Nasal congestion with hiatal hernia?

Hi @collage, According to an article I found, "Acid reflux is associated with a hiatal hernia and can cause heartburn or regurgitation. Excess belching or upper abdominal and lower chest pressure or pain can also occur. Prolonged and frequent reflux of acid into the esophagus may cause damage to the esophagus resulting in ulceration and bleeding. Scarring and narrowing of the esophagus can also occur with chronic reflux and cause difficult or painful swallowing. Other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux can include sore throat, hoarseness, excess salivation, the sensation of a lump in the throat (globus), sinusitis, frequent throat clearing, cough, wheezing or asthma." https://www.idahogastro.com/hiatal-hernia/

Are you currently having any chest pain or coughing associated with your symptoms?

Thank you for your response; no chest pain or coughing. I am scheduled for an endoscopy and will see what the doc recommends. I am quite convinced the hernia is the cause of the h pylori infection, sinusitis, belching, and some breathing issues. I also suspect it is the origin of the lung nodules......which may be an infection or mucus from sinusitis. I plan to discuss with the gastroenterologist after the procedure (which will occur concurrently with colonoscopy). I am 30 days away from the procedure, and in the meanwhile am watching diet (limited to no caffeine, no spices, limited acid-based foods). So far, no pain and symptoms are annoying but not interfering with daily functioning. I have included some breathing exercises to see if that is helpful.

Hi @collage ,
I do have all the same issues, plus a few more. Mine is more post nasal drip than congestion. My hiatal hernia is small but it still causes me problems and GERD. I have a lot of nausea & some stomach pain and a VERY limited diet because of it. The GERD contributed to (or caused, they don't know) my lung nodules which are bronchiectasis. I also have an NTM (nontuberculosis mycobacterial) infection in my lungs because of the bronchiectasis. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to control it before you scope. Has anyone told you what your lung nodules are? Good luck with your tests!

Thanks for your response; I am scheduled for my third CT scan in reference to the lung nodules, which remain a mystery. One of them has grown a bit, so the Doc is watching it closely with continued scans. I am reading The Acid Watcher Diet, which has some good information. I now have also eliminated vinegar, and lemon and attempting the healing part of the protocol. I decided to start taking the omeprazole for 14 days to see if that is helpful. My guess is that the lung nodules are bacterial inflammation related to all the other digestive stuff going on.........everything is connected, INMHO.

The diet in the book is also anti-inflammatory so that may address numerous issues.

How do you get diagnosed with the lung nodules. They just keep giving me CT scans. I believe mine are infectious from the large HH issues. Do they prescribe antibiotics for the infection? Thanks.

A sputum sample ( lung mucus test) will determine whether the nodules are caused by an infection, what bacteria it is and which antibiotics will treat it. I would ask for a sputum test.

Thank you for the information!

What kind of treatment do they use for your bronchiectasis nodules and NTM? I have nodules, but they just keep watching them, but seem to think they are infection. I would like a diagnosis. Thanks.

Diagnosis of NTM was from a sputum sample. You would need a sputum sample to diagnose the infection if there is one.
There is not really treatment for bronchiectasis, and I have not chosen to take the treatment yet for NTM (the big 3 antibiotics), but to just keep watch. I do daily airway clearance and nebulize hypertonic saline 7%. As long as things don't worsen, I will continue monitoring with my pulmonogist.