Hi I just had an upper GI done to look for Ulcer and none found, but today my regular Dr called me and said they found I have a Hiatal Hernia. I thought they would find I had acid reflux as a secondary finding, but not this?

Anyway - kinda freeked out. Some symtoms I guess could now be explained are acid reflux ( had this forever and just took tums every night) - occasional bad tightness in upper right chest - very painfull and would go away if I burp, but come right back. This usually lasts for an hour to 5 hours. also I get tightness in throat which I thought was anxiety ( yes I have that too) that comes and goes. Usually lasts for a couple weeks then goes away for sometimes up to a year or so. I also have a lot of stomache gas all the time.

anyway - made appointement to see specialist for this, but have no idea what it really is other then what I read online today. also have no idea on how to treat it.

Brian

Since I have been chewing on this all day its really wigging me out. I kind of wish I did not know this as all I wanted to find out was if I have an ulcer which I dont. Been worrying all day. I am 35 and falling apart already..I am recovering from a Microdiscectomy right now as well and this was not news I needed.

Brian

Hi Brian,

I have a Hiatal Hernia. They hurt, too. And they usually let acid reflux up in your esophagus. It can hurt, right at the middle of your chest about at your breast bone. Posture - good - helps some. Sitting up rather than laying down for 2 - 3 hours after you eat helps. And less stress helps you have fewer symptoms. Did you Gastro Dr. give you any medicines for you hiatal hernia? I take many medicines, and am not sure which one is for my hiatal hernia. I take sucralfate, Nexium, sometimes - Pepcid Completes and sometimes - Zantac at night. They all help to a degree. Most of the time I do not have upper stomach or chest pain. It also helps to eat the right foods and not eat the bad food - except for every now and then!

Come back and talk some more. We can help.

Take care and feel better.

Wannbe

I too have hiatal hernia and acid reflux/GERD, so I am very familar with your symptoms. I would suggest sitting down with a doc and exploring some of the possible soloutions. There is surgery or long term meds such as Nexium(I am on Nexium and it controls the reflux very well). I also have some problems with my Gall Bladder that magnify the Reflux on occasion.

With Nexium I have very little problems with plain old reflux, I tried protonix and for me rolaids gave me more relief.

The biggest thing you want to consider is that you want keep this from happening, cuz once you start having an attack it takes a while for the meds to work. Meds like Nexium keep the amount of stomach acid down so that you don't get attacks.

Before the meds I would have problems with acid reflux 4 or 5 nights a week and sleeplessness was getting to be an issue. I also slept with the head of the bed propped up about 3 inches(my wife hated that but it helped).

I hope I answered a couple of your questions, and good luck with your treatments. :)

Is this something that I have probably had for a while and just didnt know. I cant think of anything recent which would have caused it. I had surgery and have been taking it real easy. In fact I went in to get upper Gi done to check for Ulcer because I had REALLY bad cramps while on Motrin - since I stopped the cramping has gone away other then tryin to pass the barium ( what fun!) other then that I have had minor reflux syptoms for almost 10 yrs. I guess I am just in shock since my Dr called and told me I have this.

Brian

Chances are if you have had reflux for 10 yrs, you have had the hiatal hernia for about the same time. It is the hiatal hernai which allows the reflux back up your esophagus. Not a real big things if you are willing to take the meds.

I found out that I have Hiatal Hernia about a month ago. My doc said that many people are born with it. But that makes me wonder what causes the symptoms just now. I am 27 and have had the worst acid reflux for about 5 years.
I've been on pretty much everything but I felt like the symptoms just got worse and worse. Finaly I went to see a GI doctor and found out what it was. She put me on Prevacid and so far it's like a new world. I haven't had heartburn since I've started. I still can't drink alcohol so much. But well....I'm learning to live with it.
I still do have the stomach gas all the time. Yuck. I used to get that lump in my throat. And I am on anxiety meds too. I hated that lump. I haven't had it since starting the new meds. oh and that horrible pain right under the breast bone. Did you ever feel like reaching in and just ripping out whatever was causing that pain?????
I do hope that you find some meds that work. My doc told me that if these meds didn't work we would consider surgery.
Keep us posted!
Ni

Since I have been chewing on this all day its really wigging me out. I kind of wish I did not know this as all I wanted to find out was if I have an ulcer which I dont. Been worrying all day. I am 35 and falling apart already..I am recovering from a Microdiscectomy right now as well and this was not news I needed.

