hiatus hernia

[Jollyhockeysticks]

I have a hiatus hernia. The whole of my stomach is in the chest cavity. On the slightest exertion causing the lungs to expand becomes impossible as the stomach is squashing them. I’ve been told I won’t survive surgery as too much tissue damage caused by steroids and if my stomach was brought down, my lungs would pack up. Also my stomach would become redundant because it wouldn’t know how to function. I’ve asked for a second opinion as it just doesn’t seem right to me. Has this happened to anyone else.

[Jumpey]

I have no experience of this to share.And I agree .If I were you I would seek a second opinion.I'm so sorry you are suffering. Huge good luck.x

[Jollyhockeysticks in reply to Jumpey]

Thankyou. What I didn’t mention is the terrible pain I get in the evening. I can’t lie down, stand or walk about. The best I can do is put pillows on the ironing board to lean on. I sleep like that. It last anything from 4 to 11 hours. I was always recovered by the next day, then it it became two days and now three. Don’t know if this is taking its toll on me because of my age, I’m 67 or I’m just becoming weaker due to the many hours of pain I endure. If I say the pain is on par with labour pains I’m not exaggerating. Absolutely horrendous.

[Jumpey in reply to Jollyhockeysticks]

Bless you.I dearly hope you can find some relief.You could ask fir a referral to a pain clinic.

[Jollyhockeysticks in reply to Jumpey]

A pain clinic is a good idea. Thankyou for that.

[Badger2024]

Absolutely get another opinion. I thought you were going to say you were 87, not 67! It’s not your time yet. A good surgeon will be able to help you. Meanwhile like jumpey suggested, a referral to a pain clinic sounds like a great idea

[deedeeO]

See an Osteopath. They can help.

[1abc1943]

I agree seek a second opinion. I'm so sorry for you xx

[Baxterburger]

Hi, I had the operation a couple of weeks ago and just returned home. Like you my stomach and part of my bowel had pushed through my diaphragm and pressed against my lung. The pain was excruciating and delibitating.

I saw surgeons, aneathestists, GI specialists in the preceding 4 months with the same question. Do you want to do this? My answer was always "I'm not living the rest of my life like this".

The preparation was very intense and at times painful and invasive. Many repeated.

I also have peripheral neuropathy and myasthenia gravis which make any surgery difficult to survive with extra immunoglobulin theropy prior. Anaesthesia has 20 x the risk of reversal failure.

Certainly not trivial, but slowly dying from a strangled bowel / stomach and gangrene isn't either!

Please get a second opinion.