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Hiatus and sleeplessness

Posted , 3 users are following.

mikey69
mikey69

Hi

Last year i had to episodes were i blacked out - they have checked my heart and found no issues although they have installed a revel stick incase i have an intermittent fault - about 4 months ago i was unable to sleep - kept waking up with a panic like feeling (anxiety) all hot and short of breath and i had pains in my chest. I was advised to go to A&E and they diagnosed a Hiatus Hernia and was put on Omepezrole. Being overweight and a smoker in my 40's i decided to change me life style - allthough still overweight i have lost about 2 stone and stopped smoking BUT i still get nights were i wake up in a panic state no matter how much i try to ignore it and go back to sleep i get the same feelings - short of breath feeling hot and a wave of panic like symptoms - Im the most laid back stress free person you could meet and use to love sleep time - Now ive got to the point were i dread going to bed incase i'm awake all night - The pains in the chest and the huge lump i can deal with.Luckily i have private health care through my work and have started the ball rolling and will see a consaultant next week in the hope to have an operation and get my life back. Any else get this symptoms ?

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • gail40055
    gail40055 mikey69

    Posted

    Hi Mikey, I'e never blacked out in my life but had episodes of waking up with a panic like feelng and short of breath.  In fact I once woke up and wasn't breathing at all!  Very frightening.  I was overwieight (5ft 2 and over 15 stone is not a good combination).  Many a night in Spring and Summer last year I had to sleep sat up as my breathing problems were worse if I didn't.  I've lost over 3 stone and have only had to sleep sat up once this year, but still have the waking up in a panic thing somtimes.  I think losing the weight has helped the worst of my breathing problems but it certainly hasn't taken them away.  I can still tell that every breath is shorter than it should be.  Mine is down to having bulk acid and bile.  I think it's mainly the bile that's the problem as I'v been on Omeprazole for years.  Like you, I've gone down the private route.
    • mikey69
      mikey69 gail40055

      Posted

      Hi Gail

      Thanks for your response - being able to share symptoms with a fellow sufferer is already a great help Im not the kind of person to moan about illness but this really has knocked me about -  Hopefully i can get back to looking foward to going to bed again without the worry i wont wake up again. Please let me know how you can on with the private care and i will do the same - Thanks again -  regards Mike

  • Merryl
    Merryl mikey69

    Posted

    Hi Mikey, I have a Hiatus hernia and wonder if my hernia is causing breathlessness. I have just come out of hospital after spending 10 day's there having tests/.scans. I have also been getting palpitations and one of the Dr's said hiatus hernia can cause this. I am having another holter monitor fitted 2 weeks time and waiting for a lung function test to find the cause of feeling breathlness. I often wake up at night feeling clammy and breathless. The breathlessness is worse than the palpitations because I get a feeling as if I cant catch my breath and feel winded. Can you describe what type of  breathing problems you are getting? I also get chest pain but I have been told my Hernia is mild.

    Let me know how you get on with the consultant.    

    • mikey69
      mikey69 Merryl

      Posted

      Hi Merryl - Firstly sorry to hear of your problem - If we as a group talk through our experiences and feelings then hopefully we can help each other get through it all. My breathing is normal when not suffering, all the attacks ive had in the last 4 months have been at night. I awake with a wave of fear and shortness of breath and a hot and clammy feeling - i have a feeling in my lower gut like when your going to be sick but know im not and of course the pains in the middle of the chest below the breastplate and the tennis ball sized lump - It doesnt seem to make any diffrence if i try sleeping sitting up - the shallow breathing is part of it but its the panic like sensation i can cope with - I end up pacing up n down the house all night - its dreadfull  especially if ive got work the next day or im looking after my little 'un. I have had to take a sleeping pill on a handfull of occaisons to force my body to sleep else risk being a zombie the next day.
    • Merryl
      Merryl mikey69

      Posted

      Hi Mikey, If you feel breathless at night only ( mine is day as well) have you heard of sleep apnoea.This happens at night and you stop breathing for a few seconds and it causes heavy snoring. It can happen in overweight people but don't know if it happens in slim people as well. I have the same feeling as you in my lower gut at times and it feels like a rush of adrenalin and it is uncomfortable.  
    • mikey69
      mikey69 Merryl

      Posted

      Hi Merryl

      I have heard of sleep apnoea used to work with a guy in london that had it but hadnt even considered it. I have worked shifts (days and nights) for the last 25 years and never seem to have problems sleeping after night shifts. i will mention it to the consultant and read up on incase. guess ive only been suffering with this a short time compared to some of the people on here. Though i have read there are 3 different types of HH , strangled HH being the worst. guss ill know more after theyve shoved a camera down my neck smile

  • mikey69
    mikey69

    Posted

    Well visited the gastro specialist suggested by my GP  - He said that the sensation im getting (the terror attacks / shallow breathing and pain in chest) is unlikely to be caused by a Hiatus - The swelling lump in my chest he thinks may be a grissily lump that had swell up - cant remember the name he gave it bu it begins with "Z" - He said i may well have a HH but as im not getting the acis pains then hes not too concerned - He thinks the terror episodes may be anxiety of possibly gall stones ? - They are running multiple blood tests and ive had an ultra sound which doesnt show any signs of Gall stones - Only a fatty liver and a small fold / mark in my bladder - Wish i could get some clear answers - I know my body and i know its not right - all i can do now is wait for results
  • Merryl
    Merryl mikey69

