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Hiatus Hernia and Palpitations

Posted , 122 users are following.

crazymama
crazymama

I have been diagnosed with a hiatus hernia but have had lots of problems with palpitations recently, i also sometimes get a cold shivery feeling some nights as if i am going down with flu, i have suffered from really bad acidity over the last 10 years, i have had three endoscopy's and it was on the last one that i was diagnosed with a hernia, i also get bad chest pain along the sternum and a bad pain where my ribs meet in the middle, it's so depressing, does anybody else suffer from palpitations etc?

9 likes, 160 replies

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  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    i need help im so fustrated its untrue have severe pain all the time right rib cage and feel like ive got a lump in my throat everynight it drives me crazy had barium swallow and endoscoppy found small hitas hernia all medication ive been given does nothing at all everything i eat or drink causes me pain ive had it 2 and a half yrs now i think i need an opp
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with a Hiatus hernia and Barretts disease this week after i was sent for an endoscope.I have suffered for years with heartburn and palpitations,i was on ranitadine for a long time but they stopped working for me.I am now on Omeprazole which keep the heartburn at bay but not the pain and palpitations.

    You have my sympathy.

  • Gemini
    Gemini

    Edited

    I to have a hiatus hernia and Barrett's and I am on Omeprazole. I have never been aware of acid reflux only on odd occasions but do have the chest pain. I had my gallbladder out 4 weeks ago as they found loads of stones and the gallbladder had thickened. I was told I would feel much better. (I had lost 3½ stones and was unable to eat). Alas the chest pain is back even though I am still on a low fat diet and I don't feel as good as I had hoped. Having my check up tonight after op so hopefully someone can tell me what to do next. I look about 90 and it is so depressing. At least when I was so overweight I didn't look my age! (62)
    • Lolasmom
      Lolasmom Gemini

      Posted

      Hi there,

      Just wondering how you are doing now. 

  • Guest
    Guest

    Edited

    I was diagnosed with an hh 10 years ago and since then it's been kept in check with esomeprazole 20mg. Had another endo. done in December with seemingly nothing worse to report but over the last 6-8 weeks things have got a lot worse especially with palpitations and skipped heart beats. I'm now off work and so freaked by it that Im on paroxetine for anxiety and something else to calm me down. Specialist moved me up to 80 mg of esomprazole for a week but it's doing nothing. It's now affected my mental state so badly that I've started to suffer from depression. Had a CT scan of my chest done on Thursday and seeing him with the results on Wednesday this week where I'm going to ask him about surgery as I believe that the hernia is responsible for these cardiac arrhythmias that scare me to bits.

    Anybody else experienced these frightening symptoms as at the moment I can't see how I'm going to return to work again...

    • Loretta50
      Loretta50 Guest

      Posted

      I just wanted to know how everything is going for you now...since this posted 4 years ago? I am suffering currently from the same diagnosis and on the same medication you have listed in your article. I have become depressed and feel like I am going to die soon because of these attacks with palpations so bad that the EMT's are getting called on a regular basis to my house. I am also suffering with menopause as well and turning 50 this august. Let me know how you got relief, if any?

      Thanks,

      Lo

    • ssmith88
      ssmith88 Guest

      Posted

      I understand entirely! I am in exactly the same situation however just waiting to see the cardiologist! I take lanzoprasole and have paroxatine for anxiety. It is so terrifying when the palputations occur, I've had 7 day ecg monitor to which ectopics were recorded without arythmia which is reassuring.

      I asked my gp's opinion on hiatus hernia and palpitations being linked and was told it's highly unlikely however that's the same surgery that dismissed a family members brain harmorhage down to a migraine!

      Hang in there as we can all get through this together.

    • sean92481
      sean92481 ssmith88

      Edited

      I have had bouts of palpitations all my life, and bad heart burn and occasional pains at the top of my stomach which i know are wind. A few years ago i had a Barium meal X ray, and since that, an endoscopy, and was diagnosed with a Hiatus Hernia. I still take palpititions now as well and have had two ECGs which were clear, BP tests which were normal, and stethoscope also normal. I wore a monitor for 48 hours; results normal. I am convinced that the palpitations are connected to my hiatus hernia,they seem to come with certain postures, and after meals etc, never when i am active. My GP will not agree. My health otherwise is good. I recently read of a hiatus hernia affecting the Vagus nerve which in turn can cause palpitations. It is good to see the comments from other sufferers.
    • lizzieozkiwi
      lizzieozkiwi sean92481

      Edited

      Ah, you sound exactly like me. My doctor also does not recognise that my palps or occasional SVT could be caused by my sliding hiatus hernia. It's extremely frustrating because this appears to be a fairly common condition so I can't understand why the medical fraternity generally are not connecting the dots. A lot of us who suffer this issue also have IBS or other digestive problems, and I can't help thinking that the combination of all our otherwise minor digestive issues must be either tickling the vagus response, or sending gas up into the oesophagus and irritating our hearts. Food for thought, um - perhaps not too much food lol....Personally, I've cut out so much interesting food to try and reduce my palps that my diet is the most boring imaginable. No booze, no red meat, seldom any cream, no bread - there's not much left to eat. I should be as thin as a rake! ha, no such luck! BUT, eating boring for me seems to work and keeps my symptons at a manageable level. Lizzie
    • Cass73
      Cass73 sean92481

