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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Hiatus hernia anyone?

18 replies

wrenster · 09/04/2013 20:52

After 2 months of horrible tummy symptoms I have finally been diagnosed with a hiatus hernia after an endoscopy today. The consultant didn't have much time to chat so I've done research on the Internet about exactly what it is etc.

However I wondered whether anyone could share any advice on dealing with one/ things that set it off etc. the consultant said nothing needs to be done about It but I certainly cant live the way I have been for the past few months.

I feel a bit lost although relieved it's nothing more sinister. Not sure where to go from here.

OP posts:

Report

gingeroots · 09/04/2013 22:13

Could you go back to GP and discuss ?

Are you on rantadine or omneprazole ?

alexw · 09/04/2013 22:31

Hi. I was diagnosed with one years ago now and with little/no info. Have found that eating small portions, nothing too spicy and not leaving too long a gap between meals helped. Oh, and qpregnancy was a nightmare - sleeping upright from 12 weeks... Hardly have any problems now unless really stressed. Use antacids when you need them and you'll soon work out your triggers.

gingeroots · 10/04/2013 08:24

I would look into it OP ,google and discuss with GP .
If your GP is helpful ,open to that .

I'm sorry to make life complicated and hey this is just me googling but
as I understand it
antacids will knock any immediate indigestion /pains quickly on the head but then they cause your stomach to make even more acid in a rebound action
PPIs and similar like omneprazole and ranatadine ( googling has done nothing for my spelling ) will greatly reduce the acid but ( like any drug ) have their own side effects like reducing your stomachs mechanism for dealing with viruses and bacteria .
I also understand that they leave you liable to osteoporosis and B12 deficiency .

So maybe best approach is watching food intake and being aware of triggers ,don't eat before lying down/bed - go to bed with an empty stomach as possible .
Prop yourself or your bed up so that your less flat at night .

At risk of destroying any credibility I may have I could post list of homeopathic tissue salts that are meant to reduce acid more gently .

wrenster · 10/04/2013 09:55

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'm feeling more positive this morning after eating breakfast and having no pain!

Ginger roots - I would love any homeopathic remedies you've come across. I've already been on Omeprazole and had horrible side effects so I would really much rather manage it through diet than meds if I can.

Does anyone know what actually causes one? The only thing i can think of it that I've been going a bit mad recently with stomach workouts and maybe I could have strained too much?

Just wish I'd had a bit more time to discuss with the doc!

OP posts:

gingeroots · 10/04/2013 23:47

Wrenster will post later when I have time to retrieve notes .

Imnotaslimjim · 11/04/2013 09:27

I had a hiatus hernia diagnosed 2 years ago. At first I was on the highest does of Omeprazole allowed, now I'm med free

Its all about finding out your triggers, and basically avoiding them. for me, I also have a mild gluten intolerance so that aggravates things if I don't watch my intake

If you don't get on with omeprazole, there is others that you can use, its trial and error to get the right one

go back to your GP and tell them you need an explanation, and help controlling it

gingeroots · 12/04/2013 18:36

wrenster ok here goes with the homopathic recommendation for acidity .

calcphos 6
nat phos 6
mag phos 6
calc fluor 6
combination of equal parts of above 2 drops 3 times a day

I can PM you phone nos of pharmacy that will make it up for you .

gingeroots · 12/04/2013 18:39

Oh and second going back to GP ,the endoscopy procedure is to give GP info .
IME the endoscopy people give no advice on managing what they find .

I have found sleeping propped up on lots of pillows ( not as bad as it sounds ,though I am colonising the entire bed ) has eased my symptoms in a way which taking ranatadine and omneprazole hasn't .

But every ones different of course .

wrenster · 13/04/2013 14:57

Thanks so much ginger roots - that sounds quite a concoction! I live in bedfordhshire so if you have any nearby nos. that would be wonderful, but otherwise I can just do some reasrch locally. Thanks again

OP posts:

Elibean · 13/04/2013 16:10

I have one, so does my mother, and we manage them differently...

I take Omeprazole, but find that eating less fatty/spicy/acidic foods invariably means I can cut the dose, or miss out the occasional dose. Sadly, I loathe bland foods, so am resigned to antacids on the whole I also sleep with two pillows, which helps a lot, and eat my evening meal fairly early - makes massive difference.

My mother managed for years with dietary care and pillows alone, but now (aged 84) takes a low dose of one of the other PPIs too. She had pancreatitis a few years ago, cause of which was never discovered - nor has it recurred - but has been on a PPI ever since, with no side effects.

I think both of our hernias came after pregnancy...

armagh · 14/04/2013 11:44

What are the symptoms ? Dh may have it

armagh · 14/04/2013 16:05

I know i could go to Dr.Google but would like to know your real life symptoms please

Elibean · 14/04/2013 16:35

Mine was heartburn, basically. Only when I lay down.

There are other reasons for heartburn though, my hernia was diagnosed via endoscopy. Please don't try and diagnose your dh, if he has symptoms, I'd pack him off to GP

armagh · 14/04/2013 21:24

Thank you

MyDarlingClementine · 15/04/2013 14:36

wrenster it took me two years of going back to docs to finally be diagnosed with this.

like you i was told nothing about it but given some loraz something? i Havant even taken them as don't know why or what for.

i think i got my herina after pregnancy/labour.

it doesn't really bother me now, but i do have increased stomach acid.

MyDarlingClementine · 15/04/2013 14:38

i also don't know if its to do with this but i find i can hardly drink red wine any more , sometimes after only two normal glasses find myself being sick after...in the night - very acidic.

armagh · 15/04/2013 19:00

My dh gets a terrible taste in his mouth but says he doesn't get heartburn. He says it's like something stuck in his throat. He had an endoscopy but it showed nothing. Going on for 2 years now. He was told it was silent reflux. He's not a red wine drinker

gingeroots · 15/04/2013 20:09

I'd keep an eye on it if I were you and get back to GP sharpish if it gets worse .
Particularly the stuck in his throat feeling .

Has he tried sleeping in a more upright position ,with lots of pillows ?

Or putting head of bed legs on a brick ?

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