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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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  • emlou487
    emlou487 guyofchelt

    Posted

    I would also like some answers Guy.

    I was diagnosed with a rolling hernia in March after an endoscopy,only to be told after a barium test in April it was not a hernia!

    I am sure it is and am still waiting for a follow up appointment at the hospital (thats th NHS for you)!

    Since this I have been experiencing difficulties breathing,especially being able to take a deep intake of breath!This ahs lead to me not being able to get my breath at all and then having major panic attacks,I even ended up in A&E!

    I would just like to know what is causing it and if there is anything that can be done?

    • wanda39848
      wanda39848 emlou487

      Posted

      I have exactly the same problem. Have been told that I havw Irritable bowel. I was diagnosed with H.pylori and was treated for that. Still in sio much pain and tomorrow I get the results of a 2nd H.pylori test to see that it has all been eradicated. It can leave gastritis which is inflamation of the stomach lining. The pain goes all up my spine and lower back. Cuases bowel problems too. I have had mine for so many years I cannot count. Hope you can get some more information. Do not let them talk you into an op for Hiatal hernia as it wontt help on little bit.
    • wanda39848
      wanda39848

      Posted

      Just reading some of the other comments. I had a vomiting attack at 3pm one morning and went to the dr the following day, only to be told that i had had a heart attack. Was transferred by air ambulance to Sydney (Australia) to have stens put in. I too used to get heart palputations and was told that Irritable bowel can cause heart attacks or even strokes. My youn sister had the same but took 2 strokes. One has to find a very good GI orr Dr to investigate properly what is going on. Unfortunately one gets put on a roller coaster. Go get this X-ray, go get this test and it goes round and round
  • wz1069
    wz1069 guyofchelt

    Posted

    Dear Guy,

    I have been taking esomeprazole, which is stronger than omeprazole for over 3years, and during the past year I've had constant shortness of breath. After much research I found out that it's not my ulcers that are causing me shortness of breath, it's the omeprazole. One of the side effects of omeprazole is B12 deficiency, which means you become anaemic and don't have enough blood to carry oxygen into your lungs. Therefore, I advise you to take 2pills of 500mg of B12 and within a week you should be feeling better... If not, go to your GP to fix your issue.

    My very best wishes,

    Wz

  • bobsnow
    bobsnow guyofchelt

    Posted

    Same problem here. Hiatal hernia and reflux. Breathing problems, if the reflux gets worse. The feeling to get not sufficient O2 while breathing, which causes severe sleeping problems. As some here suggested, i would also recommend to try Gaviscon. And also watch your calciumintake. Calcium needs a large portion acid and the stomach produces acid, but sometimes not intense enough. So try to have your calciumintake early, at least till lunch. If you dont digest calcium very well, maybe because of unsufficiend acid production, you can try hcl betain, but not 6 hours before going to bed( and not for ulcus only for reflux!). I would not use proton pump inhibitors because of its side effects in the long term.
  • wanda39848
    wanda39848 guyofchelt

    Posted

    I have exactlythe same problem. Breathing difficulties, panicky situations. One gastroenterologist told me that he didn't know what was causing it but it was certainly not my small sliding hiatus hernia. Sine then a professor of gastroenterologist has stated that i habe Irritable bowel. I am undergowing numerous blood tests at the moment and see the gastro on Tuesday this week to get the latest results. I am told that it is definately food insensitivy that is the problem. Now it is a matter of just what the sensitivity is. It certainly makes life difficult. i have trouble doing any form of lifting or vacuuming along with other matters. I hope you can get some one to take notice of you. Believe that the gas gets into the lungs and hence causes wheezing and asthma like symptoms and impairs the frenic nerve or sometimes the vegus nerve.

     

    • sydnejo
      sydnejo wanda39848

      Posted

      I wonder if they realize that IBS has a definate effect on a hernia though.. the build up of gas and all that IBS brings with it will have an effect of our digestive system everywhere, and I KNOW I have felt gas back me up and my hernia come up as a result of it.. causing heart palps, every doctor I have here says there is a direct corelation. acid leaks from the stomach he said and affects the vagus nerve.. My heart doc says we want to keep your hernia down so as not to have it affect the vagus nerve so it doesn't make her heart go off beat.. every doctor has said this which is about 8 of them now. I believe it. I have it and they should do more research into it. The only thing is it doesn't mean you are not having a heart disturbance and no matter what the cause it is very unerving and needs to be looked at, however it is nice to know its a hernia and not a bad heart.. I am working on fixing my hernia now, weight loss and eating well.. my ablation for my heart has fixed the afib so far, I do have palpitations sometimes but they go away and are always a result of my stomach misbehaving.. best to you ..   
  • arthur38378
    arthur38378 guyofchelt

    Posted

    Hello Guyof chelt

    I also have a Hiatus Hernia which i have had for some years, they tell me that to operate on it would require major surgery, and would be very risky at my age, I am 65.

