1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Hernia

Breathing problems, posture and hernia are all related ?

Posted , 10 users are following.

avy1971
avy1971

Hi guys just want to add so many points here. I stumbled on this forum so please excuse my initial excitement as I feel as if I may finally get my resolve. I have had all of the above symptoms plus more which all points towards classic HH. Yet to be diagnosed as the doctors haven’t quiet confirmed this. They themselves seem quiet confused but I will go and see the quacks again next week and this time force my opinion on them that this is definitely Classic HH. 

Can I just say, I am so ashamed that I should have picked up on this earlier or at least researched my symptoms on a forum like this. My wife as continuously badgered me to get this breathing problem sorted and my reply has always been an emphatic, “the doctors will never understand me so why should I go”. So many years have now passed and I have suffered at the hands of this horrid disease which has limited me as a human being, limited my conversation with loved ones. I am so short tempered as I cannot hold a conversation particularly after a meal. I fear meal times knowing that this dreaded breathing problem will come back and then haunt me for the next 2 or 3 hours. I squirm my way through the day wondering why this disease lives with me. My thoughts are separated into two, 24 hours a day. Part of me functions on a day to day basis through work and the challenges thrown at me and the other if mesmerized by this breathing issue….what the hell is it.  I have totally lost my confidence as a person. I used to exude so much confidence and now I’m like a tortoise, I just want to eat my meal and then curl up in my shell..

Ok, so now the practicalities….Can I just ask does anyone suffer from excessive bloatedness after eating a meal and further a deteriorating posture when sitting or standing.  And before anyone asks, I hardly eat a great deal so I'm definitely not over eating ok! Perhaps if I elaborate, when and after I have eaten a small or medium meal, I feel that my stomach protrudes and I looks visibly bloated, I then have poor breathing and hyperventilation which then leads to poor posture as I am contracting (bending forward) in order to relieve my diaphragm and/or sternum from further stress. I now hunch a lot especially when I am at my desk as this is possibly my best and favored position after a meal. I am conscious of my posture which further irritates me. I then try to desperately correct my posture which then leads to anxiety and further hyperventilation as I am applying an upward pressure on my sternum.

As a long term sufferer of HH, my poor breathing as also affected my eye sight. Sounds weird but poor breathing means that vital organs are not receiving vital supplies of oxygen which then leads to a breakdown in that organ. Further, because I have starved my organs of this valuable oxygen I reckon I am now suffering from memory lapses and poor concentration. I have noticed that I forget a lot of details and also im not as creative as I used to me. My conversation is limited and I stutter at times as I’m trying to breathe my words out correctly. I’m conscious of my breathing all the time whether I should be breathing from the abdomen or chest or both.

I will leave it at that for now, but please please do comment on my over enthused response above and tell me if you suffer those additional symptoms I have listed.

 

Ta.

 

Avy

2 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

Next
  • anastasia51692
    anastasia51692 avy1971

    Posted

    Hi avy! I have been suffering with breathing problems since January 1st 2014. Christmas Day I had bad heartburn (which I had never really suffered from before) and then New Year's Day I couldn't take in a deep breath and ended up in A&E. I have had many tests and yet they could not find a HH although I believe that I have a sliding one. I've had to give up work due to this as my breathing gets very shallow and I get a ridiculous amount of burping which sometimes goes on for hours. Any ideas on why this happened to you?
    • anastasia51692
      anastasia51692

      Posted

      Oh and also I can relate about the posture. I tend to lean forwards to help me breathe when I am really struggling to breathe. Plus I also get very bloated when I am going through that too. I have completely changed my diet and I'm taking some

      Supplements as I did some tests that revealed I have an imbalance of gut bacteria, yeast overgrowth and parasites. I dread going to the doctors for them to keep telling me they don't know what this is or what to do. It's very demoralising

    • avy1971
      avy1971 anastasia51692

      Posted

      Hi Anastasia,

      Thanks a million for replying thought I would never receive so much input from you guys. My breathing episodes can probably go back to the early 90'swhen I was a MSC student. I was under alot of pressure back then you know with the exams and what have you and I'm fairly confident thats when it may have started. Further, I do think spicy foods don't help either as this is a natural receipe for heart burn. No real history of acid refulx, heart burn in the family which is perplexing so I guess I am the chosen one.

