Hiatus Hernia

They determined you had a hiatus hernia from the endoscopy right then and there or you had to wait a couple weeks for the results to find that out?

Yes that's completely normal. I also have a 1cm sliding hiatus hernia. Although it shouldn't matter how big or small it is.... Talk to a surgeon......

Is the tightness in your upper chest or below your breastbone/sternum? I have pressure below my sternum and It feels like trapped air. I have had two endoscopies in the last few months and they didn’t find a hiatal hernia but sometimes I wonder if it could have been missed.

You need to Google esophageal motility test. Yes I have a 1cm sliding hiatus hernia. It causes me all sorts of pain. Chest, back , painful swallowing , sternum.... You need the motility test and the pH study done before you find out whether surgery is the best option or not. Do your research and get hold of a GI surgeon.

Same here, but no hernia,wind pipe hurts, burns, sign of acid reflux? Green, brown mucous coming up, especially in the morning, throat very dry! 2,3 years now, you'll be lucky if you get the operation on the NHS. 

Hi Mary,

I'm going to assume you're in the UK.

I'm afraid you're not going to get anywhere, and you're going to be left in limbo by doctors, unless you push for the next step, a motility test to check the valve.

Even tiny hernia sliding in and out of the chest can cause GERD and also massive chest/back/shoulder discomfort. They are really played down and ignored by medics and shouldn't be. 

I have a small hiatus hernia but it could well be causing my GERD/LPR symptoms since January this year. I also have non stop chest discomfort with it, and a sore throat.

But unless you make the appointments and state your case, in your case several years of chest discomfort, conventional medicine will do s0d all about it. 

Once you get your motility test and the valve checked, you'll be able to look at surgery options if ou feel you want an end to the pain and don't want to be on medication for life. Otherwise, it's medication for life. And these PPIs are not for everyone. They slap everyone on PPIs without even looking into what is causing gastro problems in many cases. 

So go armed with what you want to the docs. If your pain is getting too much or going on for too long, despite diet/lifestyle changes, and if you express you do not want to be taking drugs for life, then you are entitled to ask for further testing and surgery if needs be, should you desire it. A loose valve and small heria (below 2-3m) can be dealth with via Stretta or Linx procedures and even I suspect a Fundo if you fit other criteria like bringing up a lot of acid or there is acid damage. 

In the meantime look up Pam Fox Wonder Vegan on YouTube who has lots of videos on how she (claims) to have cured her own hiatus hernia with breathing and gentle kneading exercise of the stomach area. She comes across as a lovely lady who speaks reassuringly that there are things you can do to get your hernia to drop and strengthen the diaphragm through breathing techniques. 

I've been diaphragm breathing for months now and my symptoms have reduced greatly. I was spitting up froth like I had rabies back in March and in constant agony in my chest. It's not perfect but it has vastly improved since. Good luck.