I've seen a lot of posts about hernias but in confused as to why it cokes up so much in discussions about WLS. Can't anyone shed some light?

The hernia is probably the hiatal hernia. This is where part of the stomach comes up through the hole in the diaphragm and gets stuck. A portion of your stomach is bulging and is a "herniated". It's commonly fixed with bariatric surgeries. This type of hernia causes a range of symptoms. Pain in the chest when eating, reflux/heat burn etc.

Edited January 21, 201610 yr by 030608070609

Some surgeons are willing to bill insurance for the hernia fix and then have you cash pay the difference for the sleeve which can lower the cost considerably.

All total my cost for my surgery will be $5100. This includes the surgery, pre op testing, the sleeve portion, etc.

Thank you!!

You're welcome

Hiatal hernias occur more often in women, people who are overweight, and people older than 50. (Per WebMD)

Since there is a correlation between overweight and hiatal hernias many WLS patients have them and get them fixed while the surgeon is in there. Mine was causing GERD.

@@NikkiDoc - Thank you as well.

If you don't have GERD, is there an easy way to have one? Or do you just tell them to fix it while they are in there and there happens to be one?

It's very common to have one. Most docs will fix it while they are in there for free or for a small fee.

@@NikkiDoc - Thank you as well.

If you don't have GERD, is there an easy way to have one? Or do you just tell them to fix it while they are in there and there happens to be one?

An egd test will tell you if you have one. Your insurance will pay for that surgery which will make the WLS much cheaper because they do both at the same time.

I have these symptoms, but EDG and VGS surgery went fine. Is it possible to get this after surgery?

My surgeon told me pre op that tests showed I had a "tiny" hiatal hernia and if he felt it necessary, he would repair it during my LapBand surgery. Well, he didn't. Funny thing is, now that I'm down 100+ pounds, I can see the hernia bulging out when I bend forward. I wish he'd have fixed it then. But near as I can tell, it isn't causing me any problems. I used to have reflux before surgery but I've been off Prevacid since being banded and never needed it again.

@@NikkiDoc - Thank you as well.

If you don't have GERD, is there an easy way to have one? Or do you just tell them to fix it while they are in there and there happens to be one?

An egd test will tell you if you have one. Your insurance will pay for that surgery which will make the WLS much cheaper because they do both at the same time.

I am in Canada and we have a very different system so unfortunately that won't apply to me

My surgeon found the hernia when he did my endoscopy. He just said he will fix it while he is performing the DS.