Hernia Support Group

There are several kinds of hernias, but the all happen when pressure pushes an organ (often the intestine) through a weak spot in a muscle face or wall. Treatment for hernias can be no treatment, to medicines to surgery. Modern surgical methods to treat hernias are much improved over older techniques and recovery times are much shorter.

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poorlygir4l 12/29/2011

I have a hiatus hernia and gastritis. I have some reflux but not every day. I had a ph monitoring test and had a letter from my gastro. He said that I won't be getting the operation because my test doesn't show excess reflux. I don't understand it as I was having reflux during the test. I had a lot of pain too. Maybe the reflux is from the gastritis? I don't know what to do now. I just want rid of all this pain and reflux. I only have my PPI tablets and Gaviscon and they don't do much. Im fed up of suffering. Has anyone else been turned down for the op? How do you control all the pain? Im on Tramodol now for the bad pain. Some days it eases off then it just comes back. Why won't the gastros do something about hiatus hernias? I know these operations are not always safe. Im wondering how to cope with this as I don't want to stop eating and drinking certain foods for ever. Its so miserable this is. I can't sleep for the pain either.

deleted_user 12/30/2011

I know how you feel. my doctors are treating me like well, youll be ok. I live off lettuce sandwhiches and crackers...and crystal lite ;) i used to be so miserable. i lost 80 lbs very fast because even a cracker would give me awful acid indigestion. but now my doctors just keep giving me new meds and they are working slowly but i think you have to do everything possible to make yoursellf better if no one is going to do it for you. try massaging your stomach down. and NEVER BEND unless absolutly necessary! thats what i started and it has helped a lot! Good lluck!! if you need anything just message me, even just someone to talk to, believe me, i know its hard especially when it feels like it will never get better :) are you on any meds?

poorlygir4l 01/16/2012

Hi how are you now? Im getting a lot of pain. I find it very difficult not to bend down. The pain comes on in a morning when I eat. I have very little reflux but the pain keeps coming back. I might get one day when it lessens then its back. Im fed up. Some days I can eat a dinner and some days not. Im very miserable,I need to see my gastro as I don't know if they are doing more tests or not. I don't know if the pain is the gastritis or the hiatus hernia at times. Does the hernia hurt you? Is yours getting better? Thanks

deleted_user 02/23/2012

How do you massage your stomach down?

deleted_user 02/23/2012

What are ph tests?

Today is my first time here, so I have a lot of questions

poorlygir4l 03/02/2012

Hi honey what are your symptoms? What meds are you on? Im on two Pantoprazole a day now but it has been getting a lot worse. I still have reflux. The ph testing is where they put a tube down into your oesophaghus,its connected to a monitor box to record reflux. It records whether its acid or alkali or whatever coming up. You have proberly looked it up by now. The hospital does it over a 24 hour period and you write down what you eat,when you sleep etc and then you go back. The hospital records your results and then you know if you have a lot of reflux. You proberly get the op Nissen fundoplication after that to tighten the lower oesophagheal spincter. They are not operating on me. I could do with getting rid of the hiatus hernia. I don,t know now what to do. It just keeps flaring up and its horrible.

deleted_user 04/04/2012

hey everyone, well since then i have had my gallbladder removed! and all of my symptoms have gone away too! I was doing a lot of research and lots of people get misdiagnosed with Hiatal Hernias and Gerd when really they have a bad gallbladder or gall stones! so i got mine checked and they found i had stones, they took mine out a week later (which is now 3 weeks ago) and i cant believe the difference! whats weird is that gallbladder symptoms include heartburn, acid reflux, nausia, sickenss after eating, pain after eating on right side or on shoulderblade. The only thing i felt was the heartburn and acid reflux. thats why they kept giving me antacids and stuff and they said i had a small HH. but anyway, im able to eat now! cant wait to make a full recovery! You should have your checked too, it couldnt hurt!! oh, and there are YOUtube videos that show you how to massage down a hiatal hernia!

