Deborah is a Pittsburgh native who enjoys camping with her husband and going on long walks each day. For years, Deborah has been treated for acid reflux.
“I’ve taken medicine for my acid reflux for many years. My worst symptom is heartburn, so the medicine helps relieve that. In 2022, there were a few occasions where I began noticing unusual symptoms, like intense stomach cramping and the urge to throw up while going to the bathroom,” says Deborah.
Deborah realized it had been a while since she last underwent an endoscopy, which is a test where a scope is entered into the body to examine the esophagus. The amount of time passed combined with these odd symptoms caused Deborah to reach out to her PCP and schedule an appointment.
During Deborah’s evaluation, doctors discovered a giant paraoesophageal hiatal hernia. This condition occurs when some or all of the stomach slides up into the chest through a hole in the diaphragm.
“The doctors said that the hernia contained about half my stomach and was pushing into my chest which explained my symptoms. Luckily, there was no evidence of obstruction,” says Deborah.
Upon diagnosis, Deborah was referred to UPMC thoracic surgeon, James Ackerman, MD.
“During my first appointment with Dr. Ackerman, I underwent diagnostic tests and had the opportunity to have a thorough conversation with him about my condition and treatment plan. He explained everything to me and made me feel super comfortable going forward with surgery,” says Deborah.
At UPMC East, Deborah underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic repair for her hernia. This cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedure involves the surgeon making small incisions on the abdomen and using the robot to bring the stomach back into the abdomen and repair the hernia.
During the repair, Dr. Ackerman was able to recreate a normal anatomic position of the stomach and suture it to prevent recurrent herniation into the chest.
“The surgery went really well. I stayed in the hospital for a few days to recover. The entire care team was absolutely wonderful,” says Deborah.
After being discharged from the hospital, Deborah followed Dr. Ackerman’s instructions for a speedy and successful recovery.
“My doctors took me off my medicine for acid reflux, and I’ve been feeling great ever since. I have occasional acid reflux but only need Mylanta as needed instead of daily medication. I can eat whatever I want now too,” says Deborah.
In October 2023, Deborah attended her one-year follow up with Dr. Ackerman. Here, she underwent a barium swallow test, which is an imaging test used to examine the upper GI tract and esophagus.
“After the barium swallow test, Dr. Ackerman let me know that everything looked great,” says Deborah.
With her successful recovery, Deborah has returned to her favorite hobbies of spending time outdoors and camping with her husband. She follows up with Dr. Ackerman annually to monitor her condition.