Hiatal hernia

Since nobody answered your question, I'll take a shot at it. I am not a Doctor and this is not meant to be medical advice. This is only my experiece and knowledge that I have gained through the School-of-Hard-knocks.

1. Have you done any research about Hiatal Hernia. If not, the following link pretty well explains it in a non-technical, non-gory way. Please watch it so you'll understand what I am referring to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRIDVQgv5Ek

2. If you have a hiatal hernia, the Lower Esophagus sphincter (LES) in the video can't possibly close properly. Since the LES is at the top of the stomach, if you have a hiatal hernia the LES is probalby above the diaphragm and cannot receive any help from the diaphragm in closing. My hernia was about the same size as yours and whenever I swallowed I could feel that the swallowing action (Peristalsis) stopped before the food actually emptied into my stomach. It would hang up in the part of the stomach that was above the diaphragm. From there it seemed to eventually gravity flow into the stomach. Or, if I felt like it was stuck and was not going to pass on into the stomach I would vomit it back up. Additionally every time I used my abdominal muscles--during bowel movements, coughing, etc. I could feel the top of my stomach being forced up into my chest cavity.

3. Acid reflux. The stomach has a lining that protects it from the effect of the stomach acid. The esophagus does not have the protective lining. Neither do the lungs or trachea. Therefore if the LES is not working properly you get the burning sensation from the acid leaking into the esophagus. If the acid gets further up inot your throat it can spill over into your trachea you can get errosion of the vocal cords and sinus problems due to inhaling acid. In my case I got a serious lung abscess due the the acid and bacteria reaching my lungs.

4. In my case, I had the Hiatal Hernia repair and Nisen Fundoplication done a little over a year ago. To date, I have not had one episode of reflux and my digestion is back to normal. I hope this helps in some way to understand your situation and I hope you can get medical help to allow you to live an normal life.

Hi on the topic of hiatal hernia, I had a endoscopy about a year ago and the found out that I have 1.5 cm hiatus hernia. My gastro specialist said I should just change my life style, and eat small bland food which I have been doing, over the last 6 month the reflux has been getting worse, I am having chronic heart burn,loss of appetite, have lost a lot of weight I wasn't overweight to start with, I have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and also depression. Often wake up in the middle of the night with sever heart burn. I am on high dose of nexium, have also recently started taking slippery elm, marshmellow root. I saw a nature path at the health food store and she advised me to take Swedish bitters, and on stop taking the nexium, I find that the Swedish bitters burns, and has not helped at all I am still having the heart burn. I am going through menopause, and have also started having spotting, but since taking the slippery elm powder and the Swedish, I have been having blood spotting, does anyone know if either of, these herbs cause the period to start? Any advice on the above would be greatly appreciated.