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Anyone who has a Sliding Hietias Hernia??, please read this and tell me i'm not mad!!!!

Posted , 8 users are following.

lesley118
lesley118

I went to the doctors over a year ago with pain under my right rib!, which now is constant!!. He was reluctant to send me for tests, but in the end he sent me for an ultrasound which showed a polyp in my Gallbladder. They said that wont be causing me the pain, although I get a stabbing pain in my shoulder blade and belch constantly when eating of drinking. Slowly the pain has got worse and I feel like there's a golf ball under my ribs, my diaphragm feels swollen, like a stitch, the pain goes stabs like a stinging mussel!. Then I started getting acid burning, badly, constantly!, the ppi's seem to make it worse, none of the tablets worked!!. They did a colonoscopy to rule out the bowel, as i'm so bloated I look pregnant all the time. That didn't show much, has 2 ct scans, mri, a gallbladder function test, then had endoscopy which showed the hernia and a phstudy test that show high levels of reflux. And that's it, left me too it. I'm now in constant pain, burning in my chest, bloated, can't eat anything without it hurting and burning!!!.

I got so desperate I paid 200 pounds to go private, and been told its all in my head!!!. I was tested for helicobacter which was negative!. I'm totally at my whits end, and at a dead end!!.

I was recommended to see a allergy testing clinic, so I paid again for tests, she said I had diary intolerance, something picking up on my gallbladder, maybe sludge, high levels of protein and helicobactor!!!. I have all these herbal remedies (more money), and says they will work but I have totally lost all hope!!, anyone out there that can help???? :-(

1 like, 46 replies

46 Replies

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  • Barnie
    Barnie

    Posted

    Thanks Catherine for the link - very interesting. I will be interested in hearing how you get on with the UK surgeon - it certainly looks less invasive than some of the ops.
  • Momo
    Momo

    Posted

    Hi, i just wanted to comment that the nissan fundoplication does not have a high failure rate , in fact the failure rate is about 8 percent but you need to have the correct tests done in order for the operation to be successful. You also have to be mentally prepared as the weeks after the operation are not easy. If you can live successfully on your meds and eat well then it is not advisable . Usually the standard test is manometry and ph test to see if you have high levels of reflux, acidic or non acidic and a functioning lower esophageal sphincter. The manometry tests for motility of your swallowing which is very important .
  • Momo
    Momo

    Posted

    Hi Lesley, I am surprised that the Nhs have not offered you surgery if you have high acid reflux from you ph manometry testing. I eat a combination of Zantac and lansoprasole as I have a sliding hiatal hernia. My gi is willing for me to have the operation and so is my gp. Although I don't have high acidic reflux . My hernia keeps sliding up and down which is causing me terrible eating problems. Has your gastroenterologist explained your problems to you as obviously gp are not as knowledgeably . With the results of your endoscopy and phmanometry testing they should have some sort of conclusion. Ct scans are no good . Your final test which can diagnose and would be more useful is a barium swallow, if you have really bad reflux it would be shown there and then and also how big your hernia if it has slid back down.
  • lesley118
    lesley118

    Posted

    Hi Momo, Thank you so much for your info. It makes me realise how fobbed off I have been. My ph study was 33, normal being 12.5 as they told me. The swallowing thing they didn't really comment on so I guessed that was ok!. I feel the burning in my chest but so far it doesn't come up to my throat or in my mouth. Every time I try a ppi it makes the pain in my stomach worse!. Some days it's dull, depending on what I eat I guess, which is getting less and less!. The pain is like constant stitch under my right rib and all the way round to my shoulder blade. Bad belching after eating, I feel I have to keep pushing my stomach down and putting pressure under my rib, which is so much worse when sitting down or driving. I cant wear a bra or anything tight round my rib area so I have to wear vest like or sports tops which still hurt. I have had so many tests I can only think it's the Hernia that's causing the pain, but the doctors say the hernia will not be causing me the pain!!!!????
  • Momo
    Momo

    Posted

    Hi Lesley, have you be thought about trying other ppis, Also you have to persevere as it does take a week or so for the ppi to kick in. Maybe you could also try taking zantac or other h2 blockers although I have problems with rashes the benefits outweigh the cons. Usually they start you off on omeprazole. I take lansoprazole and zantac but everybody is different. What you are getting is pain from the acid reflux more than the hernia although the hernia an be annoying by sitting on your lungs or making your diaphragm spasm sometimes. Pain in the upper abdominal area is quite common but will lessen over time. Mine was really painful for at least 9 months but together with the drugs it has become less so. I think the main thing to do is to try to take control of your acid reflux to see if the you can get your condition under control. PPis must be taken in the morning on an empty stomach half an hour or an hour before food. Try to eat a bland diet with no fancy sauces and in small portions. Break your meal into smaller portions throughout the day.
  • lesley118
    lesley118

    Posted

    Hi again. I feel a sigh of relief, I get the diaphragm spasms, they are almost like a massive cramp if I lean in a certain way. I've had this about 18 months with the pain, and they way you describe it it does feel like I have a golf ball under my ribs!!. I know a few foods that irritate, and I've tried Omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole and emoprozole, taken them all for a month, I feel in more pain with them!!!. I need to go back to the doc's again but i'm going to try and control it more with diet, which is tough!!. Iv'e read not to take ppi's for a long period of time. I can't understand why the tablets wont cut my acid down!!!
  • Momo
    Momo

