Hiatal Hernia Support Group

Had my endoscopy today which was a really smooth procedure. Twilight sedation and I don't remember a thing! Moderate Hiatal Hernia was confirmed and had esophageal as well as stomach biopsies done. Should get biopsy results within a week. I am SO relieved that something was found and I wasn't sent home with another mystifying "all clear."

Hi Again, just reading the posts...................

One thing I wanted to add was this. Since the hernia forces an actual change in the way the organs are positioned - ie, esophogus is up 1-2 inches, stomach out of diaphram, diaphram expands left to right from force of stomach poking through, all the sypmtoms, I believe, are from this repositioning of the internal organs, which is very unnatural !!!

So yes, walking, the pressure, lump feelings, I get all those too. I think that pressure feeling is gas building up as , especially being on the Proton Pump Inhibitors, the stomach now has only about 10% of the digestive juice it had before, and the body DOES NOT break down food properly anymore, so there is huge gas build up as the enzymes try to break up the food which normally, would be done by 100% of your digestive juice. That is the only problem with PPI's (I am on Pantaloc for mine). and I notice HUGE gas problem due to this, pressure etc, as you mention.

But, we need to reduce the digestive acid so the esophogus does not get weakend or ruined because of the hernia, because the valve no longer works.

So it is 6 of one, half dozen of the other as the story goes.

I personally do not like the way doctors "play down" a hiatial hernia, as this lady states, IT IS EMOTIONALLY DRAINING, depressing, painful, and completely changes your life.

I feel like saying to my doctor "IF YOUR STOMACH WAS POPPING OUT OF YOUR DIAPHRAM, YOUR ESOPHOGUS PUSHED UP 2 INCHES BENDING IN YOUR CHEST, AND YOUR STOMACH BEING PINCHED IN THE DIAPHRAM WITH REDUCED BLOOD FLOW TO THE STOMACH........I THINK YOU WOULD BE DEPRESSED TOO !!!!"

They just don't get it.

Anyway, sorry to go on and on, but just to let you know, your symptoms are "normal" for somebody with hiatial hernia. And yes, it is very depressing.

Since I found out I had mine I do go for a lot of walks and try to stay calm, it seems to help. Eat SMALL meals.

Hope that helps, good luck, let us know how you are !!!
:)

Hi Stephanie!

wow, I see you DID get the scope and have the Hernia !

At least you found out.

I had the scope but still to see my doctor this Friday and they going over the results, they may send me for Barium Swallow I think (just a guess) to see if the LES valvue is working ok.

glad you found out ! what else did they tell you? re how to look after it?

LOC.

I found out, but that's all I came away with. Twilight sedation. So when it was all over I talked with the Dr. but I don't remember anything. They also took some biopsies. Basically I am to continue with the prilosec, avoid excessive lifting or straining and call back on Friday for biopsy results.

I have done a lot of research online to try and educate myself. I've made a lot of changes based on this and I am definitely finding some relief. Things are not as bad as they were, however they aren't exactly "normal" either. I am able to eat well now and actually have had QUITE an appetite. I walk after dinner. Don't lay down for at least three hours. Drink lots of water. Upped fiber and cut back on fat. It's helping.

Hi all well I have lately been having days where the symptoms have gone away. I can then get a flare up the next day of intense pain,mostly from the gastritis. I know though that the pain can settled down I just wish it would go away all together. Ive got stress too as Ive been on benefit and now may lose it,due to new testing. Im getting too much pain to get a job so don,t know what to do there. Anyway you can look up some websites About.com and put in about GERD and also medhelp.org. I find too that I have to use the PPIs and leave it a bit then take Gaviscon. I can,t just have one or the other for the GERD. I hope this helps. I have a job keeping off caffeine and hate cutting out coffee and chocolate. Also I have to limit sweets and fatty foods. I know one thing though that you can,t cope with it without any meds.
By the way before I had my gallbladder out I was getting pain under my left ribcage. They say that you get the pain on the right with gallstones but mine was on the left mostly. You could get a scan to check the gallbladder too.