Hi, I have been reading the posts here and would very much like to ask peoples opinion on keyhole surgery. I have been diagnosed with a 3cm Hiatus hernia after many years of suffering on and off from breathing problems, indigestion, soreness in oesophagus. I have recently had to give up my job so this has severely affected mylifestyle. I have taken all the advise for diet,raising the bed, taking medication etc but this time around I am unable to free myself of symtoms. I have an appointment to discuss the option of surgery but, have read many stories here of people who have suffered a lot following the procedure.......help! What do I do?the alternative of doing nothing is making me miserable
Hi Christine
Well to be honest I don't think I am the right person to advise you; I am 70 years of age and have to date never suffered from Heartburn, Indigestion or Reflux. It was just that on examination at Papworth they said I may have a slight Hiatus Hernia and prescribed Lansoprazole 15mg 1 daily.
In all probability when further tests are done I will probably have to go on more prolonged drug therapy and wear 50 sun block every day and curtail my drinking habits - which won't do down very well as they think I have an IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis)
So as I say I don't think I am in a position to advise but hope you find the answers you seek in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
Richard Banks
Thanks and wish you the best too Richard
Hi Christine, I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia over 20 years ago and still having problems. I had an endoscopy last year and was told it is mild so don't know what size it is. I also get shortness of breath, pain in oesophagus, wind. I am on Lansoprazole 30 mg but it don't always work. Perhaps when you have your appointment you can ask the Dr lots of questions to put your mind at ease. I have'nt been offered the operation, but am suffering nearly every day. I would like to know how you get on with your appointment. Good luck
Hi Merryl,
After weeks of doctors telling me Iwas suffering from anxiety (I knew that was rubbish) Iwas diagnosed but Ihad to push for tests. Tried lansoprozole but it didn't help much. It was my husband that pushed my gp to arrange to see a surgeon, myappointmentis on 2nd Sept so will wait to see what the outcome is. I was suffering so much I had to give u work so I need some answers. Will keep you updated
Hi Christine, you must have been feeling bad to give up work. I ended up in hospital 8 weeks ago with palpitations, I was in for 10 days having tests and scans. The Dr in the hospital said the hernia can cause palpitations.
Please let me know how you get on.
Hi Merryl,
I too had palpitations and ended up in A&E twice. My GP was convinced I had anxiety and the pills prescribed made me feel so bad my husband almost called an ambulance one night! I am still having other tets but so far all are clear except the hiatus hernia. My GP doesn't seem to think a hiatus hernia can cause severe symptoms but who knows, only a specialist can confirmot deny that. Have you pushed your GP to see a specialist? 10 days in hospital is a long time, surely they should do something after that? My quality of life is suffering and really need to get back to work for financial reasons but don't really feel up to it yet. So hoping it eases up soon, have had this for 30 years on and off - fortunately mostly off but this time it wont go! Keep in touch & let me know how things go for you too
Hi Christine, I know 10 days is a long time in hospital. I had a heart monitor on for 8 days and was only taken off on the day I came home. I also had a 24 hr monitor and a 48 hr monitor in outpatients. Have'nt had the results of that yet. Also had quite a few blood tests. The Dr said I got Ectopic beats. I was put on bisoprolol but making me short of breath so stopped them. I am taking each day as it comes. I am going to see a private Dr down the Spire this coming Thursday to ask him some questions. I have had a hiatus hernia for over 20 years but the Dr said it is mild. I am also talking on here to a man with a large hernia who saw a surgeon last week and the surgeon offered him an operation in 2 months time. Perhaps they only operate on large hernias.
I think when it is affecting people's lives every day, something should be done. Do you have chest pain?
Hi Merryl, Do they think this has all been caused by the hiatus hernia or that this you are also havingother issues? It isn't right to have to see a private doctor when we have the nhs but sometimes we seemto have no other option. Idid have some chest pain but it was brief and onand off. My main concern was the breathing difficulties like the feeling of being constantly winded. I know they don't feel hernias can cause all these problems, my GP certainly doesn't but having had an ecg, 24 hour tape a heart scan, a chest x-ray & abdominal scan they can't find anything except the hernia! I contacted the hernia association in London but they want £6K to do the operation! Drop me a line after your visit on Thursday and let me know how you get on. Best of luck
Hi Christine
I am not un sympathetic to your condition but as i said in the beginning my Hiatus Hernia may be attributing to a condition known as (IPF) Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis where the acid from the stomach actually gets into the Lungs and gets worse over time. Not that is I have any symptoms of H.H. but I have been prescribed Lansoprazole 15 mg once per day, which I can't take as I get a feeling of choking in my windpipe?
I am a man of 70 years and under Papworth Hospital; they say I may have 3 years to live but may be extended if I take a drug which will destroy my immune system yet I would have to use a sun factor 50 cream everyday - I just wonder if life is worth this - I am not on oxygen which they say may extend my life but in the final analysis is it all worth it as I can continue my life as it is, happily without all this crap!
I appreciate your problems, ours could be related, who knows; I hope your condition improves but at the end of the day you must ask questions as to scenarios?
Hope this helps.
