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SLIDING HIATUS HERNIA SYMPTOMS AND QUESTIONS

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eddie10
eddie10

Hi I'm new to this site, just recently been diagnosed with a 4cm sliding hiatus hernia after suffering for 2 years with horrendous chest, neck, shoulder and back pain! been to A&E a least 5 times this year thinking I was having heart problems! had an endoscopy 4 weeks ago and was diagnosed! so now what? I was sent home with no advise whatsoever. been on all the PPI's for the last 15 years as I suffer with GERD and IBS! I feel bloated all the time, I burp, fart, feel sick and light headed and now I get a pulsating throb from my tummy through my chest into my throat cry If I eat the wrong thing it feels like I got a tennis ball stuck behind my sternum, really fed up with this now. I won't go the operation route, it's not got a good success rate! so it's maintenance, put the head of my bed on two blocks 8inches high, given up gluten and dairy and all spicy foods eat 3 hours before I got to bed and have a swig of gaviscon as a night cap! I take a multi vitamin and magnesium supplements. the next step is stop smoking and drinking red wine rolleyes what else can I do? the omeprazole makes me feel crap, so I've gone back to ranitidine. any advise would seriously be welcomed.........

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  • andy1981
    andy1981 eddie10

    Posted

    Hi all im new to this! Eddie this conversation youve started is a revelation to me!! Been trawling round the internet trying to figure out what all my symptons could be attributed to and it seems i may be getting somewhere thanks to all the users posting their experiences on this! I'm 33 year old male and was told 6 months ago i got a sliding HH, was given omeprazole which i didnt like they didnt agree with me, so ive kind of just ploughed along...not the best idea as like so many others ive been feeling like my hearts going to explode, getting shooting pains in my arms and back but the biggest problem is right on my chestbone area, its like theres a big blockage or obstruction permanently there and its like a 'crsuhing' feeling...would anybody else liken it to this?? unbearable at times i must say. I would quite like to know if anybody suffers with fatigue and just feeling generally tired and unwell through this and not having much motivation etc????? i work out and usually fit and healthy (non smoker) but just seem not to last as long exercising and breathlessness is becoming more apparent along with the chest 'tightening' any advice form you guys/girls would be greatly appreciated.
    • Trish82617
      Trish82617 andy1981

      Posted

      Hi Andy...and Eddie and everyone. You just described my symptoms exactly too! I have almost constant chest, shoulder, back and neck pain from the HH and feel as if I have a boulder in my chest. Omeprazole helps sometimes but not when I get a bad bout and I get a very dry mouth as a side effect. I find it tires me out when it's bad and I can't sleep properly. Tonight I brought a garden recliner indoors to sleep on :-(

      I am definitely going to give the alkaline, non-inflamatory diet a go. I already cut out most things mentioned on here and glug the gaviscon like there's no tomorrow! A more natural management method would be good as the PPI's all seem to have side effects for me. Tension definitely makes it worse! So good to have found this thread and hear all your accouts...makes me feel less alone with it: thanks!

  • goldcoastwestie
    goldcoastwestie eddie10

    Posted

    Hello Everyone, well aren't I glad I have found this thread.

    Since I was about 14 I have suffered terribly with Acid Reflux (I give thanks to my Dads side of the family for this!).  Anyway have always refrained from going for an Endo as I am to scared.

    About 16 years ago the strangest thing happened that after I ate anything I would bring up a load of mucus which was really weird, and instantly felt relief.  This lasted I would say at most 4-6 months, then disappeared.

    12-18 months ago I started getting bad acid reflux (I really put it down to stresses in life) but my symptoms go, I eat a bigger meal (ie not a snack) either during or immediately after I feel the sense that I have breathing problems, so will eat a 'Tums' antacid, as soon as I have taken it, relief.  I will then normally need the loo!!  It doesn't happen every day, but it is annoying and I find it difficult and hate going out for a meal anywhere, because I am embarrassed and I need to make sure there is a toilet.

    Maybe I should try and cut out Wheat, Dairy, Sugars, Caffine.

    So does anyone else get these other symptoms that I have?

    Thanks for the interesting reading. 

    • goldcoastwestie
      goldcoastwestie

      Posted

      I should add that I also experience pain in my shoulder left side.  Oh and another interesting fact is that I cannot burp hahaha, yes I know people I am strange!
  • jb0730
    jb0730 eddie10

    Posted

    I have learned the illecocal valve causes a lot of issues .

