Hiatal Hernia

[Julie* 0]

Hi Everyone-

I just had a visit with my surgeon who told me that I have a small hiatal hernia. He said that it shouldn't be a problem b/c it's so small but he will cancel the lap band surgery if he needs to fix it. We won't know for sure until he is in there.

I used the search feature and found that most ppl had the hernia fixed and then the band was placed the same day. He told me that it raises the chances of slippage??? I don't have a problem if he errs on the side of caution but I guess I am just nervous about doing the 2 week fast, going under for lap band and then coming out w/o it done.

I have no symptoms at all from this- wouldn't I have heartburn at the very least?

[PhotoNut 7]

I had hernia repair done at the same time, but mine was not located anywhere near the stomach where the band is located. I just read the following about your hernia:

Hernias occur when one part of the body protrudes through a gap or opening into another part. And although a hernia can theoretically develop almost anywhere, most are in the abdominal area. This includes hiatal hernias — also known as diaphragmatic hernias — which form at the opening in your diaphragm where your food pipe joins your stomach.

I'm no docotor, but it would make sense that he wants to avoid doing both at the same time because of the additional swelling below the band. While I can certainly understand how disappointing it would be to wake up without the band, I would say trust your surgeon, he knows what he's doing.. that's why he gets paid the big bucks! And, the two week pre-op diet is to shrink that liver so he can safely get to your stomach, that will be important even if he does only end up repairing the hernia.

Best of luck to you. I sincerely hope all goes smoothly and youre banded without a hitch.

*hugs*

[Iluvharleys 15]

I had mine repaired the same time as the surgery. No problems!

[HarleyNana 10]

Had mine fixed during band placement too.

[Sunta 4]

My doctor said he will fix my hiatal hernia and place the band at the same time. He didn't mention anything about possible slippage though.

[Julie* 0]

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I am going to call him tomorrow and ask him why some surgeons fix them and others (like him) would make a person go through 2 different surgeries.

I am just hoping that when I go in for the lapband surgery the hernia will be too small to worry about.

[NeenBand 7]

I have the the same problem, but my surgeon is going to fix it when he bands me. But he also said what your doc said and it does increase the chance of slippage.

I would hate to have to undergo anestesia twice though.

I am also looking forward to getting it fixed, it causes me pain and GERD.

[leatha_g 4]

I would ask too.. There is no reason why he can't do it at the same time.

[DeLarla 22]

I had one too, but the pain stopped after I was banded. My Mexican surgeon's English could never translate whether he fixed it, or if the band placed over it pushed it back down. But I just posted on another thread that it's starting to hurt again (a little) after having my band removed. I asked my removal surgeon what he was going to do about the hernia, but in all the misery of band removal surgery, I forgot to ask him.

[gentlespirit 1]

I just had my band done this week; after the surgery the doc told me he had found one when he got in there and just repaired it while he was in there. I'll ask him when I go back for my 1-week checkup if that increased slippage possibility. It'll be interesting to hear his viewpoint, since it sounds like opposite opinions from equally qualified experts!

Emily

[migbt 0]

I knew I had the hernia and forgot about it until the doc told me he fixed it during surgery. I do think that I had some additional pain from this repair.

He told me that slippage wasn't a problem because he stitched my band in the front and the back to the stomach.

This is just me. I think if you trust your doctor, you need to go with what he says.