What can we expect now that the surgeon says no surgery on sliding hiatal hernia?

Question

After the upper GI barium swallow our surgeon says mom's esophogus is shortened and peristalsis is not working too good and feels like medicine is best instead of the nissen procedure. Her esophagus is enlarged 4cm and has shortened and she should use protonix meds. Now, we wonder what can we expect happen to her hiatal hernia and will she get better with just meds?

Answer 1

Hiatal hernias do NOT get better.

She'll have to take her meds and eat/drink properly to not aggravate her condition.

Answer 2

Tell her to try this: I read that the last Pope had one and was too old to operate on, his doctors-surely the best in the world-prescribed 1 tablespoon of mashed potatoes before eating. They said just the weight would lower the stomach and close the hernia-temporally anyway!