Hiatus Hernia options?

[AnimalMother]

I started to 'choke' on my food about a year and a half ago. I went to the doctors about it and they said it was my esophagus going into spasm. Put me on one dose of omeprazol a day. Then I started to get acid reflux sometimes at night.

So I went back to the doctors where they doubled my dose of omeprazol and referred me to hospital for an endoscopy (camera down throat). I was diagnosed with a sliding Hiatus Hernia at the hospital while half dazed from the sedation. So didnt get much of a chance to find out what my option are. I went to see the a doctor as the GPs again and was told surgery wasn't a common option and to carry on taking the omeprazol and another medication before meals that calms my throat (cant recall name right now).

Now I very rarely get any acid reflux, but I often have stomach ache and am almost always bloated. (sometime pretty badly bloated) Also if I have a food choking moment where my throat sort of locks up it can last nearly an hour. Its awful, the one I had a few days ago felt like my stomach was vomiting but my throat had locked shut and wouldn't let it up. Felt like something was going to burst.

Anyway, what are the options with this? Anyone had it and recovered?

My research on the internet is clouded by alternative cures, like jumping up and down.....seriously....

Im going to try pursue it with the NHS but if they wont operate I will see a private practice as I cant spend the rest of my life with this. (Im 37)

[C0ffin D0dger]

My Dad had a Hiatus Hernia, the symptoms don't sound as bad as yours but he did suffer from a lot of reflux. I'm guessing Omeprazole wasn't really around back in the 70/80s as I just remember that he had to take a lot of antacids when it was bad e.g. Rennie or Gaviscon when that came along. In later years he did get put on Omeprazole.

It may not be the case now what with keyhole surgery and stuff but back then it was a major operation to get it sorted (i.e. chest / rib cage opened up) and therefore highly risky so the consensus was that you're better off living with it.

I suffer from a bit of reflux / acid indigestion myself but got put on Omeprazole for other reasons as I take steroids for an inflammatory condition. The omeprazole has made such a difference to me, no more indigestion, no worries about spicy or greasy food, etc. It's great!

[AnimalMother]

C0ffin D0dger said:

it was a major operation to get it sorted (i.e. chest / rib cage opened up) and therefore highly risky so the consensus was that you're better off living with it.

Its keyhole now for sure, one night stay in hospital.

[RTB]

I was diagnosed with the same a number of years ago, although my symptoms were nowhere near as bad as yours appear to be, just a small amount of reflux and some discomfort. I spent about 12 months on omeprazole and I then went on a bit of a health kick, lost some weight started exercising and was careful about the type and size of meals I ate. For the last 5 years or so I've been more or less symptom free, unless I indulge in a lot of booze or food then it takes a few days to settle down again.

The operation is basically where they stitch the fundus of the stomach around the base of the esophagus to stop it herniating. The success rate is quite high in terms of reducing symptoms but can result in a whole raft of additional symptoms. I guess it depends on how bad your current symptoms are.

[AnimalMother]

Thanks RTB, it really odd how I dont seam to have much reflux but this swallowing thing is so bad.


Good news is Ive just managed to get an appointment with an NHS consultant to discuss it. But Id really like to know what Im talking about with the surgery by then, as they may put me off it for cost reasons...possibly.

[number2]

If you rarely have acid reflux but are continuing to have swallowing problems, is that a sign that your aesophagus hasn't healed yet, or potentially larger problems? If the acid isn't coming up to do the damage anymore maybe repairing the hernia isn't the way. Anyway, these are questions for your doctor - I wish you all the best, especially knowing how unpleasant it is.

I have a hiatus hernia too: I had frequent heartburn for more or less 20 years - exacerbated by spicy food and drinking, but present regardless. Moving forward to a few years ago, I started having trouble swallowing occasionally and would also - although rarely - regurgitate food. Of course it took me a few more years to go and see a doctor about it, then I had a series of gastroscopy exams to determine the cause and damage done...

There was a lot of inflammation, an ulcer and signs of Barrat's Mucosa - the latter being (from memory) cell damage that may lead to cancer. Fortunately my last gastroscopy - after being on Lansoprozole for a while - showed that everything had cleared up. I've been on Lansoprozole for about 18 months now and will continue indefinitely as prescribed by my doctor. As another poster has said, taking PPIs has materially changed my life for the better - living with severe and frequent heartburn, let alone the later swallowing difficulties isn't at all pleasant.

[otolith]

I have one. The symptoms got much worse when I gained weight. I did have the odd course of omeprazole, but mostly I used to control it with ranitidine. Since losing a big chunk of weight, I no longer suffer from it, though I am still careful about the foods I know trigger reflux. Pork pies are the worst thing.