Hiatus Hernia - Breathing Problems.

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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

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  • Posted

    I had An Endoscopy 3 years ago which revilved a petic stomach ucler. I was complaining about the chest pain just below my left nipple for years before they got round to it. Which was after a Dr in Poland said ive got an stomach ucler. Now I also feel the tightness of the chest, lack of breath, and even chest pains tight thoat etc.

    First of of all my GP's told me its reflux other known as (GORD) gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. I am on the same sort of meds as yoursevles, for this crap. The main reason your GP won't be in a rush to get you in for an operation is the fact it costs far more  for the NHS then it costs these silly meds which costs around £5 odd for a working class patient or basically someone who isn't on DWP. This cost is only parial of the real cost, again its still cheaper for the NHS to pay towards it or for it, during the course of your life instead of paying for an operation.

    Anyway my GP decided now to put it down to anxiety, I said well I don't know anyone who wouldn't be anxolish while their forver getting chest pains. which is even directly affecting the persons quality of life. My GP agreed but still remains to say its just some panic attack and GORD. But still made a routine appointment for me to see a cardiologist, which doesn't make much sense to me, since they've never done it over the past 15 years of my hardship. I am now 34 and personally am not sure any way other than the operation to get it sorted, although the dr isn't really wanting to check for a herina.

    Thought i'll share bit about mine as I can certinally appreciate what anyone is going through. Good luck theaders, hopefully more of us will  get it sorted and put behind us.

     

    • Posted

      Your doctor sounds like an a hole or you are just not very convincing. I had burning in my chest and shortness of breathe and the first thing my doctor wanted for me was an ultra sound to diagnose he hernia, then months later when im still having breathing problems i just got an xray for my diaphram and hernia as well which im going back to soon.  

      Any way James two things, do you wear a mouth guard for any sports or a retainer to bed for your teeth? And or ever used a cpap machine? Those two things messed my chest up is all i can say

    • Posted

      Liam

      I am 70 years of age and was sent to papworth on 30th June this year; I have had repeat Lung Function and Walking Tests done and prescribed Lasoprazole for the apparent Hiatus Hernia and I have a follow-up appointment at papworth in October.

      However, while it may seem the medication I take is very light compared to others; I have categorically stated I will NOT have a Lung Biopsy or a tube down my throat and my body is as whole today as the day I was born.

      My purpose for coming on this site was to see how others were coping with an IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) and if complicated by this H.H. However, it seems all people talk about is their Hiatus Hernia and abnormal sleep patterns.

      Perhaps my condition will worsen with time but until then I shall continue to eat and drink what I want and like as I never suffer from heartburn, reflux or any other associated conditions. Perhaps I am lucky - so time will tell.

      Richard Banks

  • Posted

    Hi Guy

    Sorry, but I cannot add anything more to the information I have previously given you.

    I have an IPF which may be attributed to a Hiatus Hernia - I don't have breathing problems at night as long as I sleep with the window open quite wide?

    I take frequent holidays in Scotland where the air I breathe is purier and I find does help - apart from medication of Lansoprazole, I have been prescribed nothing else.

    My body is as whole today as the day I was born SO will not have a Lung Biopsy; Endoscopy or any other form of Internal medical test.

    Life is for living and I try and pursue an active lifestyle; not thinking of my medical problems.

    Kind regards

    Richard Banks

  • Posted

    Wow, I've been trying to convince my Doctor for the past 2 years, that my breathing problems were linked with my Hiatus Hernia, but because I had an inhaler a few times when I was 13 now suddenly at 35 I've spontanueslouy started having bad asthma around the same time a Hiatus Hernia is diagnosed.
  • Posted

    I'm somewhat out of date on this by 9months but I too have the awfull breathing problems as a result of sliding hiatus hernia. 

    My hernia diagnosed in my twenties didn't really used to bother me much,little reflux etc just discomfort ,bloating and odd reflux if fatty food consumed.

    ive tried everything known to man to control the breathing problem.

    noticed though that if I have gas it starts wheezing feeling of fullness in the chest like your have a coronary very scary stuff '!!!

    ive noticed when the wind shifts I can breath again no wheezing crackling sounds at night .

    my doc prescribed Zantac but quite frankly not much good beware to you don't need to get reflux for the breathing prob to start I hardly ever get acid.

    i do feel like I've benn kicked in the ribs and back on the side of the hernia and it gets scary soon as the wind moves bingo, no pain , no wheezing so it is related I have accupuncture now and it really helps to calm down the gut prob, constipation dioreah etc. it gets so frightening you think you have something seriously wrong with your lungs/heart had all the tests fine so take heart try not to get stressed that really does it for me good luck guys give accupuncture a try it really does work good luck all of you.

     

  • Posted

    Hi to everyone suffering with these awful symptoms from your Hiatal Hernias/GERD. I am so glad to find this site and now know that I am not the only one suffering with these conditions.

    I too was diagnosed with a Hiatal Hernia in March of 2013 with GERD which brought on anxiety and depression. I am suffering with many of the same symptoms that most of you are suffering from and I've had many, many tests ran on my lungs/diaphragm/heart and all is fine in those areas, no heart disease, cancer or the like.

    I have been doing a lot of reading and talking to my GP along with a Respirologist and two general surgeons here in Kitchener, Ontario Canada and this is what I have found is working for me.

