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Are my breathing problems and Hiatus Hernia related?

Posted , 22 users are following.

gail40055
gail40055

I was diagnosed with an Hiatus Hernia eight years ago and take 40mg of Omeprazole twice a day. Last February I started having problems as in gulping when talking and feeling as if I was going to run out of breath whilst talking. This progressed to the feeling (and it's every breath) of not being able to fully breathe in or out. The doctors spent months telling me it was anxiety. I had my heart checked as I have SVT and also saw a Respiratory Consultant who after doing test said it was down to being 'de-conditioned. After he said that I joined Slimming World and have a Personal Trainer at the gym three times a week and am now over three stone lighter! I went through a period last year of having to sleep sat up as it was even harder to breathe. I've been able to sleep back on two pillows for months and then this week I had a bad night again. Last August I woke up and wasn't breathing. Have been checked for Sleep Apnea. The Clinic said could be due to Hernia-consultant says no way. Have had this sixteen months and counting. Does anyone have the same symptoms? Thanks.

0 likes, 52 replies

52 Replies

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  • joe51666
    joe51666 gail40055

    Posted

    Hi Gail:  I'm not sure if I have HH or GERD or both.  Sometimes I'm fine, other times I can't get a full breath.  Tonight I stumbled across a website where a chiropractor was showing techniques for relaxing the solarplexes and pushing the stomach down to its proper position.  Perhaps pacebo, but I tried of the techniques and am breathing much better ten minutes later. The doctor also has a video showing the techniques.  

    For what its worth, I hope this is helpful!

    Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the links as they were to a site unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

    http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

  • michelle1973
    michelle1973 gail40055

    Posted

    Hi Gail. I have been reading your posts about your HH and was wondering whether you did have surgery in the end. I've been suffering since January last year with recurrent laryngitis. I then got a chest infection which triggered an asthma attack which landed me in intensive care. It took me a while to get over this and afterwards found I have a sliding HH. I was then started on lansoperazole and ranitidine and Gaviscon advance. I then started with a chest infection just after Christmas this year which again triggered my asthma and was in hospital for a week again.  I have since has severe problems with my breathing, especially as the day goes on and my stomach becomes fuller. I have a really good respiratory nurse who is referring me to a consultant who specialises in respiratory and stomach related problems. I'm not sure how long I can go on with the breathlessness but hopefully once I'm off the steroids (as they cause extra acid anyway) that things start to improve. I'm just so tired of not being able to breathe properly.  I hope everyone else on here has managed to be seen or helped. Thanks, Michelle
    • gail40055
      gail40055 michelle1973

      Posted

      Hi Michelle.  Sorry to hear about the problems you are having.  I didn't have surgery as the manometry tests etc showed normal levels of acid.  It left me back at square one.  I was discharged by the Respiratory Consultant as he said all tests lung related came back ok so they had nothing to work with.  It's been put down to anxiety.  I even went on anto anxiety meds to prove a point and they had no effect!  I'm now having Physio, which is also having no effect.  The only other option is to try a different anti anxiety medication, which I'm loathe to do as I don't believe it's anxiety.  Every breath for the last two years?  I can't see how it can be that.  Hope you get things sorted. x
  • michelle1973
    michelle1973 gail40055

    Posted

    Hi Gail. I'm now sat up at 12.17am because I can't lay down to the pressure in my stomach causing me breathing problems. I'm sorry that you are no further forward and do understand the frustration when they tell you it's anxiety. How on earth can anxiety cause the problems we've experienced. Headaches yes, not this. I have been doing some reading tonight and if you can take a look at this report. I have a feeling this is one of the doctors my respiratory nurse is going to refer me to. I hope you manage to find a good doctor. Don't give up.  If you type the following into your browser it should come up. I think they are based in Hull, England (I'm not sure if you are in the US). Thanks, Michelle

    Airway Reflux, Cough and Respiratory Disease

    Ian D. Molyneux and Alyn H. Morice 

    • gail40055
      gail40055 michelle1973

      Posted

      H Michelle, I'm in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.  Thanks for the information.  I will look into it this morning.  Up until I started to lose weight I spent many a night having to sleep sat up because I couldn't breathe properly laid down.  Most people would have put the problem down to being overweight, but I'd been that weight for years so why would it suddenly start with no weight fluctuations?  Luckily that doesn't happen now, so I must have taken some pressure away!  I won't give up, but I can't believe it's being put down to anxiety still even when the meds didn't work, their answer was try a different one!  The only exercise I've been given to do is to time my breathing and breather twelve time a minute-inhale, exhale, pause, and then the same again for a few minutes at a time.  I hate doing it as all it does is make me feel uncomfortable and reminds me that every breath I take is abnormal!  How is that going to retrain my breathing?  My breathing does what my breathing does.  I was timed beforehand I didn't do much more than twelve anyway.  I think they were expecting me to be someone who hyperventilated, which of course I don't do and never did.  I hope we both get to the bottom of things.  Thanks, Gail x
  • michelle1973
    michelle1973 gail40055

    Posted

    Hi Gail, I'm only in Castleford! What a small world.

    im exactly the same in that my weight has been like this for 12 years. I am slightly overweight but am on steroids for my asthma and chest infection so that doesn't help and apparently they cause more acid!

    if you want to take things further again ask your doctor to refer you to Dr McCreanor at Pontefract/Wakefield who is a respiratory consultant but he originally said last year it was the acid reflux that was playing a part in my asthma attack. My respiratory nurse Jacqui Pollington is very good and  after speaking to Dr McCreanor is going to refer me to this other consultant who believes hiatus hernia and acid can affect asthma and breathing difficulties. 

