Hiatus Hernia or something more serious?

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I suspect I have a hiatus hernia, but I'm also worried it could be something serious and I won't find out until I have an endoscopy, which could be months away. I really need someone to reassure me that I am experiencing a hiatus hernia, and not something more urgent or severe, and possibly give me some tips for dealing with this.

Some background: I started having breathing problems in October, followed quickly by severe throat pain and swallowing difficulties. Several visits to walk-in clinics and the GP later, after misdiagnoses with asthma and mumps, a doctor finally suggested I might be experiencing acid reflux. At the time I was generally only having 'silent' laryngopharyngeal silent, including a sore throat, lump in throat, and trouble swallowing. My symptoms didn't improve with 60 mg of Omeprazole so they began treating me for h. pylori (without confirming it with tests) or possibly an ulcer. Eventually I started having the more recognisable symptoms of acid reflux, although they primarily seem to be concentrated below my breastbone, right at the solar plexus. Eventually I was switched to Lansoprazole, 30 mg 2x a day, and although it's worked better than the Omeprazole my symptoms have never entirely gone away and recently seem to have gotten worse. I've been eating a very bland diet for months, without effect. No caffeine, no alcohol, no tomato sauce, no chocolate, very little sugar, no... just about everything. During a 3 week period at the very beginning I ate nothing but toast, plain whole wheat pasta, and bananas and drank nothing but warm water and still my symptoms didn't improve.

Finally, at the beginning of January my GP referred me to a gastroenterologist, suspecting it might be a hiatus hernia. My pain has been escalating recently and I was very eagerly checking the mail everyday for the appointment letter. However, during a confrontation with a very inept, awful GP at the surgery today, I discovered that the practice may, in fact, not have sent out the referral (the hospital department has no records of my referral, although they explained it could still be processing), leaving me nearly a month behind in my journey to heal this problem.

Because even seeing a gastroenterologist and getting an endoscopy will likely now be months away for me, on top of the three months I've already suffered, I'm becoming a little bit frantic. I'm now worried there's something else wrong with me, like possibly stomach cancer, and that all this medical incompetence will kill me. (These are the same doctors who prescribed me two drugs with a very serious interaction--irregular heartbeat--and then dismissed me as 'overreacting' when I turned up at their office with.... heart palpitations, dizziness, fainting episodes. I only discovered the interaction myself days later when I was checking the interactions on my meds to see if I could take a decongestant. Stopped one of the meds and all the dizziness and cardiac problems disappeared. Anyway, these doctors don't exactly inspire confidence.)

SYMPTOMS

- pain and difficulty with deep breaths (My partner pointed out that I 'raise' my shoulders to breathe. If you hold my shoulders down and try to get me to breathe just by expanding my lungs outward I sputter and cough and can't get a deep breath)

- burning pain concentrated around solar plexus (under breastbone), usually worse after meals, somewhat improved by the lansoprazole: PPIs tend to reduce the burning but not the general pain

- soreness and tightness in throat

- muscular pain in chest, left armpit, left arm, left hand (I don't think this is cardiac: i've had it for months and the pain is worse when I move, press on it.)

I've had a blood test (i'm iron deficient but not anemia), a chest x-ray, a stomach x-ray, and a lung capacity test, all of which were relatively normal. Would the hernia have shown up on one of the x-rays though? That's my concern. If I don't have a hernia I don't know what this is: it seems more complicated than simple GERD.

I apologise if I come off a little frantic. I'm frustrated and exhausted and a little terrifying. I'm seriously considering shelling out the £1,000 or so for a private endoscopy but apparently you also need a referral for one of those too and I don't trust my GP to actually send it out. Money is tight anyway. I'm trying to get into a new GP next week but with their preliminary appointments and wait times I doubt I'll get another referral out for at least 2 weeks. I doubt I'll have the endoscopy before June. I just don't want to find out months later, when my NHS referral finally trickles in, that I've been living with say, stomach cancer they could have treated if they'd caught it earlier. I'd be very young for stomach cancer, I know (I'm in my twenties) but with months to go before diagnosis my mind is running a little wild.

