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Hiatal Hernia. What helps?

Posted by betterb4 @betterb4, Feb 13, 2017

I was just diagnosed with a small hiatal hernia but I'm feeling pretty miserable. I was a perfectly healthy person and this all started a couple months ago. It started with a feeling of a "lump" at the bottom of my esophagus (or top of my stomach). Sometimes I had a burning feeling in my esophagus. I mentioned it with my gastroenterologist before a routine colonoscopy; she pretty much dismissed it but immediately put me on Prilosec in the morning and Zantac.It really doesn't help very much. before bed. I had and EGD and she diagnosed and irritated esophagus and stomach and a small hiatal hernia.
I have now given up coffee, wine, chocolate, beef, tomatoes and eating after dinner (everyday the list grows.) We have propped our bed at an angle. I am afraid to eat. She insists that the hernia is not causing this, but it must be. I'm in my 50's, perfect weight and have never even had heartburn. If this doesn't improve soon, I am thinking of going to Mayo for a full evaluation. I can't live this way and I DO NOT want to be on medicine the rest of my life.

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baguette | @baguette | Jan 20 1:22pm
In reply to @wunderkitt "Hi! I really feel for you, I can hear how worried you are. I have a..." + (show)
Profile picture for wunderkitt @wunderkitt

Hi! I really feel for you, I can hear how worried you are. I have a type 1 early hiatal hernia, but my mother has a severe one. Occasionally, they have to go in there and stretch it and she’s gotten food, stuck in her throat and not been able to breathe before. Very scary. The first thing I wanted to caution you about is that she was on Prilosec or omeprazole for years and unfortunately, the warning that omeprazole can increase the risk of osteoarthritis (OA) came true for her. So definitely talk to your doctor about how to avoid that.

Because of her experience, I do not take omeprazole. Instead, what I do is, I’ve identified my food triggers and avoid them, for me, largely spicy or fatty foods, and I never over eat. I follow the Japanese principle of eating to 80% and then stopping. I always stay completely upright while I’m eating my food and for as long as I can afterwards while I’m digesting, which for me unfortunately takes a little bit longer because I have a mild gastroparesis. I never eat and go right to bed that’s a huge no-no, even if it’s a bite of food! And smaller more regular meals throughout the day seems to help as well, so I have breakfast, lunch, early dinner, and then a snack at least 3-4 hours before I go to bed. I no longer use alcohol or nicotine as well, and even for my half-caffeine coffee in the morning, and make sure that I have it with a bite of food so it doesn’t hurt my stomach as much. Also adding anti-inflammatory spices or herbs like turmeric or cinnamon to your coffee grounds in the basket can help a little bit.

I can’t think of anything else, but if I do, I’ll comment here. I wish you the best of luck!

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As already mentioned, low acid whole food diet is a must. I also find relief chewing sugarless gum, and using Gaviscon Advance, the UK version. It's an alginate that plugs up the stomach to keep the acid/pepsin in its place. A lot of people use it at bedtime. I also use it before exercising. It is salty when first used it might sting the throat or esophagus. I found that after my throat/esophagus healed the alginate sooths when I have a spasm. It is available on Amazon. pricey but for me I don't use it as much as before (if I followed the diet religiously I might not need it at all, but I do love me some of those no-no foods).

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ibs58 | @ibs58 | Jan 21 6:42am
In reply to @kdubois "Having been through this, I would get a second opinion from a different GI doctor. Mayo..." + (show)
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Having been through this, I would get a second opinion from a different GI doctor. Mayo told me to sleep upright, stop eating for the day at least three hours before bedtime, and to avoid certain foods: greasy foods, spicy foods, peppermint, and more.

Your inclination to avoid meds long-term is spot-on! I had a 4 cm hiatal hernia and GERD issues for years, and the sphincter between my stomach and esophagus was failing. My home doctors treated me with Nexium and it's generic equivalents for years. Twelve years later, and getting sicker and sicker, in September 2015 I took myself to Mayo and they figured out that I genetically don't properly metabolize these medications, which is the reason why I was getting sicker and sicker. Thing is, even if you do properly-metabolize these meds, these meds themselves inhibit the enzyme system that metabolizes these medications, which means that people on these meds long-term will slowly develop symptoms to the medication inhibition. (Both Prilosec and Zantac are also inhibitors.) Unfortunately, the majority of doctors don't know about it.

