Hiatus hernia: Hi everybody ... I have... - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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Hiatus hernia

Noel44 profile image
24 Replies

Hi everybody ... I have just been diagnosed with hiatus hernia ,that my stomach moves upward

My symptoms had been going on for a long time . I have been given Omeprazole , it help a bit .Especially the reflux .

But my chest is in pain , and the lump in the throat do not seem to go away ,very uncomfortable

plus I have what I have been told is throat catarrh . My sense of smell and test food has gone .

I feel blocked or congested

Can anyone familiar with these symptoms please advise me ?

I will appreciate it

Thanks

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Noel44 profile image
Noel44
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24 Replies

Hi I was diagnosed with a sliding hiatus hernia last year after 2 years of problems.I am oomeprazole too but don't give 100% relief.at A &E recently I was given Gaviscon as they thought it was flare up of hiatus hernia. I feel nauseous a lot of the time but that could be due to other conditions.hope you feel better soon and get something to help you.

fortunatus profile image
fortunatus in reply to

Similar symptoms on my part led to an initial diagnosis of hiatus hernia by my GP. A request to see a specialist gastroentorologist led to the discovery of a tumour on the oesophagus. I don't want to be alarmist, but I would counsel further investigation.

in reply tofortunatus

My gP referred me to gastro but due to a computer blip he didn't have the referral letter so wouldn't consider anything.went back to Dr who I thought was arranging another appointment but turned out she just emailed him.bit angry at not being given the chance to see gastro for myself instead of him looking thru my notes and making a decision on them .I contacted the consultant myself but his secretary just said he won't reply to insecure emails..no letter from him either.going to email him again and maybe get an appointment.

chrisrob profile image
chrisrob

All those symptoms sound all too familiar for many of us.

Hiatus hernia is very common. It can restrict the operation of the lower oesophageal sphincter exacerbating reflux.

Reflux may be responsible for chest pain (though the doctors will need to check your heart). Reflux may also aspirate into the respiratory system. The cricopharyngeus muscle of the upper oesophageal sphincter can spasm attempting to prevent reflux here giving the lump in the throat feeling. It can also be the cause of the other symptoms you describe.

From my earliest childhood I experienced these symptoms. It wasn't until I was 50 when my doctor suggested the reflux coming up my oesophagus may be entering my airways that I finally understood the cause.

Read about the mechanism of extra-oesophageal reflux here: sites.google.com/site/downw...

Although there are medicines that help with acid, they may not help with reflux. Gaviscon helps a bit by forming a raft on top of the stomach contents to hold it down. You need to make sure you don't overfill your stomach by eating little and often, leave at least 3 hours between last meal and bed and raise the head of the bed by 6 to 8 inches.

Noel44 profile image
Noel44 in reply tochrisrob

#chrisrob

Thank you so much for your reply it has helped me so much to understand my illness and given me many answers I did not understand .

The link you sent is very good and it explain all my symptoms

ie ''silent reflux'' irritation to my voice box

hoarseness and sore throat

dizziness

dry eyes

catarrh

asthma like symptoms

Etc ....

Please if you have more infos about the treatment get in touch

The loss of sense of taste and smell may (or may not) be connected with reflux. Hiatus hernias can be repaired surgically, and it may well be worthwhile asking for this to be considered. On one hand it is an operation; on the other, the prolonged exposure to reflux won't do you any good.

Noel44 profile image
Noel44

Thank you all for your kind replies guys

I hope to continue learning more from you in the future

gutlesswonder profile image
gutlesswonder

Hopefully you are just at the beginning of the trail. At the other end lies death from oesophageal cancer.

A path that most of us on this site are all too familiar with.

Early intervention will arrest your passage before it is too late.

With the Government now rewarding GPs financially for NOT referring patients to hospital for further investigation you may have to fight hard.

It sounds as if you have already been waltzed around disgracefully.

Be prepared to play the medical negligence card if there is no rapid corrective action by the requisite authority.

