I've heard about the wrap being too tight from one person, I think here on Connect, but I'm glad I had the surgery.

For the esophagram...
1. The radiologist stands in a small area nearby looking at a screen. There is also at least one other person with you while you are having the test. They are wearing something to protect them from the radiation.
2. They have you step up onto a platform, put your back up against it, and then drink a small amount of alka-seltzer. They watch it go down your esophagus, and they tell you to try not to burp. They then give you some barium with a straw, have you drink it, and watch it go down.
3. They then lower the table so you are laying down with your back on it. They have you drink more while laying down and watch how your esophagus works. (They hold the cup and straw for you.)
4. While you are laying down, they then have you flip over to lay on your stomach, and they have you drink more while they watch it.
5. Then, they have you turn onto your back and onto your front again. Maybe drinking some more barium.
6. After they are finished, they'll put the table upright again, and you are done.

The barium wasn't that bad and seemed thinner in consistency than I remember from years ago.
Afterward, Mayo gave me a bottle of water to drink to help get the barium out of my system. At home they didn't, but I knew to drink a lot that day from learning so at Mayo.

What size is your hiatal hernia? Mine was three-to-four centimeters. In imaging reports, radiologists act home called it small, but every Mayo radiologist called it large. (I thought that was interesting.)

The incision pains weren't bad at all and never have been. I do get small pains in my abdomen now. My PCP think it's my diaphragm. As soon as they started in early November, I emailed Mayo and they called me within 15 minutes to discuss. (

Oh yes anticipation is definitely making me nervous. Thank you for your positive message, God Bless you too
thank you for sending a message to me, I appreciate it.