Hiatal Hernia Causes & Treatment

   
A hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach slips into the chest cavity. One of the most common factors that lead to a hiatal hernia is an abnormally large hiatus. This refers to the opening through which the esophagus  passes from the chest to the abdomen. Another factor may be because of loose attachment between the esophagus and diaphragm. This causes the esophagus and stomach to slip up into the chest. A simple change in lifestyle may be able to ease symptoms, but hernia surgery Los Angeles doctors say may be required.

Hiatal hernias are diagnosed similarly to the way heartburn is. Your doctor may want to take an x-ray of your chest to help determine the best hernia repair Los Angeles patients say. If the x-ray is unclear in showing the extensiveness of the hiatal hernia, they may choose to take a blood sample to check the red blood cell count, or perform an endoscopy. An endoscopy can give the doctor a direct view of the hernia with a small video camera.

Hiatal hernia symptoms are not always painful. Some simple lifestyle changes may be able to subside what little symptoms are there. For example, trying to maintain a healthy diet as well as eliminating unhealthy factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, will relieve pressure in the abdomen and heartburn. However, if your hiatal hernia is painful and lifestyle change has no effect, then surgery may be necessary.  

A very dangerous type of hiatal hernia is a paraesophageal hernia. This type of hernia is more dangerous because of its high risk for becoming strangulated. A paraesophageal hernia is where a part of the stomach protrudes and lays alongside the esophagus when there is no movement of the gastroesophageal junction. The gastroesophageal junction is where the stomach and esophagus connect. The hiatus is repositioned and reinforced during surgery. Most commonly, the laparoscopic method is used to perform this surgery. A small camera is inserted into an incision so the doctor can see what is going on, while medical instruments are inserted into another incision to operate on the hernia.

Patients typically will stay in the hospital for one to two nights after undergoing paraesophageal hernia surgery. About two weeks after surgery patients are able to return to regular daily activities. It is crucial that all patients seek their doctor’s advice before returning to any intense or rigorous work. Everybody is different when it comes to how quick or slow they recover. Your surgeon will give you a specialized recovery plan to ensure the smoothest recovery.

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Preparing For Hernia Treatment

                   

Having hernia surgery will begin in the same manor that most other surgeries do. Before having hernia surgery Los Angeles patients say that your doctor will give you a complete medical examination in order to get a gauge of your overall health, as well as understand your medical history. In some cases, you may need to undergo additional tests and X-rays so that your doctor can give a thorough assessment of risks and benefits that having hernia surgery may have in line for you. When going in to discuss hernia treatment Los Angeles patients say to be armed with specific questions so that you can understand the reason behind hernia surgery and any risks that may be involved.  Make sure that you let your doctor know of any medications that you are on as well as any drug allergies you may have.  This way your doctor can advise you what medications you should stop taking before surgery.

Everybody is different and therefore your doctor will give you a specific plan and instructions on how to prepare for surgery. They will give you a set of guidelines for eating, smoking, drinking, as well as a list of vitamins that you should start taking or avoid all together. By carefully following all of your doctor’s guidelines you can help yourself in having a smooth surgery. Depending on what situation you are in with your surgery, you may be informed that you need to completely empty your colon. Drinking clear liquids several days before surgery may be requested by your physician. You also need to stop drinking and eating by midnight the night before surgery, and if you’re a smoker you need to be prepared to stop smoking 6-8 weeks before surgery as smoking delays wound healing and cause breathing problems in surgery.

Most hernia repair procedures are done on an outpatient basis. The recovery time ranges for every patent and depends on the circumstances of the surgery. Patients have been seen to recover any wear from 2-4 weeks all the way up to 6 months. Make sure that when bathing after surgery that you are extra careful to not get the incision wet. You also want to avoid doing any major heavy lifting. Any strenuous duties should be done before surgery, or done by a friend or family member. Make sure to seek approval from your doctor before returning to exercise and other sports.

Hernia surgery can be costly, but most insurance carriers cover hernia treatments. The cost of surgery can be driven by several different factors. The type of insurance you have will determine if hernia treatment will be not covered, fully covered, or just partially covered. In some cases pre-existing health conditions can spike the price of surgery. Also, the price of surgery will depend on the type of hernia that needs to be treated. If you think you have a hernia and are in pain, do not let the cost of treatment detour you from having the care you need. Although hernias themselves are not life threatening, they can become a serious issue if they become strangulated.
  
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