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What are the newest things my sister can do to help prevent her Ulcerative Hiatal Hernia it from getting worse?

By Anonymous February 16, 2011 - 9:19pm
 
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My sister has also Type 1 Diabetes. She has an Ulcerative Hiatal Hernia. The doctor put her on some medications and talked about the possiblity of it bleeding to where they may not be able to stop the bleeding because of her Diabetes.
What do you think is the best treatment for this other than surgery. Years ago our mom had a Hiatal Hernia repair and developed an esophageal leak. After 6 mths in the hospital & multiple surgeries, she is still living with it. It was a nightmare and we are scared for my sister. Please help with any information you may have for her. Thanks so much. Josephine

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Josephine,

I have copied and pasted the treatment for hiatal hernias from our page:

Treatment
Hiatal hernias are usually treated only when there are symptoms. When GERD is present, the following measures may help:

Weight Loss
For people who are obese, losing weight may relieve symptoms.

Dietary Changes
Avoid foods that can relax the muscle that controls the opening between the esophagus and the stomach including:

Chocolate
Peppermint
Fatty foods
Coffee
Alcoholic beverages
Avoid foods and beverages that can irritate the internal lining of the esophagus, such as:

Caffeine
Citrus fruits and juices
Tomato products
Hot peppers
Carbonated beverages
To minimize acid reflux:

Consume smaller meals 4 to 6 times a day versus three large meals
Avoid drinking large amounts of fluids with meals
Do not eat within 2 to 3 hours of bedtime
Smoking Cessation
If you smoke, stop. Smoking weakens the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that controls the opening between the esophagus and the stomach.

Reduce Pressure on Your Abdomen
Wear clothes and belts that are loose around your waist
Avoid stooping or bending after meals, which puts increased pressure on the abdomen
Elevation
Elevating the head of the bed on 6-inch blocks or sleeping on a specially designed wedge reduces heartburn. This position helps prevent stomach contents from refluxing backward into the esophagus.

Antacids
Antacids can neutralize acid and temporarily relieve heartburn.

Prescription Medications
For chronic reflux and heartburn, several types of medications may be prescribed to reduce acid in the stomach. These include:

H2 blockers such as:
Cimetidine
Famotidine
Nizatidine
Ranitidine
Proton pump inhibitors such as:
Omeprazole
Esomeprazole
Lansoprazole
Pantoprazole
Rabeprazole

Once all of these measures have been exhausted then the only other option is surgery. I hope this helps and if you need any additional information, please visit out hiatal hernia page: https://www.empowher.com/condition/hiatal-hernia/treatments

February 17, 2011 - 6:32am
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