What should i expect after hiatal hernia surgery?

Usually: Usually this surgery is done with an anti reflux wrap. So your reflux should go away or improve. 60% of people have bloating in the beginning and some difficulty swallowing larger pieces of food. All this should go away with time. You will also experience difficulty vomiting and belching.

Diet changes: Hiatal hernia surgery usually includes a stomach wrap (fundoplication). After surgery i keep my patients on puréed foods to allow the stomach to heal. After two weeks transition to a normal balanced diet. Chew well! i start removing antacids around this time. With the wrap it is a trade off of too tight vs too loose. There is 5-10% chance of needing a second procedure to loosen or tighten it.

Eat slow: You can expect improvement of your reflux symptoms. You may have some swallowing issues for the first 1-2 weeks so chew food carefully. Some patients stick to a soft diet during the immediate post operative period.