Hiatus Hernia

[weegmack]

Anyone else have a hiatus hernia? I’m quite anxious because I’m in a lot of pain just now. I’m assuming it’s the hernia, but my GP told me it shouldn’t give me much pain 🙄. My pain is right in the middle of my chest, just below my boobs (sorry). So I’m assuming that’s where the hernia would be. If I press down on where my actual stomach is (not my abdomen), it’s tender. I can still eat, but I have heartburn and acid stomach.

I also have had 3 tiny gallstones for some years now and when scanned, my gallbladder was healthy.

I’ve been under a severe amount of stress lately so I’m wondering if this is because of that. Xx

[misty14]

Hi wee gmail

Sorry to read your in a lot of pain with a hiatus hernia and gallstones. Just wondering if you've been prescribed a medicine like omeprazole which is a stomach protector and would help your symptoms of acid stomach etc. ?. If your chest pain suddenly worsens then it might be good to get it checked out at A&E just in case as pain can be very similar for both. Hope your better soon X

[weegmack in reply to misty14]

Hey there. Yes, I have Nexium and Kolanticon. I suffer a lot with reflux. This is worse than I’ve ever had it. I’m not having the characteristic pains into my back or shoulder. Just feel like I’m burning alive inside and have intermittent stabbing pains slightly to the right hand side. I’m keeping tabs on the chest pain - if I feel worse, I will be going to A&E for sure. I doubt I’ll be getting much sleep tonight 😕

[misty14 in reply to weegmack]

Is it possible to increase the dosage of your medication just to get you thru this rough patch?. Generalised anxiety disorder can be treated by drugs like Gabapentin or Pregabalin. Stress is a big trigger for your conditions so hopefully when that gets better your symptoms will improve!. I'm sorry your suffering so much. It's good you've adjusted your diet as it will make a difference. I do hope things improve for you.X

[chirpyandcheerful in reply to weegmack]

Hi

I’ve been diagnosed recently with a HH and must have been suffering from the symptoms for a year or so. I too get pain in my right side and was checked for gallstones but it’s all clear. I don’t suffer reflux or other typical symptoms but I get also get burning pain and pain down my left side if it has popped through the diaphragm. But I’ve had my spleen and liver checked too and they’re clear.

I thought that as I’d had gastritis for 12mths, it was just mild stomach inflammation continuing. I went on Ranitidine for 8 weeks with no relief. I had an endoscopy last week & my stomach is normal - no gastritis, redness or inflammation. The Dr told me I have a small 3cm HH and to lose weight to alleviate the pressure my stomach is placing on it. I’m only 5-10kg overweight but I have reduced my meal size this week and already it’s eased off.

Have you tried eating smaller meals?

[weegmack in reply to chirpyandcheerful]

Hey there. I’ve been eating small meals for a long time 😕. But I’m a bit overweight. I’ve had a long period of terrible depression and I’ve just stopped walking and exercising. Stress is a big factor in life just now.

It’s been a bit better lately - but I have no idea why! Xx

[chirpyandcheerful in reply to weegmack]

Okay. Yes, a low mood can make my HH seem more sensitive because I tend to focus on it more. I’m glad you’re feeling better. Long may it continue 😊

[DizzyDoll36]

I sympathise- I have the same symptoms right now and was told after a scan I had numerous small gallstones. My GP said they were very common and shouldn’t cause any pain! He also diagnosed “dyspepsia “ . I did take omeprazole for a while some years ago but would prefer to try a natural remedy as i can be symptom free for several weeks then get a flare up lasting a couple of days. Don’t know what foods cause it. I haven’t had any hospital tests as I feel I should be able to manage it myself .....any suggestions are welcome.🤔

[weegmack in reply to DizzyDoll36]

Oh I’m sorry you’re suffering too 😕. I’ve read the hiatus hernia is also called “the great mimic”, because it can cause so many distressing symptoms. I feel really grim. I don’t have any pain in my back or shoulder and I feel like my actual stomach is on fire.