The relentless pain and breathing problems is also tearing my nerves to shreds. I'm crying hysterically several times a day and I keep having fantasies about injuring myself so I'd have to be taken to an A&E and treated, or at least properly examined. Anyone have any strategies for coping with pain, or the wait until diagnosis? Everyone else seems to have been diagnosed fairly quickly with an endoscopy and I'm fighting even to see a gastroenterologist. : (

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  • Posted

    hi ive been suffering from these symptoms since oct 2013 ive lost over 2 stone since then lifes a misery at the mo. In april discovered i have a hiatus hernia and also helibacter pylori  been suffering with trapped wind burping excessively  pain in left chest no appetite feeling full as soon as i eat. After treatment of the helibacter my bowel movements are very sluggish very bloated too all i drink is water eat very bland diet no spice etc due to the ulcers from the helibacter, i just want to feel normal lol 
  • Posted

    Dear. Crab rabbit, I know just what you mean, have a flare up at present and feel bad, dare not eat anything that might worsen it and feel sick most of the time, just waiting for it to settle down again. Makes you realise how precious health is. Hope you feel better soon.
  • Posted

    It really is awful and can definitely make you start to believe that something more sinister is happening. 

    I was diagnosed with sliding hiatus hernia via endoscopy over a week ago after four years of not knowing what was happening. At the time of the scope, it was 2cm. 

    Symtoms include chest pains, pressure, heaviness, tightness...Difficulty swallowing, sometimes painful swallowing, shallow breathing, shortness of breath, lightheaded/dizzy moments, nausea, lump in throat, post-nasal drip, palpitations, signs of autonomic dysfunction (postural tachycardia, orthostatic intolerance)

     

    • Posted

      i get most of these symptoms but now after being on a bland diet and only really drinking water i burp constantly have trapped wind and suffering from constipation not sure if thsi is from the ppi tablets or because of diet change i have chest pain every day its really getting me down sad
    • Posted

      Your symptoms are exactly the same as mine. What are you doing to get relief? Please help I am in serious pain and it is seriously affecting my quality of life and my family. I feel like all I ever do is complain. I just want it to go away!!!
  • Posted

    I had similar symptoms four years ago, chest pains, left arm, hand, and leg pain, neck pain, and bloating.  After several cardio and gastro tests, including angiogram and endoscope, it ended up being GERD and Nexium did the trick until now.  One night I was wakened by shortness of breath and a panic attack followed, went to ER and all tests came back normal.  This was not a good answer for me, shortness of breath was still there and I ended up back in the ER the next day and test where normal again, however, the doctor said I was suffering from hyperventilation syndrome, he gave me some anxiety meds and sent me home.  Visited cardiologist for CT calcium score and ECG, calcium score was 0 and ECG was normal, he said it's not a cardio issue and sent me to a pulminologist.  She did breathing tests and a stress test, she said I had onset asthma of unknown origin and gave me an inhaler that does very little.  Went to the gastroenterologist, he performed an endoscope and Bravo 48 hour acid test, which came back positive for GERD.  We have tried other medications to no avail and now I am going to see a surgeon next month.  It appears that my best chance at getting my life back involves a surgical procedure.  I have been dealing with this shortness of breath on a daily basis now and the pulminologist thinks it's related to my GERD and thinks it will clear up with the surgery.  Long story short, when the Meds stop working, surgery might be the best option.  Has anyone come to the same conclusion?
    • Posted

      Try a new medication.  I could not take many of the meds that were given initially. Some actually worsen the bloating and caused me to be breathless and tired upon taking them.  I tried a totally new med that worked however being new it was not under insurance and was costly but worked. Second opinions are always a good choice before making final decisions especially on surgeries.  Good luck.
    • Posted