    Do research on how to massage the valve is

  • carole28488
    carole28488 eddie10

    Posted

    I wanted to tell you all about an experience I had a few weeks ago...I live in the USA, and there are places to eat called "Sheetz"...I was having lunch with my sister on a beautiful sunny day, outside the restaurant...All of a sudden, I started getting this dull pain in my upper tummy...It only got worse and worse, as I got up to walk around to see if it would go away...Being older than most of you, 66 yrs. old, I immediately thought it was a heart attack..My sister called an ambulance and away I went...After getting the the hospital, they took an Xray and told me that I have a huge haital hernia....I am bloated all the time, have stomach problems and lots of embarrassing gas...I take a Previcid and other pro-biotics during the day...I, too, do not want to do the surgery thing...I have chronic bronchitis and all the coughing makes it worse, and having an empty stomach is sheer hell....hope this helps to let you know you all are not alone...
    • leeleeleelee
      leeleeleelee carole28488

      Posted

      Hi Carole,

      Having chronic chest infections and a sort of smoker's cough in the mornings is very common for people with acid reflux/hiatus hernias.  During the night a small amount of stomach acid enters your lungs causing the coughs and infections.  It is also well known the acid reflux can aggrevate your sinuses and cause post nasal drip, making the coughs even worse.  I never really noticed my acid reflux until recently, but I have had a chronic cough for a long time, which has always felt much worse in my left lung than my right.  My GP recently asked what position I sleep in and, sure enough, I sleep on my left, hence the acid and post nasal drip are going into my left lung.  Also, I sometimes get a sore throat, but only on the left side of my throat.  I guess it is the same thing.

  • eddie10
    eddie10

    Posted

    Hi guys, ain't posted for a while still trying to cope with this debilitating Hiatus Hernia! Which I hasten to add is futile!  I have kept a log on all my flares and seems that when it slides up into my chest all manner of symptoms follow! I'm now certain 100% that the chest pain which radiates though my chest, between my shoulder blades and up into my neck and sometimes my jaw (feels like I've been impaled by an invisible wooden stake) is all down to the Hiatus Hernia pressing on the Vagus nerve. I wish all you guys and galls all the best with this horrendous condition xx
    • lynne90477
      lynne90477 eddie10

      Posted

      Hi Eddie & everyone,

      So glad I have found this thread!! Thank you to you all for sharing - sometimes feel as though I am going insane with all this!!

      I have been struggling with very similar symptoms for the past 12 months- eventually after numerous tests been diagnosed with small hiatus hermia and some inflammation. Now waiting for an appointment for a 3rd endoscopy.

      Have been having acupuncture treatment for the past three weeks - hoping for a miracle!

      Lynne

    • dolphin005
      dolphin005 lynne90477

      Posted

      What about pain?  I am having pain that comes and goes between the breasts and down lowerm like upper middle stomach?  Not sure if this is the sliding hernia flaring or what.  What stomach symptoms do people feel?
    • goldcoastwestie
      goldcoastwestie lynne90477

      Posted

      Hi Lynne

      I have been researching online and found this guy who has been doing Acupressure for 40 years and he has various youtube videos and one is on gastric, acid etc etc.  and I have tried this a couple of time and it is really good.  It may helps some others, I know everyone is different.  

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link/details as it was to a site unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

  • carole28488
    carole28488 eddie10

    Posted

    Hi, it's me again...the goof who ate at Sheetz, and got sick and had to go to the hospital...I take probiotics and Previcid and tums all day long...sometime it really gets me down because I have so many other illness's to be concerned with...I have sciolosis, spinal stenosis, fibromylgia, sinus troubles, two bad knees, and the list goes on and on...Now, I don't need another thing to go along with the others...ha...

     

  • carole28488
    carole28488 eddie10

    Posted

    Lelelelelele.....I didn't know that acid reflux caused you to have sinus troubles and cough more...wow, no wonder I have so much wrong with me...ha
  • lollipop60
    lollipop60 eddie10

    Posted

    I too have 4 cm sliding HH..diagnosed with HH 13 yrs ago..it was a 3cm slide but having had gall bladder surgery..it increased to 4cm..pains in chest are like having a heart attack..hubby called out paramedics thinking I had actually had a heart attack..I was taken to hosp..kept in 3 days and given no tests whatsoever..dire!..anyway I was told by a nurse last yr that I could have keyhole surgery..but after speaking to one of the surgical team it scared me rigid..so have put that on hold..never drink alcohol..but do smoke..(would love to stop but finding that hard) as I realise its making things worse..arghhh..chest pain worse around 5am..despite sleeping with raised pillows etc..find Omeprazole dont work..Gaviscon does a little..cant drink or eat hot stuff..have to let it go cool..awful thing to have isnt it.
  • carole28488
    carole28488 eddie10

    Posted

    Hi, Eddie....I have the same thing you do...I went to the ER with terrible pains, but it wasn't really in my chest, it was in my upper tummy area...they did all kinds of tests and, at first, thought it was gallbladder, but then told me it was a HUGE hiadal hernia...I have to be really careful when drinking teas or decaf. coffees...I can only eat a tiny bit at a time, but eat more often...If my stomach gets completely empty, it will burn, even with my Previcid.....I don't smoke, never have, and have never drank alcohol, which I'm grateful for...hang in there, maybe they will come up with something that will help us...Good luck!!
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