Noel44 profile image
Noel44 in reply togutlesswonder

#gutlesswonder

I have already seen a gastroenterologist specialist after fighting so hard with my GP for a referral . The specialist sent me to have an endoscopy where the hiatus hernia was diagnosed .

But I have not received yet a follow up appointment to see the specialist, it is now 2 months since the endoscopy results . My GP prescribe me Omeprazole which I am taking now . He says my hiatus hernia is only 3 cm . So I am still waiting to see the specialist , I want to ask many questions because my symptoms has been going on for many years and only now I have ideas what it was about . The Omeprazole that am taking only calm the symptoms down and I can not miss a doze otherwise I am in trouble !!!

gutlesswonder profile image
gutlesswonder in reply toNoel44

Hi Noel44

Well done, you are further down the investigatory path than I had appreciated.

What worried me reading your history was when you said that you had experienced symptoms for many years.

In case you don't already know -----

The tissue (skin) which lines the stomach is specially evolved to resist the powerful cocktail of acid and enzymes which are excreted to breakdown and start digesting your food.It achieves this protection mostly by secreting a thick, gloopy layer of mucus which also contains neutralisers.

The stomach is connected to the throat by a long thin tube, the gullet (eosophagus).

Where the bottom of the eosophagus joins the top of the stomach there is a valve (the lower eosophageal sphincter - LES) whose job it is is to prevent anything from the stomach leaking back up the eosophagus.

Nature has not done a terribly good job of designing the lower eosophageal sphincter and it often fails to seal properly. One of the most common reasons for this dysfunction is an hiatus hernia.

When the LES valve malfunctions stomach contents gets squeezed up past it into the eosophagus [and all the way up into your throat, mouth, lungs; if you are asleep, lying down].

The tissue which lines the lower eosophagus just above the LES, does not have any protective properties like the stomach lining.

When these unprotected lining cells experience the action of stomach contents they "are fooled into thinking wow we should try and change into stomach lining cells"

This process of induced change is called hyperplasia, which, if the stimulus is strong enough for long enough can progress on to dysplasia and, in turn, in a small percentage of sufferers the cells then go on to become cancerous.

I had my hernia at aged 17 (from a bicycle accident) and was diagnosed with eosophageal carcinoma aged 47 - so the erosive changes took place over 30 years.

The changes mentioned above produce altered appearance and it is the function of an endoscopy to allow a visual inspection. If any changes are apparent a small sample(s) will be snipped out (a Biopsy). The tissue sample so collected will be sent to the pathology laboratory for microscopic examination. That examination will determine the extent, if any of hyper/dys-plasia changes in the cells.

If there are changes in the cell structure then this syndrome is called Barretts Eosophagus.

Frequently the endoscopic examination is recorded on video to enable review and comparison later. You could ask to be shown yours.

Did your endoscopy report include the results of the Path Lab examination?

If negative then you have little to worry about excepting putting in place measures to prevent any further deterioration and, of course dealing with the hernia. If positive then, depending upon the staging a wait and watch programme will be put in place.

Do bear in mind that the staging diagnosis, if any, is difficult and depends upon the skill and experience of the Pathologist. If there is any equivocation then you may want to consider requesting a second opinion. [I speak with a smattering of experience having been given that task as a medical student many, many years ago!]

Two months seems to be a long time to leave you dangling in suspense.

If you want a comprehensive overview of the subject then send off a donation for the free publication here -

DownWithAcid.org.uk

Noel44 profile image
Noel44 in reply togutlesswonder

# gutlesswonder

Thank you so much for your post just finished to read it all .

Let me wait to see my specialist , you have given me ideas of questions to ask .

deveretth profile image
deveretth

I have the same diagnosis in the USA. it's Cancer. The Hospital took

me off Omeprazole. One Doctor described "old style" pharmaceuticals.

it made me sick. I am also Anemic and my Hemoglobin level is low.

