Expert: John Pilcher, MD - 12/22/2008

Question
Hello Dr Pilcher i dont know if you can help me with my question but of all the Drsb available you seemed to be the one most suited to my question.
I have been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and i suffer from chronic nausea, i have tried all the recomended adjustments to diet and i dont drink or smoke and i take anti reflux medication but the nausea still persists.
Could it be the diaphragm squeezing my stomach that is causing the nausea?
Do you have any Knowledge of hiatal hernia surgery helping someone with my problem of chronic nausea?

Thank you for your time.

Answer
Scott,
It is possible that the Hiatal hernia is causing your nausea, but more likely a different problem with your stomach such as slow gastric emptying.  The right type of doctor to help you define this problem would be a gastroenterologist, also called a GI doctor.

There is such a thing as surgical repair of a Hiatal Hernia, but I do not recommend you consider surgery to treat the nausea until your stomach function has been thoroughly tested.  If it seems this has already been done, then you may benefit from seeing a general surgeon.

Best wishes,
Dr JP