Menu
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 Tomball, 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 Tomball 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 Tomball 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 Tomball 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.
Tomball is a city in Harris County in the U.S. state of Texas, a part of the Houston metropolitan area. The population was 12,341 at the 2020 U.S. census. In 1907, the community of Peck was renamed Tomball for local congressman Thomas Henry Ball, who had a major role in the development of the Port of Houston.
Settlement began in the Tomball area in the early 19th century, where settlers found an open, fertile land that received adequate rainfall-perfect conditions for farming and raising cattle. It was on a land granted in 1838 to William Hurd’s heirs. In 1906 the area began to boom. Railroad line engineers often noticed that the Tomball area was on the boundary between the low hills of Texas and the flat coastal plains of the Gulf, making it an ideal location for a train stop. The railroad could load more cargo on each car, because the topography gently sloped toward the Galveston ports and provided an easier downhill coast. Thomas Henry Ball, an attorney for the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railroad, convinced the railroad to run the line right through downtown Tomball. Soon after, people came in droves to this new train stop. Hotels, boarding houses, saloons, and mercantile stores all began to spring up in the area. At first, people called the area Peck, after a chief civil engineer of the railroad line. However, on December 2, 1907, the town was officially named Tom Ball, later to be shortened to one word, for Mr. Ball.
Geophysical prospecting predicted the discovery of the Tomball Oil Field before the discovery well was drilled on 27 May 1933. Production was from the Cockfield Formation at a depth of about 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The discovery produced an oil boom with many oil companies subsequently showing interest in the area. By 1935, 2,750,000 barrels of oil had been produced from 200 wells. Humble Oil Company, struck a deal with the town through which they would provide water and natural gas free of charge to the residents in exchange for rights to drill on the land. This agreement lasted until 1988.
Tomball incorporated in 1933. Because of the 1933 incorporation, Houston did not incorporate Tomball’s territory into its city limits.
Learn more about Tomball.