A Poll About My Possible Operation....

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Gang,

I am going to see my doctor on Oct 9th to follow up on my Hiatal Hernia and possibly start the process for going in for an operation to hopefully get me to feeling better. I am eating less and less each day and because of my Diabetes, this isn't good. Anyway, My doctor has really been trying to dissuade me from having the operation as he said that because of my co morbidities, (Heart Failure, Valve Issues, Cardiomyopathy, Diabetes, PH, and Lung Issues (Asthma and COPD (Chronic Bronchitis), the doctors don't want to operate on me unless it is absolutely necessary-meaning that they are fearful of my passing away while on the OR Table.

I have been dealing with this stomach issue since the beginning of May, and I am getting worse and worse because I cannot eat anything such as steak, hamburgers, chicken, and I am reduced to mostly eating cottage cheese, peaches, yogurt and milkshakes as those are the things I can tolerate without trouble.

I want this operation as I am tired of dealing with the stomach and I am well aware of the risk and I am accepting of the outcome whatever it may be.

I am curious to see from those, who like myself, have multiple health issues, what his or her thoughts would be to his or her doctor if this were presented to them.

I would like to know if there are others out there who feel the same way as I do as far as accepting the fact that the possibility is very real that death could happen. I feel that given the complicated medical issues that I have, that even though I want very much to continue on with life, I have to put my fate in the hands of God and if I am not meant to go on, I won't, but if I am and he wills me to live, I will carry on.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this. Harrybaby

 

[Ross]

For all you've put up with and quality of life issues, I'd have to go for it regardless of outcome.

 

[Dennis S]

I would do it for the quality of life.

 

[aussie girl]

Harry,

I would get a second opinion. Is the doctor you have spoken too a specialist in hernia repair? The operation can be done by spinal or local anaesthetic removing some of the risk that a general anaesthetic has. A hernia that is getting worse as yours seems to be, also has risks if left unattended, the herniated area can become gangrenous and would require emergency surgery.

Best wishes and prayers that your make the right decision for you and your loved ones.

Mary

 

[Trinityheart8891]

Hey harry,

I've had this operation (and I have co-morbidities of CHD) its called a lap nissen, I had it mostly for reflux, but I needed 3 stitches to close my diaphragm up too (which indicates a small sliding hiatal hernia), before this surgery I was vomiting almost daily, and lost a ton of weight, my quality of life sucked I was refluxing everything no matter how much meds I was on, you know something's wrong when you spit up water every day. My esophagus was so sensitive that it hurt even though the reflux wasnt acidic because I had taken my meds. the other thing is that reflux can eventually cause cancer in your esophagus, I was already having inflammation and cellular changes from the reflux that I had, I had a couple of spots in my esophagus and stomach that were something like grade 1 dysplasia or something like that (not sure of the terminology, but mild cellular changes)

I had this surgery done laparoscopically, 5 little holes, the longest was about an inch long, and I only stayed in the hospital over night and most of the next day, only complication was urinary retention, no big deal. I was back to work in about a week and a half (desk job at home pretty much, no lifting for a while though) and was on pain meds for about a week post op., there is a special diet to follow, basically soft foods for a couple weeks, that was no big deal, I was pretty much reduced to that before surgery anyways

I have had NO issues since the surgery, sometimes its a little tough to swallow some of the harder foods (pasta, tough meat, bread) but its no big deal at all compare to what I was dealing with before the surgery, I just have to remember to chew things really well. I have had absolutely NO reflux since the sugery! I didnt think this was possible.

if I were you I'd start by explaining to the doc how big of a deal this is to you, your doc is supposed to be there for you. if you accept the possibility of death then they should accept this and help you out. if this doesnt work, I'd get a second oppinion. this surgery isnt that big a deal that they should be freaking out about your comorbidities, I mean of course every surgery is a big deal, but I think I was only under anesthesia for a little over an hour or two, came out extubated, and they almost sent me home that night.

hope this helps

 

[kfay]

Harry, I too would probably go for it. I also would insist on doing it with a spinal. That should take some of the pressure off of having to deal with some of your other problems. Some of your Dr.s may balk at doing it this way, but be persistent. I always skip general for any surgery that I can. I literally got into an argument with an anesthesiologist in the pre-op area 5 minutes before surgery because I wanted a spinal and he wanted to give me general. Never mind that my surgeon knew about me wanting it that way and had ok'd it, this guy was hell bent on giving me general. I told him I wanted someone else. So after a last minute scramble, a different Dr. came and did it the way I wanted. They also gave me enough valium that I slept through the whole thing, but I was breathing on my own.

