon and GI doc if I should have a baby before or after I get the wrap done. They have told me that if I have a baby before it is done, I will most certainly suffer with acid reflux during my pregnancy and I may get bad morning sickness. However, the surgery takes a long time to recover from (you have to have liquid meals for some time) and they said that being pregnant could undo the wrap and I would have to have it done again.

I just wondered if anyone else has had any experience either way?
Posted 10/24/2015 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
most of us that have the wrap, lose the ability to vomit, that being said, it is still worth it. i would question the potential morning sickness, and how it could be controlled post wrap. you have a lot to consider here. good luck.
Posted 10/26/2015 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply. I have been researching it a bit more on this page.

So from what I am reading the only issues with having the surgery before pregnancy is that I might not be able to be sick which would make morning sickness nausea worse – though to me, the thought that I won’t be sick sounds amazing at first (I have emetophobia) but I can imagine how horrible the nausea would be if I needed to be sick. It may also need redoing but I think that risk outweighs the risk of not having it done before.

From what I have read, women who have GORD and a hiatus hernia who have been pregnant have suffered really badly. I get a lot of nausea with my reflux (and progesterone makes it worse) but I can't be sick, so I am likely to suffer nausea without being sick either way.

I just wish it would all speed up. I am 30 in two months time and I want a baby so badly. I am still on the waiting list for my barium swallow so it could be a least a year before I get anywhere near surgery :-(
Posted 11/10/2015 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
I am in the same boat. I am now 33 and I have put off being pregnant because I fear I will be unable to function and in severe pain while pregnant. I also fear after the pregnancy I will stay worse. What I have read is that there are plenty of women who have the surgery and then get pregnant. One lady had 4 children. The linx in particular you can get pregnant right away I am not sure about the wraps. I am exploring surgery now as I know I can't make it through a pregnancy with how I feel now and I don't want to have to go through the process of having surgery with a baby to care for. I know it's a process but it is important to go through the testing ( which I am dreading). I'm meeting with a surgeon Thursday to figure out a plan. I'm hoping the process is not terrible but I'm fearing the tests.
Posted 11/10/2015 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
See that makes me worry. My surgeon has told me I don't need the testing and just to have a barium swallow
Posted 11/11/2015 7:13 AM (GMT 0)
jennielouises It would be in your best interests to insist on have manometry done. One of the most common problems with the surgeries is dysphagia, and it can make what was a small swallowing issue pre surgery much more serious. The barium swallow is a good starting point, and if there are some severe swallowing problems they may show up on that, but manometry can show a lot more about your swallowing.
Posted 11/11/2015 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, as much as I would love to get out of doing the manometry I know it's an important test as it will identify any motility issues which will then identify the surgery option that best fits. I don't want to do it and I have been training my brain to anticipate this test but I know it needs to be done.
Posted 11/11/2015 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Practice deep breathing, honestly its a god send during that test. Mine was a bit of a debacle because they had problems getting the tube through my sinuses, so I was in a reasonable amount of pain, but I just focussed on a spot on the wall and put every part of my attention to controlling my breathing. It helped a lot to stop the retching too.
Posted 11/11/2015 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone know if pregnancy a decade or so after the wrap could cause it to come undone? I'm only 17, but I want to get married and have kids someday. I didn't find out that pregnancy could impact it until after I had the surgery when I saw something on here. My surgeon never mentioned it and when I brought it up at my post op, he said he doesn't know. If there is any chance the wrap will come undone, I don't want biological kids. Going through surgery again would be too much.
Posted 11/12/2015 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Readingclaygirl, the average "lifespan" of the nissen is 10 years, and given how young you are theres a good chance you will need to have it redone at some point as it loosens over time. Although by that stage who knows what may be available for treatment options.
Posted 11/12/2015 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Wow no one told me that. Good to know.
Posted 11/12/2015 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/540684 this article is a bit more promising, but yeah it does lose effectiveness over time, and given how young you are you'll probably need intervention again at some point in your life. In saying that though it may die down completely and disappear, its not out of the realms of possibility, GERD and LPR are strange conditions.

I only found that out through lots of research for surgery, it was actually that which got me rethinking whether I actually wanted to get it done, especially because I still haven't managed to find out if you can have Linx done after having a nissen.
Posted 12/4/2015 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
To be honest this is my biggest concern. I had my wrap Nissen done on 02/03/2013 and I just got married and now it appers that I have to get it redone again. I am feeling torn because I really want to have a baby. not tomorrow but maybe like next year. I am 32 and am scared s#h% sorry but I am. I feel like it it worth me to to get even worse to try to get pregnant when it already is loose and need to be redone or get it done and then after i heal try. im so torn
Posted 12/4/2015 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
That's exactly how I feel Tara but between having it done first or getting pregnant first. I just don't know what to do.

Plus my barium swallow showed no reflux so now I have to be referred to a different doc for the bravo study which means waiting another three months. I've wanted a baby for over a year now (dh and I tried last year but I got too ill with my hernia being off the pills) and I don't want to put it off much longer
Posted 12/5/2015 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
We're patients. Listen to your real doctor!

If you want a baby, go for it, unless the hernia is very large. Don't worry about the hernia if it's ok with your doctor. He didn't say you need surgery urgently, so I'd put it off. In fact, if it doesn't get a lot worse, I'd consider finishing my family before surgery.

A lot of people in the forum had no trouble with the surgery, so don't get hysterical and let yourself worry about the what ifs.

My hernia was a really bad one, stomach stuck in chest. That's the nobly those of case where I would consider getting the surgery early.

Pregnancy can cause a lot of pressure, so listen to the doc! Watching your weight can help, but don't worry unnecessarily about that either.

Bottom line is your doc knows you!
Posted 12/8/2015 2:36 PM (GMT 0)

Alcie said...
We're patients. Listen to your real doctor!

If you want a baby, go for it, unless the hernia is very large. Don't worry about the hernia if it's ok with your doctor. He didn't say you need surgery urgently, so I'd put it off. In fact, if it doesn't get a lot worse, I'd consider finishing my family before surgery.

Pregnancy can cause a lot of pressure, so listen to the doc! Watching your weight can help, but don't worry unnecessarily about that either.

Bottom line is your doc knows you!

I get what you are saying but the doctor didn't tell me either way. I was told that if I got pregnant before the wrap I probably would be very sick but if I got pregnant after I might have to have a re-do. He said it was up to me! See the problem?! lol confused cry
Posted 12/9/2015 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
I am scheduled to see the doctor on Tuesday to talk about the red-do? I need to have it ASAP i was told due reflux damage. Im just scared all around.
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