    I have been on Omeprazole for 15 years, and just of late my problems have increased 10 fold, I get stomach wind so bad it is impossible to sleep, also in the last year or so it is causing me to have breathing problems, and a bad achy pain when the reflux is bad. I have been to the Doctors many times over this, I have had an Endoscopy, and they said that they were sure there was nothing bad down there.

    I do have other problems as well with my bowels, ie, Diverticulitis and IBS.

    So I do know what you are going through, i really do.

    My Grandmother Died with cancer of the stomach and bowel, so my concerns are greatly magnified as you can imagine.

    I am due back at the Doctors Today, and i am going to tell them that i have come across other people on the net with very similar problems to mine, as they said to you that the acid reflux and the breathing problems are unrelated, ( They are very wrong indeed ) Trust me, they are very related.

    All the very best, i wish you well, keep in touch.

    arthur38378

    • wanda39848
      wanda39848 arthur38378

      Posted

      Agree most definately with you. I returned to the gastroenterologist last week and he confirmed that it as definately not my hiatus hernis causing the breathing problem my problem is  IBS. The IBS causes bowel problems (IBS being caused by food intolerances----different to food allergies) and this then creates a hernia. I am intolerant to all dairy substances and certain sugars, such as fructose. Cannot have anything containing sulphides either. Terrible debilitating problem an just have to do trial and error to see which foodsyou are intolerant to.

       

    • jazztrain
      jazztrain wanda39848

      Posted

      Hi Wanda 39848

      Not wishing to be rude but there are several types of Hernia's and a Hiatus hernia (in the upper part of the stomach) would have no bearing whatsoever on your IBS!

      I have an IPF Ideopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis with a Hiatus Hernia; the IPF does cause breathing problems, however, I do know that an IBS can be very embarrassing at times as my wife had it and had to have a special beday toilet which cleanes and washes you after you have performed. In fact so severe were her problems the Council had to put in a seperate toilet for me and anyone else who came onto the property.

      So you have to go with what your Consultant tells you - listen to his/her advice and not ignore it.

  • dorby
    dorby guyofchelt

    Posted

    Hi, I see your post was at least a year ago and curious if you ever got answers to your problem. I have been having the same issues, at first I thought it was because I had been sick at some point and felt all had not left my lungs. I continued the problem and never considered it could be due to my Hernia, until recently. I noticed I have more reflux, I sometimes have pain inbetween my shoulder blades and if I bend over sometimes but not always I lose my breath. XRays show no lung problem they say, even had a stress test because sometimes I am plain winded so I here I am trying to diagnose my own problems and this is all I come up with for now. If you're still on here I would be very interested to know your outcome with your issues.
    • jazztrain
      jazztrain dorby

      Posted

      Yes; I'm still on here Dorby; I worked for the NHS myself in an administrative capacity and i don't expect to ever leave this site.

      My condition has improved as I was referred to Papworth Hospital and to a specialist who is top notch! I have been diagnosed as having an Ideopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis for which there is no known cure. Yet the Pirfenidone medication is keeping the problem at bay and for the forseeable future I hope. The only problem is that it costs the NHS £500 per week so I suppose I am lucky to be still on it!

      As for my Hiatus Hernia I don't know it's there; I don't get GERD so keep taking my Lansoprazole 15mg per day and that's that!

      But you can never cure yourself - you have to keep pestering the medical profession even to the extent of making yourself a bloody nuscience if you have to and is the only way you will ever get answers.

      Hope this helps?

      Kind regards

      Jazztrain

  • dorby
    dorby guyofchelt

    Posted

    Thank you so much for your reply, that is very interesting and I will pester my doctor to test further. Best of luck to you.
    • manblurr
      manblurr dorby

      Posted

      Hi all

      Gt diagnosed with hiatal hernia gastritis and esophagitis ,the constant mucus prodn n acid in 4the chest is irritating..the reflux probably caused allegic rhinitis also so on allegra nexium and anxiety med..hope my gi doesnt delay any further and goes at it aggressively even if its surgery which is reqd..gt massive swallowing prpblems...will pray for speedy recovery for all of you may God give us the strength to come put of the trials hes given us..all 4the best..warmest regards...

  • Mjnajar
    Mjnajar guyofchelt

    Posted

    Same here .. after the endoscopy I start to have more complications than before..

    The short breathing or feeling like 85 years old sudden

    It came from the way they blow air in your stomach intestines all side effect of the anti acid reflux medicine

    .. pharmaceutical would not advertise that

    And endoscopy people will not disclose what could happen

    As a side affects

    ..we're we go from here

    Start running stop soda

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