I was perscribed Iron Supplement Ferrous Sulfate 325 mg 3 times a

day. it makes me totally sick. Now i am inquiring about Time Release

Iron Supplements and there are detailed foods that are Iron Fortified

that maybe better than the direct release pill? I did two Endoscopies

with biopsis. and last week i did an Endoscopy UltraSound. it details

what you don't see. Cancer or no Cancer internal bleeding maybe your

issues. What causes that? I was told it's NOT a Death Sentence, but if this

is true I'm going to be sick. I am David on Long Island NY. Let me know

if you can follow me what becomes of your situation and i'll tell you

what they do here?

David

deveretth@gmail.com

gutlesswonder profile image
gutlesswonder in reply todeveretth

Hello David

See my post above to Noel44.

You're right - it's not a death sentence but it is a life sentence and it takes quite a bit of managing.

First things first - to establish the cause of your iron depletion

Has a stool sample been tested for internal bleeding?

Has the type of carcinoma been determined from the two biopsies?

When will they attempt staging the carcinoma?

What age are you/weight/general health status/any other health problems you feel able to share?

deveretth profile image
deveretth in reply togutlesswonder

Hi i was wondering how i might get response? Iron depletion i am

perscriped Ferrous Sulfate 325 mg 3 times a day. it's been making

me sick. I am investigating a Slow Release Iron Supplement. it is

associated with Low Hemoglobin levels. In the Hospital my Hemoglobin level was 7.6 it required 3 units of Iron and 4 units of Blood Transfusion. Which put me up into the 9 + level 12 being normal. What's going on? The Doctor said Internal Bleeding. There's a wound 3/4 of the way down the Esophagus. and a leision in my upper stomach with a Mass of 10 cm. 2 weeks ago my Hemoglobin level was 9.4. This week it dropped to 8.6. Well this past Friday i had an Endoscopy Ultrasound at Stony Brook Medical Center on Long Island. The Doctor said there's no Bleeding. Not specifically understanding how i have deteriorated? Next week i am going to have a Cat Scan to site where the problem is located if surgery is required? Curious my stools since i have returned from the Endoscopy Ultrasound are Brown. The Pathology from the Endoscopy is Cancer it's called Adenocarcinoma with Signet Ring features. I am turning into an old man at 60 still a youthful person. Previous to this problem i weighed 215 lbs at 5'9". i was fitness fit and looked good for this medium size person. i love looking like a French Hippy with years of growing hair. I started getting sick in April and now weigh 165 lbs. Obviously i cut my hair realizing who i was going to deal with are Conservative. And now contemplating a different Monk style to shave my head? I use to be this weight as a skinny runner. I like the larger weight. And of course i want to be an athletic team this sickness may have ruined that opportunity for me as an older man? I am not specifically certain about anything with my situation yet?

In the UK what kind of Oncology and Surgical solutions are organized?

Another day i will tell you what i fear.

David

Debbweb01 profile image
Debbweb01 in reply todeveretth

Hi Deveretth I live in franklin square LINY IT says we r 17 miles away I have APS my whole lifetime! Just recently DX'd in October! Lost my leg in January 7,2015 and going thru same thing in right leg now due to improper coagulation by my Long Island Hemotologist of 13 years being treat for even rarer blood disease cald PV/POLYCYTHEMIA VERA! They call my blood sludge and was treated with one whole aspirin a day obviously not enuf! No I'm DX'd with CAPS/ CATOSTROFIC APS! So sorry to hear u hav cancer! I've had 6 stomach operations 5 in 5 years, then in July of 2015? Had a aurora lockable and doc just thought another hernia and decided to let E suffer over weeken! On Sunday I couldn't stand the pain and by the time I got there was throwing up profusely and tubed immediately and was told had one mor day to live! Had emergency surgery and then did with APS! I often wondered if my stomach problems related to MY APS ??? Probably right??? I wish you aHAPPY AND MISTLY HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!! Please keep in touch! LET ME JNOW HIW UR DOING WIT ESOPHAGUS CA! GODSPEED

deveretth profile image
deveretth in reply toDebbweb01

I am going through Radiaton treatment and Chemotherapy

with Taxol and Carboplatin. The problem for me is loosing so

much weight. I'm trying to eat all the time and gain weight

again.

