Hiatal Hernia in elderly DM

[AbsolutelyLoveIy]

Hi
My mum has a hiatal hernia which in the last fortnight is now causing her to vomit daily.

Do we need to worry? She’s on the case with Omeprazole and need to see the doctor this week anyway . I am wondering if I am being a drama queen by asking about operation? She’s utterly miserable, losing weight and I don’t want to cause her any unnecessary stress but I am wondering if this is a sign it’s becoming a problem or just par for the course?

thanks

Acid in the oesophageal is not a good thing, so I’d be looking at getting the operation. Make sure she does see the GP this week.

*oesophagus. Damn predictive text.

Thanks for your reply.

is it normal to vomit with it?

I'm waiting for an operation on my hiatus hernia. Consultant's secretary said it's currently a 72 week wait. I'm sick sometimes, but not all the time.

Vomiting daily seems excessive, and with the weight loss I’d be concerned. Definitely needs seeing this week, tell the GP about the changes.

Thanks, good to hear in a way that I’m not being over the too about the vomiting.

My mums health has completely fallen off a cliff since she had covid and we think she has long covid now, so she’s in terrible shape at the moment

she’s eating because I’ve moved her in with me but she’s lost motivation to eat really so that will be part of the weight loss

she definitely cannot wait 72 weeks @DreadingWinter - how are you coping!?

@AbsolutelyLoveIy It's not great. It's been about four months so far and I asked if I could use a cancelled slot, but nothing. I'm near your mum in age, but not losing weight. I was fine after Covid, but later had a flu bug which was much worse. I take Omneprazole and some days almost bring up my food, but rarely bring it all up. I'd be concerned that there's more going on than a hiatus hernia for her to be so unwell. Mine is gigantic to quote the surgeon.

My DM has one, it has caused her to vomit on occasion, also squashes her lungs so can affect breathing. Anything stopping them eating isn't great, but in her mid 80s they thought she was too frail to operate as I understand it's a sizeable procedure.

Thanks for your messages

She is getting an endoscopy although this will need to be done privately so £2k ish as the waiting list for that is big apparently

Also I snuck a look in her medical records when the doctor was showing me something on them and further down it says it could be cancer and that has been discussed with us. No it hasn’t.

My mum has a hiatus hernia that seems to cause problems on and off. When it was very bad she was given special shakes from the dietician to help her gain weight so this might be worth looking at.

If they get to the point of vomiting it's an emergency so the wait will be short. That said it's a horrible operation, often in 2 stages and a long recovery - my mum has had it and I will one day as runs in the family.

I would be pushing the GP for further tests, I would be concerned something more sinister was going on.

Why isn’t her GP referring her for an endoscopy as a priority on the NHS if s/he has identified a risk of cancer?

I don’t know

I am annoyed although deep down I’m sure it’s not cancerous as her CRP levels were tested recently and were low. If you have cancer your CRP levels are into their thousands apparently

but what do I know? I’m reduced to asking on mumsnet and looking up Google as the state of healthcare in this country is fucking parlous. So who knows? Just grateful she has the money for private investigation as she’s just sold her house.