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Hiatus Hernia - Breathing Problems.

Posted , 113 users are following.

guyofchelt
guyofchelt

A few years ago after an Endoscopy I was diagnosed with a small sliding Hiatus Hernia which I have treated with Omeprezole. Recently I have been encountering some breathing difficulties combined with a staggering amount of reflux and despite doubling to 40mg of Omeprezole the reflux and breathing problems continue. I have just had a further Endoscopy which revealed the same Hiatus Hernia and lots of reflux. I am fairly certain that the Hiatus Hernia/Reflux is responsible for my Breathing problems, but doctors seem to disagree although they can not tell me what is causing it.

I have seen a few similar postings to mine, can not sleep, wake up all sweaty, panicy, can not breathe, but no where can I see where a resolution was arrived at?

So, could the breathing problems be down to the Hiatus Hernia and if so how was the problem resolved.

Grateful for any advice.

Regards

Guy Greening.

4 likes, 199 replies

199 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Lizzie B A Hiatus Hernia can effect breathing when it's impinging on the Lung / s, and I've read on Patient UK in the past that it's not out of the question that the Hernia can actually become adhered (stuck) to the lungs smile The only way to fix this is an op neutral
  • drag0nfly
    drag0nfly

    Posted

    My mother was diagnosed 7 years ago with a Hiatus Hernia that was of no concern. Over the last several years she had complained of breathing problems and it got to the stage she was completely out of breath just going from the kitchen to the front door.

    After seeing all sorts of specialists, e.g. cardiologists etc. she had a pacemaker fitted and other procedures, all were meant to fix the problem. After her last procedure she complained she was still out of breath and was told that she was probably unfit and could lose some weight. In the end after her doctor requested more tests she was finally diagnosed with a severe hiatus hernia where the complete stomach had moved into the chest cavity. Any further progression and it would become inoperable.

    During surgery it was also found that part of her intestine had also moved through the diaphragm. The surgery seemed to go well, however her health declined rapidly and it was found that her oesophagus had ruptured, requiring more surgery. She spent over 6 weeks in hospital due to complications, mainly around the inability of the wounds to heal. She eventually passed away. If you are not confident of what you are told, please get second opinions before it is too late. Love you forever mum.

  • nicola56800
    nicola56800

    Posted

    I have a Hiatus Hernia, have been told it's now 8cm, after ten or more years with many different tablets I am going through the final stages before an operation, I have to have a manomatory test next week. I have

    experienced constricted throat, feeling unable to swallow/food getting stuck, feeling sick, unable to catch breath and projectile vomiting. I have chest pain but the acid is reduced now due to the amount of medication I'm now on, three lots of tablets per day plus domperidone which I understand helps digest food

    quicker, I also use gaviscon. I am desperate to have the op, but have been told that it may require further ops in the future ie every five years, and that I will have difficulty burping resulting in flatulence, which will

    probably be permanent. I feel I no longer have the option but to proceed with the op if the surgeon is

    happy with the manomatory test results, have been waiting this round of appointments since Oct 2012

    when it flared up horribly, strangely bananas started it off. Gp's don't always take notice I have in the past been told that its stress, ha ha don't see how a 8cm hole is stress.

    • lesley00876
      lesley00876 nicola56800

      Posted

      Hi

      Did you have the op? How was it and did it help ? i am having it next week,

      Hope you are better

  • Otep
    Otep

    Posted

    Hi I am a 30 year old male and I also suffer from Hiatus hernia, acid reflux. I have had very bad acid reflux for approx 7 years, so since I was 23. No matter what I ate, drank etc etc would not stop it. Randomly one day I started having to clear my throat a lot and put it down to the acid having burnt my throat, that's when I went to the doctor and I am now on x2 omeprazole every day (morning & evening). It was a godsend and stopped the worse of my reflux, but I still did get it sometimes, especially during the evening while asleep (that was when it burned the most even when on omeprazole).

    8 months ago I started getting strange sensations just below my sternum, where my stomach opening would be. A few pains, a few weird sensations but nothing major, I just knew something wasn't quite right. That's when I got the cam down my throat and they said I had a Hiatus hernia.