      I hate this breathing issue, its a 24/7 thing and its constant. The more you feed this beast the more its gains control. Its srt of weird me saying that but its true. It lives with you physically and mentally and its draining me really.

      Avy  

    • avy1971
      avy1971 anastasia51692

      Posted

      Hi, what supplements are you taking if you don't mind me asking ? On the doctor thing, well this morning my doctor (a very young and attractive one too) said "well I've read all of your notes and i'm completley stumped here so come on you tell me what you think you have or how I can help you"! I thougt that was quiet a novel and refreshing approach to take, don't you ? 
  • ted41159
    ted41159 avy1971

    Posted

    avy I think many of us can relate to how annoying it is when you are treated cynically either by doctors or friends when you try to relate to them how you are feeling. I just hope that you are now on the way to getting the issue resolved.

    I personally just do not understand how my consultant can inform me that my stomach is inflamed but st the same time not to be able to tell me why. Good luck Ted

    • avy1971
      avy1971 ted41159

      Posted

      Thanks Ted, i'm sort of relieved that I have you guys around me sharing my issues - thanks again to everyone for all the input. We all have similar symptoms don't we and I'm sort of hopeful that someone on this forum is going to make a massive revelation about the whole hernia/bloatedness and breathing thing....I can feel it in my bones!

      Good luck Ted, may I suggest a second opinion ?

      Avy

       

  • christine12299
    christine12299 avy1971

    Posted

    Hi,

    I too have been suffering from breathing probems and at first it was 24/7,now it eases (but not cmpletely) during the day but is worse firt thing when I wake and at night.I have been diagnose with a 3cm HH. Had awful pains and discomfort which has only recently eased. I have been suffering since May 2014 but have had symptoms on and off for years. I am struggling for consultants to understand what it's like as they don't seem to think a small HH cause all this. I am still under investigation but have ended up in A&E at least 4 times in the lase 8 months.It's all so frustrating!

    • anastasia51692
      anastasia51692 christine12299

      Posted

      Hi Christine - when you say breathing problems can you elaborate? I suffer with not being able to take a deep breath and cannot belly breathe and sometimes feel like my lungs are congested and also throat clearing. They don't all happen at the same though.
    • christine12299
      christine12299 anastasia51692

      Posted

      For me it feels like I'm trying to catch my breath, a bit like I've been running. The symptoms can change and they can get worse and I also feel that my lungs are the problem but an x-ray says not
    • christine12299
      christine12299

      Posted

      To elaborate a little more it is like I have been winded in the stomach
    • avy1971
      avy1971 christine12299

      Posted

      Hi,

      So its a bit like hyperventilating except its not anxiety right ? I have the same, i'm struggling all the time to get that one decent breath and when its comes (hardly) its an amazng feeling. Would you agree ? Also, would you say that its a mental thing where you have distorted the rythm of your breathing by over thinking what should have been natural ? Whilst most people are able to eat and then interact socially, my thought process is oh no, we have to go out now, eat and then socialise. I'm not sure if anyone has picked up on how I struggle to converse or breath after a meal as I'm now pretty good at masking my symptoms...sad isn't it x

      Avy

    • christine12299
      christine12299 avy1971

      Posted

      Hi Avy,

      I guess so in a way, it is so hard to explain. It isn't anxiety but my previous GP tried to treat me for that and the drugs made me worse! I have nothing (except my health) to be worried about) and the symptoms came before the worry on that score. I have an appointment with my consultant on Friday but I'm getting nowhere fast and completely fed up of feeling awful. Do your symptoms ease at any time? Mine can but its always there to some degree. I hate the days when I'm really bad, it is really distressful, the feeling of not being able to breathe properly is frightening!