    Im glad you are feeling a little better and hope that once I'm off the steroids I can start to lose a little weight which might help. 

    I am still convinced that it has got bigger as I feel like I have a fist at the top of my stomach after eating which then causes more breathlessness and my voice starts to change into a high pitch squeak!

    i will let you know what happens.

    michelle x

  • smokeyginger1
    smokeyginger1 gail40055

    Posted

    Hi Gail, my husband as just had the op for HH which they did not want to do but due to heart problems the doctor insisted,his breathing is back to normal now the tests he had before the op were all normal just like yours were keep going back to the docs we had to good luck Gail and I hope everything goes well 

    ps I have just had the camera down and yes I have got HH and sleep apnia and all they do is give me tablets which I say no to they just seem to fob you off my breathing I think has to do with my HH but they don't listen cos doctors know best anyway at least my hubby is ok now keep in touch 

    • gail40055
      gail40055 smokeyginger1

      Posted

      Hi.  Sorry it has taken so long to reply.  Hope things are better for you and your husband.  I still have the breathing problem and do my best to ignore it.  I've had three and a half years of waking up feeling sick every morning.  This has now changed to feeling sick only a few hours after going to bed.  Two months ago I started to feel sick and have paid in the middle of my back, and also excessive burping(with sulphar taste), coupled with excessive wind.  Not normal for me at all.  Was happening every couple of week but is now happening on a lesser scale (no burping or wind) every day.  I'm taking Omeprazole 40mg twice a day as usual plus gallons of Gaviscon.
    • suepip
      suepip gail40055

      Posted

      Hi

      I have followed this thread with great interest.

      My mother in law(nearly 85 yrs old) was diagnosed with a HH with Barrett's last year.

      For the past few months she has suffered with horrendous breathing problems,

      to the point where she can hardly do anything for herself.

      Her lung function tests came back fine, next week she is going to have a heart

      scan to see if anything is amiss there and then she sees the surgeon

      a few weeks after. We are hoping they will agree to an op as her quality

      of life at the moment is zilch.

      Is it a bit op, would they carry one out on a person this age?

      I am seriously worried about her.

      Thanks for any thoughts.

    • gail40055
      gail40055 suepip

      Posted

      Hi.  Sorry I haven't replied sooner.  How did your mother in law get on when she saw the the surgeon?

  • Tammyshernia
    Tammyshernia gail40055

    Posted

    I'm having the same problem when I talk I feel like I'm losing my breath but I'm the opposite I feel better when I'm on my sides but if I lay on my back I feel like I'm suffocating I'm having my surgery on march 25 and I'm hoping to feel much better I have been diagnosed with hiatal hernia with upside down stomach which I now have my stin my chest so I'm being careful I saw someone mention tray corn syrup will make you feel like you can breath so I believe that that's went I'm hit the hardest hope your feeling better 

  • Tammyshernia
    Tammyshernia gail40055

    Posted

    It sounds just like the hernia I have all the symptoms you are having I have I'm having my surgery march 25 they as in dr told me there was nothing wrong with me I finally went to a dr in Charlotte and the found my hiatal hernia that is 5 in not 5 cc but 5 in then they did more test and found out I have a upside down stomach which mean that it being so large it has now slipped up into my chest so my stomach is no longer there it's in my chest I hope you found someone to help you I no exactly what your going through 

  • joe23880
    joe23880 gail40055

    Posted

    I have all above my breathing comes and goes but when its bad it last for day seems like i have a truck on my chest and no one can figure out whats wrng
    • Tammyshernia
      Tammyshernia joe23880

      Posted

      Joe you have to go to a gastroenterologist have them do a endoscopy google the drs where you live have them do the test you'll need a referral but you look for the dr then tell your family dr to call the 1 you choose I literally thought I was dying this has been going on for 4 to 5 yrs I hope you fined a good dr ....do you mind if I ask where you live

  • joe23880
    joe23880 gail40055

    Posted

    Same simp i have bad breathing comes and goes but when i do get it ladt for dayscand feels like am on my last breath and feels like i jave truck on my chest at times
    • Tammyshernia
      Tammyshernia joe23880

      Posted

      Joe is it worse when you eat mine gets really bad if I eat anything sweet I gave to eat a very little at a time also meats are bad cheese I drink a lot of tea but I can't put any sugar or honey in it 

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