Nasal congestion with hiatal hernia?

I recently was informed that my active sinus issue does add to the problems of hiatal hernia and horrible acid reflux. My biggest problem with my stomach went 10 fold when I had my gallbladder removed. I only thought I had problems. Emergency Room Doctor said I should get rid of my gallbladder and that would fix it. Never ever forget these few words. I quoate my family doctor......." A surgeon is a surgeon is a surgeon. That is what they do and that is what they want to do. They cut stuff out and if you agree they will do it. " Not to say surgeons are bad, but a lot of the time surgery may not be the best thing. There are no guarantees. More than one opinion has made me wiser, unfortunately too late for my gallbladder and my hernia. I now suffer from the back-up of bile into my stomach and up into my esophagus. I have to sleep almost sitting up. I have severe flair ups which I can only get very slow releif if I drink very warm water and walk around hoping for the hernia to relax. When the acid is sever it rises with the hernia. Last nite I could actually feel the bulge in my difram. Hot water does seem to wash the acid away and in my mind, it seems to relax the muscle. I have been drinking the hot water for years when the feeling of a lump in my chest concurs and it eventually helps it. My doctor said lots of water washes the acid on thru the and out the stomach.

I have hiatal hernia as well. I have consulted several doctors and one surgeon. You are correct. The surgeon wanted to remove my gallbladder, but other doctors told me it is not necessary to do so. I do have sometimes mucous in my noise and a lot in my throat. Don't feel the acid reflux at all. Always feeling like a lump in throat. Warm water and heat pad help me with hernia pain. I do rinse my nose and throat with warm water and salt which helps with mucous. Bile sits in gallbladder and after food goes down to intestine, the gallbladder releases the bile and digests the food. And, if there is no gallbladder, the bile keeps pouring into your digestive system. This means that your food does not get digested well. Maybe take digestive enzyme. Maybe you are refluxing bile, and not acid? Maybe the bike duct was injured during surgery? An abdomen Ultrasound can help to find out. Maybe watch your duet. Spicy food, fatty food, refined sugar, carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee, chocolate and dairy products like ice cream are hard to digest. These are also had for hiatal hernia. Eat gluten free food.

ENT Dr. Jamie Koufman says that refluxing involves the digestive enzyme pepsin as well as acid, and that pepsin is like an aerosol and can get into your throat, sinuses, and ears. You can read her explanation/advice at https://jamiekoufman.com and see if it makes sense to your situation.

I was diagnosed with a small hiatal hernia in my mid 20s, never bother me where I needed medical attention. I begin playing golf at age 50, four years later I experienced pain and a cough. Not sure if its a sport injury or stress related from work and pandemic. The hernia is small, but has caused many issues to extreme chronic cough, unending post-nasal drip that causes lost sleep and depression.

Can you recommend a doctor to fix this hernia. Seeking healing.

Go to an ENT or gastroenterologist to see if it's reflux, and make the lifestyle changes recommended for GERD (look online), such as no caffeine, chocolate, eat early dinner, raise the feet of your bed at the head so you sleep at an angle, do stretching and relaxation exercises, and more... If you already have a chronic cough you probably need medication now, but try not to stay long on a PPI, if that's what's suggested for you. See first if an h2 blocker is enough to help you. An ENT who can do a laryngoscopy might be able to see the status of your esophagus, otherwise the gastroenterologist might want to do an endoscopy, but that requires sedation. And then see how you feel before doing anything more invasive.

It may be a condition called Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LRP, or silent reflux). Affects throat, nose, ears. While the usual GERD villains such as a hernia may be involved, it may also be caused by a virus that messes with your vagus nerve. You can check out this web site to see if the information there sounds like it's your condition. The web site also gives info on actions to take, including adopting a low-acid diet. If the vagus nerve is involved, then a course of meds (not a PPI) is recommended by the site's author, who is an ENT. BTW, a GI doc scoping you won't assess your throat. Only the ENT's scoping will do that. You can try the diet/lifestyle changes and see if that brings improvement while waiting for a doctor's appointment. Here is the general info site: https://jamiekoufman.com. There is a FB page that has a ton of low acid, whole food recipes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199013402360712 Good luck!

Thank you for your response. I've actually been under care when first diagnosed with LPR in 2020. I watch my diet and do not each 3 or more hours before bedtime. I am a advent golfer, hoping this has not caused irritation to hiatal hernia. Countless revisits with primary has been unsuccessful in releaving cough even with other test and exams such as abdominal CT scan, breathing test which was inconclusive because deep inhales causes cough and blood test shows normal. Ive been prescribed pantoprazole and omeprazole, cause stomach sensitivity. Pepcid OTC is the only remedy without
side effects. Neither stop cough and constant mucus day and night. I'm scheduled to have a endoscopy with GI mid-June. Still hopeful nothing serious and relief / healing on the way.

Small hernia? Good Drs don't operate on a hiatal hernia that is 3 inch or smaller n you will get very bloated after surgery. Just watch your diet, milk, wheat, dont eat anything for 3-4 hours prior to laying down to. Put a wedge under your heat when sleeping. Relax. Meditate at home. Just don't have a doctor touch your hernia. I have hernia 3 inches and doctor told me he won't do surgery as it will not even make me feel better. Walk an hour early in morning before you eat anything. Walk fast. Don't talk to anyone just walk. That's what helped me get rid of pain and mucous. But watch your diet. Coffee, red sauces, gassy foods, Spearmint, is bad. Write down what makes you feel sick. Don't jog, don't lift anything heavy, don't bend over after you eat, wait 2-3 hours. Don't smoke, lose weight if smoking and also overweight.

Thanks for responding. I didn't know if surgery happened on small hernias would cause bloating. The cough is sever with regurgitation even when I stop food intake 3-4 hours. I will try the brisk walks and no talk. Weight loss is inevitable, unintentionally losing for months. Down 10 pounds in last 6 months. Food appetite not healthy, eat 2 times a day, breakfast and dinner, no snacks. Weight is healthy for height and age.

Thank you