Question for Flacracker

Hi,

I wondered whether you could tell me about the symptoms of your hiatus hernia please. I am having constant tightness at the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, I feel like it spasms all the time and it's extremely painful, I am also having constant reflux no matter what I eat, and I am on 2 ppi's morning and night plus 1 ranitidine at night.

I was told in September that my hernia is 3cm, however I have a feeling it might now be more. I also have LPR and have developed dysphagia from the reflux.

Hi GC1pink,

I apologize for the long explanation but here goes. I don't know about esophageal spasms but I had the worst gastritis and acid reflux last year. I contracted C Diff from the hospital and was put on antibiotics and suddenly got very sick. The GI doctors could not control the acid reflux for 9 weeks. I was on every PPI you can imagine. PPI's morning and night, Pepcid throughout the day and Carafate to preserve my lining. I did not eat literally for 3 months. 3 Endoscopies First one - no HH 2nd and 3rd 2 cm estimated. Cabbage juice finally stopped the gastritis. I made the mistake and went to a chiropractor at this time because my back was hurting me. This is the stomach pushing between the shoulder blades and I did not know that was the symptom. He made it worse! Pressed so hard on my back, probably shoved the HH even higher. I remember feeling the HH as high as my collarbone some days. The little sucker had rotated from the esophagus (gave me Barrett's) to inside my chest during the night. I had no reflux during the night (so I thought) when this happened but during the day watch out. I had asthma, wheezing, and a burning sensation under the armpit. At times, severe dysphagia, and extreme headaches.

The surgeon who did my surgery said the measurement for the HH is always smaller than the actual size. My organs (spleen, liver, traverse colon) had moved to the left. I would feel a slight pain in the right upper quadrant and now know that was the movement. I would feel my heart flutter and I thought it was a heart attack. ER visits, multiple tests, nothing wrong with heart.

Everyone is different. I probably was walking around with a small HH for years but only when it got big and symptomatic did my body react.

Listen to your body. Keep a log of what you eat and day to day activities. The breathing and chest pains were the clincher for me.

Michelle

pink,

Good luck with your meeting tomorrow. Be sure to take notes/record it and let us know how it goes.
All the best

p

GC1pink

I agree 100% with Phil....take notes and be sure you completely understand anything they tell you before you leave. Don't be afraid to ask many questions. No one will do it for you and they won't give you the answers you want without asking.

I do hope they can give you answers, you deserve them. also, there are modified versions of the nissen that is designed for people with motility issues. So that can be an option if you are looking at that.


Take care,
Bill