hiatle pain

[hiatlehank]

I recently went to the hospital for heart attack symtoms and i am fine. This can only mean its the hiatle. I have a very simple job, I tie down a truck and drive it...that's all, I went grocery shopping...thats all, and i can barely do that anymore. I do the breathing, relaxation and heating pad when i get home. Sometimes a cold pac at work but it's getting to the point where the only time i feel good is when I'm doing nothing. the pain is getting where any activity causes severe pain. I have heard about the vagus nerve and was wondering if anyone knows if I were able to get surgery to help or correct the hiatle if there is something that can be done with the vagus nerve as well??      

[juliastarr36]

In 2005 I had symptoms of a heart attack that put in in the hospital for 13 days and one test after another was done, ending with my gallbladder being removed.  I healed very slowly from that and was also told by the surgeon that i had a fatty liver.  I had been very healthy until this and since I have been very unhealthy, in my opinion. Due to stomach pain and other female type issues my obgyn decided to do a partial hysterectomy  in Oct 2007. Wow extremely sick every since by 2008 i was admitted for passing and throwing up blood clots (which my dad died from at age 58 in 2005) so you can imagine my fear factor.  The doctor said I had factor V Leiden a blood clotting disorder and should let all my family know they need to get checked(no one else has it in my family). Almost 2 years of blood thinners and needles and sickness in and out of the hospital and seeing my Daddy every time I threw  up blood was horrible and known of the medicines worked and some made it worse.  I went to my GI on a recheck appointment and was having severe stomach pain and he started to yell at me and tell me I needed psych treatment and sent me to the ER. I had a very severe UTI. Know I dont see this dr anymore.  Now i have no blood thinners but since have been scoped and told I have a bad Hiatal Hernia, GERD, Ibs, and no meds that I have been given helps.  Some days though few I feel ok. But every day I have pain and then there are the days that sometimes last for weeks which is what i am going through now.  I have a lot of pain in my whole stomach but the worse is just under the left breast, vomiting & nausea, pain in my chest, shortness of breath but the worse is the swelling for the last 4 days i look and feel like i am nine months pregnant and in labor, I have had three children and labor pain stops after giving birth this never stops.  I have had the test and i do not feel as if the problem has been found.  Hiatal Hernia is a dangerous surgery and not a option at this time but the Dr says it would not cause all the pain and swelling where it is located.  I called friday and as usual got told to go to the ER. I am so tired of the er and the way I get treated there. So if anyone out there understands or has any thing else I can ask for please let me know. Hank I know what you mean about it is just to hard to get up and do anything and it *****.  Pain meds doesnt help, The ER gave me enough meds the last time I was there that could have killed a horse and was  just amazed that I was still crying in pain.  Is there any help for me.  I NEED HELP

[Tuckamore]

Another thought. You may also want to post your question in the gastroenterology forum. They may have more thoughts and suggestions for you.

Just click on the word forum at the top left hand side of this page to locate an alphabetical listings of our forums.

My Best to You,
~Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Hi Hank,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am so glad that you found us and took the time to post.

My question would also be, wear you diagnosed with a Hiatal Hernia? I have also have a hiatal hernia. Surgery was recommended for my very severe GERD and to correct the hernia. However because surgery may place me in a life threatening situation I have close to mange it with diet and medications.

Please tell us about your diagnosis. Have you seen a gastroenterologist or a Gastro-surgeon? If you were not satisfied with their suggestions or treatments don't hesitate to get a second, or even a third opinion.

What have you been told about your vagus nerve? This is how I understand it. When you have a hiatal hernia it can place your stomach in an usual cramped position. That in turn can also stress your vagus nerve. This nerve in part stimulates the release of a stomach acid. This can cause over and/or under secretion of the acid and stomach enzymes. It may also affect the valve at the base and digestive enzymes sometimes do not remain in your stomach long enough to complete the digestive process. Again this is just my understanding and I am far from an expert.

I do know first hand that a hiatal hernia can cause significant pain and lots of digestive issues. I have been informed that when the hiatal hernia is corrected this should stop the irritation of the vagus nerve and relieve many of the symptoms that coincide with it.

Surgery is an individual choice that should be made after an informative consultation with a great gastro-surgeon. I also beleive that one should be as educated as possible on the surgical process along with the pros and cons.

I hope that you will keep in touch with us and let us know how you are doing and your decision. I wish you the best of luck and will look forward to your updates.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[namnam46]

First let me welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and tell you how happy we are that you have found us!

I'm assuming that you mean the Hiatal Hernia. You definitely need to consult a Gastroenterologist and have and endoscopy performed as Londres 70 suggested. There are definitely procedures that can be done that can relieve this as well as medications and they would give you some much needed relief!!

You, also, might want to repost this over on the Gastroenterologist Forum as they might be able to give you even more good advice. We would love for you to remain a member here also and share any knowledge that you might have with our members.

Good luck and please keep us updated on yur situation...Sherry

[Londres70]

Are you referring to a Hiatal Hernia?  Were you diagnosed with this?    

My recommendation is to consult a GI specialist and have an endoscopy done.  
Surgery can be done for this condition, but usually it is managed with medication
and lifestyle changes.