I don't know where Franklin Square is located. I'll look it up on

a map.

Keep a good attitude and remember Love is the Best.

David

deveretth@gmail.com

Debbweb01 profile image
Debbweb01 in reply todeveretth

Awe thx Deveretth! You r very kind ! I live on Long Island, New York and I'll be going to Hospital For Special Surgery to a Dr. DORUK EKRAM! He's a Rheumotologist, the only one in USA THAT runs a special clinic at a very well known Hospital right here in NYC! I see him on the 28 of January! I'm so lucky to live in the Greater New York area! God Bless You Dear Deveretth and ya Love is everything!!! GODSPEED

fortunatus profile image
fortunatus

Dear Noel

Everything in "Gutless Wonder's" (not sure about the nom de plume", though) detailed exposition is spot on. But what about the biopsy following examination by your gastroenterologist?- have you had results definitively excluding oesophageal cancer? If so, conventional treatment should see you right. Best of British in any case.

Noel44 profile image
Noel44 in reply tofortunatus

# fortunatus

I am afraid I have not yet received an appointment to go back to see my gastroenterologist and it has been 2 months since my endoscopy results . I do not know why . I am taking Omeprazole my GP prescribed me .

When I get to see the specialist I will ask about the biopsy I just don't know when

deveretth profile image
deveretth in reply toNoel44

I think you have to be proactive and pursue the Doctor not wait for

them to contact you. Those offices are all really busy all the time.

Call the doctor up they will discuss the endoscopy with an appointment. If biopsis were taken it's important to learn the

pathology as soon as possible. One of my Doctors expressed concern

for the medication perscribed. She talked about "old style pharmaceuticals" which included Omeprazole. Taking it made me

sick. it was then cancelled.

fortunatus profile image
fortunatus

Dear Noel,

Gosh! You really do need to know. The delay is unacceptable. Surely someone can expedite things, like your GP.

Noel44 profile image
Noel44

Hiatus Hernia

Hi everybody , I hope you are all well

So as I told you one month or so earlier , I was diagnosed with hiatus hernia and the discomfortness is still there . I am prescribed by my GP 4 Omeprazole a day 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening . I have been taking them since I was diagnosed but it only reduce the discomfort . My chest is painful , a lump in the throat permanent and asthma like symptoms you know , really an nightmare .

I have just discovered that 2 of my cousins had it too ( Hiatus hernia ) They tell me the only way to get rid of it permanently , is through surgery of wich they had , and 3 years on they doing perfectly . But my GP tells me mine is only 3 cm sliding upward so I do not need surgery !! My cousin who got his fixed abroad says it was the same with him , it only slided 3 cm but they Operated it for him .

Is our nhs trying to save money here ? I wonder .

My day to day life is so affected including my job and I am sure if I went private they could fix it for me in a minute , but unfortunately I can not afford it !!

If I went private it is £ 2000 .

Please let me know what you think

Aftab1 profile image
Aftab1 in reply toNoel44

Hi sir I had endoscopy done two months ago been dignoze 2 cm haital hernia my symthoms cant sleep nusa vomiting stumoch pain Sometime burning pain no madication work if I don't take madication it's worse I don't want to take madication rest of my life where did your cousin went for surgery many thanks waiting for reply I'm in abroad at the movement they do they surgery here about 1000 pound but I prefer England thanks

Calla-Jade profile image
Calla-Jade

I also have a hatius hernia. I'm in constant pain in my chest and in my back in between my shoulder blades, always have heart burn can't catch my breathe. Doctor taken a biopsy today. Does this sound like it could be cancer on my report it says something about lacerations and eroded esophagus also a hatius hernia. Sliding. ??

Thanks calla x

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