I hope someone can help me understand what to do with my situation. It doesn't quite mirror any of the accounts here, but it does come close. I had a Nissan and hernia repair in early 2020. I had suffered with excruciating GERD for 21 years taking PPIs every single day of my life and vomiting frequently. My GI doctor for years told me to wait and see if some more reliable surgery procedures develop because Nissens had high failure rates, but then she said it was probably time for surgery, and that one of the foremost surgeons is in my area and she provided the referral. Better to get it done while in relatively good health, she said, and surgeon agreed.

I found the Nissan operation to be relatively "easy" insofar as I spent just one day in hospital and I did not take a single pain reliever. The GERD disappeared, I lost 24 pounds in 3 months staying on a soft, non-sticky food regimen. Bathroom functions went back and forth from not being able to poop or fart/belch to severe dumping syndrome and unbelievable gas. I have never vomited since surgery, I do not exercise other than walking, and I don't lift heavy objects. I had two follow ups with the surgeon (no tests or exams, just talking) and then Covid happened and their practice moved to another management company. I never heard from them again, and because I had no acid reflux I thought everything was good. Then, on an unrelated CT scan, it was noted that I had a very large hiatal hernia. I went back to the surgeon, he ordered a Barium swallow test, and low and behold my hernia that was 6cm before surgery is now 10cm (giant), the wrap has slipped, but the mesh is in place. He surmised that the mesh and scar tissue is the only thing controlling acid reflux, but admits that it will recur.

Bottom line, the surgeon is poo-pooing me, telling me that it's unfortunate, but that I shouldn't be complaining because I'm not having acid reflux (just phlegm). At the same time, he's telling me that the hernia will grow, reflux may come back with a vengeance, impact my breathing and possibly strangulate other organs. I have talked with two other surgeons, one thoracic and another general. My original surgeon said he will not perform a re-do, and he has no advise as to how to live with the hernia. He's not even telling to come back in 6 months; he just wants me gone. The second opinion surgeon said that a laparoscopic surgical redo is possible, he's done them, but the recovery period is much more painful and prolonged and it's not a guaranteed fix forever. I'm scared because the hernia is huge and won't get smaller, it can only get bigger and meanwhile I'm getting older, now dealing with high BP and arthritis. I did gain back the weigh, but am exactly the same weight as I was at time of surgery, 172 lbs.

How long do I wait? In just a couple of years, the hernia increased tremendously, so I can only imagine what's on the horizon. What are the dangers of having a hernia this large?