for anybody with a hiata hernia

[munster]

In Sept. of 2000, I was under alot of stress at work, and started feeling nausea and heartburn alot. Pretty much on a daily basis. I went to the doc for around 6 months and after alot of different meds and tests, came to no conclustion as to what was causing it. By that time I was also experiencing chest pains (not disabeling but pretty sharp now and then). Also my left arm started going numb and getting sharp pains. I was worried it was my heart. I went to a cardio doc and it seems my heart is ok. ( by the way the pain in chest and arm started @ Nov.)In Mar. 2001 I switched docs. I had a HIDA scan and found that my GB was not functioning properly. I had surgery in April and was excited about the prospect of FINALLY feeling better.  I still am not feeling better I found out recently that I have a hiatal hernia. I have been on Prevacid, Protonix, and more recently Prilosec (in the morn) and 2 Zantac at night.None of these have ever relieved my heartburn. Lately it has been pretty bad.I go to see a Gastro doc on Fri.I get pain mostly in the center of my chest under my breast bone, but my throat always hurts also.  I also get pain sometimes under the ribs both on the right and left sides.  I can understand my throat hurting from the hernia and acid(although I do not have bad reflux) but what is the pain under the ribs about.  I was told that a hernia can cause pain anywhere in the abdominal cavity.  My blood work has always come back normal.I feel better when I am laying down relaxing. Went to a chiro @ my arm. Before this I was always very healthy. Some insight PLEASE!!!

[erin_R]

Oh yes i know what you mean. I feel teh SAME thing. I also think i get panic attacks sometimes. For 5 years, 5! i went to the doctor because i couldnt swallow, they said i had pharengitis (fancy name for "sore throat") . I had felt pains in my left arm, and from the shortness of breath, i had assumed i had heart problems. I went to the doctor, finaly told him EVERYTHING, a specialist, he refered me to a gastrointerologist. He said i clearly have GERD. He put me on nexium (TELL YOUR DOC TO PUT YOU ON NEXIUM!!!!!! IT RULES!) it helped some, but it didnt totaly take it away, so he did an endoscopy. I finaly found out what i had, a LARGE hiatal hernia, GERD, and esophigitis. I am still on nexium, but it isnt helping much, i may need surgery. I totaly understand what you are saying, i get pains right side under ribs too... oh btw, if you have AIM, add me, GS aneli, id like to talk with someone else that has this too :)

[munster]

Thanks for your input. I don't know what AIM is.  I am pretty new to this thing and actually found it by accident. I was reading up on Hiatal hernias is DOGPILE.com and it sent me here.  Any way sorry but if you could be more specific as to what that is cause I would also like to talk more to you about it.  It sounds like you and I have pretty much the same thing. Thanks!!

[erin_R]

Ok, then just email me, Iam_kewl***@****

[LisaMom]

I have hiatal hernia as well! I have had the chest pain, and pain on my right and left side. It is refreshing to hear that someone else is having the same problems. I am going for a abdominal CT scan October 2,  to rule out any other serious problems and because of the pain on my right side under my ribs which radiates to the back. Does your pain radiate to your back? I never knew you can damage your throat with this, could you please tell me more about the other complications of our hernia? I only have had the chest pain once or twice...it felt like a heart attack. Was that acid reflux? What more do I have to look forward to??

I hope you are both doing well!! Lisa G.

[syndi]

My husband has suffered for 2yrs with chest pain, acid reflux, GERD, hiatal hernia, errosion of the esophigus, vomiting almost every day, being tired and ect...  He has been on every medication known to man at this point.  In April of this year he started on a new study drug that has been wonderful.  It has healed the errosions in 4 weeks and the acid levels are down.  He is now doing a 24hr ph level test (not fun) to see if he can have surgury to correct his problems and to relieve him of some of the pain that he suffers daily.  These test are not cheap ( 5 in all ) but will be worth every dime if the suffering ends.  If anyone has any other ideas to help PLEASE let me know.  My email address is ***@****.  Thanks

[Ang51767]

Hi, I also have suffered from the stabbing heart pains and pains on left and right of my ribs. I have had the heart pains all my life and thought I would have heart problems when I got older. My Mother passed away from a blood clot that went through her heart, and I was really freaking that I'd be next. Since then I have choked on food along with the other problems. I was in the hospital with an Asthma attack and had them to check me out, Well, I now know I have a HUGH hiatal hernia. Mine has caused me all kinds of problems,in late June I had to have a blood transfusion and another one in late August and I think I need one now. I've been on previcad for 2 years but I still am going to have to have surgery to have the hernia repaired so I'll stop bleeding.I'm looking forward to the surgery, hope it's going to correct my problems and make me a new person. My doc was shocked when he first saw me, he said that my condition mainly happens to older people, I'm only 34. Good Luck to you all, hope we all get relief from our conditions ASAP!!!

[ihurt]

help!!!!..i have this pain that happens couple times a year,,,and is so severe..it starts in breastbone goes through my shoulders then up into my jaw....don't believe it a heart attack as i have had at least 20 of these type attacks im describing...help...hubby alwasy wants to run me to the hospital......but i know it will stop before i get there and i feel like a fool...pleasssssse someone..have you had this??,,,i do have gerd...but this feels nothing like it. does it sound like anything to do with indigestion?....help

[Baseball_Mom]

The combination of GERD and a hiatal hernia will make you think you are having a heart attack.  Several years ago I thought I was having one and when I got to the ER it was determined I had a hiatal hernia.  I opted for the Nissen Fundoplication surgery to repair it but in hind sight, don't know if I did the right thing.  After 6 1/2 years the procedure has come loose and I'm back to having acid reflux again.  The doctors do not recommend having this redone. They have prescribed Nexium instead.  Take care and Happy Holidays!