Thanks for posting this question, I would also like this information!

@cantbelievethis and @ch47, A lot of members shared their experience in an older discussion from 2016 which has posts from 2020 and one from 2022 here:
--- Has anyone had surgery to repair hiatal hernia?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hiatal-hernia-sugery/

@rcgmlka7, @friz, @donnatownsend, @drdinsmore, @billjudis and @bea4me have discussed hiatal hernia surgery in other discussions and may have some experience to share with you.

I just had a nissen fundaplication. I haven't felt this good in 14 years. Depending on the size of your hiatal hernia, you might need to raise your bed to a 30 degree angle to sleep. I can now sleep flat and have had no issues. The trade off for me is easy. No straws, no carbonated drinks (I haven't had any for 9 years) small meals , soft food, chew well. Drink after each bite. If I do eat bread dunk it in a liquid. My esophagus is weak and doesn't push food down like it should. Dr Edwards Jax Mayo is the best and made this as easy as possible. I suggest you use him.

If you have a large hiatal hernia, it would be best to have it repaired.

I don’t know if any of these suggestions appeal to you but there are chiropractors who are trained to manipulate the hernia area so that it is pushed down. Also, when you first get up, on an empty stomach, drink two 8 oz. glasses of water and then vigorously bounce up and down for 30 seconds. The weight of the water is supposed to pull the hernia down. Pull your shoulders down (if you have a tendency to have them up by your ears) and breathe deeper. The whole concept is “down” since the hernia is bulging up.

Best wishes, Cindy

@cantbelievethis @ch47 I have been living with a hiatal hernia for several years. Doctors have told me that the hernia repair surgery can cause more problems and to avoid it. Hiatal hernias can cause acid reflux (GERD) and acid reflux can irritate the esophagus to the point you can get chest pains that feel like a heart attack.

I have been taking one 30mg. Prevacid capsule at bed time, and I have the top of my bed raised on risers (available on Amazon, bedding stores, etc.) and that has helped with the reflux. In addition, I stop eating and drinking around 8:00 p.m. or no later than 9:00 p.m., no matter how late I get to bed. Small meals help too, but I eat two meals a day - a sort of brunch around 1:00 p.m. and regular dinner around 7:00 p.m. - and have fruits and snacks between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. if I feel hungry.

PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) like Prevacid, Nexium, etc. are frowned upon, but for me they have been a necessary evil because acid reflux can eventually cause Barrett’s Syndrome which if left unchecked can lead to esophageal cancer (my father died of esophageal cancer). I would rather take the risk of PPIs than esophageal cancer.

This is just my experience with GERD, and what has helped me.

To avoid sliding down when the bed is at a slant, you can tuck a small pillow or folded small blanket under your bottom. It helps.
In addition to drinking some water to reduce the acid, chewing is most helpful (even with nothing in your mouth) because the saliva is alkaline and neutralizes the acid.

If its small, my gi dr told me that they leave them alone , if there not causing problems and small ones usually don't and for me to continue my ppi

My chronic acid reflux/GERD was completely remedied when I eliminated gluten from my diet. After many invasive tests over a few years (during which a hiatal hernia was found) plus a variety of other symptoms that were hard to pin down, a blood test (cascade) showed that I had inherited celiac genes from both parents. The hiatal bugs me once in a while, but I’ve been advised to just hang in there with it since it’s not causing any physical damage. The medical advice … from my (female) nurse practitioner, not from the (male) gastroenterologist who seemed pretty clueless and hinted that I was exaggerating things… was to go gluten-free. That was eight years ago now.

My Gastro also said if it’s small leave it alone. However my hiatal hernia has gotten larger. I’m diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus cause my hernia keeps my LES ( lower esophageal spinchter open). What t do now??? Big question. Any one out there solve this issue?

You have really been through it. Hope you are feeling better. So far I’m ok. Doing everything I can. Will be not go PPI route ever again. My poor sister has a broken back from osteoporosis from emperzole. Also is investigating kidney damage. Why do they approve these drugs if they have such horrible side effects? Stay well.