    First of all, I had to change the way I have been eating, as in, avoiding certain foods that affect/increase the symptoms of GERD/hernia, which still is a hard thing to do, I love to eat. Also I have drastically reduced the food intake at meal times and eat 4 to 6 times a day. I also don't eat anything 3-4 hours before bed although I do have a drink within that time like decaffeinated coffee or water and doesn't bother me.

    I do sleep on an incline to keep my head elevated so the acid doesn't travel up my esophagus, this allows me to get an acceptable amount of sleep for me to function(4-6 hrs).

    I have been told that the bloating or feeling full that I am experienceing late in the day may be caused by food not digesting at a rate necessary and medication has been prescribed to aid this. Perhaps this is a result of the Dexelant I am taking, I don't know and I will ask this next time I see my GP.

    I have also been told that being overweight is a problem with the hernia as well as there will be pressure on the abdomen thus putting pressure on the stomach which can force it up into the chest cavity, which makes sense.

    The medications I am currently taking are Dexilant-60mg once a day(this seems to be working less everyday and will more than likely need to be changed), I have only been on this medication for approximately 4 weeks. Metonia-10mg to aid in getting the food to leave the stomach a bit quicker(just started this yesterday) and Misoprostol-200mcg which give me relief from stomach upset. Gaviscon, liquid when I am home and tabs when I am out.

    I find so far that the thing that has made the most difference is eating more frequently and less at each meal. The amounts to eat and frequency you will have to figure out yourselves, it's still a challenge for me.

    If I can answer any questions I will.

  • Posted

    Have exaxtly the same problem and same small hiatal hernia. Do be careful what yoy est. i have gone off all dairy and have rice milk. No onions, garlic fatty foods and salad vegs can also be a problem. best see agood dietician and get help fro him. I was going well until i had curry yesterday and also coffe is acidic and cut out sugars as well until you get it settlednd then reintroduceone thing at a time snd see the reaction. If after 3 days you have no symptoms continue with that and then add another food that you haddeletedfrom your diet. it is a very had thing to get settled because not all people are intolerant to the same foods.. Hope this is of help. Would like a reply to see that youy actually get this posting.

     

  • Posted

    Hi Everybody

    Feel for all experiencing these rubbish symptoms really do effect us all day in day out. 

    Feels liek i spend far too much time researching symptoms and worrying about whats wrong with me but find it hard to ignore. I am 34 yo Male and my pains started as far back as i can remember and as a student drinking heavily in 2000 i remeber requiring to take a lot of zantacs (ranatadine) to stop the gnawing sensation in the middle of my stomach. Admittedly my diet has never been the healthiest but certainly no different to many of my friends. around 2 and half years ago i suffered a bleeding ucler which was treated via endoscopy and then put on x2 20mg omeperazole.

    Still taking the omeperazole however also going to try and reduce slowly. My symptoms since the endoscopy have changed to include severe low down belching, lots of bloating, tight throat that feels strained if i talk to long, watery mouth and the most annoying is a faily constant muscle type pain, sometimes a tingle sometimes a dull ache always close to my left shoulder blade area usually beneath. It tends to ease when i lie down definitly worse when sitting at a desk. 

    Doctors continue to think its nerves or muscular but i feel a connection with gerd. Could the endoscopic procedure create or make a HH worse.

    I only get heartburn or indesgtion occasionaly making me think i have silent rflux but when i do get indegestion it hurts bad and travels to my jaw.

    p.s i also have suffered with health anxiety issues and had heart ecg check after getting starnge stomach lurches or quick spasm in esophegas that makes my heart flutter used to freak me out but learnign to ignore them.

    sorry to go on but feels good to share experience as unless you have any of the above people dont tend to understand the concern it causes  

  • Posted

    I have delt with my hernis for many years. I am 67 now and had test again, it is a very large sliding hernia. Drs seem to think it has nothing to do with my breathing. I know better. Had heart test, lung test, tubes down my throat etc. Said it is a  hernia wow. I told them that. Well I got the flu then bronchitis or something and could not walk to get a drink or to the bathroom a few feet from my bed. (Been in bed since Christmas Eve over 3 weeks) My upper stomach got very hard( has for sometime now, when can't breath or after I eat) I have to sit down quickly or pass out, have to stay in bed or sitting so I can breath without smothering. My dr GP said if it bothers me the hernia we will remove or fix it. Well going to dr Tues and telling them lets do it. The feeling of smothering is so bad. Can eat good stuff. Yogurt, sherbet, soups etc. Cant swallow. Reading yalls comments I have come to the decision to have it fixed and see if that takes care of my problem. Mine felt good  a few days after the scope down my throat too. But came back. The breathing has just been bad real bad this past year, I have had pain and other problems with the hernia for 30 yrs or more. Throw up, can't drink or eat well My heart has skipped beats for these years too and raced but no heart problems. All hernia I will say. Thanks for all comments
    • Posted

      I have see an internist here in Canada, she said the other day there is no doubt a hiatal hernia causes not only breathing difficulites due to back up of acid leaking back into the throat and lungs but also heart palpitations and even afib.. so that was encouraging, better than having a bad heart, however having the hernia is really challenging in getting rid of it without surgery, losing weight sometimes won't work, but I am giving it everything I have to try and will post here when my weight goes down to see if there are any changes in the heart palps and breathing problems.  Good luck everyone!  
    • Posted

      It does affect our breathing because Gerd keeps coming up I am geting a scope shoved down my throat and I am looking into the Linx system .wish me luck I can't live like this much longer 
  • Posted

    I am having the same problem I am looking into a operation call the Linx system if I am a  candidate for the procedure .check it out I am praying I can get this done 

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