Persistence is key. When I began my quest to have another surgery I kept telling my GI Dr that because of the sensations I was having when I swallowed it felt like my stomach was sliding again. When I had my 1st hiatal hernia repair in 1994 most of my stomach was in my chest. For a year before my surgery I was maxed out on 3 meds. I was double dosed on my prevacid, double dosed on zantac, taking liquid carafate and even using over the counter antacids. The hurtburn never stopped coming back. Be politely persistent and tell them they would change their mind quickly if they had to walk in your shoes. Keep pushing for a referral to a surgeon who SPECIALIZES in hiatal hernia repairs, Nissan fundoplication s, and LINX bands. Do not go to a general surgeon who has it on their list of can do's. You want someone who does this all the time.