Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia describes what happens when the upper portion of your stomach bulges through the diaphragm, which is the large muscle separating the chest from the abdomen. There is a small opening in the diaphragm, called the hiatus, and the esophagus passes through this opening before it connects to the stomach. When the stomach pushes through this opening and into the chest, hiatal hernia is the result.

If you have a minor hiatal hernia, you may never know. Larger hiatal hernias, on the other hand, can cause noticeable symptoms.

What causes hiatal hernia?

Hiatal hernia is a result of weakened muscles, which allow the stomach to bulge through the diaphragm. This can be caused by aging or injury from trauma or surgery. Other potential causes of hiatal hernia include being born with an abnormally large hiatus or suffering from intense pressure from vomiting, coughing, straining during bowel movements, or lifting heavy objects.

Is a hiatal hernia dangerous?

While it sounds serious, a hiatal hernia actually doesn’t cause symptoms in most cases. Many people who experience a hiatal hernia won’t need treatment.

What sort of treatment is used for hiatal hernia in cases where treatment is necessary?

If you have ongoing symptoms like acid reflux, you may require medications or surgery to treat hiatal hernia. Your doctor may prescribe medications to neutralize stomach acid, reduce acid production, or block the production of acid. If medication does not improve symptoms or if you have serious complications, such as significant inflammation or narrowing of the esophagus, your doctor may perform surgery. For example, surgery can allow your doctor to pull the stomach back down into the abdomen and reduce the size of the opening in the diaphragm.

Common Symptoms

“I had symptoms of acid reflux, and it felt like I was regurgitating food back into my mouth.”
“I experienced heartburn, and I was having trouble swallowing food.”
“I had chest pain and shortness of breath.ausea and vomiting.”

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiatal-hernia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373379

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Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

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Tom L.

Fantastic staff, very knowledgeable and Informative. Couldn't have ha a better experience under the circumstances!!! Lol Dr. BOLOGNA is the best bar none !!!

Scott K.

Everyone was so professional and fun to be around, no concerns or complaints keep up the great work & keep treating everyone the way you want to be treated 👍

Sue B.

I feel Dr. Bakken listened to me and was very thorough. She is a sweetheart and very nice. Scheduling was very efficient and I felt her office was too. You need to have an office that runs efficiently. I had an experience with another office that was not so I quit going to them.

Deleecha D.

Everyone was so attentive, treated me like I was very important!!!! Made sure I was ok at all times!!!

Miho P.

Dr. Bakken and her team are incredibly kind and helpful. They followed up with a phone call to see how I was after my procedure. Everything went smoothly and quickly. She took the time to speak with me before and after. The entire staff were friendly, which is nice to see these days.

Lori R.

Going into my first colonoscopy I was very nervous and everyone made me feel very comfortable. Dr. Quallich is a wonderful man who has taken care of my whole family. Thank you to him and the whole staff!

Tracy K.

Everyone was friendly and caring, quick in and out of appointment. Had my procedure and left facility in 67 minutes! Facility is well run, clean and private rooms for every patient. 10/10 highly recommend!

Laurie Alward D.

Everyone involved in my care was very nice and very efficient. I felt like I would be very well taken care of.

Cheryl D.

Very nice staff friendly and professional.

William G.

Very positive! 1st class! Everyone was great!

Jennifer K.

Dr tocco , is great , this was my first visit with him, I will keep him as my g.i doctor , listens , caring doctor , thanks

rick W.

Very good experience. Pre-procedure communication through post procedure could not have been better.

Cathie J.

Dr Willie and the staff were wonderful. They were very professional and compassionate. The office was very clean and friendly. They called after my procedure to check in and made me feel very comfortable. I would definitely recommend.

Johneric S.

Fast and efficient

[email protected] B.

Everyone was so kind and caring and constantly gave me a lot of good information heading towards the procedure. Dr. Bakken is one of the best and the most kind doctor I’ve ever had.

Deborah V.

Loved the Dr and staff, they were excellent!! I would recommend them.

Nancy K.

From the desk crew, the nursing staff, the anesthesiologist and of course Dr. Nandi it was a very nice and caring experience. I felt very well taken care of by everyone. Thank you!

Avery N.

All employees very knowlegeable and professional!

Deborah G.

Dr Webber has been my doctor for many years. He’s a very easy person to talk to and always gives me knowledgeable advice.

Aziz B.

The doctor and staff are very professional and very friendly. They make the patient feel comfortable and worry free. Highly recommended.

Lisa O.

Hands down the best staff ever!!!!! Everyone is kind and explain clearly. The nurses try and boost your spirit. The doctor I had was Dr. Bologna who was fantastic and a real delight to have for a specialist. 10/10

Kevin

Staff were incredibly friendly, personable, and made me feel very comfortable and at ease. Clean facility, too.

Kenneth K.

Dr. Webber and his assistant, Christopher, are super friendly and knowledgeable of my case. I highly recommend Dr. Webber.

Yvonne G.

Dr. Bakker let me read off a list of items of concern and she responded to each item on the list.

Keith F.

Very little wait time. Courteous and friendly staff.

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

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Gary C.

Wonderful experience with office and doctor. Highly recommend!!

Maryann C.

Staff was wonderful and friendly. I felt very comfortable

Candace R.

I have always had good experiences with the staff at Center for Digestive Health. Dr. Donat has been my doctor for some time now. I was referred to him in the early 2000s. Then I moved out of state and when I returned to Michigan I went back to him. Dr. Donat and the staff always take time with me and never feel rushed when there. They also run a very professional and efficient system for having procedures done.

john P.

The Doctor and staff was very professional and pleasant.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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