Hiatal Hernia ruining my life. Surgery? Doc says no..bad idea.Is it?

Hello, i'm a 27 year old male. I've been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. It is ruining my life to say the least. Waking up everyday feeling as if i'm being strangled by a ghost. Pain all over, fatigue, no appetite, starving myself due to it.  I can't function like this everyday. I'm tired of it and want this to end. Heard there is surgery for this. 2 docs have told me no. It will make it worse to get the surgery! Found a 3rd doc who is all over the internet and supposedly hiatal hernias and fundiplication surgeries are his specialty. Is this wise to go against the other 2 and see him about this? All I know is I want this to end, be fixed but I do not want it to get worse. I'm so mixed up. On one hand others are talking about how they've never felt better after the surgery...that they were out doing physical activities like playing basketball again afterwards. Then these 2 docs are saying it will make my life even more of a living hell by getting the fundiplication surgery done. All i've got is a crappy ant acid that doesn't even work and some flexoril muscle relaxers that don't do crap either. I can't deal anymore! Please any advice or help would be extremely valued and appreciated.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Hiatal hernia, if the symptoms cannot be controlled by conservative measures, it needs surgical correction. Laparoscopic fundoplication has low complication rates and a quick recovery. The procedure sometimes fails over time, requiring a second surgery to make repairs. Discuss all the possibilities and the outcomes with your doctor and then decide on the surgical option. In the meantime follow lifestyle measures to help with your symptoms. Take frequent small meals. Eat dinner about two hours before sleeping. Elevate the head end of the bed. Keep a food diary and note down what aggravates your symptoms and avoid them. Ensure to maintain optimum weight by regular exercise. Avoid non steroidal  anti inflammatory medications NSAID's, quit smoking, eliminate alcohol and reduce stress levels. These measures need to be practiced long term for results.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[mrscaredtolivescaredtodie240]

Thank you very much! Yes, i'm going to try these measures first. I'm very much so considering the laparoscopic fundoplication surgery though if nothing helps. There is a doc here who specializes in Hiatal Hernia's. Thank you very much on this valuable information on the surgery. The Hital Hernia really is taking a major toll on me with all the pain, weakness, faitgue. Feel like a 27 year old trapped in an 85 year old mans body! Yes, no alcohol, no NSAID's. Have elevated the bed.Getting to it. Thank you very much again. Happy Holidays! Take care.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hope you are doing better now. Take Care.

[DeeDee1082]

Hi, i feel your pain. im a 30 yr old woman in the uk just been told after months of pain and trips in and out of hospital that i have asmall H.Hernia 3cm. my doctor wouldnt send me for the operation because MOST people dont need it.. what kind of a reason is that?? its painful for me so thats all that should matter, right? so instead they are trying to tell me i have LPHS a rare painful syndrom (syndrome) - 700 people in the whole world have &theres nothing they can do..feel like they are tryin to save cash and just pushing me to one side, im pretty sure its the hernia is causing the pain under my ribs, as all started with violent vomiting (no more takeaways for me). i was wondering what is your pain is like, were u on meds like tramadol? and have you have the op and how are you feeling now??  :-)

[mrscaredtolivescaredtodie240]

Hello, sorry on the delay. Lost computer access. I'm sorry to hear you are going through this. It is awful. Especially to continue living in pain and losing quality of life to a daily bought of pain. My best advice would be to find a surgeon on your own without your Dr. who is refusing it. That is not cool. I have dealt with the same thing. In turn I have continued to have no life at all due to the daily pain hindering me. Being 27 this is not acceptable and can see it can not be for any age really. It is a very vivid memory of how feeling good, confident strong and happy really felt. I have only been giving ant-acids. They are not helping at all. I have now taken it upon myself to find a surgeon on my own. The Hiatal Hernia is awful. There is a continuous amount of new symptoms and reoccurring ones on a daily basis. They range from almost heart attack like symptoms, neck, back, arm and jaw pain, migraines, feeling weak, fatigued as if i'm an 87 year old man. Out of breathe when walking just down the block to go to a store. Stomach pain. The worst is the pain I get in my right side. It has left me worrying alot...concerned about the liver yet bloodwork is normal. Everything is coming back normal. Happy about that but then the pain keeps the anxiety going about it. I hope you get yours taken care of. Again, since your doc is refusing you of the surgery then please use Google or Yahoo and search locally for a surgeon to perform the Nissen Fundoplication. Would be best to check reviews of him too. Make sure he is experienced for certain. Have you lost weight and arm/ muscle mass from yours? That is something that is happening with me too. Have become very weak and skinny since the Hiatal Hernia was found.