Trouble swallowing with GERD

[Nenah77]

Hi, i have acid reflux and a small hiatus hernia. I'm on Zoton fastabs since Jan. My symptom is trouble swallowing, things are a little better since taking the PPI'S but i still have a lot of trouble swallowing liquids. My question is how is the acid reflux and the hiatus hernia causing my swallowing problems? I have looked online but can't find an exact cause.

[Nenah77]

Thanks Bridget A. Hewitt, RN,
I will go back to my doctor and maybe get a prescription for another tablet.

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

Hi and thanks for using the forum.

Difficulty swallowing is a common side effect of a hiatal hernia.  When we eat or drink, the food/liquid travels down our esophogus into our stomachs.  In order to reach the stomach, the food must pass down through the diaphragm.  The diaphragm has a valve which opens when we eat to allow food down into the stomach and closes when we are not eating to prevent stomach contents from coming back up the esophogus.  With a hiatal hernia, the top of the stomach slides up or becomes stuck up above this valve.  This is what causes the difficulty swallowing and the reflux.  YOu should go back to your GI doctor and let him/her know that you continue with symptoms despite the PPI's.  Good luck.

Bridget

[Nenah77]

Thanks for your reply LindaSueBob, it's good to be able to talk to someone else with a similar problem to mine. Eating and drinking has become a chore for me now.  I know what you mean about the liquids, i have to stand next to a sink if i want to drink just in case i can't swallow it i have to spit it out! Sorry to hear about the three nissen fundoplications, i hope the Belsey Fundoplication works for you. I can't have a nissen fundoplication done as the docs say my hiatus hernia is too small. I hope yours gets better too  

[LindaSueBob]

I also still have trouble with liquids and also some foods. I have had three nissen fundoplications for gerd in the last 15 months and all three have failed. Now going to have a Belsey Fundoplication in the next few months which has scared me terribly. I got so bad with liquids I carry bags with me to throw up it is that bad. PPI's don't help me at all.
Hope yours gets better.