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Hiatal hernias are a relatively common condition that affects many people. If you have hernia symptoms, it’s essential to get treatment as soon as possible from a hiatal hernia surgeon before further damage is done to the esophagus or other organs in that area.
We at Clifton Thomas MD in Harris county TX have you covered we will share all aspects of herniation of the stomach, including what they are, how to get treated for them, and tips for preventing future herniation.
What is a Hiatal Hernia?
When the herniated part of your stomach squeezes through an opening in your diaphragm, this is known as a hiatal hernia. The chest cavity is separated from the abdomen by this muscle.
Obesity and overweight are more likely to cause them because of weakened hernia tissue. However, they can also be caused by previous hernias or certain anatomical defects.
There are often no symptoms or few pains associated with hiatal hernias at first. However, if left untreated, they can become more problematic as they put pressure on surrounding organs.
Over time, they can get worse because the herniated part of your stomach pushes through the opening and gets stuck there, increasing pressure on nearby organs.
Symptoms of a Hiatal Hernia
Hernia symptoms include acid reflux, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and an increase in abdomen size. Herniation can sometimes cause heartburn because stomach juices back up into the esophagus, which transports food from the throat to the stomach.
This irritation causes inflammation, which eventually leads to ulcers and other more serious conditions if left untreated.
At Clifton Thomas MD in Baytown, we assess patients who have described their symptoms of hiatal hernia as feeling like a burning or pinching sensation in the upper abdomen, lower chest, throat area, and back. For over 29 years of performing hiatal hernia surgery, we have helped patients live a life free from pain and a better quality of life.
How to get treated for herniation of the stomach
Your treatment options will depend on the severity of your herniation and whether you have any other health conditions that may affect surgery.
The treatment you choose will also depend on your personal preferences – some people do not even bother to treat herniation.
But if hiatal hernia symptoms start occurring more frequently, they can cause severe damage over time, so addressing them sooner rather than later is ideal.
We recommend getting admitted into an emergency room right away because leaving the hernia untreated could lead to hernia strangulation, which can quickly become life-threatening.
Suppose you’re experiencing herniated symptoms like heartburn or indigestion. In that case, the best thing to do is to schedule an appointment with your local hiatal hernia surgeon. If you live in Baytown TX, give us a call at Clifton Thomas MD and we’ll be able to properly diagnose you based on your medical history and physical exam.
Treatment options for herniation of the stomach
Surgery will be recommended as the most effective treatment option because it repositions and strengthens muscles to prevent future herniation from occurring again.
However, it’s vital that you follow all preoperative instructions, like not eating or drinking before surgery, and schedule a date and time with your hiatal hernia surgeon so they know when to expect you at the hospital on surgery day.
At Clifton Thomas MD in Harris County, we use hernia repair procedures commonly applied during hernia surgeries, such as:
The most common treatment is laparoscopic surgery which involves inserting small cameras into your body through tiny incisions to check the health of surrounding organs like the diaphragm muscle.
During this procedure, we will also fix any damage that may have been done during previous occurrences of herniation by stitching up the hole in the diaphragm.
Surgery and recovery time
After hernia surgery, you will need to rest for a few days before returning to your normal activities. This is an outpatient procedure, so patients can go home the same day or stay overnight in our facility if they prefer more comfort during their post-op period.
Hernia surgery typically requires a three-day hospital stay, with most patients returning home by day four. It takes between six and twelve weeks for recovery after hernia surgery, depending on the severity of your condition and the type of hernia repair you had.
At Clifton Thomas MD in Harris County, we recommend taking it easy while you’re recuperating at home since you can be more easily injured when your muscles are weakened from such an invasive procedure like hiatal hernia surgery.
Therefore, you should also avoid heavy lifting until advised otherwise by your hernia surgeon to prevent further damage or injuries. There is no better reason to wait on your family or friends than this!
Tips on how to prevent further damage from herniation of the stomach
There is no substitute for prevention when it comes to herniated stomachs. We cannot guarantee that surgical procedures will prevent future recurrences of herniations, even though they are highly effective in resolving herniations.
There are some simple changes that you can make at home which may help reduce the chances of herniating again:
All these things are what Clifton Thomas MD in Baytown recommends as part of hernia treatment.
Other preventive measures include finding a hiatal hernia surgeon, like those at Clifton Thomas MD, who can help keep track of your herniated stomach condition and follow up with you to ensure it doesn’t come back.
With the help of a hiatal hernia surgeon, they can provide you with personalized recommendations based on your eating habits, physical activity level, weight status, and type of work performed in order to reduce the likelihood of further recurrences.
Wrapping Up
Hernias are a common condition that can cause discomfort and even more damage if they’re not treated properly.
Our hiatal hernia surgeon at Clifton Thomas MD can help you if you suffer from heartburn or indigestion due to hernia symptoms in Baytown TX. By prescribing the appropriate treatment for your specific condition, he will improve your quality of life.
Call Clifton Thomas MD today at 713-936-0777 and we’ll walk you through the next steps towards recovery and lasting relief.
Baytown is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within Harris and Chambers counties. Located in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area, it lies on the northern side of the Galveston Bay complex near the outlets of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou. It is the sixth-largest city within this metropolitan area and seventh largest community. Major highways serving the city include State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. At the 2020 U.S. census, Baytown had a population of 83,701, and it had an estimated population of 78,393 in 2021.
White American settlers first arrived in the now-Baytown area in 1822. One of its earliest settlers was Nathaniel Lynch, who set up a ferry crossing at the junction of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou. The still-operating ferry service is known as the Lynchburg Ferry. Other early settlers of Baytown included William Scott, one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred, and Ashbel Smith, who owned a plantation in the area.
The city now known as Baytown was originally three separate towns. The first of these was Goose Creek, named for the bayou of the same name where Canada geese wintered and whose name is still reflected in the area’s Goose Creek school district, whose establishment dates back to before 1850. With the discovery of the Goose Creek Oil Field, the rival communities of Pelly in the late 1910s, and East Baytown in the early 1920s, developed as early boomtowns. The “East” in East Baytown was later dropped because it was west of Goose Creek.
Serious talk of merging the three cities began shortly after World War I, but the community of Baytown was opposed to this idea. However, in 1947, the three cities finally agreed to consolidate. The citizens settled on the name Baytown for the new combined city. Baytown as it is known today was officially founded January 24, 1948.
Learn more about Baytown.