Member-only story
The Risks and Rewards of Hiatal Hernia Surgery and How To Weigh Them
Is it wise to sign up for an operation involving a ventilator during the Omicron surge?
A few weeks ago, my relationship with food changed forever. I was prepping to undergo surgery to repair a large hiatal hernia. My surgeon ordered me to go on a strict, all-liquid diet. After the surgery, I would be on a limited diet for at least another two, possibly three months. After that, I will still have to be careful about what I eat.
Even though I wanted to have the surgery because my condition had worsened and I was hoping I could get off the proton pump inhibitors I’ve been popping for years, I had my concerns. So here’s how I decided to go ahead and what happened as a result.
How I got here in the first place
In my case, this procedure is elective surgery. Amazingly, I can continue to live with half my stomach up in my chest cavity, and many people do. That makes it sound like it’s not a big deal. Here’s why it is:
- There is the risk of infection and other complications with any surgery, which can be deadly.
- Because the surgeon works in the chest and abdominal cavity, I would undergo general anesthesia.
