Hi -

How do you feel when your pain and discomfort starts.

I was given this diagnosis last spring, through an endoscopy...??? Now I am having chest pain (pressure) again.

I wonder - Is it my anxiety (I feel the pain THEN I get anxious), my hernia or my heart.....My doctors won't think it's heart related because they know I am anxious about my health and because of my hernia hystery...so what do you feel like when your hiatal hernia acts up?

Hi Elda,

I have a Hiatal Hernia and other stomach problems. Mine hurts when I do not have good posture for 2-3 hours after I eat. Also, when I get indigestion, from eating and drinking the wrong things and from stress. It hurts between my breasts, lower by the breast bone. I take Nexium, Sucralfate and Pepcid Complete and Zantac. The last 2 meds., I only take sometimes. These are to be taken for life.

You may need to go and have another endoscopy. If your hernia is hurting worse and you are taking meds/or not. I get pain there, when I get indigestion from stress, and eating and drinking the wrong things!

How old are you? I am 55. I had the complete heart workup by an internest and a cardiologist, just to make sure it was not my heart. This was decided by my family doctor and my gastroenterologist agreed.

Hope you feel better.

Take care.

Wannabe

Hi Elder - I am much the same as you. That chest pain starts and then I get anxious as well. I think its like a pain induced panic attack. I have had my heart checked out and even knowing its not my heart doesnt stop me having anxiety with the chest pain. I was doing quite well for a few weeks, then blew it by having fish and chips.

I've just stopped taking Aciphex and am now taking Protonix , along with Mylanta and Zantac. I think I'm going to go back on Nexium tho.

I have an inflammed esophagus, hiatus hernia and schatzki's ring. For me eating soft food only is best. Also I bought a bed wedge, which I wouldnt part with now I am used to it. LOL its a bit hard to not slip down it tho.

I dont know about you but sometimes its really hard to deal with this pain 24 hours a day. I find that having a really hot shower and letting the water spray on the chest really eases it for a little while.

Also restrictive clothing is another big no no, when I'm not working I just bog around in track pants or my pyjamas. Its chronic having to wear a bra.

Wish it would all just go away and we could live a normal life.

Izmik

My issue is that I have the pain first THEN comes the anxiety. So anxiety is not causing the pain. It comes after and it's a terrible cycle.

I've noticed a pattern of discomfort a few hours after I've eaten and I've started taking Prevacid for a few days now and only felt the discomfort once since then.

It's like a tightness in the center of my chest and under my arm pit (left).
It lasts for only a few seconds and then it's gone. I've also had this chest tightness for years, on and off. It usually comes in patterns. A few days/weeks here and there then nothing for quite some time. If it was heart related I think I would have known by now. And since I was given the diagnosis of hiatal hernia just last spring, this makes sense to me now.

I've had my heart checked over and over and if I go to my cardiologist he's gonna roll his eyes. The only thing I haven't had done is the catherazation(>??). Of course I worry that I have a blockage and that's what's causing my on and off pain. But I can't go and demand one. They already thing I am a hypocondriact. I am a health anxious individual and this doesn't help either.

I just wanted to see what other people's stories were too. If anyone is like me.

Hi Elda I didnt say anxiety was causing the pain. I said anxiety comes with the pain. Like the pain induces the anxiety. Each to their own. I do hope your feeling better soon.

Izmik

hi there you sound just like me i am a health worrying freak,at the moment i have pain in my left chest under my breast,a lump in my left stomach area,i am searching for clues if it is hiatus hernia,or pancreatitis.i seem to feel full all the time in my throat and chest area,and my tummy is bloated too,i have never had so much fat around my middle,do you think it sounds like i have a hernia?my job involves heavy lifting too.i am always worrying about my health and thinking the worst so it is nice to know that i am not alone any replies welcome thx. :confused:

Hi all,

Elda, you may need to get some anxiety meds anyway. I have stomach issues/illnesses (I think I already listed them?). And take lots of digestive medicines and try to watch what I eat and not to lay down for at least 2 hours after I eat. But, I still had bad chest pain and the sort of under the arm pain. So, my family dr., gave me some anti-anxiety meds and that helped a lot. I am not saying you are anxious and that is why you have the pains, but it could be contributing in a sort of behind the scenes way.

When you get tired of it, you will try anything and everything. Also, you might try going to the library and getting some books on this type of problem/pain.

Prendi, I think that a heavy lifting hernia is a different kind than we are talking about? The digestive kind of hernia - hiatal - is where the valve between the stomach and the esophagus kind of does not fully close? I think it is something like that, anyway.

I hope yall both get some help and feel better soon. We have to be our own best doctors and researchers, sometimes. Read, read and read and maybe you will find something or a combination that works.

Take care.

Wannabe