1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Hernia

Hiatus hernia problems

Posted , 13 users are following.

andy2710
andy2710

Im a 29 year old male diagnosed with a 4cm sliding hiatus hernia over 8 years ago. Recently i have been suffering really bad with it and have been back to the doctors and they have refered me to see a surgen. Im am currently on 2 omeprazole 20mg and 1 ranitidine 300mg a day. Over the past few days i have been getting sharp pains in my chest and back mainly when swallowing food or drinking. Does anybody suffer this problem aswell as the pain is quite bad .

0 likes, 35 replies

35 Replies

Prev Next
  • marie19160
    marie19160 andy2710

    Posted

    Hi Andy, I also have had hiatal hernia and all the pain in my chest and back for years. I also have trouble breathing. All the medications I have been on don't do much. I had surgery last February and had the hernia wrap. I felt good for about 4 or 5 months and then started having issues again. It has came undone and I am going back in for surgery again next month. My stomach is in my chest, so the doctor said he has to put everything back where it should be. Facing a 4 or 5 hour surgery and hoping this is the last. Good luck to all
  • rex_44766
    rex_44766 andy2710

    Posted

    Hi Andy. I also have a hiatus hernia now for over 10 years. Now this is weird but you can get relief by chewing two DGL tablets as soon as the pain hits. It takes about 15 minutes to kick in and great at night as the effect lasts for at least two hours allowing to get to sleep. Doing this I have managed to avoid getting on the opiat slippery slope. If you read this forum you will find many who have used DGL to wean off pp's.
  • lee52785
    lee52785 andy2710

    Posted

    I forgot to mention something very important that the surgeion told me.

    There's NO MEDICAL CURE for a hiatus hernia, other than corrective surgery, especially one that's moved up into your chest cavity. Even losing weight (if you're overweight) won't help. Medicines, like acid blockers, may alleviate heartburn, but a hiatus hernia is a STRUCTURAL PROBLEM that can be fixed only by a surgical procedure to move the stomach back into the abdomen, below the diaphragm, secure and reinforce it so it stays in place.

    Since it's done laparascopically (or keyhole) with tiny inscisions to accomodate cameras and instruments, they don't open you up, so it's much less risky and shorter recovery.

     

    • andy2710
      andy2710 lee52785

      Posted

      After sitting up at the hospital all day i have been told that my stomach is pushing up into my chest. I cant go to work for atleast 2 weeks. I have been given some sickness tablets to help keep the food down and told to continue with my othet tablets. I cant loose any more weight, i cant put any on as im only 10 stone. I know the tablets only help to try and control the acid but they seem to work to some extent
    • lee52785
      lee52785 andy2710

      Posted

      Hi Andy, So glad you wend to the hospital.

      It seems you've become a member of my stomach-in-the-chest club (sorry about that). Did they mention the procedure for repair? Whether they do or not might depend on how far your stomach is protruding into your chest.

      If you haven't already done it, I suggest Googling "laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair". There's a wealth of info about it, including diagrams that can help you see exactly what's going on in your insides. Knowledge is power! 

      Anyway, keep reporting in. I'll do the same after my surgery. Best of luck and feel better soon,

      Lee

    • andy2710
      andy2710 lee52785

      Posted

      They never mentioned the procedure for repairing. Ill have a look on google a bit later and see what i can find.

      Its a horrible feeling when you can feel it pushing up. The doctor told me to stop bending, no heavy lifting and if you cough or sneeze, put a little pressure on your stomach first to try and prevent it moving up further.

      Yes i will keep reporting. Do you know when your surgery is yet?

    • lee52785
      lee52785 andy2710

      Posted

      It really does feel awful, and you have my full sympathy. I'm sorry you're having so much pain. I've been relatively symptom-free, which is why it went on so long before being discovered. Had I seen a better doctor two years ago, I might have done it already.

      The procedure is scheduled for a week from today, Tuesday, January 27th. It's only an overnight hospital stay, since minimally invasive surgery involves much less, if any, pain, bleeding or risk of infection, although these are still risks.

      I'm not feeling too thrilled about the recuperation... soft foods at first (mashed potatoes, here I come) and no activity for the first two weeks. Altogether, the doctor said it would take 6 weeks to recover fully, but I'm adding two more weeks for good measure. At least it will be almost  Spring -- it's been so cold in NYC recently.

      The post-op side-effects -- bloating and gas -- aren't pleasant, but aren't terrible either.  I guess I'll get back to walking, bending and other activities gradually. I think it'll be worth it when it's done, since waiting until I'm older can only be worse.

      The risks of not doing it are: trouble swallowing (which you already have), trouble breathing (which I seriously have) and, most scary of all, the stomach becoming twisted, so oxygen is cut off and the cells of the lining die. Since you're under observation, I'm sure this won't happen.

      All in all, I'm looking forward to getting it over with.

      Don't drink alcohol or carbonated drinks, and don't eat spicy or acidic foods... you've probably figured that out for yourself. I hope you can relax and minimize the pain in the meantime, until they decide on next steps for you. You definitely shouldn't have to live in pain like this.

      Take care of yourself,

      Lee

    • andy2710
      andy2710 lee52785

      Posted

      I have been told to only eat soft foods now so looks like i will be on them for a while which sounds fun.

      Hope it all goes well with you for next week and you feel better. Keep me posted on how it all went.

      Andy

  • jazztrain
    jazztrain andy2710

    Posted

    Hi Andy

    All I can suggest is you discuss your problems with the surgeon but if the pain is steadily getting worse go back and see your GP.I suffer an Hiatus Hernia and on Lansoprazole 15mg daily. I have no symptoms and it was only picked up from a CT scan but I am fortunate to be looked after by Papworth Hospital on a regular 4 month basis.

    Hope your problems will soone be sorted out.

    Jazztrain

  • andy2710
    andy2710

    Posted

    I went back to see my gp today. I was given some sickness tablets and food suppliment shakes to have and she is trying to get my surgery brought forward as i cant go back to work
  • dane521
    dane521 andy2710

    Posted

    I also get the sharp pains in my chest...and middle of my back...I have reflux and a 1cm hh...the docs say the 1 cm hh would not be causing the pain...so then what is???
  • autumn76725
    autumn76725 andy2710

    Posted

    I suffer from the same horrible pain daily! I've been on 5 different acid medications for the past year and they do not help at all. My hiatal hernia is 4 cm and I was also referred to a surgeon, and I am still waiting for an answer as to whether or not he is going to do the surgery. My pain hurt so bad that I've had to pull over while driving, I've had to leave work and school early, I can't sleep at night due to waking up in severe pain. I know exactly the pain you are talking about and it is absolutely debilitating.
  • autumn76725
    autumn76725 andy2710

    Posted

    I suffer from the same horrible pain daily! I've been on 5 different acid medications for the past year and they do not help at all. My hiatal hernia is 4 cm and I was also referred to a surgeon, and I am still waiting for an answer as to whether or not he is going to do the surgery. My pain hurt so bad that I've had to pull over while driving, I've had to leave work and school early, I can't sleep at night due to waking up in severe pain. I know exactly the pain you are talking about and it is absolutely debilitating.
  • rex_44766
    rex_44766 andy2710

    Posted

    Hi Andy - I'm yet another one with this affliction! Off to see yet another gastro tommorrow BUT giving him a list of my problems so there is no way I can get fobbed off. The pain can get really bad. In my case about an eight but it only happens in the middle of the night which makes it more scarey. Best of luck.
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.