Just chiming in here with my experience for posterity because this thread came up in my research.

I had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy done about 5 months ago to check for internal bleeding. Results came back clean overall but they noted a “small hiatal hernia” on the write-up and we never discussed it.

Since the procedure, I have felt what I’d describe as a pressure or squeezing right where I think the hernia would be. The feeling is below the xiphoid behind the abdominal wall. It feels structural/mechanical. It feels like someone put a small balloon in there and inflated it, like bloating after a heavy meal but up near the xiphoid instead of the belly.

It is not painful but more of a constant annoying discomfort that is driving me crazy. It is all I can focus on all day every day. It is what I would imagine a hiatal hernia would “feel” like, but gastro says this is basically impossible and it’s likely just xiphoid inflammation or muscle strain.

I did not have this discomfort - and had never even heard of a hiatal hernia - before the EGD procedure.

Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and topical 4% lidocaine have done nothing.

I don’t have heartburn, chest pain, vomiting, or acid reflux. It’s my understanding that these would be the usual symptoms that would actually cause concern about a hiatal hernia in the first place.

Gastro doc has been very dismissive and said he thinks it’s musculoskeletal and not gastrointestinal, but it just feels like he obviously doesn’t want to take any kind of responsibility for what is potentially a complication from the EGD.