Is a Hiatus hernia related to my systemic sclerosis?

[-missymoo]

Hello

I suffer with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Due to swallowing problems, heartburn and acid I had an endoscopy where they discovered a sliding hiatus hernia. Are these connected to the disease?

Many thanks

X

[Inamoment]

I think so. I had a stricture which is effectively the same. Three endoscopys to stretch it seems to be a permanent cure. Sphincter damage sorted by PPI's

[SelfLuv]

Hiatal hernias (as they are called in the US) are very common and are different than strictures. The "tube" that food travels down into your stomach with has to pass through our diaphragm to get there. So there's a small hole in the diaphragm normally so it can go from your mouth and down into your stomach. The diaphragm is a membrane that separates our chest from our abdomen. The "hernia" means part of your intestines/top of stomach can slide in and out, and back and forth across that opening/hole of your diaphragm. I cant recall the risk factors for them but like I said, its a lot more common than people think.

A stricture is a narrowing of the inside of the food tube enough that it can block food from going down or make it difficult to pass.

[pinkcat26]

I too have systemic sclerosis and had a hiatus hernia which was causing me such bad heartburn that medication could not control it. I had a repair which has cured the heartburn but as my swallowing is poor i can no longer eat certain foods. The consultant who did the repair took a long time to decide how tight a wrap he did, as he did not want to make it too tight.

[LucyJean]

Hi there, no, it is highly unlikely that the two will be connected. It is really really common to develop hiatus hernias as we get older. SelfLuv provides a good explanation for the form of hernia that you are describing. We can get hernias throughout the gut, often through weakness in the abdominal wall. They need to be treated as a problem in their own right. most of the time we have them and they go unnoticed.

All my best

Lucy xxx

[-missymoo in reply to LucyJean]

Thank you Lucy, you’re always so informative.

Everything I’ve read states mainly over 50’s, overweight etc I don’t fit into these categories. Typical me. Over 2 years I’ve had terrible acid and heartburn, food getting stuck in my chest. Been taking ranitidine and esomeprozole daily which helps with acid and heartburn but not swallowing.

I choke on foods in my throat, that surely wouldn’t be the hiatus hernia? Maybe the disease? I’m so confused by it all, one thing after another xx

[linda-l in reply to -missymoo]

Try kefir. 100% natural and really works well on your GI tract, putting back all the bacilli lost due to our type of illness.

Using the kefir grains is best but it's sold bottled in the Polish section of all supermarkets or Eastern European shops.

I had a week's Iloprost last week and was without my kefir and suffered terribly with my GI tract problems, but a few days home and back on kefir and it's much better.

Worth Googling for yourself.

[nanagill in reply to linda-l]

Hi Linda, I find your post very interesting. I'm having a bad time lately with acid stomach and Kefir sounds worth trying but after googling (as you do😁) it recommends caution if on immune suppressant meds. Can I ask if you are on such meds? Thank you in advance. 😊

[linda-l in reply to nanagill]

I'm not on immuno suppresants, but kefir is completely natural. It's recommended by doctors and hospitals though so, if you're concerned about it, you can ask them

It was featured on the BBC "Trust Me I'm a Doctor" about two years ago. I've been taking it for seven years, following my third bout if pneumonia because prolonged periods strong antibiotics wreaked havoc on my GI tract.

It boosts the immune system.

Hope this helps as I know the misery you're going througj

[nanagill in reply to linda-l]

That's very reassuring. Sounds like it's worth a try. Thanks so much for your very prompt reply xx

[Mylomydog in reply to LucyJean]

Hi lucy.I too have limited cutaneous scleroderma and one of my most distressing symptoms is difficulty swallowing and food getting stuck in the throat which causes an automatic panic but my friend has a hiatus hernia but no auto immune diseases so don't think they are related

[LucyJean]

Hi there, no, I am sure that the acid and heartburn, and food getting stuck, and problems with swallowing are scleroderma related. You get those regardless of having a hernia. The hernia is possibly a red herring that they found and thus want to try and explain all your symptoms with. These are more likely to be oesophagus issues related to scleroderma. I get all of the above and I don't have a hernia, and neither do lots of the other people on this site who with empathise with you and have the same issues too.

Lxxxx

[-missymoo in reply to LucyJean]

Thank you Lucy xx

[JessicaEccles6]

I feel it MUST be related to the scleroderma. I was diagnosed with an hiatus hernia as the age of 40, very underweight. The gastroentologist said I had a hernia worthy of an 70 year old.

[KatieAnna]

I have lots of oesophageal problems affecting my swallowing and have heart burn which is managed by Lansoprazol. It's all related to the Scleraderma, but I don't have a hiatus hernia. Choking on harder foods I think is caused by poor strength in the muscles for swallowing and poor coordination of the oesophagus opening. I'd definitely think the hiatus hernia is coincidental and not related to the SS. Hope you find a helpful consultant. Xxx

[-missymoo in reply to KatieAnna]

I think you’re right! I’m going to be having a PH and Manometry 24 hour test to check what’s happening. X

[UCTD]

Hi There,

I too have limited systemic sclerosis CREST, with reflux, oesophagitis and a hiatus hernia. I had an OGD a month ago, to confirm. Now on 80 mg Esmeprazole a day, bed risers and try not to eat after 7 pm. The find eating smaller meals help, avoiding chocolate, crisps, tomato,or any foods that “repeat”, symptoms have improved at present. It doesn’t help that I take over 20 tablets a day though! Feel better soon and try to self manage.

[overnighthearingloss]

I always felt that my hiatus hernia was caused by severe coughing fits due to acid and mucus in the throat.

I have recently found relief from acidity by drinking vegetable juice or by taking slippery elm or milk thistle.

I also find avoiding sugar flour and starchy foods help to control acid at the root.