Kind regards
Richard Banks
Thanks Richard, I will ask some questions. Sorry to hear yours has taken a more serious turn, I certainly hope your treatment helps you and I dowish youthe best of luck
Merryl, I managed to get a cancellation and saw the surgeon consultant today. In short he said my hiatus hernia was not big enough torequire surgery and doesn't think it can cause breathing problems! So back to the drawing board for me, I have an appointment later this month in respiratory clinic. Let me know your outcome
Hi Christine, sorry to hear they won't do the operation. I have breathing problems too. It feels as if I am being suffocated, it only lasts a few seconds but quite frightening. At the moment I don't know what's causing it. I had H pylori last year and put on 2 antibiotics but sometimes the antibiotics dont work. I am having a test for this soon to find out if this is back and giving me problems too.
I have typed out my symptoms to take with me down the Spire just incase I forget. I will let you know what he says. I supposed to have a lung function test at my local surgery but when I went 2 weeks ago the nurse would not do it because I had severe chest pains in the morning. She said it might start something off. The hospital I was in, wanted the test so I asked my own Dr if I could have it in the surgery and he said yes, so don't know when that will be now. I will see what the private Dr says about that. Take care.
Hi Merryl,
I'm getting frustrated now! My breathing problems had eased but over the last few days has returned and is constant. If I go back to my GP he will try and treat me for anxiety again and those pills made me so ill I had to stop them. I don't get chest pains like you though just feels like I am being strangled accoss my lower chest/upper stomach area. My lung function test was fine sohope yours is too. It just seems if they do some tests and dont find anything you must be ok!!!!! Fingers crossed for you
Hi Christine,
I saw the consultant last night and he is putting me on Flecainide for the ectopic beats, so I have to wait to hear from my local surgery to start on them. He is also writing to the hospital I stayed in to find out more information. I am hoping that the tablets will calm my heart rate down and maybe the rest of my digestive system will feel better. I told him I don't know what is causing all these problems and he said, that is for him to find out.
I have a follow up appointment in 6 weeks time to see if the tablets are working. I am sorry to hear that your breathing problem has returned. What kind of breathing problem do you have?
I was told by my Dr to stop taking Lansoprazole for 2 weeks before I have the test for H-Pylori. I have been taking Gaviscon instead but not as good as Lansoprazole. I have more acid now. I got another 8 days to go before I go back on lansoprazole.
I agree with you, If they can't find anything wrong they put it down to anxiety. Hope you are feeling better now.
Hi Merryl,
Sounds like your consultant is trying to sort you out, that's good. My breathing problems feellike I have someone sitting on my upper abdominal area or I'm wearing a tight corset restricting my breathing. I have an appointment with cardiology/respiritory in a couple of weeks so just have to wait and see if they find anything. Fingers crossed for us both. Best wishes
Hi Christine,
I get a tight feeling in my upper abdomen as well. It feels as if i got a tight band across there and if something is squeezing hard inside, that makes me short of breath..Just hope the Consultant comes up with something. I don't like taking tablets because of the side effects but wil have to give them a go to see if they work.
Hope you have some luck with the Cardiologist. Did you have to wait long to see the cardiologist?
Hi Merryl,
Yes I can relate to your description, similar to mine possibly, it's difficult to describe the exact feeling. I had to wait quite a few weeks for my appointment for the cardiologist. I am not expecting them to find a problem with my heart, I haven't had palpitations for a while now & I have had some tests done with no pproblems found. It is all frustrating don't you think? I want to get back to working again and having a normal life. I did have a couple of weeks where I thought I was getting better, my symptoms were not as bad but arrrgh not feeling good again. I hate taking pills too and the ones my GP gave me for anxiety made me so ill my husband almost called an ambulance. Trying to think positive but not easy when you feel awful is it? When do you have your next appointment?
Hi Christine,
Hope you are feeling better now. My next appointment is 6 weeks time with the private Dr. He wants to see how I am getting on with the tablets, although I have not started on them yet. I have to wait until I hear from my local Dr who will start me on them. I read online that only a consultant at the hospital can start patients on these tablets, and gives my local Dr permission. When I was in hospital the scans showed my heart is sound. I still think my H-Hernia got something to do with it. I got another 3 days to go before I start back on lansoprazole. Don't know how I managed without them for 2 weeks, I had a lot of acid coming up. I will be able to have the test for H-PYLORI next week. I had h-pylori last year but the antibiotics don't always cure it. At least I will know one way or the other if it is still there or not. Be glad when I am back to normal if possible. I have a few things going on.
Hi Merryl,
I had a test for H-Pylori (I think they did it when I had the gastroscopy) and they noted it as negative but fromwhat you are saying can drugs hide this? Earlier today I spoke to the British Lung Foundation, she suggested 2 more tests one I can have at the surgery a broncho dilator reversability test to rule out asthma, then a CT scan. Interestingly when I mentioned the hiatus hernia and acid reflux she said acid raising up the windpipe drops into the chest causing the airways to swell so, dispite being told by my GP that the HH/acid reflux won't cause my symptoms it appears it can, this could be my problem. I am off to the GP next week to discuss, I'mtaking my husband with me as he is a little more forceful than I am. My breathless symptoms are not easing, are you feeling any better?