Hiatus Hernia

[Soubriquet]

So, I’ve been suffering from severe abdominal pain for about a year now. Numerous tests have ruled out everything and I eventually had an endoscopy on Wednesday where a hiatus hernia was found in the upper tract.

It’s where the pain is centered most of the time and from google, it appears it could be the cause of everything.

Im now obviously waiting for my doctor to review my results, but is it really that easy? That everything I’ve suffered through the last year caused by a hernia? That I could possibly be more mobile if I have surgery to remove it?

If you have one, what do you do to manage yours?

My daughter was diagnosed with one when she was a teenager. She used to get bouts of agonising pain and it was ages before the doctor sent her to have an examination with a camera when the hernia was at last diagnosed. The doctor was very surprised, he said these hernias are not common in young people.

Surgical options to correct it sounded risky and not very satisfactory. She was put on proton pump inhibitor medication to reduce stomach acid which helped, but has side effects so she weaned herself off it and has now managed to reduce the attacks through simple lifestyle changes. For instance she has eliminated some foods, she makes sure to sit upright when eating, has her last meal several hours before bedtime and sleeps on a tilted mattress (tilting the whole body, not just the upper part - you can buy bed blocks or put wooden blocks under the upper end of the bed).

I had keyhole surgery to repair mine, it has worked well. I think it can only be done privately, I had insurance

Thanks. I will see what my doctor says. I’ve have a lot of bad days with it to the point where I can’t walk and I have a blue badge

@TodayInahurry can I know who your consultant is, my hiatus hernia has changed from a sliding one to a rolling one which can cause strangulation It is still small at 3cm but I know sometime in the future I need surgery. I have heard about some experiences with surgery which haven't been good so would like some advise.