18 Year old diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, miserable. Losing the will.

[kb107]

Hello, thank you for opening. As the title reads I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia in March of this year. Miserable is an understatement. This all started in Nov. of 2011. My grandmother and grandfather both lost their lives. My grandmother passed away due to bone cancer, and my grandfather passed away due to attack, and we found out my father was cheating on my  mother, so I was stressed constantly and was anxious all the time. However, before this time I was as healthy as could be. Im only 18, athletically fit, no health problems previous except fracturing a couple of bones playing football/basketball. Im sorry if this is too long a post, but I just really need someone to listen, someone to guide me. Ive had ALL possible acid reflux symptoms. Lump in throat, chest tightness, heart palpitations, feeling of acid itself, crazy pain under the breastbone, CANNOT BREATHE 24/7. My gastroenterologist is an amazing woman, and I have respect for her, however, i feel like she just doesnt listen to me. Kept telling her I couldnt breathe as that by far to me is the most uncomfortable symptom. It doesnt matter what Im doing, i could be walking, jogging, anything and everything. I have been on reflux meds and they do help with everything except for the breathlessness which bothers me the most. Ive had all kinds of tests. Abdominal Ultrasound, Abd. CT Scan, Upper Endoscopy, EKG's, Echocardiogram, Stress Test, 3 Chest X-Rays, Blood Tests,and more I may have forgotten. Im also constipated. :( I was told to take anxiety meds after a few nasty panic attacks. And I didnt at the time, but im desperate and I was told that they do make you feel better, and there is an existent link between anxiety and Acid Reflux. The past 7 months for me have been hell. It seems like everything in my life is where it should except my health. I love my beautiful girlfriend, I did great in school, and hope to be a doctor someday, my parents marriage is back on track. Im just scared, and desperate, Im in a bad mental place, but have faith. However, i cant see things getting any better, Hiatal Hernias are inoperable, and im only 18 if i were to be lucky and live up to 50, thats another 32 years. I just cant live like this, im losing hope and im scared. Im really scared, all symptoms are manageable except for shortness of breath all the time, I want to compete with my friends, and play sports and lift weights, I just want my life back. Please if theres anyone out there, anyone at all willing to post and help me out. I will be more than willing to listen, Thank You and God Bless everyone out there.

[Fatboy169]

Yo, Im 20 and have a hiatal hernia due to being about 6'1 and having to put on hella weight since my junior year of high school to play defensive line. All I ever knew was hacking at the weights and eating. Trying to keep my back straight while lifting and small things like that were the extent of my good form, it was pretty mediocre but I always went hard every time. And I always absolutely destroyed food to go along with it. No one ever taught me about the problems of binging so hard like that, no one taught me about the importance of posture and balance and synergy of the muscles. With a Latin mom who at the time associated all drugs of any kind in the same arena, she was very strict with me about weed. FF to freshman year of college when I start chiefing all day every day, working out a little less frequent, and literally getting super smacked and eating hella pizza or something every night before I went to bed. Binge as hard as I do and do that enough times and your hiatus or whatever its called, (doesn't matter to me at this point) will eventually say "alright dude I'm just gonna let your stomach go wherever the hell it wants to go". No one believed someone my age could have a hiatal hernia, doctors gave me acid reducers and blockers but I never would stay on them long. After an endoscopy and a barium x ray said nothing was wrong with me, I was still almost 100% sure it was a hiatal hernia, but I didn't know if the doctors could really be that wrong or not. Either way, I went to a chiropractor that had a lot of patients who claimed he could help me. I did feel him pull my stomach down and I felt relief, but to be honest I think very few chiropractors are actually going to make very good headway in your hernia or anything because I've noticed they just give you enough relief to make you wanna come back and spend more money. I eventually stole the maneuver from the chiropractors and am able to pull my own stomach back down at will. My hernia is almost gone at this point, I feel my hiatus will need to restrengthen and truly getting rid of my hernia once and for all will take time, but it will be done I have complete confidence in my ability to overcome it and take my life back and destroy every aspect of life I possibly can. The technique can be found online, you basically just use the ends of your fingers at the top left of your rib age while laying down, put pressure on the tender area, relax your abdominal and press/pull down and in. Sorry, I never needed to watch many videos, for me it was just copying the feel of the chiropractor and I did it by trial and error. It's a lot like shooting a basketball, it can seem complicated and hard as **** at first but you are 100% able to master it to the point it feels like a simple, slightly uncomfortable movement, and you have to do it many times over so get good at it. You should feel your stomach move down slightly once or twice each rep

[Katrinaaa24]

How are you now??

[jbbbtbkb123]

I'm 22 years old, 6'1", and 280lbs and I have been living with a hiatal hernia and severe gerd for 3 years and know exactly how you feel. 24 hours out of the day my chest hurts, palpitations, chest tightness, light headness, extreme acid reflux, arm pain, back pain, sore throat, the constant feeling of food getting caught in my esophagus. Living with this condition can be absolutely debilitating. I have a routine endoscopy every 2 years and everything comes back normal every time besides the hiatal hernia protruding into my diaphram. What worries me is that the symptoms I have are so severe,I can't help but think ill die of esophageal cancer. I've tried dieting but it seems to only help for a short time. I hope and pray that one day I will have relief from this miserable condition. All I can do is think positive and hope for the best. I'm on 40mg prilosec along with 150mg zantac, twice daily. Recently I have been staying away from all foods that are know triggers of acid reflux. I'm basically only eating green vegetables and drinking water. So far ive had very little relief but hopefully over time my symptoms will subside. My quality of life is at an all time low but I have to keep fighting this for my family. Best of luck to you my friend, you are not alone and I know what you are going through.