      Did the acid test cause you to not be able to breathe?-i tried to stay calm and put my chin on my chest...but still coukdnt even get enough air in to speak...i could actually feel the loss of oxygen to my brain...i could feel myself starting to pass out-was this really me?-or was it not possible that the nurse sent the tube down the wrong hole?-ie the airways?
  • Posted

    This is July 2014.I have been reading the posts about stomach cancer,symptoms mostly.I am due a endescope 22/07/14.My doctor is concerned something nasty is growing in my stomach.His words!.My symptoms have been instant loss of appetite about three months ago,then it reurned for a short period of maybe two weeks.After that up until today,I am forcing myself to eat to keep my body going.I have lost one and a half stone in weight,not big framed so now very skinny.I just wondered why you say loss of appetite,weight loss,is first symtoms.like everyone else its a awful fear of the worst scenario,and have found myself trembling,am so scared.My symptoms match what you describe.Obviously I am much more concerned now.Please could you tell me how you know this? Is it from experience with a family member or from a site? I would be so greatful for any information you might be able to give.Thank you so much.
  • Posted

    Sounds like HH, and stress is a big factor.  So try not to worry, eat little and often to keep the acid in your stomach level.  All the things you have given up are correct, but I would eat only gluten free bread and pasta, as gluten is a factor.  Better to eat 80% alkaline forming foods (Google it and you will get a list).  Aloe Vera juice, Manuka Honey, and cabbage juice help me a lot, also Slippery Elm tablets in case you have some ulcers.  Keep taking the Lansoprazole.  If you are really desperate, go to an A&E and faint at the desk.  They will have to take you in.
  • Posted

    It could be a back disc displacement in your lower lombrae vertebrae. If you tickle the lombar yard, they might has a solution. Ok?
  • Posted

    Hi Crabbitrabbit,

    I just read your post and am wondering how you are getting on 6 months later and if you have managed toget something sorted? I can completely sympathise with all the symptoms have had similar experiences since my 20s (i'm now in my 30s). I leanrt to live with some of them but they have got so bad recently I am on Omeprazole and waiting for an endoscopy.

  • Posted

    Hi, I am a sufferer of GERD.  I have been for several years off and on.  There are a couple things I have read in this forum that are different from my symptoms. Consistantly the mention of "right side" pain, and reflux meds not working.  I was tested with endoscopy and no hernia was found at the time.  My pain is dead center where the ribs meet, among others of course. Also I was checked for gall bladder issues.  Here is what is tricky...it is said that hiatus hernia can have no symptoms. does not have to be associated with reflux. Neither has to have anything to do with the other or exsist together.  Also, gall bladder may not have symptoms but the ones you list are signs of gall bladder if there are sysmptoms and need addressing. Weight loss, indigestion, the right pain  and even medications not working for reflux alot of belching. It is a different process for the reflux associated with gall bladder although it feels alike different meds are needed for relief. I tried several reflux meds before finding one that worked for me. Often times the symptoms worsened with certain meds I was suggested. More bloating, breathly, etc. so do not give up.  And my problems began and increase or reoccur during times of high STRESS. Stress management helps.  You may want to have a look at the gall bladder symptoms. One website is gallbladderattack if you haven't found relief at this point.    I hope everyone who has these issues is doing better.
  • Posted

    Also  my first symptom that sent me to the doctor was chest pain  as if a heart attack.  The first test was a stress test to check for any heart issues which there were none.  I also exercised regularly, physically fit and passed the stress test with great score. It is a bit frightening to now know I have these symptoms and it could be reflux or could be heart attack I do know which without a trip to the doctor but I do know worrying only worsens the whole situation.   
  • Posted

    Hey Crabbitrabbit,

    Just wondering how you're getting on. I've been having exactly the same symptons for over 12 months. It's really getting me down now. I had a Barium Swallow on new years eve (which I'm still waiting for the results from)

    Would love to know if you got diagnosed and fixed :-)

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