    Posted

    I wouldn't worry about what people write about taking ppi for too long, I have voiced my concern to my surgeon but if the benefits outweigh the cons then it's worth taking. No one knows what the future holds so why worry about what if health problems if you are living in pain today. Some of them have been on them for years and years. I think what's important is what your gastroenterologist says as he is the one who can recommend the surgery for you. If you are not happy with this one then get a second opinion and for them to thoroughly explain your problem. Mine was really nice and sympathetic and he explained my problems to me.
  • lesley118
    lesley118

    Posted

    mine clearly doesn't care, he couldn't wait to get me out of the room!!!, I forgot to ask, do you get a lot of bloating???

  • Momo
    Momo

    Posted

    During the initial stages , I had terrible stomach bloating , a feeling of fullness after a few mouthfuls . One meal seemed to take forever to digest , I was literally eating one meal a day. And anything I ate seemed to rumble through my intestines and I felt an immense pressure bloating upwards I could barely breathe . Nowadays the symptoms are much less. I have a weak lower sphincter so I think if I do have gas problems there is nothing to stop it escaping as.. But my hernia slides up and down so depending on its mood if it's down , I am fine in the drugs but if it's up I get terrible heartburn and pain . You really do have to be careful of portion control and foods you eat. I basically live on fish, chicken , rice , jacket potatoes , porridge , bananas easy to digest things . Chew well . Anything you have to chew and chew spit it out. No processed foods, biscuits or cakes , or food heavy in cheese, or dairy. Can substitute for olive butter . I couldn't tolerate milk so drank soya milk . Hope this helps Lesley. Also had major problems with breaded fish fingers and beans. The bloating is basically saying your stomach can't digest the food .
  • lesley118
    lesley118

    Posted

    That's so what I have!!. I feel totally full after a few mouthfuls, my stomach is so bloated I have been asked if i'm pregnant!. I hardy eat anything!. It's a dull ache when I get up then as soon as I eat it's hideous for the rest of the day. My Hernia is more or less up all the time, I have looked at you tube to see if there is any exercises I can do to get it down!!.

    I don't eat red meat and luckily I don't have a sweet tooth. So have nothing sweet in my diet except for 1 sugar in my tea. I changed to goats milk but I think Tea is not good to drink?.

    I don't like diary so I don't eat yogurt's, cheese and creamy sauces seem to upset me too!!.

    I don't like batter or breaded things and I steer away from bread. Defo don't do processed for me or the kids if I can help it. I make a lot of soups and I try to be sensible, but I work in school kitchens so I have to really think what I can have as they use a lot of creams and fatty stuff at times. I started having salad everyday but that killed afterwards. Tomato's are acid, lettuce and cucumber are hard to digest!!!, i'm at a total loss as what I can have!. Luckily I love fish and chicken. The other day I had a roast at school and I think the potatoes upset me as they were done in fat!, also love pork but that's too fatty. They sent me away from the hospital with no info. I have learnt more form you and this sight than any doctor!!!. Thank you, I really appreciate your help :-)

  • Momo
    Momo

    Posted

    Hi Lesley , tea is a major no no, even I have problems with it now and salads. Stick with the few recommended items for a couple of months and you should see an improvement once your stomach is better your hernia should start to go down . I drink honey water . Lay off carbonated drinks . I am not sure if you said you had gastritis but if you do that takes a few months to heal and the bloating will be less and then the ppi should start to kick in. I didn't take mine until 3 months when my symptoms started to get better. Diet is the key factor here in getting well.
  • lesley118
    lesley118

    Posted

    How are you with alcohol?
  • Momo
    Momo

    Posted

    Non existent unless it's used in cooking. Erase it from the dictionary unless you have had the op and even then in moderation. I am just grateful I can eat more than porridge which was what I virtually existed on for the first 3 months.
  • lesley118
    lesley118

    Posted

    Wow, looks like I need a complete lifestyle change! Thank you for all your help, I have an app thurs so let's see what they say this time!!!
  • jean26717
    jean26717

    Posted

    I have a 2cm sliding hiatus hernia, grade one gerd, chronic oesophagitis, and Barrets Oesophagus, have been prescribed ppi's for life, so far I have taken Omeprazzole, Pantaprazzole and now Esmeprazzole 40mg, they help a bit but the side effects are awful, after taking them for over eight months no improvment in the amount of inflamation so still getting a painful burning sensation across my chest, it as if someone has a blow torch under my skin, even makes my breast and nipples hurt, also pain below breast bone, right breast and into my upper back, especially under left shoulder blade, bring up food it I bend down or lie down. Stopped the tablets and at first symptons much worse but easing off a bit. Trying with diet alone, very small portions so lost over half a stone, but it doesn't seem to matter what I eat, soon as Ive eaten it I get chronic burning across the chest. Will a op to fix the hernia prevent this and stop the Barretts from getting worse.
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