Hiatus hernia-going for tests and terrified :(

[forfexsake]

Hi all. I really need someone to talk to about this as I am getting in a right state with the worrying. Have had a hiatus hernia for 15 or more years which I have put up without medication. My main symptom has been a yucky sick feeling in the back of my throat and what I think is acid reflux. Anyway stupidly I started to google and discovered that acid reflux can lead to damage to the oesophogus and even cancer. Been to my gp today who has sent me for blood tests and an endoscopy. I am absolutely terrified and have spent the evening worrying and crying. Firstly I am so scared of having the endoscopy and secondly I'm convinced it will be cancer. I am 41, mum to 3 kids. To make matters worse I lost my mum to cancer when she was 40 so this only makes me more paranoid that I will go the same way. Just looking for reassurance really and anyone who can share my symptoms or has had an endoscopy?

My hubby suffers from the same thing. He has had a couple of cameras both up and down! They will give you a sedative first so it wont feel too bad. It is uncomfortable and makes you gag but it is in a controlled and safe environment and it is not painful.
It is always worth the doctors reviewing symptoms of acid reflux as even though you have a hernia it would be remiss of them not to review your symptoms (also taking into consideration your mums history) and double check that is the only problem.
Like my hubby you will probably find that they come back and say yes you have a hernia, yes you have acid reflux and need to take this, this and this to control it. Oh and don't drink wine or eat garlic or anything you like eating.

If they do find anything else then it is far better to know about it and deal with it than stick your head in the sand and hope it goes away.

I've had an endoscopy and like you I was terrified before I had it. The thought of a camera down my throat scared the hell out of me. I posted on here about it before I went and everyone reassured me, but I was still terrified! Anyway, it wasn't half as bad as I imagined.

I had the sedative with it - they offer it with or without and I suggest you have it. You will need someone with you to drive you home after it. They take you into the room to do it and there is the doctor and a couple of nurses. They had to talk to me for a while to calm me down because my heart was racing with nerves!!! Then they spray the back of your throat which numbs it all and inject you with the sedative. The next thing I knew was when they were pulling the camera out when they had done it. I remember nothing of the procedure at all.

Afterwards they wheeled me to a recovery room where I waited for about 30 minutes - most people sleep a bit but i didn't. They keep checking blood pressure and then asked if I felt up to walking. I got off the bed (a tiny bit shaky) and walked into another room where they brought me a lovely cuppa and a biscuit. They then gave me my results - mine was a hiatus hernia too, and let me go home - I was sleepy for the rest of the day and my throat was sore but by the next day I was absolutely fine.

Honestly, I know the fear of it is awful but it really isn't half as bad as I thought it would be.

Thankyou both. I know it's important to have it done but am still terrified. I will make sure I am sedated and hope it's not too bad.

I promise you it won't be too bad. It sounds a lot worse than it actually is. You wont even know it's been done under sedation. Good luck.

Hi, I've had several endoscopy's and colonoscopy's.
The first time sedation worked and renembered nothing at all.The rest of the times it never worked, and I remember everything, it was horrible. I been through so many things, worse than an endoscopy, but for me personally, to feel like your chocking and someone holding you down, I find stressful.

For me, my symptoms were, heartburn, vomiting blood, indigestion.
They told me there was acid damage in oesophagus, hiatus hernia and a stomach ulcer.

At the moment I just take lanszoperzole for these problems.
They can do an operation for a large hiatus hernia, but I'm not having this done at moment, as I've got lots of other health problems that need seeing to first before this.

I too take lanzoprazole, originally just for reflux oesophagitis, but my gp wanted me checked out because of the theoretical cancer risk. The doctor at the hospital recommended sedation (the nurses tried to talk me out of it but I stuck to my guns) I was fearful of gagging- the onlly unpleasantness when I had it done was the horrid tasting spray. I remember nothing at all about the procedure-I woke up in recovery bed!Amazed as I was so scared beforehand. I was told that I have a small hiatus hernia, no op required, continuing with the lanzoprazole. Please don't worry (hard I know-cos I did) All the best.

I have had all the tests going after acid reflux for 20 years. They are unpleasant but not hideous. I loathed the barium meal.
Because I have had 20 years of severe acid my oesophagus was examined carefully and its fine. I take ranitidine and hav been offered the op but am too chicken to accept just yet as I hate GA's and need to steel myself for a hysterectomy first!
I stayed awake for the camera swallowing because of needing to catch the bus home. Its not pleasant. They spray the back of your throat with a numbing thing and put a plastic mouth holder to keep your mouth open. You do gag and belch but if you keep calm and breathe through your nose its ok. Its over before you know it