Has anyone had surgery to repair hiatal hernia?

My experience was the hernia continued to grow - until it became a “large hiatal hernia”. The general surgeons insisted I have gastric bypass surgery because I weighed 232 and they thought the hernia would grow back. At 70, I didn’t want GBS. THEN, I found a great thoracic surgeon at Duke who repaired it. (easy surgery) and it has not returned in 4 years. I feel so much better I’ve lost 90 lbs since surgery, It’s all in the surgeon. 😁

Thanks so much proth1018 for this useful information. It makes me feel better knowing that someone had someone had a successful experience with the hiatal hernia surgery. Once again, thanks.

Maddie "Drew"

@proth1018 Would you mind sharing the type of surgery approach such as Laparoscopic surgery or another method. I am very appreciative that you are taking the time to give me such important information 😀

@maddie7007
It was done robotically!! If you get a thoracic surgeon—they generally are doing things like robotic lung transplants or robotic cancers inside the chest, like thyroid or thymus. So very experienced in robotics. That meant as a patient, I had an easy recovery, NO scars, and the TOP line anesthesiologists at my hospital. I may not have had a lung replaced, but thoracic surgeons get top line everybody to assist them. That was comforting. You will hear regular-day-to-day surgeons either say they can do it, but I encourage you to go to the best your medical insurance will pay. (“If you don’t ask, the answer is No”.) 😁 Let me know if you have more questions.

@proth1018 Did you have a complete fundoplication to repair?

No. Because my hernia had grown so large - pushing through my diaphragm - he couldn't do a full fundoplication. That was the goal, but not possible. I weighed a lot and it was very large. However, I rarely have stomach issues. Just last month, my gastro dr did an endoscopy to see how everything was holding - and it’s perfect. I think the weight loss has helped. Should it ever loosen up, they could repeat the procedure, but I doubt that will happen now.
I can’t tell you how relieved I still am that I didn’t listen to the first 2 surgeons and have gastric bypass. I know no one who is glad they did it. Best of luck!

@proth1018 so you have the partial 270 fundoplication?

My fundo for GERD was done laproscopically over 25 years ago. Course they always have the option of doing it the long way if conditions necessitate. The first 2 days were miserable until they pulled the the long tube from my tummy.

@captnautigal Sorry, I have never seen or heard of a partial 270 fundoplication anywhere. I don’t know what that is.

@proth1018 Thank you so much my good friend. You are the first hope that I have had in nearly 20 years. So, I would like to ask a few more questions, if it is okay. Let's say that I walk in to my Doctor regarding hilial hernia, what questions do you suggest that I ask the Doctor? Should I say that I am requesting the robotic surgery method to address my hernia? I ask this question because over five Doctors have refused to conduct the surgery, although I am having severe symptoms. Thanks