poorlygir4l 04/04/2012

Hi erikahed99 Im glad you are a lot better. Well most of my symptoms now are from gastritis. Ive had my gallbladder out in October 09. Since I had my gallbladder out Ive had acid reflux and oesophaghitis and gastritis. It could be bile reflux which you can get after gallbladder removal. I don,t know how much of my symptoms is the hiatus hernia. Im not too bad some days and can eat better then it flares up and really hurts. I can,t wait for it all to get better as its agony. My gastro said it should do but Ive suffered now for over two and a half years with my stomach. Anything that improves things is great,do you drink coffee now? Coffee and my stomach don,t mix,its painful. At one time I could tolerate coffee but now it flares it up.

deleted_user 04/05/2012

ya know, i dont really like to test it or push it too much! i still stay away from all of the things they sugested before, the only difference is i eat comfortable. i eat healthier and i feel better. i still take ant acids and ocasionally i feel a little heartburn but it is not bad.

krsone 04/25/2012

I'm in the same boat as you, Poorlygir4l. I've had the ph test and it said I was normal. However I have excruciating pain nearly 24-7 for the last 4 months...longest "episode" ever. Just saw my doc and since I haven't had a upper GI for about 5 years they want to do another one and see how large my hiatal hernia is and/or if I'm having esophageal spasms.

As for what I do for the pain, I have hydrocodone, but I don't want that to be a solution. I take one 5mg pill about 2-3 times a week because I don't want to get hooked.

poorlygir4l 04/25/2012

Hi krsone well Ive got bad pain today. I keep thinking that I have some reflux coming up. Last night it felt like something was stuck down there. I did have some reflux up. I keep thinking that if they fixed the hiatus hernia then I would be ok. Theres so much that I don,t eat or drink anymore Im fed up. Its always upper stomach too not below. I hope you get some answers too. I see the gastro again in May. I don,t know what they will do. They suggested taking 3 PPIs a day but I still get pain on two. What do you take? Painkillers are not the answer. I have my tramodol but I don,t want to keep taking them. Keep me posted. Ive been in the most pain since about last October and am getting only the odd day of relief.

deleted_user 05/17/2012

I am sorry the comments show there are alot of people in pain tith H Hernia and GERD as i know how you feel.
I was diagnosed 2 years ago and am still waiting for the tiniest little pill to help me. Have been to GP today AGAIN and nothing offered even though she herself commented i have had nothing as yet. Did anyone else have to wait like this?? I am pulling my hair out here, as i have lost over 5 stone and dropped from a size 20 to a 6/8 and do not resemble myself anymore. I think the NHS is in freefall and the GP's need a jolly good shakeup as this is neglect.
I hope you are luckier and get well very soon. x

poorlygir4l 05/17/2012

Hi rubynolegs thanks. I think most of my problem is gastritis. I keep getting flare ups about every other day and it is really agony. I do have reflux though too. Im struggling with the pain and can,t cope with it. I see the gastro tomorow but like you say the NHS don,t offer much help. They just throw pills at it. Do you get a lot of pain? Have you had the ph monitoring test? Im sorry you have lost so much weight. Have you tried natural remedies like Aloe vera,Slippery elm? I have off and on but I can,t work out how to take them around the meds. All I can say is look at websites like About.com they tell you a lot of information on heartburn and GERD. I still think the doctors should fix hiatus hernias if they are causing bother. There are so many people with them though.

poorlygir4l 05/21/2012

Hi well I saw the gastro and he has discharged me. I went on two Pantoprazoles and so far no reflux. The pain I have from the gastritis is horrendous. I think symptoms keep changing as mine have. Ive been getting a bad day of pain then not much pain then its back. However I have read some studies on Zinc Carnosine which sound promising for acid reflux and also to help heal the stomach lining. You can buy it on Amazon. I haven,t seen it in a store though. Its worth a try. Some people on the gastritis froum are talking about it.

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