Hernia Repair

[Bolen]

Hello:

My wife has a large Hiatial Hernia that she's lived with for many years. She is being advised to have it repaired, hopefully Laproscopically, but it could turn into a major, full open, surgery should there be problems... I am prone to be conservative, here, and to be against the surgery. My worry is that her symptoms may not improve, and the surgery could leave her with other problems... At the same time, I hate to be preventing her from having her symptoms improve, and with it the quality of her life. Her symptoms, are mostly difficulty breathing (1/3 or more of her stomach is in the chest cavity) and feeling quezy to sick after most meals for about 1/2 hour...

To help with our decision, we'd like to hear from others who've had Hiatial Hernia Repair Surgery, to find out what to expect during recovery and thereafter... Thanks much...