      Posted

      I think u cOld be right about the vagus nerve and palps.  Still looking for a diagnosis with costrochondritis and then lg HH found.  Was small before.  Fainted a couple of times at work some years ago and medics came and took me to hispital.  Recall ones aid looks like a vagus nerve could be in play here.  Must remember to tell my doc.  thanks.
    • burtroad
      burtroad Guest

      Posted

      What did you find out about your condition? I'm having serious heart palpitations when I lie down at night and I'm wondering if I have a hiatal hernia.
    • kimberly84056
      kimberly84056 Guest

      Edited

      OMG!!!! Finally I've found someone who has the exact symptoms I am suffering from within this Hiatal Hernia!!! Sometimes severe palpitations to the point of feeling like passing out!!! Very scary!!! Doctors seem to have this "ho-hum" attitude about it and think that it's due to anxiety! Bull crap!! My friend who researches everything told me to juice 16 oz. of carrot/spinach juice daily and at another time during the day (closer to evening) drink 16 oz. of carrot juice straight. Believe it or not and much to my surprise these juices stop the palpitations almost immediately! I was desperate so I was willing to try anything to stop these God awful palpitations. I have not suffered from acid reflux or any of the other symptoms that go along with this HH because I eat small meals throughout the day. I avoid all foods that would cause any kind of flare ups!! I'm thinking that I want to look into the surgical procedure to close up the opening of this HH. Anybody actually have the surgery??
    • kimberly84056
      kimberly84056 lizzieozkiwi

      Posted

      Everything that you have stated is true in my case. My eating now is only to survive. No fun eating fun foods anymore. I eat very small meals throughout the day and I am skinny as a rail although it has helped me a great deal. Hooooo hummmm....

      I guess we have to deal with this thing as the new norm.... We need a cure for this demon!!!!!!!!

    • wdtony
      wdtony lizzieozkiwi

      Edited

      Doctors do not believe that gastro issues could irritate the vagus nerve and cause palpitations. But in my case this is exactly what is happening. I get bad palpitations when I eat too much, but also when I lie in certain positions or sit in certain positions. I can actually make the palpitations happen and get worse by moving to a specific position. It feels as if something is loose in my chest and is moving around. I get PVC, PAC, PAT, PSVT and A-fib. Scary stuff. 

      Why doctors are so reluctant to believe large quantities of anecdotal evidence makes me wonder if they aren't trained in medical school to disregard any patient's thoughts or the internet altogether.

      Physiologically it just makes sense that pressure on the vagus nerve could cause palpitations. But just returning from the GI doc, she said she has never heard of that before and that it's impossible. Doctors are sometimes not afraid to show their complete ignorance in their own field. So I just paid 400 dollars to someone who knows less about the human body than I do. 

    • lisa58878
      lisa58878 Loretta50

      Posted

      Hello. I was recently diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and have similar symptoms. I feel like I am losing my mind. I also recently turned turned 50 and it stinks to feel this way all the time! Have you found any relief?
    • cheryl20034
      cheryl20034 wdtony

      Posted

      I feel your pain. I experienced such severe heart palps I went to the ER and was told by the doctor, I refer to as Dr. Suess, since he flat out said your high bp (195/130) which is normally 117/68, and heart palps were caused by me BRAIDING my long hair!! I filed a complaint with the hospital. I suggest you talk firmly with your doctor and ask her to show you where it is stated in any medical journal that the vagus nerve and hernias are not related. I have found a doctor willing to send me to a surgeon. We will see where this goes. Never feel bad for doing research and showing it to your doctor. Be proactive not passive. They are only human.
    • jasonhaslpr
      jasonhaslpr Guest

      Edited

      I'm having the exact symptoms, palpatations every minute.  Have you found a solution???  I can't work, sleep or eat and wondering if it will ever get better!!!

    • Lolasmom
      Lolasmom Loretta50

      Posted

      Hi Loretta,

      Just wondering how you are doing now. Did you find out what was wrong?

    • HHsuffer
      HHsuffer Guest

      Posted

      Hope your getting better. This is a life controling problem. For me.i did antacids it helped but back to square one again.heart palps go with this hh. Night time is bad. Pain ect.look up dr williams hh excersize. It really helps.
    • Gatvol
      Gatvol kimberly84056

      Posted

      Hi Kimberly

      Interesting post about the vegie and carrot juice. I'm at my wits end with these hernia/palpitation symptoms & prepared to try anything at this stage!

    • rabiya27671
      rabiya27671 Guest

      Posted

      how are you doing now?? i too have a hiatal hernia
    • curt37576
      curt37576 wdtony

      Posted

      Omg ! Your first paragraph is ME ! I also have Hashimotos Syndrome ot hypothyroidism diagnosed 12 years ago and docs thought that was what has been causing the palpitations. I’ve been thru every test but never for a hiatus hernia. I can’t really exercise much and I struggled thry

      u my last few years of military service to reach 26 years and retire before I really wanted too. The palpitations are bad.

    • justin85861
      justin85861 Guest

      Posted

      Im the same, had HH for around 12 years now and found out last year the hole has become wider. after having skipped heart beats and palpitations continually for 4 days now considering the operation. its so depressing frightening and tiring like youve found out. did the specialist say the HH caused this and did he recommend the surgery?? hope you now feel better and has these symptoms now stopped and if so how long did that take?? thank you

    • jesse02529
      jesse02529 justin85861

      Posted

      how often were you palpitations?....one right after another? or were they just here and there?.....

    • stefan87
      stefan87 Guest

      Posted

      hi!

      i have the same problems like you...i want to ask you if you fix it this problem and how?

      tk you!

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