So solve this problem for me, last October Mayo performed a Nissen Fundoplication surgery on me to fix the hernia and GERD issue. No more meds for me!

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Just curious, why did it take so long for them to decide to do the surgery....the permanent fix?

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baywood | @baywood | Jan 21 11:51am
In reply to @baguette "As already mentioned, low acid whole food diet is a must. I also find relief chewing..." + (show)
Profile picture for baguette @baguette

As already mentioned, low acid whole food diet is a must. I also find relief chewing sugarless gum, and using Gaviscon Advance, the UK version. It's an alginate that plugs up the stomach to keep the acid/pepsin in its place. A lot of people use it at bedtime. I also use it before exercising. It is salty when first used it might sting the throat or esophagus. I found that after my throat/esophagus healed the alginate sooths when I have a spasm. It is available on Amazon. pricey but for me I don't use it as much as before (if I followed the diet religiously I might not need it at all, but I do love me some of those no-no foods).

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Gaviscon Advance is worth the price

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Healthychick | @susanstrong4us | Jan 25 12:05am

I have had two high hernia surgeries. They both come undone, but I would still give them. Mine was moderate to large, so there is a difference we can live with it. One of the things I just learned is sleeping on left side is good for her so hopefully that helps.

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Healthychick | @susanstrong4us | Jan 25 12:06am

Pardon my talk to text I could talk about this and I just had a telehealth with my doctor really really good and I am going to. He wants to instead of balloon before we do another surgery. I’m in my 50s in the last four years. This is crazy.

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Healthychick | @susanstrong4us | Jan 25 12:22am

Again pardon talk to text but has anyone had the Intragastric balloon
For hiatal hernia my dr recommended it today along with Botox for easier emptying -before trying a final redo of surgery. The bitch of hiatal hernia surgery is my dr said no sit ups ever again. The real pain is morning I have severe burps - yet I did recently try Galveston & I like it .. good recommendation. Let me know I’m getting a second opinion but I do really trust my surgeon.

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jackielb | @jackielb | Jan 25 1:04pm

I've dealt with these problems since 40s - GERD then a small HH. Famotidine worked for a long time until I got the HH. Now I take 20 - 40 protonix daily. I do watch what I eat and try to eat slower by really chewing my food. I do sleep on a incline. However I have trouble when I wear a bra. Has anyone found a good solution to this?

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cindyh6464 | @cindyh6464 | Jan 26 7:46am
In reply to @susanstrong4us "Again pardon talk to text but has anyone had the Intragastric balloon For hiatal hernia my..." + (show)
Profile picture for Healthychick @susanstrong4us

Again pardon talk to text but has anyone had the Intragastric balloon
For hiatal hernia my dr recommended it today along with Botox for easier emptying -before trying a final redo of surgery. The bitch of hiatal hernia surgery is my dr said no sit ups ever again. The real pain is morning I have severe burps - yet I did recently try Galveston & I like it .. good recommendation. Let me know I’m getting a second opinion but I do really trust my surgeon.

Jump to this post

Sorry that sounds awful!

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cindyh6464 | @cindyh6464 | Jan 26 7:48am
In reply to @susanstrong4us "Again pardon talk to text but has anyone had the Intragastric balloon For hiatal hernia my..." + (show)
Profile picture for Healthychick @susanstrong4us

Again pardon talk to text but has anyone had the Intragastric balloon
For hiatal hernia my dr recommended it today along with Botox for easier emptying -before trying a final redo of surgery. The bitch of hiatal hernia surgery is my dr said no sit ups ever again. The real pain is morning I have severe burps - yet I did recently try Galveston & I like it .. good recommendation. Let me know I’m getting a second opinion but I do really trust my surgeon.

Jump to this post

I had the same problem when my HH was diagnosed. I can still do planks, which is the best ab workout ever! Try a long plank with alternating knee to elbows or rolling to side planks. Worked for me. (-:

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