@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.