Kim

 

[Harrybaby666]

You Know Kim, I never thought of the Spinal...

You Know Kim, I never thought of the Spinal...

And it is something that I need to consider considering the fact that If they were to put me under General Anesthesia They would have to make sure I was on CPAP also due to my Sleep Apnea. I found this out as the last operation that I had (kidney stones) they had a very hard time waking me up from the Anesthesia due to my not being on the CPAP when I should have been on it. I will ask them about this when I talk with the surgeon. Thanks sooooo much for this help. (((((((((((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))))))) Harrybaby

 

[Trinityheart8891]

hey,

I'm not so sure that they can do a spinal with this one, or if you would want them to, they have to fill your abdomen with CO2 to make the operation possible (if they are doing this laparoscopically) this would make it hard for you to breathe on your own because of pressure on your diaphragm, they put you on a mechanical vent while you are having the operation so they can control your breathing for you.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Harry,

From what you wrote at the beginning of this thread, it is NOT clear to me which Doctor you are refering to ("my doctor"), or what type of surgery you are contemplating.

Switching gears, to my mind, it is perimount to get multiple opinions about treatment and surgery whenever that treatment is High Risk.

I would want to know ALL the Treatment Options along with the Risks and Benefits of each, then decide.

To my mind, the above is the basis of making an "informed concent".

Good Luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Harrybaby666]

Whoops, Sorry Al.....

Whoops, Sorry Al.....

I have been dealing with a Hiatal Hernia that has REALLY been bothering me since the beginning of May. As I said in the original post, I have been reduced to eating cottage cheese and peaches and yogurt and milkshakes as these are the only things I can keep down, or if I try eating a normal meal, it really upsets my stomach and badly.

Anyhow, I am contemplating a Hiatal Hernia Surgery, and My Primary Care Doctor, Dr. Hussain, has REALLY been trying to keep me from having the surgery, as he has told me that it's a REALLY BIG operation as they have to untangle the Hernia from the stomach and he has said its nothing to mess around with when it comes to having all the co morbidities that I have going on.

I don't believe that they will do this laprascopically as they told me 11 years ago that if I were 10 pounds heavier when they took out my gaulbladder, they would have had to do the full open me up operation. I am 20lbs heavier than I was at that point, so I know that they will have to open me up this time.

 

[Dawn-Marie]

Hi Harry ~ I agree with Al in that you need to get multiple opinions (if your insurance will pay for them all). But i also agree with you in that i would risk dying to take care of the problem. The problem is getting the doctors to dare to operate on you when you're very high risk. I've got the same problem. I need to have my aortic valve replaced immediately, but due to the shoddy care i received at Hamot Hospital in Erie i now have bedsores that i need to have a 4 hour surgery to help heal them. The surgeon said i am too high risk to have surgery until they replace my aortic valve, but the cardiac surgeon said he can't fix my valve due to my not agreeing to stay on a ventilator for life. Plus, he's referring me to Cleveland Clinic to Dr. Lars Svensson, but he said Dr. Svensson more than likely will not touch me until the bedsores are healed as they could become infected and then the infection could wreck the new valve. So, i'm basically stuck and, if nobody will help me soon, i'll die for sure. I do understand your dilemna and i hope you find someone to do the surgery on you soon so you can feel better! Best wishes, Dawn-Marie

 

[Lionheart]

Harry,
I think you would benefit from good information at a "Hiatal hernia".com site like VR.com here. I'm not kidding. Is there such a place? There could be many advances in the procedure that you or your doc are unaware of and you might learn about those options.

I also think a second opinion is warranted. What hospital and doctor are specialists in this type of operation? Just like valve surgery, I am sure that HH surgery has some doctors that are better able to handle complicated surgeries and have better outcomes. Find the world's authority on HH surgery and confer with him or her. They may provide new insight into your options. A surgery that might scare a local surgeon might be routine with a recognized expert.
Good luck,
John