       

    • avy1971
      avy1971 christine12299

      Posted

      Christine,

      Thanks for your message really appreciate you taking the time to share that. Best of luck on Friday before I forget to mention.

      It may be an idea we have a chat as I'm very similar to you in symptoms. This message could turn into an epic so for fear of doing so I would prefer to talk as I reckon we have that common chord here…....that is if you’re ok with that. I'm not sure if I should share my mobile number here on this forum but for starters my email is ___________. No pressure Christine.

      Just so you know, my breathing issue is 24 hours a day, well actually I’m not sure if I have an issue when I'm asleep but sure as hell when I wake up my first thoughts are "here we go again". I stand up and take my first breath and surprise surprise that tightness is still there across my chest and or my stomach. I ask myself is this a mental issue of over thought or a physical one.

      As I stand, gravity takes its course and I can feel the weight around my gut pull down against me. I ask myself, I eat so little and yet I still have a bloody gut.  Bear in mind I’m 5ft 4 and above average fitness. I have a waist of 31”. For 44 years old I’m in pretty good shape…so they tell me. I’m 90% vegetarian if that helps. Ok, so now I’m standing ok and I can feel my abdomen expanding unnaturally. I then start to over compensate and elaborate my breathing movements so much so I probably look like I’m belly dancing. I’m now at the stage where I’m over focusing on my breathing. I try to distract myself and look out the window and try to divert my thoughts elsewhere. Nothing works so I then confuse myself and try chest breathing instead or a combination of the both. Let’s see if that helps. It does temporarily but now I'm possibly hyperventelating. This is just 5 mins into the day and I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet. Does this sound familiar Christine ?

      After hours of research both on and off I can tell you that I have found nothing by way of a solution. My wife is furious at me that I can’t sort this problem. The problem is that there is no quick fix. Is it a mental thing or a physical thing. The doctors are perplexed and as confused as I am and to be frank I hate going to see them because they don’t understand. This issue is not well documented or if it is the doctors certainly know nothing about it. I can see that in the end I will be the one to find the solution and it will probably mean a massive change in my life style. Not sure how but for starters a change in eating habits perhaps and some yoga and lots of walking.

       

      In terms of quick fixes, I tend to sit down and avoid conversation. My breathing problem is at its worst after a meal no matter how big or small. I tend to arch forward a lot so it looks like I’m keeling over my stomach which must look awful but I get some relief when I do that. I feel relieved when I relax my ab muscles. I have tried breathing through perssed lips and the one nostril breathing too and both do nothing for me. I have tried breathing into a paper bag and all that happens is that I get dizzy. I’ve tried the asthma pumps and these don’t work either. I try expanding my chest by arching back and standing as straight as possible. This helps a tad but for how long can I maintain this posture without looking ridiculous. Placing my hand on my diaphragm/sternum helps a bit but again for how long can I do that.

       

      For now the only solution I have Christine is I keep busy and I stay busy all the time. The busier I am the less though I give to this dreaded beast. The more I think about it the more I’m feeding this colossus.

       

      Anyway, enough tying…..how does the above read to you ?

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service .

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

  • jazztrain
    jazztrain avy1971

    Posted

    Hi avy

    I never take my condition lightly as we are all a long time dead!

    I suffer an IPF and under Papworth Hospital and my next visit I am likely to be put on a drug called 'Pirfenidone' costs £26,000 per year and have to wear Sun Block 50 every day, as the drug takes away the immune system. It will change my lifestyle as I will no longer be able to drink alcohol?

    In addition I have a Hiatus Hernia and take Lansoprazole 15 mg daily but I don't get any adverse symptoms - it apparently showed up on the CT scan - also I am on ambulatory oxygen therapy when I go out. Bit of a nusicence but someone once said to me 'farmers have their problems' so I just look on the bright side and thank god I'm alive.

    Jazztrain

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.