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Help for Hiatal Hernias

Dina Madni, MD Blog Help for Hiatal Hernias
Help for Hiatal Hernias

Many people assume hernias always create a visible bulge that you can feel under the skin. Hiatal hernias break that rule completely.

Dina Madni, MD, a board-certified general surgeon in Dallas, Texas, regularly treats patients whose hiatal hernias have caused problems for months or years before getting diagnosed. These internal hernias cause symptoms often mistaken for other digestive issues.

Here’s what makes hiatal hernias different and when they need surgical attention.

Your anatomy creates the perfect setup for hiatal hernias

The hiatus is a small opening in the diaphragm muscle where your esophagus passes through to connect with your stomach. 

A hiatal hernia happens when part of your stomach pushes up through this opening into your chest cavity, moving your stomach to the wrong side of your diaphragm.

Two main types occur:

Sliding hiatal hernias

These affect the area where your esophagus meets your stomach sliding up into the chest.

Paraesophageal hernias 

These hernias develop when part of your stomach herniates beside the esophagus while the junction stays in place.

Size determines whether you feel anything

The size of your hiatal hernia directly affects your symptoms. Some hernias cause no problems, while others create daily discomfort.

Small hernias can go unnoticed

Small hiatal hernias often cause zero symptoms. Your stomach might be slightly out of place, but not enough to create problems. You could have one for years without knowing it.

Medium hernias start causing issues

Larger hernias begin interfering with normal function. The herniated stomach portion can’t empty properly, leading to food and acid backing up into your esophagus.

Large hernias create obvious problems

The biggest hernias can trap large portions of your stomach in your chest cavity. These cause more dramatic symptoms like difficulty swallowing, acid reflux, chest pain that mimics heart problems, or feeling full after just a few bites of food.

Symptoms often masquerade as other conditions

Hiatal hernia symptoms overlap with several other digestive disorders, making diagnosis tricky without proper testing. Here’s what we commonly see:

These symptoms can mimic heart disease, asthma, or other digestive conditions, which explains why many patients see multiple doctors before getting the correct diagnosis.

Medications only manage symptoms

Acid-blocking medications can reduce acid production, but they can’t reposition your stomach or repair the enlarged hiatal opening. Over time, continued acid exposure can damage your esophagus lining, leading to scarring or precancerous changes.

You might develop Barrett’s esophagus, where your esophageal lining changes to resemble intestinal lining. This condition requires ongoing monitoring because it slightly increases esophageal cancer risk.

Surgery fixes the hernia and the reflux simultaneously

Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair addresses the root cause by moving your stomach back where it belongs and preventing future herniation. 

Dr. Madni uses small incisions to access the hernia site, then carefully pulls your herniated stomach portion back into the abdominal cavity. She repairs the enlarged hiatal opening with sutures and often reinforces it with surgical mesh to prevent recurrence.

The procedure includes a fundoplication, where we wrap the upper part of your stomach around the lower esophagus. That creates a natural valve that prevents acid reflux while still allowing normal swallowing and belching.

You likely return home the next day and resume your usual activities within a week. Recovery involves temporary dietary modifications while your body adjusts to the repair.

Get help for hiatal hernias in Dallas, Texas

If persistent heartburn, difficulty swallowing, or chest pain disrupts your life, a hiatal hernia might be the culprit. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Madni to discuss your symptoms and explore effective treatment options.

Call our Dallas office at 972-694-3673 or request your appointment online today.

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