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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Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | Mar 9 12:36pm

In reply to @1285meet "Diagnosed about 4 months ago. He didn’t say anything about a sliding hernia. In fact, he..." + (show)

I relate to symptoms you describe @suellyn and love your idea @1285meet for online PT. Some exercises/stretches you describe I am already doing and find helpful. Reading your posts I am revisiting my local GI telling me I have a small HH that makes no impact on anything, and interested to learn more. What the heck is a sliding HH @ohio333 ? I’ll check out online PT. My other concern is if something is happening that will cause bigger problems if it doesn’t get addressed.

ohio333 | @ohio333 | Mar 9 1:13pm

In reply to @jlharsh "I relate to symptoms you describe @suellyn and love your idea @1285meet for online PT. Some..." + (show)

There are 2 types of hiatal hernia. One is sliding, it goes up and down the esophagus so it can be hard to diagnose. The other is Paraesophageal (meaning next to the esophagus). Those are less common but more serious.

yardsend | @yardsend | Mar 9 10:06pm

In reply to @1285meet "I have a small HH and I found a few physical therapists on YouTube. One has..." + (show)

I checked out YouTube PT for hiatal hernia and was overwhelmed. Can you please tell us which sites you have found helpful?
Many thanks,
Sarah

1285meet | @1285meet | Mar 10 5:40am

In reply to @yardsend "I checked out YouTube PT for hiatal hernia and was overwhelmed. Can you please tell us..." + (show)

Searching Hiatal Hernia Treatments, I liked the exercises on the site AskDoctorJo. You don’t need any equipment.

ditonn | @ditonn | Jun 1 6:05pm

Severe stomach pain when bending over like it flips or charlie horse. Getting more frequent. Pain horrible, can't even stand up when hits. Diagnosed with hiatil hernia years ago. Any ideas

msturcken | @msturcken | Jun 25 5:18pm

In reply to @auntiro "I had the same situation. I had surgery which took 5 hours and have some GERD..." + (show)

My hernia is back

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