Sliding Hiatus Hernia

Posted By Eddy on August 22, 1998 at 20:15:40:







I have been suffering with a severe swallowing disorder for three years this August.  It started in August of 1995 while eating in Roy Roger's restaurant.   I was eating a hamuger and chewed like I always did and I was suddenly choking on the food which felt stuck in my lower esophagus where it meets the stomach.  I could not vomit to get relief and then I also couldn't swallow it into my stomach.  I then could not breathe because it seemed as if I couldn't inhale.  I ran outside the restaurant and I dropped to the pavement seeing death in my vision.  In November of that year I was home eating and the same situation occured and I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulence.  They diagnosed me with a nervous condition.  I went to an upper G.I. specialist and they performed the following test: Barrium swallow, manometrey test, an endososcopy for viewing and a cancer biopsy, ditalation which is a stetching of the Les. sphincter muscle.  No cancer has been found and no achalasia has been sighted.  I also had a Fluroscope video performed and I was diagnosed with a moderate size sliding Hiatus Hernia and a Shotasky ring.  I tried every medicine others have tried such as Propulsid, prilosec, and prevacid and none were helpful.  I have found a little relief from klonopin but it still feels like Russian Rullet every time I eat or sometimes drink.  I would like to know where to turn to next because I can't live like this anymore.  My Primary and Gast. Doctors don't advise laproscopic sugery because they say it will create more pressure and worse swallowing pain.  However test say I don't have achalasia.  According to medical books my symptoms match achalasia and the esophageal nutcracker symptoms.  I want to know why I can't breathe when it strikes and the only relief is when I bend over forwards, but this doesn't always work.  I also want to know what risks I would be facing if I had laproscopic surgery for this condition.  I am 32 years old and would like to return to eating without worrying if I will suffer such devasting attacks.  Please respond with all the above in mind.  In closing, I sincerly appreciate any type of guidance.