Can a general surgeon perform a hernia repair, or should i see a gi surgeon?

One and the Same: General surgery is the specialty responsible for hernia operations and GI surgery. While many of us have different areas of expertise, there is no special fellowship for hernia surgery.

Both are general: While both are general surgeons, some surgeons focus their practice on hernia repair. Complex hernias should probably be taken care of by a surgeon which extensive experience in hernia repair. Straightforward hernias are routinely handled by most general surgeons. You could ask the surgeon what their experience is dealing with a hernia like yours.