    Fast forward to just a few weeks ago and out of the blue I have started having breathing issues (constant strange feeling when breathing normally like I am not getting quite enough oxygen) and breathlessness just going up stairs or something. Now bear in mind these symptoms started literally overnight and I have never ever had anything like this happen before or any related condition. Some days it doesn't feel quite as noticeable but I also suffer from anxiety so it makes it worse when I get to worrying/focusing on the symptoms etc. Hiatus hernia's & acid reflux really can cause so many issues and symptoms and often very suddenly.

    Just sharing my story and I know what it feels like. For me I know it has led to me getting anxiety and mild depression, just from the constant onslaught of burning acid and what it has done to my insides and the constant symptoms that arise from long term suffering from it all.

    Symptoms I do NOT suffer from are coughing (I barely ever cough, even when I have a cold or something of the like), sore throat, chest pain(severe or otherwise), vomiting,

    weakness.

    • nyulou
      nyulou Otep

      Posted

      Hey Otep! I seem to be having nearly identical symptoms - Im a 27 year old male, with the same strange feelings / tightness around the sternum. I also have had breathing issues. Can you let me know if you've found anything that helps? Thanks a million,

      Lou

    • papote53
      papote53 Otep

      Posted

      Yes, it could be reflux and the hernia.  Have you done an endoscopy?  If is the hernia, special chiro can help. Make sure he has experience doing this. 
    • DerekAbr
      DerekAbr papote53

      Posted

      I was told I had a small hiatus hernia in my early 20s.  I am now 89.  I have suffered shortage of breath quite often over the years but did not make the connection until lately. I forgot about the old diagnosis.  It has been happening more frequently lately, associated with what felt like an over-full stomach and some reflux.  It is sometimes quite painful.  If I don't eat for an hour or two the symptoms go away.  I must be one of the lucky ones.

      Regards

      Derek Abrahams

    • michelle68765
      michelle68765 davender75076

      Posted

      Is thIs true? Im terrified. Im a single mum of twins. I cant breath nd laid up most of the time can they really help. Nothing works properly for me so far
  • Otep
    Otep

    Posted

    Oh btw Nicola, strangely bananas do it to me also lol. Including anything with high volumes of artificial colourings.

    Spicy foods and hot foods don't affect it. It just shows how it can vary from person to person right?.

  • liketoknow
    liketoknow

    Posted

    Hello, Thank you all for sharing your struggles with hiatal hernia. Could you please describe the kind of pain and exact location? I have an hh too with pain in my left-center back, left side near and under left breast and sometimes near and under sternum. I'm trying to figure out if this pain could be from hernia and GERD. Have had GERD for years and experiencing breathing problems too. It really does interfere with living!
    • paula84839
      paula84839 liketoknow

      Posted

      Your pain sounds a lot like hiatus hernia. GERD produces more of a burning sensation in your chest. I have the pain you describe with my hernia, plus I was getting a lot of muscle pain around my shoulder blades, and extreme sensitivity to cold on my back, had to warm my clothes before putting them on or the muscles would immediately cramp.  Thought it was some sort of arthritis. But the PPI medication has helped a lot with hernia symptoms, and almost completely relieved the back muscle cramping problem.  Apparently the oesophagus is near the Vagus nerve which gets irritated and then causes the wandering muscle pains in the back and shoulders.
  • nicola56800
    nicola56800

    Posted

    Liketoknow, my pain is in middle of chest, around chest in a band and in back, sometimes my shoulders

    hurt, have spent many a night on the sofa propped up and taking pain killers, additional trouble is that I

    all so have IBS which I've been told is very common with a HH, so foods that help IBS upset my HH. All in all a bloated pain filled existence, no wonder so many of us suffer with depression. But we must be positive, change our diets to suit our own circumstances, take the medication offered and have it changed if it isn't effective and keep visiting Gp so they know what is happening if a referral is needed, it seems to take ages to get to see the surgeon as it has to be quite bad to get to this stage. I also have trouble with my

    teeth and gums due to the acid, but don't get projectile vomiting any longer, and ensure I avoid quash

    with orange in, fruit juices, tomatoes etc etc.....

  • liketoknow
    liketoknow

    Posted

    Thanks Nicola for letting me know where your pain is. Does it travel around or is it in all those places all at once? Pain on my left rib area is bad and constant, but pain near sternum and back is come and go. It's really bad most of the time. I've been told to see a pain specialist. Liketoknow

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