Hiatal hernia and banding

[aubreynichole 1]

Hey guys-

I know this has been mentioned in some other posts but haven't had any luck in finding it specifically...

I had my lapband surgery on Monday, January 6th (a week ago tomorrow). When I came out of surgery, I was informed that I had a hiatal hernia and they repaired it while they were in there.

I thought a week after my lapband surgery I would be feeling a lot better than I am. I'm nauseas, I have pain and pressure in my chest (I'm assuming from the hiatal hernia repair?) and I can't lie down in a bed (I'm assuming that's due to the hiatal hernia repair too?) I had a lot of gas pain the first couple days, but gas-x and walking subsided that; but now it's slightly returned and these gas pains sit on my ribs! (Does that make sense??)

Just wondering if anyone else had a hiatal hernia repair along with their lapband placement? Or, even any other lapbanders, did you experience any, or a mixture of these symptoms?

I feel like a big baby but I just thought I'd feel a heck of a lot better than I am.

Thanks for any input!

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

i had a hernia repaired and no idea i had one

it hurt to take a deep breath and when i used that little breathing thing they sent me home with

boy howdy ....but it healed up fine..........its major surgery..we just gotta let our bodies heal...its gonna

take time....and gas gotta work its way out..walk when you can...go slow, rest and use pain meds to help...

congrats on your surgery

Edited January 13, 2014 by ☠carolinagirl☠

[aubreynichole 1]

They didn't send me home with a breathing machine... I know what you mean about the deep breath- it was HORRIBLE. But now I don't have any pain when breathing except this pain every once in a while (I'm assuming it's gas pain?) that makes a sharp stab in my ribs, but that comes and goes. I'm trying to walk and get out as much as I can, the nausea is just making it extremely difficult. Do you remember how long it took until your chest wasn't painful/had pressure on it from the hernia repair?

[dylanmiles23 2,198]

Congratulations on your new journey. I had problems and my lung doctor did the cameras etc. and he told me I had the hernia and my stomach was in the wrong place. I had them both repaired when i got the band. I took pain meds for about a week. Also for 30 days i was given liquid Zantec. Do you have any? Ask for help. That is why the doctors and their staff are there.

Good luck and feel better.

[aubreynichole 1]

You know what, I didn't been think about taking an antacid.... And you would've thought I'd think about that since I work for a GI! Thank you for the advice, I go back go my surgeon on Tuesday and I'll ask his advice. Thank you!

[Shelly2221 126]

I also had a surprise hernia repair when the did the lap band. I was banded on the 22 and am still very sore. Im especially sore under my chest where the incision is. It scares me. How are you feeling now?

[aubreynichole 1]

Shelly-

I'm doing a lot better. The soreness I had (and still have, but it's lessened) is more in my chest opposed to anywhere near my incision (which is about an inch under my bra line). Had I not had the hernia repair, I think the recovery would've been a lot easier- but it'll get better! Like I said, I'm still a little sore, mainly when I take deep, deep breaths, but it's a heck of a lot better than it was! Good luck!

[scubachick 58]

Curious to the answers on this as when I get banded on Valentines day, they will also be repairing a hiatal hernia...which I have really had no ill symptoms from that I really could complain about. I am currently working on running a 10K (5k I can pretty much do) on April 27th so I hope it doesn't keep me down too much because I gotta get up to speed for the 10k

[FruitLoop 86]

I had the hiatal hernia repair done also and was nauseated for several days after and took phenegren for that and had real bad gas problems also and had to pretty walk constantly to get relief from that and had my husband do the karate a chops on my back which was advise from a bandster on here, that work really great! . It took me about a week to get where I felt a little normal, my Doc put me on Prilosec after surgery and now that I am 5 weeks post op he told me to start weaning myself off of them.

[Lady VS 1,147]

I too had the hiatial hernia repair with my lapband surgery. That was three yrs and one month ago and I honestly don't recall hurting in more than I'm sure I would have without the repair. I haven't had any complications.

[dylanmiles23 2,198]

I also had the hernia repaired and don't recall any real pain other than the gas. I used a heating pad for that and tried to walk a lot. Besides the hernia my stomach was in the wrong place and that was moved.

I also have a lump just above the belly button and was told it was an umbilical hernia and was going to have the doctor just keep cutting and fix that too but he said it wasn't one. He explained that it's like having a six pack and my insides want to push threw. So when I go for a TT, I hope it can be done together.

Good luck with everything.

[Shelly2221 126]

Glad I'm not alone. That's great your feeling better!

[aubreynichole 1]

I know the pain was from the hernia and not the band because it was more in my chest opposed to where my surgeon explained where my band sits. But everyone is different- some people went to work 3 days post op and I was off for 2 weeks, some people didn't have any nausea post op, we're all different. But off hernia-topic, I agree that you should definitely have gas-x on hand... My gas sat on my left rib and was killer! Walk a lot and keep a lot of gas-x and you'll do great!