I have a feeling what has set it off for me this time has been severe anxiety and stress. I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder and I’m battling depression just now too. Something happened yesterday that had me in a right state and I woke up with this. So maybe that’s why I feel so awful. I have one of those GP practices that is overwhelmed with patients and I dread having to phone them as the receptionists are really grumpy. So I’m now getting worked up about that 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄.

I hope you feel better. I was always told to watch saturated fats with gallbladder problems, but I’m a bit confused as my gallbladder was healthy and I just had three little stones. My darling husband is being his usual unsympathetic self. He works in pharma and thinks he’s a doctor. So he’s being horribly impatient with me and insisting it’s “just the hernia” and there’s nothing wrong with me gallbladder. Oh to be such a know-it-all, huh? Xx

[TrustnGod]

Hello weegmack. I’ve had a hiatal hernia for 9 years now it is the absolute worst. My GI has told me that it can’t cause symptoms but it has proven otherwise. I get really bad chest pains with it that can present as anything from a stabbing pain to an intense tightness. Sometimes the pain even shoots down my arm which, as you can imagine, is terrifying.

Have you tried changing your diet? For me, it didn’t matter how much medicine I took, I was never feeling 100% better so I had to change my diet. I can’t have anything with tomatoes in it, and nearly all sauces aggravate it (soy, teriyaki etc.) Spicy, sweet and sour foods also aggravate it so I’m stuck having a bland diet. But this doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the foods that I can’t have in moderation. I like to treat myself anywhere form once a month to a couple of times a month, and I’m always fine afterwards. From experience, having a bland diet for a while can really calm the hernia down and then you’ll be able to go about eating those yummy foods more often and having a less bland diet. And just for clarification purposes, a while means a good year or so.

Hope you feel better!

~Lia

[weegmack in reply to TrustnGod]

Thank you ❤️. It’s much milder this morning. I’ve already cut so much out of my diet - lowered my fat intake, avoid tomato anything, no wheat, low dairy....

However, I took a notion for Tomatoes this week and had some in a sandwich twice 😬😬. It could be that or the stress I’ve been under lately. I had a particularly difficult day on Wednesday and that’s when the pain started, ramping up to misery pain yesterday. Sigh. I’ll go beige diet today and see how I go. Xx

[TrustnGod in reply to weegmack]

How’d the beige diet go?

[weegmack in reply to TrustnGod]

Hey there, thanks for asking! Well, it certainly helped and I’m beginning to be able to eat other, less beige foods now! I’m pretty convinced most of this is stress and strain. Life isn’t so good just now, so I still wake up each day with chest pain and the hernia is still bothering me. I’m seeing my psychologist weekly and she has said I most likely have PTSD. So I’ve a lot to work though. Sending hugs to you xx

[billard761]

I've got one too but it doesn't bother me as I have changed my diet lei

[Minidriver]

Hi I had the same problem,ended up in hospital with the pain ,gaviscon is the miracle saviour , eventually I first had to have my gall bladder removed then a year later i had reflux surgery,don't get that pain anymore but still have the gaviscon near just incase 👍🏻 so your probably go down the same path ,I wish you luck 😁

[ValDee88]

I have a Hiatus Hernia. I also have had similar episodes of pain, which after much discussion with GP and 2 endoscopes has been diagnosed as gastritis. For me, it is very much stress related, I know where the pain is, what it feels like and what to do for me-also know its coming as my bra suddenly feels tight and as if its pressing on something! But this is me, everyone has different stressors and solutions, if you are in pain-go to your GP as anxiety is not helpful. Hope you get relief very soon.