Brian


Hi Brian..I have had a microdiscectomy 2 years ago. I am also suffering with pain right between my breast bone. I was on Opremazole but Doc recently changed it to Nexium 40mg a day..I dont think its helping much but hasnt got any worse. Im wondering if its a Hiatal hernia after reading this thread. My Doc says the pain is coming from my gullet but didnt say much else :confused: Im belching like a pig and have to ask someone to rub ny back when the pain comes on. Hope your feeling better after your microdiscectomy ;)

Have anyone of you ever had a breathing problem with the GERD and or the hiatal hernia, I have both, and I was not dx for years and over the years I had suffered with this breathing problem, it was like I had to yawn to take a deep breath, and this would go on for days and some time months, I swear I thought I was going to die.:eek:

I went to so many doctors and of course they all said I was depressed or had anxiety, they ran all kinds of test all were normal, then finally this one Doctor did an upper GI and said I had a hiatal hernia, well nothing was done after that, the Doctor said that a lot of people had them (Military Docs :mad: )

So I went on my way, I was still suffering from GERD symptoms I could not sleep a night cause I would wake up coughing up undigested food and bile, and I was still having breathing problems, finally about a year ago, had a different Doc I told him my problems and he said I had GERD and that was why I was having my breathing problem, I could have kissed him, so he put me on ACIPHEX, I took it for a few days and my all my sx disappeared, I was so happy.

But now I have been dx with gastroparesis which is nerve damage in the stomach, the doctors did a test something Nuclear, where I ate an egg sandwich with Nuclear meds in it and put me under an x-ray machine to see how long it took my stomach to digest, well it was too long, so they are saying I have gastroparesis.

I hope this might shed some light for someone who might have this breathing problem, cause it is so awful to have.

Some of you may want to see a chiropractor or physical therapist massage therapist. Believe it or not.
The hiatal hernia is basically the top of the stomach protruding up or through the diaphram. There are different degrees to this, and yes many people do have this. It is upward pressure on the diaphram caused by many things including posture, muscle tone etc.
if yours is not severe, requiring immediate surgery, and most of them dont. You could consider the manual manipulation. This is a simple procedure in which you inhale while the therapist pushes or massages the organs away from the diaphram. Usually someone will belch loudly after this procedure, but ive seen it help many people. It would also help with the breathing issue as you are slowly massaging the stomach away from the diaphram.

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth to what everyone else has said. I have Gastritis, Hiatal Hernia, Esophageal varicies and have had lots of ulcers, now just have a cyst in my stomach (non cancerous).

You need to go to a Gastroenterologist and not a family dr. That is their specialty. The dr. will probably give you a upper endoscopy and possibly a colonoscopy (lower colon). This will show very clearly what is wrong with your digestive system.

If you take Nexium, take it in the am, 1 hour before eating or drinking anything and before taking anyother pills. Posture helps a great deal, in making gerd, indigestion, acid reflux or whatever go away. Especially if you sit up straight for about 2 hours after you eat. No laying down after meals, for 2 - 3 hours.

What you eat and drink can greatly affect whether or not you get bad stomach pain especially the kind that feels like you are having a heart attack. Especially what you eat at night. Meats are very hard on me. And no alcohol and hardly any caffeine.

Also, stress and anxiety can make your indigestion worse or make it start in the first place! And wearing loose pants/shorts. Ones with elastic make your stomach feel better.

Go to a Gastro dr. and get some help. Also read some books about this at the library. That will help too. This kind of pain really does hurt. And I have (in the past) also felt like carving out my stomach/chest area!!!

Take care all and I hope you get full or almost full relief!!

Wannabe