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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Can a hiatal hernia cause this?
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Can a hiatal hernia cause this?
by Wiliam, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By William on June 29, 1998 at 20:14:04:
Doctor,
I'm posting on behalf of my mother. She is in her 70's and had
been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia about 15 years ago. She has
been having unusual 'spells' every few months for the last 8
years or so. She will get a tightness or pressure in her chest.
Her blood pressure and pulse will rise rapidly, she will usually
suffer a general loss of muscle control and balance. At this
point she has extreme chest pain. Many times she will go into
spasmatic retching and convulsing, but nothing comes up. Other
times she will go into shock.
When her electrocardiogram has been taken during these episodes,
they show a healthy heartbeat; albeit with severely heightened
rate and blood pressure.
The doctor usually treats her with a sedative; this will cause
the pressure in her chest to subside and generally bring her out
of her 'fit'.
While her doctor acknowledges that she has a hiatal hernia, he
believes that her symptoms are psycho-somatic, or a manifistation
of panic. I do not believe this to be the case. My mother is
very level headed and does not have a history of hypochondria,
emotional instability, or mental illness of any kind. She does
not drink alcohol or abuse drugs. She does have diverticulosis
and watches her diet because of this; she does not eat spicy
foods.
Also, many times when she eats, the food or water will not go
down or will come back up immediately; not exactly vomiting,
more like regurgiation.
Her doctor and various emergency workers has said that a hiatal
hernia doesn't cause these symptoms, but I've read that a large
and/or paraezophegeal hiatal hernia can cause some symptoms that
are consistent with hers.
My questions are threefold:
1) Is it possible that these symptoms are resulting from her
hernia?
2) If they are hernia related; how serious a threat to her
health is it if she continues to get these 'episodes'? (can a
paraezophegeal hernia cause a heart attack or some other
permanently damaging condition)?
3) If these symptoms are hernia related, how can I convince her
Doctor to take us seriously and look into treatment? Is there
a medical paper or reference that I can site?
Thanks in advance for your help, and thanks for reading through
such a long posting.
-William
Doctor,
I'm posting on behalf of my mother. She is in her 70's and had
been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia about 15 years ago. She has
been having unusual 'spells' every few months for the last 8
years or so. She will get a tightness or pressure in her chest.
Her blood pressure and pulse will rise rapidly, she will usually
suffer a general loss of muscle control and balance. At this
point she has extreme chest pain. Many times she will go into
spasmatic retching and convulsing, but nothing comes up. Other
times she will go into shock.
When her electrocardiogram has been taken during these episodes,
they show a healthy heartbeat; albeit with severely heightened
rate and blood pressure.
The doctor usually treats her with a sedative; this will cause
the pressure in her chest to subside and generally bring her out
of her 'fit'.
While her doctor acknowledges that she has a hiatal hernia, he
believes that her symptoms are psycho-somatic, or a manifistation
of panic. I do not believe this to be the case. My mother is
very level headed and does not have a history of hypochondria,
emotional instability, or mental illness of any kind. She does
not drink alcohol or abuse drugs. She does have diverticulosis
and watches her diet because of this; she does not eat spicy
foods.
Also, many times when she eats, the food or water will not go
down or will come back up immediately; not exactly vomiting,
more like regurgiation.
Her doctor and various emergency workers has said that a hiatal
hernia doesn't cause these symptoms, but I've read that a large
and/or paraezophegeal hiatal hernia can cause some symptoms that
are consistent with hers.
My questions are threefold:
1) Is it possible that these symptoms are resulting from her
hernia?
2) If they are hernia related; how serious a threat to her
health is it if she continues to get these 'episodes'? (can a
paraezophegeal hernia cause a heart attack or some other
permanently damaging condition)?
3) If these symptoms are hernia related, how can I convince her
Doctor to take us seriously and look into treatment? Is there
a medical paper or reference that I can site?
Thanks in advance for your help, and thanks for reading through
such a long posting.
-William
