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

Unsure if it's even a Hernia

Posted , 5 users are following.

Badger5
Badger5

Hi guys, I'd appreciate any input you may offer.

Over the last 16 months or so I've been experiencing chest pressure on the Sternum; no 'pain' or sharpness - just a constant dull pressure.  It varies in intensity, and on occasions it's been quite worrying.  The doctor said that things either get better or worse, so see if it goes away; alas it did not.

Recently, I've started experiencing a much larger pressure from time to time, below the sternum and above the belly-button.  This seems practically random, and the pressure can be staggering - to the point where the pressure feels like it's coming up my chest and around my face.  Again, no 'pain' or sharpness, just massive pressure.  This part is less frequent that the constant chest pressure, but it can last some hours.  Eating something sometimes seems to alleviate the pressure.

Exercise does not make the condition worse, and while I have no issue with my breathing, it feels like I do due to the chest pressure.

My doctor doesn't think it's a Hiatal Hernia, but he's given me some GORD tablets to take once a day for a month.  It's only been four days, but it's not really making a difference - I'll obviously continue for remainder of the month and come back to him.

I'm nearly 34, so a little outside the regular age bracket for this; can anyone who's experienced such say whether the symptoms seem consistent or contrary?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • mick_1234
    mick_1234 Badger5

    Posted

    Hi badger you get a hiaitis herna at any age i had my one in my mid 20s i have had the op but the only way you can find out if it is you need to go back to your docter and ask to have a camara put down your throat  or your docter is only gessing when i first had it the docter thought i had hart problem so go back and see you docter.
  • bobfr636
    bobfr636 Badger5

    Posted

    Mick  might be right about having an upper endoscopy - which is what they use to investigate what is going on in there.
  • mick_1234
    mick_1234 Badger5

    Posted

    i am glad you are thinking about going back to your docter i am 60 i have had the camera down a few time and i found it is the only way to find out the problem.
    • Badger5
      Badger5 mick_1234

      Posted

      Thank you guys, I'll be sure to go back once the pills have run their course.
  • sharrie
    sharrie Badger5

    Posted

    Ask your doctor to do a test for a sliding hernia, acid reflux and gallbladder. This is a test that can be done all at once and takes about an hour to do.  You drink something and they watch how it's going down, you're also giving some "pop rocks" to fizz in your mouth, then swallow. You're put on two different machines, one watches as you swallow, the other machine will move you around to coat your insides, or they may just have you roll around.  Sorry I can't remember the name of the test. But this is how I was diagnosed with my problems.
  • Lee1968
    Lee1968 Badger5

    Posted

    Hi Badger , do you have indigestion , chronic burping , constant fullness , sour taste in mouth or acid reflux ? These together with chest pressure are obvious symptoms of hiatus (hiatal) hernia . However , only a endoscopy or barium meal will confirm the hernia .

    I've had these symptoms for the past year , since an industrial injury involving very heavy lifting . I was a very fit 45 year old , so there is no particular bracket of person for this health issue .

    • Badger5
      Badger5 Lee1968

      Posted

      Hi Lee, and thank you for your reply.

      This is my fourth week on Omeprazole, and the stomach discomfort has completely disappeared.  I never had any burping/sour taste/indigestion, so I think this bout may have been an incidental case that has started to resolve itself (with the help of the tablets).

      Alas, the chest ache persists, so I'll have to see what the doctor suggests.

    • Lee1968
      Lee1968 Badger5

      Posted

      Hi Badger ,

      It's unlikely to be hiatus hernia , but symptoms seem to vary for each individual - and mimick other disorders . I actually get little chest pressure for instance , but get GORD symptoms if I'm not careful with my diet . Still haven't had an endoscopy - the waiting list is months !

      I hope you get a resolution for your problem , as Doctors seem to just give you medication and push you out the door - without addressing the underlying problem .

    • sharrie
      sharrie Lee1968

      Posted

      You sooooo right when you wrote that doctors would rather give you medication and push you out the door without addressing the underlying problem.  It took seven years for drs to start listening to me I was in the hospital for almost 2 weeks before they did a hysterectomy, it was needed there were so many problems, the biggest was my chronic back aches. My bowels had been pushed into my back, once they were put back in place my backaches stopped immediately, then when I just recently had gallbladder surgery, the massive jack hammering pain stopped in my upper right abdomen.  All any dr would was to shove pills namely painkillers at me. What are these drugs going to do??? Nothing but turn into a drug addict. Surgery had to intervene both times to help me.  BUT I'm still having other on going health issues. My chest is sore, stomach swollen and in pain, hurts to breath, I suffer from severe post nasal drip, sliding hernia, I feel as though I have a big ball of mucous in my chest. My right nostril is persistently blocked and I have horrible smells and tastes being emitted from my right sinus, I have a painful lesion on the right side of my head that hurts, I had to beg for an MRI for this.  I'm getting tired of listening to quack doctors who don't care about you.  I was told that you could see multiple drs before someone finally has a aha moment and you are properly diagnosed.  I had also read that you should not take painkillers when you are having a gallstone attack, as it can create more problems.
Back to top

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.