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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Hiatal Hernia?
Posted on
Sat, 7 Jan 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 7 Jan 2017
Answered on
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : I ha be I believe a hiatal hernia. If I eat late, I have to sleep in a recliner and many times I make myself vomit if I had not already
Brief Answer:
Information.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It sounds like you have been dealing with your symptoms for awhile given that you are on prescription strength acid reducers.
If you are experiencing reflux and the medications are not enough, then talk with your doctor to let him or her know the meds are not working enough. Depending on the dosage, he or she may either want to increase the prescription dosage or go on to the next step.
Barium swallow studies or endoscopy (a lighted tube with a camera) can confirm that it is a hiatal hernia.
And if you have had a full trial of medications and they are not helping, and you are bothered significantly by the symptoms, then surgery is the next option. You can talk with your doctor about who he/she might recommend for a surgical consult. If you go this route, during the consult ask the surgeon how many hiatal hernia procedures he or she has done (or does per year) and what their success rate is.
If you are overweight, do everything possible to reduce your weight as this can make hiatal hernias more symptomatic. Eat only small amounts in the evening - have your bigger meals earlier in the day.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It sounds like you have been dealing with your symptoms for awhile given that you are on prescription strength acid reducers.
If you are experiencing reflux and the medications are not enough, then talk with your doctor to let him or her know the meds are not working enough. Depending on the dosage, he or she may either want to increase the prescription dosage or go on to the next step.
Barium swallow studies or endoscopy (a lighted tube with a camera) can confirm that it is a hiatal hernia.
And if you have had a full trial of medications and they are not helping, and you are bothered significantly by the symptoms, then surgery is the next option. You can talk with your doctor about who he/she might recommend for a surgical consult. If you go this route, during the consult ask the surgeon how many hiatal hernia procedures he or she has done (or does per year) and what their success rate is.
If you are overweight, do everything possible to reduce your weight as this can make hiatal hernias more symptomatic. Eat only small amounts in the evening - have your bigger meals earlier in the day.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How dangerous is the surgery?
Brief Answer:
Information.
Detailed Answer:
That I don't know. There are different procedures possible, depending on the nature of the hiatal hernia (sliding vs fixed, and the degree of herniation). That would be a very important question to take up during a consultation with a surgeon.
Information.
Detailed Answer:
That I don't know. There are different procedures possible, depending on the nature of the hiatal hernia (sliding vs fixed, and the degree of herniation). That would be a very important question to take up during a consultation with a surgeon.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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