1. < Digestive Health

Need reassurance of symptoms:IBS, GERD, gastritis, sm hiatal hernia

Posted by shooei @shooei, Oct 11, 2022

Over the last 6 years I have been diagnosed with mild gastritis, sm haital hernia & possibly SIBO. Also GERD & IBS diagnosed 20 yr ago. (I was also diagnosed with lung issues of Bronchiectasis and nontuberculosis mycobacterium infection after coughing up blood - during the same time period 6 yrs ago). But my worst symptoms disrupting my life are from my gut. Meds: have been on & off PPIs for more than 20 years (try to stay off completely, but hasn't seemed possible), famotidine when not on PPI, and tried most every functional med & holistic remedy.

I have a very limited, mostly FODMP diet, fresh veggies, some fruit, nothing processed, no dairy but hard cheese, no gluten, limited grains (translate: boring 😆). I exercise regularly & am quite thin. ALL tests (blood work, endoscopy, colonoscopy, heart, etc. are "normal" other than what I listed and some benign stomach polyps).

But frequently I get horrible upper gut pains (in center right below sternum) and to left under lower ribs. Bloated (I guess that's what it is-extreme pressure in upper stomach making me short of breath even), horrible nausea, unable to eat, pooping 5-6 times a day, chest pressure/pain, exhausted, sweating, horrible gut noises top to bottom. It can wake me in the night with gut pains & leg tremors. It can go on for 1 or 2 days (the best), or has been up to 2 weeks or more at times. I describe it as feeling like I ate something that has poisoned me! It is usually a day or so later, so I'm never sure if it is something in particular I ate. When I feel like this it gives me anxiety (which I don't have at any other time), which I know compounds the issue. I never know when it is going to hit or why, so that is stressful too. When this is not happening however, I can feel almost like I am a normal person.

MY QUESTION: Can foods that might trigger my IBS/GERD/hernia really make me feel this awful? They make IBS sound so benign, but this is absolutely miserable and completely makes me non-functional when it is happening and I know it sounds dramatic, but I feel like I am dying. I keep thinking it MUST be something else to make me feel sooooo bad. And why can I feel almost normal at times? Could you please share your experiences with IBS/GERD/Hiatal Hernia/Gastritis/SIBO so I can get some perspective on this?

Thank you so much!!

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shooei | @shooei | Oct 13, 2022

Thank you @willows. Given my propensity for arrhythmias & diarrhea, I'm not sure about domperidone, but I got an appointment with my PCP today and am going to ask about them all. Thanks so much!

REPLY
calannie | @calannie | Oct 13, 2022
In reply to @shooei "Oh @calannie , you have been through it - I'm so sorry for all you have..." + (show)
@shooei

Oh @calannie , you have been through it - I'm so sorry for all you have endured! You are very strong and at least it sounds like you are on the mend.

I think our gut biomes are so individual that it may be difficult to come up with a one size fits all diet, since we can all react to things so differently, even with the same conditions.

I hope you find more & more foods that you body tolerates as you continue this journey. I certainly have no answers, but I'm still searching!!

Praying for your strength and encouragement and continued healing❣

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Thank you for the kind comment. Sometimes it seems so lonely trying to sort out these things alone and not having anyone to talk with about the problems. Don't want to become one of those people only known for medical complaints so try to not to burden people I know with them.
Appreciate Mayo gives us this space to share.

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clarita47 | @clarita47 | Jul 31, 2023

I was of diagnosed with larger hiatial herina when I was 59 . After many doctor visits and many hospital stay, one doctor had recommended that I see a gastroenterologist and had colonscopy to find I had large hiatial herina and was given medication and diet to follow. I lost 40 pounds and felt better. after years of depending on medications for GERDs and Hiatial herina, I started to have other health problems and had to have a pace marker because my pulse was too low. Doctor said it is because of age. I was 73. I have asthma since I was little and now go to get allergy shots and also have problems with blood pressure and take three different medications a day for just blood pressure. I now have osteoarthritis and I just retired in 2021. Now I have problems with ache on my legs. I can not take pain killer medications. I take Pantoprazole twice a day and use carafate when needed for reduce acid reflux. I want to know if acid reflux cause high bleed pressure?? or make asthna worse?? with large hiatial herina??? does stress cause it to become worse???

