Hiatus hernia symptons - Hernia Message Board

stprdi · 08-24-2002, 11:25 AM

This same thing has been happening over the past year, just getting worse. What was eye opening was the pain that sat me straight up in bed one night. It was in my upper abd/chest. It subsided after 30 min. Thought it was a heart attack. After that lots of stomach stuff. Now have this constant pressure in upper abd, get a fist sized lump that sort of spasms in the same area, can only eat a little then I feel full and uncomfortable, pressure/tightness in my throat. Burping. Some acid reflux. Doc has wondered about hernia/gerd. No confirmation but I take Cimetidine. Don't know if it really helps and I've been under alot of stress for the past 1-2 years. Could this be a hernia and what would make it better or go away.

Katie G · 08-24-2002, 07:39 PM

Hi, stprdi. Your symptoms sound very much like GERD with significant reflux. I suffered this for years, and could swear I was having a heart attack with the pain. I've had yearly endoscopies since about 1997 when it was discovered in '97 that I had GERD. In '99 during a routine endoscopy, biopsies revealed early stages of Barrett's. Don't let your symptoms go, because my Barrett's was a red flag that could be pre-cancerous. In 2001, I ended up having fundoplication surgery to correct the GERD and protect me (hopefully) from developing cancer of the esophagus. Luckily for me, my latest endo (June '02) revealed much less inflamation and no Barrett's. I won't need another endo now for 2 years. Prior to my fundo surgery, the doc told me I also had a small hiatal hernia, but when he performed the fundo surgery, he told me later that the hernia was actually much larger than he thought.

So for your own health and to lessen your suffering, please keep going to your doctor. Have you started any PPI drugs like Prilosec or Nexium? Has your doc done an endoscopy to actually look at the damage from reflux? The only way to correct a hernia is through surgery. Please get an endoscopy done to rule out anything more serious than GERD, and find out what treatment options you have. You don't need to suffer.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Katie G

stprdi · 08-25-2002, 11:13 AM

I have been taking Cimetidine for a few months now but with little relief. Just in the last week or so I have had a real increase in pressure in the upper abd/throat. Seems to be more burning, ache and saliva too. So I got a sample of Pepcid Complete from the pharmacy and there was a big relief. I have heard of these complications before. Were you taking any medication prior to hearing about the Barretts? It's like pulling teeth in my area to get any testing. I plan on getting an appt. for sure this week. Have you ever heard if all this can cause shortness of breath? Makes sense I guess, the fullness etc pressing on the diagphragm.

Katie G · 08-25-2002, 06:30 PM

Hi, again. I was on 20mg of Prilosec starting in '97, and upped to 40mg in '99 after the Barrett's was discovered. It really did not help that much, so by 2001, I was ready to have surgery (the doc wanted me to have the surgery in '99 when the Barrett's was discovered, but I didn't want surgery at that time).

Although it didn't happen to me, I do know of other GERD sufferers who had the shortness of breath, and yeah, I think you're right - all the pressure & reflux can press on the diaphragm and lungs.

Please go back to your doctor and try to get an endoscopy scheduled. The Pepsid is fine for now, but you may need something stronger.

Good luck and keep me posted,
Katie G

stprdi · 08-25-2002, 11:04 PM

I don't think I can remember my throat feeling this tight. Feels like there's a huge lump in it and I'm swallowing lots, clearing it too. I read that exercise is no good for people with GERD. Great. I know my dance class aggravates my symptons, especially if I forget and eat before I go. My legs also get extremly weak and I'm short of breath in no time. I've been through alot of tests and I'm always normal. The doc mentioned this but hasn't put 2 and 2 together. Does this ever get better without surgery. I suppose stress doesn't help either and I"ve had my share of that in the past year. How would you know if it's getting to the critical point? Is that possible. I am making a doc appt. tomorrow.