[weegmack in reply to ValDee88]

Yes! The bra thing happens to me too. I’m seeing a psychologist just now because I’m really not well with anxiety and depression. I also have IBS and I think it makes the hiatus hernia worse. The pain is much milder this morning. I’ll take it easy with food and also physically easy today if I can. I feel it flares up over the weekend, I’m going to call the out-of-hours service. My GP surgery is hopeless - understaffed and overwhelmed with all the new house building in my town. There’s no point in me calling for an appointment today as I won’t get one 😕. Xx

[Smartie55 in reply to ValDee88]

See I have this pain and when my bra feels tight I have to undo it

[holdinfoldin]

Hi all i came here originally for my daughter who is having all sorts of tests for severe bloating (ibs, thanks for all the useful info ) and happened on this post for hiatus hernia. Basically for a heads up for the future, i am male and nearly 62 i have had the hernia since childhood and it obviously just got bigger and bigger (just made me look fat in a t shirt) but i was never in any real pain i just suffered with heartburn sometimes which was tolerable with medicine . 18 months ago decided to have the operation where they push it back in and cover it with some kind of gauze, within 2 weeks the hernia was back and is now worse than it was before as i belive the gauze has moved and makes the hernia look even bigger than before, while i was in the waiting room i spoke with another gentlemen who was in for his 3rd attempt at fixing his hernia, i may try again i may not, basically my point being don't rush to get the hernia sorted if not really needed it may sound daft but mine was probably more cosmetic but actually turned out worse. i hope i haven't spoilt anyones day. keep up the good work on here. cheers

[FRreedman]

Hi, I can only reiterate what everyone else seems to be saying. Tone down all the fiery food, take some form of indigestion remedy (Gaviscon, Omeprazole etc), and also do not lay flat on your bed, but keep your head raised high, almost like a sitting position. (I use 5 pillows). I would also ask your GP to refer you for some tests, just to make sure that the "heartburn" isn't burning too much else. Remember when you feel the burning, part of your oesophagus is being burnt.

[Italian321]

Wondered how you got on I hope you were able to resolve it. Sounds like my situation pain on the left side all my tests have been negative cat mri etc now the doctor thinks it could be a sliding hiatus hernia I’ve been taking omeprazole on and off for eight years. I decided to stop it. Don’t get much acid just a lot of trapped air. Same place as your pain. Pain bad enough that I have to lie down.Hope yours was resolved any advice would be great many thanks.

[weegmack in reply to Italian321]

Hey there. I think I was so severely stressed that my hernia was constantly in the “up” position. It eventually calmed down.....though I was careful with food. So I ate little and often, went easy on anything too spicy. I’ve found a hot water in the morning with breakfast to be really helpful.

I have a medicine called Kolanticon Gel, which is like an old-fashioned chalky medicine and it really helps me. Are you in the UK? Xx

[Italian321 in reply to weegmack]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I’m actually in Italy for a few weeks. Hubby Italian. I had a real flareup before I left UK had stress for 12 months bit like yours. Haven’t been able to eat anything here no pasta coffee cream tomatoes chocolate nothing really I tried stopping the omeprazole and I think after six days the acid has built up. Today I decided to take 40 mg for a week. Lying here with really bad acid. Usually, and for the last three years, I’ve had no acid whatsoever . Although taking the omeprazole and an assortment of other PPI s, no acid but the pain in the chest as you des.cribedThat goes from the chest on the left round to the back sometimes the back more than the front. No way could I wear a bra. Had CAT scan MRI endoscopy allsorts of tests and everything came back negative. Digestive disease specialist discharged me. I thought it had gone but with really bad stress It came back first of August. Oh how do you know it’s a hernia, my doctor just thought it might be a sliding hernia I can’t actually feel anything. But if I bend down the pain is worse. It’s such a disappointment and frustration isn’t it when you get that burning pain although before I didn’t realise it was burning I thought it was just a pain. Sorry to go on really appreciate knowing I’m not alone, it’s made such a difference. I’m in Sussex. Wishing you well with your problems. And lots of hugs and good wishes. Thanks again. Go back home in 10 days. Will see the doctor then and see if she’ll get a hernia diagnosed. Many thanks

[Lissymae]

Hi yes I also have a hiatus hernia and Barrett’s oesophagus due to my hernia and any advice I could give just ask