REPLY
3 replies
gigi4 | @gigi4 | Aug 1, 2023
In reply to @clarita47 "I was of diagnosed with larger hiatial herina when I was 59 . After many doctor..." + (show)
@clarita47

I was of diagnosed with larger hiatial herina when I was 59 . After many doctor visits and many hospital stay, one doctor had recommended that I see a gastroenterologist and had colonscopy to find I had large hiatial herina and was given medication and diet to follow. I lost 40 pounds and felt better. after years of depending on medications for GERDs and Hiatial herina, I started to have other health problems and had to have a pace marker because my pulse was too low. Doctor said it is because of age. I was 73. I have asthma since I was little and now go to get allergy shots and also have problems with blood pressure and take three different medications a day for just blood pressure. I now have osteoarthritis and I just retired in 2021. Now I have problems with ache on my legs. I can not take pain killer medications. I take Pantoprazole twice a day and use carafate when needed for reduce acid reflux. I want to know if acid reflux cause high bleed pressure?? or make asthna worse?? with large hiatial herina??? does stress cause it to become worse???

Jump to this post

Stress is a huge factor in our health. Google the Brain and Gut Connection. The stomach is considered the second brain. Our thoughts affect our stomach as we may unconsciously breathe shallower or even feel like we have stopped breathing. Learning breath work to calm yourself when you start feeling stressed is very helpful to bring you back to a state of calm. Breath work can be learned through meditation or by reading up on the different ways to breathe for calmness. It works.

REPLY
1 reply
researchmaven | @researchmaven | Aug 2, 2023
In reply to @gigi4 "Stress is a huge factor in our health. Google the Brain and Gut Connection. The stomach..." + (show)
@gigi4

Stress is a huge factor in our health. Google the Brain and Gut Connection. The stomach is considered the second brain. Our thoughts affect our stomach as we may unconsciously breathe shallower or even feel like we have stopped breathing. Learning breath work to calm yourself when you start feeling stressed is very helpful to bring you back to a state of calm. Breath work can be learned through meditation or by reading up on the different ways to breathe for calmness. It works.

Jump to this post

I wonder how to create a habit of breathing. I can only think of setting my smartphone alarm.

Even pleasant excitement -- seeing the new Mission Impossible movie -- triggered IBS.

I wish there was a way to sever the brain-gut connection for pleasant and fun stress.

REPLY
1 reply
researchmaven | @researchmaven | Aug 2, 2023
In reply to @clarita47 "I was of diagnosed with larger hiatial herina when I was 59 . After many doctor..." + (show)
@clarita47

I was of diagnosed with larger hiatial herina when I was 59 . After many doctor visits and many hospital stay, one doctor had recommended that I see a gastroenterologist and had colonscopy to find I had large hiatial herina and was given medication and diet to follow. I lost 40 pounds and felt better. after years of depending on medications for GERDs and Hiatial herina, I started to have other health problems and had to have a pace marker because my pulse was too low. Doctor said it is because of age. I was 73. I have asthma since I was little and now go to get allergy shots and also have problems with blood pressure and take three different medications a day for just blood pressure. I now have osteoarthritis and I just retired in 2021. Now I have problems with ache on my legs. I can not take pain killer medications. I take Pantoprazole twice a day and use carafate when needed for reduce acid reflux. I want to know if acid reflux cause high bleed pressure?? or make asthna worse?? with large hiatial herina??? does stress cause it to become worse???

Jump to this post

Regarding the ache in your legs...I would have that but for walking and stretching. I really need to stretch my leg muscles to feel good. I went to a physical therapist who gave me some stretching and range of motion exercises to do.

