need help

i recently had an egd performed and was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia.  my question is does a hiatal hernia cause chest pain and pressure to chest?? also i have constant bloating at times so bad that i become short of breathe.  my question also is will prevacid help with all of this?  please help.  thanks

[geminigirl1963]

Yes, I've found that a hiatal hernia can cause all the symptoms you've described.  Prevacid may help with some of the symptoms such as the chest pain if the pain is a result of acid reflux (very very common with a hiatal hernia).  I've found that for the bloating and gas that I experience something like Gas-X helps more than the prevacid.  Prevacid is a PPI medication which helps reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces, but Gas-x can help break up the gas bubbles and pockets to help alleviate the bloating.

It is very important to remember, though, that the symptoms you're describing can also be the result of something very serious, such as heart disease, so it's always best if you're experiencing new or worsening symptoms to check in with your doctor - especially before changing or adding any medications, including over the counter meds.

I've definitely found the eating several small meals during the day works much better than eating three larger meals.  This may be something you can try to see if it helps you also.