Quote:
Originally posted by MicroChick
Venturi, can you explain a little more about your surgery. I know many who have hiatal hernias and they seem to be in the dark about how to handle them. Many doctors do not tell you enough. I have read that more than 50% of those over the age of 50 will have hiatal hernias.
How long were you in the hospital for the surgery? How expensive is it? How come your surgery didn't work out? Where do they cut you and how long is the recuperation after surgery?
I have also read that taking the medicine for the acid reflex problem may eventually cause ulcers or cancer. How long did your doctor tell you it was safe to take the pepcid, zantac stuff?
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Hi MicroChick! I'd be glad to give you my own personal insight on hiatal hernias...
#1 They suck major ass! LOL
Not all hiatal hernias warrant the level of extremeness I took to try and fix mine. I had a "class one" I think was the term they used which is the most severe. I went through Floroscopy, XRay, Barium Enemas, Barium "milkshakes", Upper GIs, Lower GIs, I think they even sent a platoon of GIs up my ass at one point LOL. Like I said above, literally 2yrs of typical gov't medicine bullshit redtape before finally a doctor that knew his penis from his stethoscope got ahold of my file.
Note: I had this surgery in 1991 at the Camp Lejeune Regional Naval Hospital so the technology may have drastically changed...
The Nissen Fundoplasty option: They go in via one of two paths; optimally thru the abdomen via an incision from the base of your sternum to your belly button; alternately they go in through your chest, spread your ribs, etc. ICK. If you are reasonably in shape and not seriously overweight they'll use the abdominal approach as it is actually easier for the docs and less tramatic to your body - obviously.
Once inside they disconnect your stomach from your esophagus and place a surgical plastic ring where your stomach joins with the esophagus and reattach. Then they fold part of your upper stomach around the ring and suture it to the esophagus. This acts as a pressure valve in essence. When stomach gasses build up it causes a balloon effect which pinches off the "new valve" preventing reflux. In my case they also had to transplant the main nerve that controls stomach behavior.
I was in the hospital for 8 days total. After the surgery the trama to my digestive system was such that I couldn't pee or shit on my own, so I was on a catheter and a diet of ice chips until such time that my system came back awake and I pooped, LOL. Of course for the first couple days I also had that really cool morphine pump that if I felt pain I could self-dose a couple ml of happy juice into my system. After being discharged from the hospital I was on 30 days convalecence leave while the sutures healed and I got my full strength back. I lost 35lbs (I only weighed 155lbs when I was admitted...) in those 8 days in the hospital because my only nurishment was whatever dripped into my arm via the IV.
There ARE risks to this procedure...
If truly successful you may never have the ability to burp or vomit again as the synthetic valve can be quite efficient. This could mean that a simple case of the stomach flu means being admitted to the hospital and having your stomach pumped just to keep you from rupturing it due to dry heaves.
The trama to your digestive system may be permanent and it will never re-engage. This is quite serious - d.e.a.t.h.
Plus the normal risks associated with any surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia.
For me, it was a simple decision. I was a 25yo Marine at the peak of my physical health and conditioning and the risks paled in comparison to living the rest of my life popping a pill every 8hrs.
Why it didn't work? Who knows. It's not a guaranteed fix and was never promised to be one by my doctors. It has helped, but I still have periodic bouts with the reflux. Remember, I was merely 25 then and a Marine - and we all know how us jarheads like to booze it up... I probably stretched the plastic ring out a bit over time thanks to Mr Budweizer and my old friend Mr J. Daniels.
Cost? For me it was free as I was on active duty. No idea what it'd cost today in the civilian world but I'd bet it ain't cheap - especially if they have to go in thru your chest.
Hope that diatribe was helpful!
Oh, and I'm
sure that all the people you know with this condition are going to be beating down the doors of their Dr's office to have the surgery now too thanks to my description...
