Hiatal Hernia. What helps?

How normal is it to have a hiatal hernia where 75% of the stomach and intestines are inside your chest cavity causing left lung to collapse ? What are the dangers if any and my chances for full recovery. Surgery took just over 6 hours.

How normal is it to have a hiatal hernia where 75% of the stomach and intestines are inside your chest cavity causing left lung to collapse ? What are the dangers if any and my chances for full recovery. Surgery took just over 6 hours.

Having been through this, I would get a second opinion from a different GI doctor. Mayo told me to sleep upright, stop eating for the day at least three hours before bedtime, and to avoid certain foods: greasy foods, spicy foods, peppermint, and more.

Your inclination to avoid meds long-term is spot-on! I had a 4 cm hiatal hernia and GERD issues for years, and the sphincter between my stomach and esophagus was failing. My home doctors treated me with Nexium and it's generic equivalents for years. Twelve years later, and getting sicker and sicker, in September 2015 I took myself to Mayo and they figured out that I genetically don't properly metabolize these medications, which is the reason why I was getting sicker and sicker. Thing is, even if you do properly-metabolize these meds, these meds themselves inhibit the enzyme system that metabolizes these medications, which means that people on these meds long-term will slowly develop symptoms to the medication inhibition. (Both Prilosec and Zantac are also inhibitors.) Unfortunately, the majority of doctors don't know about it.

So solve this problem for me, last October Mayo performed a Nissen Fundoplication surgery on me to fix the hernia and GERD issue. No more meds for me!

<p>Diagnosed with paraesophageal hernia</p><p>This is first post. I was diagnosed with 5 cm Hill grade 4- esophagus wide open with an endoscopy a few months ago. I live in eastern CT and was told by my primary care physician to go to a thoracic surgeon. I have hadGERD for yrs and have been on every prescription PPI there is since 2010 , but my blood work came back with a hemoglobin of 5. 2 blood transfusions later it is 12. I haven't even started any other tests. I did not like the GI department that I started with (small local hospital). 2weeks ago I started vomitting every time I ate small bites of food and drank normal amount of water. I have dropped so much weight that nothing fits (6 dress sizes). The biggest problem is finding a surgeon. The first 6 calls offered nothing until Dec. or Jan. I finally contacted chief of thoracic surgery. They didn't give me a date but connected me with Dr's PA. last week. She promised an appointment in 7-14 days so my fingers are crossed. Any information from a PEH patient or a relative of one would help. Thanks for reading. Have a safe holiday.</p>

Thank you! I know a PEH is only approx. 5% of American population so I do not expect huge replies. I will take a hug any day!

<p>Diagnosed with paraesophageal hernia</p><p>This is first post. I was diagnosed with 5 cm Hill grade 4- esophagus wide open with an endoscopy a few months ago. I live in eastern CT and was told by my primary care physician to go to a thoracic surgeon. I have hadGERD for yrs and have been on every prescription PPI there is since 2010 , but my blood work came back with a hemoglobin of 5. 2 blood transfusions later it is 12. I haven't even started any other tests. I did not like the GI department that I started with (small local hospital). 2weeks ago I started vomitting every time I ate small bites of food and drank normal amount of water. I have dropped so much weight that nothing fits (6 dress sizes). The biggest problem is finding a surgeon. The first 6 calls offered nothing until Dec. or Jan. I finally contacted chief of thoracic surgery. They didn't give me a date but connected me with Dr's PA. last week. She promised an appointment in 7-14 days so my fingers are crossed. Any information from a PEH patient or a relative of one would help. Thanks for reading. Have a safe holiday.</p>

<p>Diagnosed with paraesophageal hernia</p><p>This is first post. I was diagnosed with 5 cm Hill grade 4- esophagus wide open with an endoscopy a few months ago. I live in eastern CT and was told by my primary care physician to go to a thoracic surgeon. I have hadGERD for yrs and have been on every prescription PPI there is since 2010 , but my blood work came back with a hemoglobin of 5. 2 blood transfusions later it is 12. I haven't even started any other tests. I did not like the GI department that I started with (small local hospital). 2weeks ago I started vomitting every time I ate small bites of food and drank normal amount of water. I have dropped so much weight that nothing fits (6 dress sizes). The biggest problem is finding a surgeon. The first 6 calls offered nothing until Dec. or Jan. I finally contacted chief of thoracic surgery. They didn't give me a date but connected me with Dr's PA. last week. She promised an appointment in 7-14 days so my fingers are crossed. Any information from a PEH patient or a relative of one would help. Thanks for reading. Have a safe holiday.</p>

Hi @phillygirl67, a paraesophageal hernia can also be referred to as a hiatal hernia. For that reason, I moved your messages to this existing, active discussion where you can connect with many members.

- Hiatal Hernia. What helps?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hiatal-hernia-what-helps-surgery-or-no/
Also see these additional hiatal hernia discussions: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=Hiatal+Hernia

Welcome!

How normal is it to have a hiatal hernia where 75% of the stomach and intestines are inside your chest cavity causing left lung to collapse ? What are the dangers if any and my chances for full recovery. Surgery took just over 6 hours.