Osteoporosis is okay so long as you don't fall. Work on your balance and stay limber.

My friend reduced her carb intake, ate healthier, lost weight (like your 40 lbs or more) and her acid reflux disappeared. Hopefully you are on your way to that.

REPLY
1 reply
gigi4 | @gigi4 | Aug 2, 2023
In reply to @researchmaven "I wonder how to create a habit of breathing. I can only think of setting my..." + (show)
@researchmaven

I wonder how to create a habit of breathing. I can only think of setting my smartphone alarm.

Even pleasant excitement -- seeing the new Mission Impossible movie -- triggered IBS.

I wish there was a way to sever the brain-gut connection for pleasant and fun stress.

Jump to this post

These are two meditation apps I use: Headspace and Insight Timer. They both teach deep breathing - how to inhale and exhale - as well as teaching you how to become aware of your bodily sensations and mind interaction. It is worth the effort but it takes consistency to get results.

REPLY
clarita47 | @clarita47 | Aug 2, 2023
In reply to @researchmaven "Regarding the ache in your legs...I would have that but for walking and stretching. I really..." + (show)
@researchmaven

Regarding the ache in your legs...I would have that but for walking and stretching. I really need to stretch my leg muscles to feel good. I went to a physical therapist who gave me some stretching and range of motion exercises to do.

Osteoporosis is okay so long as you don't fall. Work on your balance and stay limber.

My friend reduced her carb intake, ate healthier, lost weight (like your 40 lbs or more) and her acid reflux disappeared. Hopefully you are on your way to that.

Jump to this post

Thank for sharing the information and it has been helpful and I appreciate sharing this information. Sometimes I feel like I need to talk to someone who may have the same experience and this is helpful.

REPLY
mgm223 | @mgm223 | Jan 23 12:24pm
In reply to @shooei "Thank you @jackielb ! I do sleep on incline & stop all food & drink 4..." + (show)
@shooei

Thank you @jackielb ! I do sleep on incline & stop all food & drink 4 hours before bed. I have tried to avoid omeprazole/pantoprazole because of my lung infection & osteoporosis, but after 6 years of this misery I would take anything to feel better 😬, No one suggested to up my omeprazole so I will ask about that. (I did take really good probiotics for a couple years, to no avail.) I had not heard of sucralfate or Atrantil - thank you so much for the suggestions, I will ask my doc about them. Thank you for taking the time to share!

Jump to this post

I can totally identify with your situation. I have high blood pressure as well as high heart rate probably because of this GERD but I also have asthma so who knows? I live in Florida and there is a lot of mold here consequently. Is that the type of lung infection you had? Also how did they diagnose it correctly?

REPLY
1 reply
mgm223 | @mgm223 | Jan 23 3:25pm
In reply to @clarita47 "I was of diagnosed with larger hiatial herina when I was 59 . After many doctor..." + (show)
@clarita47

I was of diagnosed with larger hiatial herina when I was 59 . After many doctor visits and many hospital stay, one doctor had recommended that I see a gastroenterologist and had colonscopy to find I had large hiatial herina and was given medication and diet to follow. I lost 40 pounds and felt better. after years of depending on medications for GERDs and Hiatial herina, I started to have other health problems and had to have a pace marker because my pulse was too low. Doctor said it is because of age. I was 73. I have asthma since I was little and now go to get allergy shots and also have problems with blood pressure and take three different medications a day for just blood pressure. I now have osteoarthritis and I just retired in 2021. Now I have problems with ache on my legs. I can not take pain killer medications. I take Pantoprazole twice a day and use carafate when needed for reduce acid reflux. I want to know if acid reflux cause high bleed pressure?? or make asthna worse?? with large hiatial herina??? does stress cause it to become worse???

Jump to this post

Per Dr. Google yes indeed blood pressure correlates with G.E.R.D. I myself notice that even when I take a PPI within a short period of time my blood pressure goes down.

REPLY
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