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Recovery Timeline
Coping
Next in Hiatal Hernia Surgery Guide
As with many surgeries,hiatal hernia surgeryrecovery requires rest and some temporary lifestyle changes in order for you to heal properly
Hiatal hernia surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to fix a hiatal hernia, a condition in which the stomach pushes into the chest cavity. The surgery is typically successful in relieving the most common symptoms of a hiatal hernia, includinggastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
This article will explain what you should expect right after the procedure and what to know about pain relief, following a special diet, and other restrictions in the weeks that follow.
Jessica Olah / Verywell
Though individual cases vary, you may need to spend at least one night in the hospital after hiatal hernia surgery, and it typically takes three to four weeks to fully recover.You will not be able to drive right after surgery, so arrange for someone to pick you up and take you home.
In order to help promote healing, your healthcare provider may suggest you use a device called anincentive spirometer, which helps you exercise your lungs. You’ll get specific instructions, but regular daily use is recommended until you’re back to your normal activities.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a fever (a temperature of 100.5 F or 38 C or higher), nausea and/or vomiting, shaking, chills, abdominal and chest pains, or difficulty swallowing or eating. Also, watch for signs ofinfection on your incisionssuch as redness, swelling, and drainage.Never hesitate to call 911 if you’re feeling severe symptoms. Though the chances of life-threatening complications are very low, it’s important to be vigilant.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a fever (a temperature of 100.5 F or 38 C or higher), nausea and/or vomiting, shaking, chills, abdominal and chest pains, or difficulty swallowing or eating. Also, watch for signs ofinfection on your incisionssuch as redness, swelling, and drainage.
Never hesitate to call 911 if you’re feeling severe symptoms. Though the chances of life-threatening complications are very low, it’s important to be vigilant.
Barring any complications, the first follow-up appointment will occur two to three weeks following surgery. At this point, your healthcare provider will need to ensure that the hernia has healed properly and that there are no other issues.
In some cases, a second follow-up appointment may be necessary six months after the surgery. Occasionally, there can be long-term complications or the surgery may have failed to relieve symptoms. Your surgeon will talk with you about how these can be addressed.
Treating Hernia Types and Managing Pain
Hiatal Hernia Recovery Timeline
Since hiatal hernia surgery occurs on the diaphragm, near the esophagus, recovery means making temporary lifestyle changes, including a specific, post-operative diet.These help ensure that everything heals correctly while lowering the chance of recurrence or other complications.
Recovery from this procedure occurs in stages. Here’s what a typical timeline looks like:
Remain in touch with your healthcare provider as you recover and get clearance before resuming or starting new activities.
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Coping With Recovery
Managing pain, following a post-operative diet, and tending to wounds are important aspects of your recovery. Here’s what you need to know:
Pain Management
You can manage post-surgery pain with:
Post-Operative Diet
A critical aspect of recovery from this surgery requires adherence to a careful, post-operative diet for four to six weeks. These are individualized, and you’ll receive guidance on this from your healthcare provider or a nutritionist. A typical transition from surgery to normal eating looks like this:
As with all aspects of recovery, be mindful of how you’re feeling as you’re working through the post-operative diet, and let your healthcare provider know if you’re experiencing any issues.
Wound Care
You will need to care for your surgical incisions as they heal to avoid them getting infected:
In some cases, sutures (or “stitches”) may have been used to close up incisions in the chest. Typically, you’ll need to come back to your healthcare provider to have these removed.
Throughout the recovery period, be mindful of how your incisions are healing, and don’t hesitate to call for help if you see signs of infection.
How to Care For a Surgical Incision
Your bowel function will go back to normal. However, if you are feeling discomfort, ask your healthcare provider for advice.
Summary
Recovering from hiatal hernia surgery involves following a special diet for a few weeks, caring for your incisions so they don’t get infected, and avoiding certain activities (such as heavy lifting). In most cases, people fully recover and resume their normal lifestyles within a month or so.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Washington Medicine, Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery.Paraesophageal hernia what it is and how it is treated.Larowe E, Reddy R.Preparing for your transthoracic hiatal hernia repair pre and post-operative information. Michigan Medicine. 2017.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.What to expect after your Nissen fundoplication or hiatal hernia surgery.University Hospitals.Hiatal hernia surgery recovery: Nissen fundoplication & paraesophageal hernias. 2020.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Washington Medicine, Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery.Paraesophageal hernia what it is and how it is treated.Larowe E, Reddy R.Preparing for your transthoracic hiatal hernia repair pre and post-operative information. Michigan Medicine. 2017.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.What to expect after your Nissen fundoplication or hiatal hernia surgery.University Hospitals.Hiatal hernia surgery recovery: Nissen fundoplication & paraesophageal hernias. 2020.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of Washington Medicine, Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery.Paraesophageal hernia what it is and how it is treated.Larowe E, Reddy R.Preparing for your transthoracic hiatal hernia repair pre and post-operative information. Michigan Medicine. 2017.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.What to expect after your Nissen fundoplication or hiatal hernia surgery.University Hospitals.Hiatal hernia surgery recovery: Nissen fundoplication & paraesophageal hernias. 2020.
University of Washington Medicine, Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery.Paraesophageal hernia what it is and how it is treated.
Larowe E, Reddy R.Preparing for your transthoracic hiatal hernia repair pre and post-operative information. Michigan Medicine. 2017.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.What to expect after your Nissen fundoplication or hiatal hernia surgery.
University Hospitals.Hiatal hernia surgery recovery: Nissen fundoplication & paraesophageal hernias. 2020.
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