Hiatal hernia surgery

[Maccy]

Damn, that's basically the absolute worst-case scenario. I suspect my sister is going the same way based upon her symptoms.

Glad you got through it.

It was yeh, to be told afterwards that you’re 24 hours away from potential death is quite something!

If your sister if going through the same then I’d suggest that she keeps a log of everything (if she isn’t already) and continues to put pressure on the hospital staff to get it dealt with.

 

[wonko]

A number of tests and checks, including another attempt at having an endoscopy where they couldn’t even get the camera down and a CT scan, showed that my stomach was completely through my diaphragm and pressing against my heart, so ECG readings were showing that I was having a heart attack!

Good grief, that sounds beyond terrible and puts my experience into perspective. It's obviously not typical but I wasn't aware that could happen.

 

[Rage85]

I've been approved for surgery but need to have a CT scan and barium swallow first.

Anyone know if the barium swallow is similar to endoscopy?

 

[Narj]

It was yeh, to be told afterwards that you’re 24 hours away from potential death is quite something!

If your sister if going through the same then I’d suggest that she keeps a log of everything (if she isn’t already) and continues to put pressure on the hospital staff to get it dealt with.

She went to A&E tonight in agony on her own and insisted on a scan and they refused and sent her home with anti sickness drugs.

I am absolutely incandescent. She went without telling any of us and wasn’t assertive enough. If anything happens to her then I’ll be rocking up to the hospital and kicking off big time.

Her GP said a CT scan was needed so why can’t they do it now? Sigh - I think we really have no option but to go private now as she hasn't eaten properly in weeks and the NHS is a shambles.

 

[Maccy]

She went to A&E tonight in agony on her own and insisted on a scan and they refused and sent her home with anti sickness drugs.

I am absolutely incandescent. She went without telling any of us and wasn’t assertive enough. If anything happens to her then I’ll be rocking up to the hospital and kicking off big time.

Her GP said a CT scan was needed so why can’t they do it now? Sigh - I think we really have no option but to go private now as she hasn't eaten properly in weeks and the NHS is a shambles.

Just have to keep pushing for scans sadly, although my late mum eventually went private for it and they discharged her too early which led to her getting pneumonia...

 

[Grim5]

Has anyone has success in correcting this without surgery?

I.e is there a way that the diaphragm can be strengthened and close the hole on its own? Or maybe does losing weight make the hole close? Does anything make it go away?

And what causes it in the first place?

 

[Maccy]

Has anyone has success in correcting this without surgery?

I.e is there a way that the diaphragm can be strengthened and close the hole on its own? Or maybe does losing weight make the hole close? Does anything make it go away?

And what causes it in the first place?

A lot of people have a hiatus hernia without even realising it, and the stomach will "slide" back down from the diaphragm. I was told by the surgeon that the diaphragm will never repair by itself, especially if the stomach continues to slide up and down.

The cause for me was unknown, hereditary maybe, but it's most common for women who have gone through pregnancy (baby pushing organs around internally!)

 

[D-Ranged]

My grandad had it done about 30+ years ago and they made a right bodge of it.

I have similar symptoms but I don't think I'd need surgery, but when I've looked into it, there is a higher risk of having other complications

 

[Narj]

Has anyone has success in correcting this without surgery?

I.e is there a way that the diaphragm can be strengthened and close the hole on its own? Or maybe does losing weight make the hole close? Does anything make it go away?

And what causes it in the first place?

I am managing mine well with stretches/exercises and diet and also with a chiropractor. I think that's only really practical with a small HH. Losing weight will reduce abdominal pressure which can help.

It sounds mad but drinking a pint of warm water and jumping from a step repeatedly while exhaling has helped when I have a flare-up. Hard to believe something so small can make you feel like you're having a heart attack.