Hiatal Hernia

I had an upper GI series done this morning and found out that I have a hiatal hernia.  Does that mean I need an unfill or to have the band removed?  I don't see my surgeon until June 11.

I would think they can just repair it. It's up to your surgeon if he thinks you need an unfill. Either way the 11th isn't that far away so you'll be fine till then.

I've had a hiatal hernia for at least 20 years. My original surgeon was supposed to repair it when he placed my band, but didn't (long story). After I had a band slip, I asked my current surgeon if I should have the hernia repaired, and she said no, a hernia repair wouldn't necessarily prevent another slip. The research I did when writing Bandwagon seemed to point to hiatal hernias as a contributor to band slips, so who knows?

I guess the answer to your question depends on why you had the upper GI series done. Were you having symptoms like reflux? If so, an unfill would probably relieve the symptoms. Removing your band seems like an extreme approach to the problem, but only your surgeon can answer that question.

Was your Upper Gi just a yearly routine? Or were you having issues? If you were having issues such as reflux/heartburn and vomiting in your sleep, then it may be in your best interest to ask your surgeon to repair your hiatal hernia, this can be done on the new bands by unbuckling the band which will require surgery.

You don't have to get the band removed if you have the new AP band in order to repair the hiatal hernia, but if you have the older 4cc band your band will probably have to be removed in order to repair the hiatal hernia since the older bands are more difficult to unbuckle.

Even if you remove the band and don't do nothing, or revise to something else, you still would want your hiatal hernia repaired since it can cause reflux WITH or WITHOUT the lap band.

I just recently had my old 4cc band removed, hiatal hernia repaired and new AP band installed all in one surgery and I am very happy and reflux free with good restriction.

If you were not having issues and you have good restriction, I would not worry about it.

I was told that I too had a H. Hernia when they did my LB, Was told that they fixed it,but eventually developed reflux, had a new AP band so not sure why I developed reflux ,after being repaired and banded? talk to your Surgeon..Hopefully he has  answer.

Having a HH doesn't preclude you from having WLS.  Just make sure that when it's repaired, they don't use "sutures with pledgets".  When my new esophageal surgeon read my surgical report, he was shocked to see that pledgets were used.  It's a type of mesh and causes a lot of scar tissue.  DrP is pretty certain that when they go in to remove my band, they'll find that my esophagus is narrowed by this scar tissue, contributing to  the problems I've been having.