[Masoman]

I've just been diagnosed with one, I know exactly how you feel and all you said
Is the same as me,
Can't breathe, chest tightness, heart palpitations and lightheaded/tingling in face and arms, it causes me anxiety I don't even have . And I can barely eat with stomach pain and not being able to swallow because of this lump in my throat ! I'm losing hope also it's scary and annoying to live this miserable life !!

[Katrinaaa24]

How are you now? Plz reply

[Samgavin]

Been seeing our pediatrician on & off. Had 2 stomach X-rays and ultra sound. My daughter just had CT Scan yesterday and they found a Hiatal Hernia in her stomach. My daughter is 13 but cognitively 3. She has special needs. Stroke at birth, severe brain damage. She talks a little we use sign language but she hears fine. So all she can do is point where she hurts and sign the hurt sign. She's been constipated and having abdominal pain for 5 weeks now. Should we go to GI specialist? Any other recommendations?

[Samgavin]

Been seeing our pediatrician on & off. Had 2 stomach X-rays and ultra sound. My daughter just had CT Scan yesterday and they found a Hiatal Hernia in her stomach. My daughter is 13 but cognitively 3. She has special needs. Stroke at birth, severe brain damage. She talks a little we use sign language but she hears fine. So all she can do is point where she hurts and sign the hurt sign. She's been constipated and having abdominal pain for 5 weeks now. Should we go to GI specialist? Any other recommendations?

[Chrissyye]

Hey, I am almost 19 and have just been diagnosed. In my case I had a few freak out sessions, I had several panic attacks and honestly felt like I was going to die any second. I understand your pain and the only way to help my Anxiety for the longest time was to have somebody physically keeping their hand on my chest. I was prescribed anti-anxiety on top of my Hernia medication and it has since helped. I can really understand the troubles you are going through and I really wish nothing but the best.

[missrara]

I am 18 as well and have a hiatal hernia that was diagnosed by my chiropractor/doctor, and am getting chest pain and really terrifying stomach pain and it is freaking me out. Especially since i read that your stomach can suffocate itself, because i believe I have type III and can literally feel it moving up and down from my tongue to my abdomen. Moving it myself is incredibly painful and Im a really small girl. I feel like i can never stop clenching that area, and having all of these horrible symptoms like constipation and it feels like nothing is moving past it. I feel like im so full in the area where mt ribs meet in the middle and im not sure if its serious or anxiety ridden... i just dont want to go to sleep and have my stomach strangled to death, you know? Its really tight and pinchy feeling, almost cold too. OMG and the tingling stabbing feeling above my naval is going to drive me insane, please help!!!!!

[trixieplayer]

Bless your heart young man! I can understand your apprehension regarding your health improving. I have been trying to figure out a possible diagnosis for my symptoms. However, I am in my 50's and lifestyles tend to change at this age. You are so young. I am sorry that you have a negative outlook on your recovery. My most recent symptoms concluded that I suffer from a hiatal hernia. Wow! It is very painful at times. I am unable to swallow food without a great deal of pain.I hope that you hang in there and follow your dr.s advice and instructions. I pray for a reprieve from your scary symptoms. You are so young, it must be discouraging for you. Hang in there, don't give up! I hope you feel better soon!

[patient915]

Yes, it can be stressful but the anxiety meds will help with that too.

[kb107]

Thank you for the help, I guess I will take anxiety meds to see if it helps, Im just really nervous and not looking forward to the future, I just want to feel better.

[patient915]

Yes, both a hiatal hernia and anxiety can cause shortness of breath.  I think that trying an anti-anxiety med will be helpful in determining which is the problem.

[kb107]

hello! thank you for the response i really appreciate it! and it was diagnosed through an upper endoscopy! and Yes I have, for the most part! ha, its hard sometimes. And, I have had a breathing-spectrometry test, in which they determined my lungs are getting a normal amount of oxygen. So, that was taken care of, my Doctor said it was anxiety related, thats why im considering the anxiety meds, but at the same time, a hiatal hernia does cause shortness of breath, if you just think about the anatomical distributions and structural components of our bodies, in terms of the diaphram and where the hiatal hernia occurs, but I really dont know to be honest, it could be anxiety and the HH, i just feel as if my doctor is being stubborn in the information that she knows, stating that its a small HH and shouldnt be affecting me in this way but it is. and im really frustrated. :( i see her tomorrow.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  How was your hiatal hernia diagnosed?  Hiatal hernias are NOT inoperable.  They almost never require surgery, but in severe cases, surgery can be done.  Have you tried a GERD-friendly diet?  Have you had pulmonary testing?

[kb107]

all tests were negative, and I meant to say heart attack, and im also worried about long term effects of PPI. Sorry for the mistakes, and thanks again.