something new.. hiatal hernia repair and banding.. i'm scared

has anyon had this? is it really really painful, the first time around the band was fine, just gas pain...

also, what pain meds were you given post op, first surgery I was given liquid percocet and it helped SO MUCH, hope they give me that again, because tylenol with codeine makes me nauseas!

Hi, I had an EGD done by my surgeon prior to surgery and it looked like I had a small, sliding type hiatal hernia.  Well my hiatal hernia was a lot larger than she thought and it took longer to do the surgery.  I really didn't think it was painful after surgery, just took my liquid hydrocodone when I needed it.  I took a full 6 weeks off from work, since I'm required to be able to lift at least 50 pounds and I had short term disability.  Just tell them what meds worked for you.  I would also ask for a script for Zofran for nausea ( for just in case ) I have an oral dissolving Zofran pill, so I don't have to swallow water if I would feel sick.  You don't want to vomit if you can prevent it. 

Let us know if you have any other questions or if we can help!

Hugs,
Kristi

Hi...so are you getting a new band? I just had the hernia repair and banding...First day fine...just gas...2nd day and 3rd day were the worst for me...tons of Gas and chest pain....My stomach felt very tight...by the 4th day much better! I had liquid vicodine....only took it for 2 days...also my dr told me to crush a 800 ml ibprofen and drink it with apple juice and take it with the liquid vicodin...worked wonders for me:) Good luck

Do they do a test prior to surgery to find out if you have a hernia?  My mom had a very large hernia removed when she had RNY and that is something I have been worried about.  I do not know much about them, if they are hereditary or not, and I have never been tested for it.

Actually, many, many people who are obese have a hiatal hernia.

It is a portion of the stomach that has 'migrated' up into the esophogus.

Sometimes they cause reflux and heatburn -- so they are evident.
Sometimes they are 'silent' -- there, but you have not symptoms.

I had one that never caused me symptoms --- and my surgeon repaired it (stitched it back in to place) when he placed my Realize Band.

FYI --- he did not charge me to do that, but the anesthesiologist and the surgery center added charges to my 'self-pay Band price'.  My insurance did not pay for my band, but they did pay 80% of the fees for the hiatal hernia.

Hello!

I had a hiatal hernia repair when I got my band just 2 weeks ago...pressure and gas in the chest is annoying at first but mine was not enough to require liquid pain meds...I was along the same lines of about 4 days after I was not even worrying about it anymore.

Hope this helps. If it's small I imagine it won't be too big of a deal...I cant speak to larger hernias. I dont know if I will get charged more or less but I do know they fixed it while in there doing the band.

Best of luck!

Steve

Hi, I had a large hernia repaired when my band was placed.  The doc said it was not a sliding hernia.  I don't know how the surgery feels for other people or if my pain was normal or abnormal but I felt like a truck ran me over.  I took two weeks off to recover but I felt like I should have taken 3.  I am finally feeling human and like I am mending this week.  I never had any incision pain or abdominal pain.  It was all in my chest - right below my bra line.  Deep breaths, sneezing and yawning hurt.  My gas pain was minimal.

In the hospital they gave ativan as soon as I arrived as I have an anxiety disorder.  They put me on a morphine pump and I had liquid percocet when I went home.  I had an allergic reaction to the percocet though so the doctor had me take benadryl with it, which worked fine.

The best thing I can say, is be your own advocate - if you know percocet works, insist on it!

I was banded on 1/27. After surgery I was told I had a hiatal hernia that Dr. Kirshenbaum repaired and yes I was still banded. I never had a clue that I what I had.

The worse pain was day 2-3 because of the gas and the shoulder pain. I was given liquid Vicodine and Zofran (which gave me a headache) I think the patch behind the ear is what saved me from being nausea - because I stopped taking Zofran.

I had the surgery on Thursday and went back to work Monday. I think with the hernia I went back to soon as my stomach was tight and bloated. It was very uncomfortable. I really pushed myself to hard.

Now I am comfortable. The pain has gone away but I did have to take gas x Monday and Tuesday. I slept like a baby last night.

Even through it all I am glad I banded... Take your time and listen to your body... The gas pain does go away. You can always take liquid Tylenol as well after a while the vicodine will make you constipated.

Good Luck.

Interesting question - thanks for asking - answers were great...I was banded on 12-30-10 and he stated that there might be a hernia to repair or take out...I remember when I woke up from the anesthesia I heard someone say "hernia" and I remember saying "oh did I have a hernia?"  but can't remember the rest!  I go back on the 7th (Monday) for my first fill and will find out if I did cause I'm not sure!  I do know I had some extra pain on my left side and I thought that was where the port was at, at first, but it wasn't so it could be that is where the hernia was at and the extra soreness was from that.  I used liquid hydrocodone and still had some soreness, but overall, I came out of the surgery with no major probs, just some soreness and went back to work on the 5th of January...good luck to you!  I'm sure you'll do fine!