    Posted

    Hi mikey, did you get to the bottom of your symptoms. I have been getting severe chest pain for the last month and had to call an ambulance 2 weeks ago but heart tests/scan were normal. I am going to see a private (heart) Dr next week to see why I am getting the pain. I have had chest pain on and off for years but not the intense pain I am getting now. If the Dr says it is not my heart I will ask my local Dr if he can refer me to see a GI Dr.    
    • mikey69
      mikey69 Merryl

      Posted

      Hi Merryl - the private doctor did an ultra sound but it didn't turn anything up - I coughed up blood last week which luckily turned out to be an ulcer but the nhs were concerned I'd lost a lot of weight an have no appitite - they have done a ct scan but I'm still waiting results - been going crazy as I'm getting pains in my chest and back n neck virtually every day/ night - just want to feel normal again - hope you sort out your illness - I will update this forum if I find anything out 
    • Merryl
      Merryl mikey69

      Posted

      Hi mikey

      Sorry you are still having symptoms, they sound as bad as mine. Perhaps the CT will show something. Best of luck with the scan.

       

  • mikey69
    mikey69

    Posted

    Was admitted to hospital on sunday - Finnished nightshift saturday night and went to bed as usual - Woke up 30 minutes into sleep with pains in my chest but mainly in the centre of my back and shooting up the back of my neck , Also had sharp pains in me lower back (left side - kidney area) also had shivers and involanary shaking of the leg. Hospital treated like a heart attack but 8 hours later when they were sure it wasnt they just discharged me.

    Had my camera (endoscope) op on tuesday in the hope to finally find out whats going on - The doctor couldnt find anything - so ive had a CT scan - ultra sound - x-ray's and an endoscope - Still in pain daily and going out of my mind - One of my friends said he had 6 endoscopes before they found his hiatus - Not sure what to do next - any body else get these pains in the back /. neck - im also getting a lot on pins n needles of the hands recently ?  

    • Merryl
      Merryl mikey69

      Posted

      Hi Mikey, have you had a barium swallow, that's how they found my hiatus hernia. This scan can tell how large the hernia is as well. I had this done about 6 weeks ago and the scan showed a dismotility problem. When I had an endoscopy my hernia was'nt even mentioned but I have had it for over  20 years. I got in touch with the private Dr who did the scan to ask him about my hernia and he said it is mild, although it plays up with a lot of acid If I forget to take my meds.

      My local Dr said even small  hernia's  play up. How did you get on with the endoscopy and did they sedate you so you was asleep when they did it.

    • mikey69
      mikey69 Merryl

      Posted

      Hi Merryl  - Hope your well - Ive had a barium meal followed by CT scan but this showed up blank - I Opted to be awake during the camera scope which was horrible but id literally go through anything to find the 100% cause of my pain. So many people i know have got a hernia but my pains are daily / nightly and for upto 20 hours out of the day (at different pain levels) - It really got to me on sunday and despite being very hard (on the outside) was reduced to a blubbering mess. The Ometprazol doesnt seem to make a difference - Hospital said to stop taking asprin or ibuprofin - so im living on paracetamol's which ease it sometimes. Dont think i can live like this for 20 years - assuming i have got a hernia. 
    • Merryl
      Merryl mikey69

      Posted

      Hi, I was told not to take ibuprofin because of my hernia. I only took it once and it caused chest pain going through to my back and the Dr said the ibuprofin caused it. I only use paracetamol now.

      When I had the endoscopy I was heavily sedated. I paid to have it done privately and I told the Dr I don't want to be awake when you put the camera down. He also sprayed my throat and injected me with pain killers not to feel any pain after I woke up. I did'nt feel anything and woke up 40 minutes later but was dopey all day. I did'nt mind that at all. I have always dreaded having that done, I think it is the worse scan ever.

      If it's not a hernia, I don't know what it is, hope you find out soon.

  • mikey69
    mikey69

    Posted

    So the NHS Hospital think its GORD - The Private doctors still havent diagnosed anything yet but couldnt find a hernia - Not surprised the 4 hours i was there to have a camera down my throat (which took 10 minutes tops and no anesthetic) cost £800 - Was in bits again last night got to sleep finally at 04:00 up at 06:00 for work. Spoke to doctors to see if theres anything else i can take other than omepreztol - they suggested gavaston (have to wait an hour if taken omepretzol).

    Will see how it goes - thankfully had nearly two weeks pain free but its come back last 2 days 

    • Merryl
      Merryl mikey69

      Posted

      Hi Mikey, Gaviscon don't work for me, it only lasts about an hour. Lansoprazole stops the acid and works for 24 hours sometimes longer. Perhaps your Hernia is small and does'nt show up on the scans. Like I said in my reply above, the Dr's never mentioned my hernia after I had the Barium swallow and the camera. I had to ask them about it and was told it was mild, but it seems to be more than mild to me. It is very frustrating when they can't find the cause.

      I have read that an ordinary chest x ray can pick up an hiatus hernia.  

      I paid a lot more than £800 to have the endoscopy plus the consultation fee on top of that. Hope you find the cause soon.   

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