Hiatus Hernia receipes to help

Hi Vicky

I know how you feel but as yet I haven't found what triggers it off. I have an element of pain daily but it can be unbearable at times. I am awaiting a visit back to the gastroenterologist and have been given numerous drugs to try and help. Are you on anything? Currently I take lanzoprozole in the morning and gaviscon at night. I have also been given dosulepin to help me sleep. All I know is avoid spice, citrus and currently I limit wheat . I havecraised the head of the bed yo avoid lying flat I wish there was an easy answer but I am sure as you have read it appears not but it's something you are not alone with. Sorry I am not much help

Hi, sorry you are having these problems. I've got HH and gallbladder problems and been through severe digestive pain bloating, nausea, slow digestion - eating is a real problem. There does not seem to be any help from NHS, other then the PPI meds as you are on. They made me much worse so I no longer take them and now only need occasional gaviscon or other otc antacids.

It has taken months, I think we are all so different as to what we can tolerate, but solid foods bothered me at the worst so home made soups and chicken flavour nutritional drinks, pureed fruits, jellies and soft puddings helped me survive. I make my own soup as bought ones have ingredients I can't tolerate. I throw veg, usually butternut squash, sweet potato, carrots, potato, gluten free stock cubes into the slow cooker, when they are cooked blend them. I can eat occ baked potato or sweet potato but due to gallstones no butter, so I add fat free gravy so it is not dry. Smoothies also were a help - I add green powder for extra nutrition as green veg as such has proved a no for a while.

I can now eat canned salmon with grated beetroot & cider vinegar on gluten free crackers, tiny amount of chicken, also yogurts, strawberries and blueberries with meringues and banana custard. Breakfast is gluten free cereal with maple syrup, ground flaxseeds and almonds, berries and yogurt and I use lactose free milk. I am not known to be allergic to regular milk or gluten but the alternatives proved easier to digest for me. You may be very different, but this is mostly my diet since last year. I'm awaiting gallbladder surgery (long story!) sometime, its been cancelled a few times, so I don't know what if any difference this will make. The drs say they will look into any other issues if they still remain after surgery. Such a nightmare, my life has fallen apart with this and other stressful things going on. I also have low vitamin D. I take lots of supplements as I know my diet is not the best and go for liquid ones if possible - easier to digest.

I found I was very bloated and burping all the time, but taking oregano oil and probiotics has helped as I truly think there was a bacterial imbalance on the gut, after all I have gone through and past antibiotic therapy. Do you ever have dizziness and palpitations? I used to get adrenaline rushes all through the night and pains like heart attack, which were not heart when checked.These were a bane at first, for me - occuring less now.

Not sure that my limited regime is of any help to anyone else as it seems everyone has different tolerances. I did go to a chiropractor for some manipulation of the back, neck and the diaphragm which is said can help HH, it did at first then not so much, so do not go now.

For pain, I used to have heated packs and massaged the abdomen with aromatherapy oils. I can usually manage with only the occ. paracetamol now. I drink green tea, decaff tea and coffee as these suit me fine, cutting them out did nothing to help but I know they can be acidic for some folk. I also make lemon and ginger tea and take charcoal capsules if any severe gas pains.

Hope you will improve soon and be able to eat your pasta dishes. I have not tried pasta yet, but will try the gluten free type - gradually, I only introduce one "new" thing a week as so scared of HH or Gb kicking off. Good Luck!

Hi Vicky & Cynthia,

This really is an awful thing. I too have been to a&e when I felt I couldn't breath it can go on for days. Had tests on my heart & lungs and all ok. Changed my gp a year ago as I was fed up with being told I probably had anxiety! I have been persistent to a point a few months ago had to have my eosophagus stretched as I felt I was being strangled this it seems can happen with HH. 2 years + on and I am still no closer except I am now I am awaiting to see a consultant surgeon. I have found some relief from reading on this site I was getting to the point doctors were thinking I was some nut case lol. I also found morphine helped on bad nights but only the hispital have ever given this to me. I also wake up feeling I have an adrenelin rush and fast heart beat irs very scary. It's good to know we are not alone x

Hi I dealt w the same thing for 40 years but back then i would only get an attack maybe once a yr.  This last year was the worst, and yes red sauce, wine, would trigger never ate it until this past week....It compromised my health the last year even medications were triggering it...i am now 65 and knew i can no longer live in fear especially we travel alot.  The pain mimics a heart attack when happenng....I had the surgery in March the best thing i could have done....i just recently had spaghetti and was fine. Surgeon told me i would be able to eat anything again...I had the HH and Nissen Funcoplication done as I had 60% stomach acid backing up into the HH because the sphincter was weak in my stomach.....That is why i had the horriffic chest pains....I have my life back...RX Nexium was working the last few months til i had the surgery.  I took every ppi known through the yrs...the dr had to give me nitro glycerin when i had an attack to stop the chest pain...I did that once and nearly blacked out so that was ruled out ...Now i do have my life back .... HH is not anything i would let go due to mine was sliding according to the endoscopy but when he operated he said it was not sliding it was the opposite and large,,,,,good  luck and find an excellent doctor to treat you....mobody should suffer and it only gets worse

I've been having a hard time with eating, too.   Gets very frustrating at times.  Am going back to see my surgeon this coming Thursday.   I guess you might try eating ice cream, yogurt, puddings, etc.   These foods are what I rely on.