Forum Post: "Shortness of Breath Due to Hiatal Hernia"

[donna]

sandy wrote:

hi anyone get burning in upper back and shoulder blades with hiatus hernia?

yes

[Charlotte]

I was dignosed with a small hiatal hernia 2 years ago.When I first had symptoms, I thought I was having a heart attack, I was in the Emergency room every 2 weeks.Not one Doctor could tell me what was wrong, until I found one Doctor who dignosed me with a small hiatal hernia,an ever since then I have been in constent pain, I have good an bad days.Mostly bad days. When I try to explain my syptoms to the Doctors, they look at me with a blank face. I have had 2 stress test, both came back negative.I have neck & arm pain also tingling in my left arm.I do not have this pain all the time, but when my hernia is acting up,I have this pain.I do take medication but it does not seem to help me.I got so depressed when I first had my symptons, I am on antidepressnt meds.I like reading everyone comments, It lets me know I am not the only one suffering from these symptoms.

[Norton]

You need a lap Nissen.
See Dr. Aye in Seattle. Another surgeon is Dr. Peter Billing.

Norton
Portland, Oregon

[Darlene]

Have you had the surgery? I am seeing a Dr this week. i feel the same way and I feel like I have a 40 lb hot basketball on top of every organ!

Jillymac wrote:

I Have been dealing with these problems also. I feel like my stomach and other organs are pushing up and out of my chest. i have been trying to exercise but get out of breath. I use to run 8-10 miles a day. I have been to a gastro Dr and they gave me medication that has done nothing. I look as if I am 8 months pregnant. I eat very small meals because anything I eat, I pay for later. I can barely sit without it feeling like everything s pushing its way up through my ribs. I can not live like this. is surgery the answer or do i try a chiro? Anyone who has had the surgery please help.

[Jonathan]

Charlotte,

It certainly feels good to read that other people actually SHARE what you feel, provides some reassurance. For me, the hernia used to create severe anxiety, to a point where I wouldnt want to do anything, or things I once enjoyed. I felt like everything I told the docs was just in one ear and out the other. But Ive just grown to live with it, and always sticking to the fact that I AM in good health, and not reverting to associating the pain with my heart.

[Michelle]

Hi Norton!! Are you familiar with Dr. Peter Billing? I seen a discussion on a private UW student website and he is supposed to be very good for heartburn surgery. His partner is Dr. Robert Landerholm. It is Edmonds, WA not Seattle.

[Daland]

Jon wrote:

I am suffering from a hiatal hernia and acid reflux. I am scheduled for surgery in March. I believe surgery is the only answer for the hiatal hernia. I have had pressure in my chest, shortness of breath, burning in my throat and it feels like my stomach is pushing up into my chest. I found a great doctor who does the Nissen Fundoplication surgery (board certified). Doctors in the past wrap the stomach too tight so there are a lot of side effects (gas bloat, inabilty to burp/vomit, etc.). My doctor does a loose wrap with very minimal side effects. I hope I made the right decision! Good luck to everyone...

I am curious as to how you are now doing. I am 6 weeks from having a wrap done which was supposed to have been a laparascopic procedure, but after 3hrs in the OR it had to be done by way of an incision. Not only did the hiatal hernia cause shortness of breath, reflux and Barrett's Esophagus but also seems to have been the major cause of my asthma. I am about to go off of the steroids completely and, so far, have only slight indications of any asthma which go away rather than getting worse.

[Sue]

Does anyone get a gurgling noise come up through their throat. It drives me crazy, it gets worse when I am nauseated.

[Daland]

Cecil wrote:

How I hope you, Denise...have got some help by now....I have the same thing....hurts so bad...That camera scope thing proved it...yet...no referal to anyone....What kind of Dr. should I see ?...Will have to go scout for one myself...quick !...It's getting to be unbearable !

If you have already had a scope on it, you must be dealing with a gastroenterologist. He should recommend a thoracic surgeon who hopefully can fix it through the simpler laparascopic surgery.

[Howie]

See Dr. Ralph Aye at Swedish in Seattle for Hiatal surgery. Seattle, WA

Also, Dr. Peter S. Billing at Puget Sound Surgery in the Seattle area.

P.S. Dr. Ralph Aye studied under Dr. Hill who did the Hill repair. He is developing a new modified Hill/Nissen procedure for heartburn and Hiatal Hernias.

LA is only a short plane ride to Seattle

[Daland]

Marisa wrote:

Frank,
I also have frequent urination. I was diagnosed with a "moderate" hiatal hernia during an endoscopy in 2005. I believe it was caused by heavy lifting a few years ago. It is starting to give me more trouble, especially after eating. I carry Gaviscon with me in several forms to take whenever it gets too uncomfortable. I have read that medications actually can make this condition worse. I also read that drinking a pint of warm water first thing in the morning and then jumping up and down a few times might cause the stomach to drop back down. I am doubtful of this working (in my case) but I am going to try it. Also, I have read that some chiropractors are trained on how to "manipulate" the stomach back down where it should be but I am skeptical of chiropractors. I may try that as a last resort.

Both of these methods sound a little iffy. The reason being that even though the portion of the stomach can be returned to its proper position, the enlarged hole in the diaphragm where it went through is still there. It would be best for you to get the advice of a gastroenterologist before resorting to what might be "witch doctor" treatments.

[Daland]

Maybel wrote:

Does anyone get coughing spells? I also have the other symthoms that everyone has experience, but no one has mentioned coughing. I will be tested to see if this is related to my hiatal hernia.

Possibly, if the coughing is related to asthma. I have had chronic asthma for almost 5 years (I am 67) with continuous bouts of wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and congestion. Tried to blame it on allergies (they are under control) and sinus infection (my sinuses are now clear) and could only get relief by using a regimen of prednisone. Found that the hiatal hernia causes reflux which will irritate the breathing passages which produce heavier mucous than usual which clogs up the small air passages of the lungs, causing asthma. Six weeks ago I had a hiatal wrap ( can be done by laparascopy or standard surgery) and, although it is still too premature to judge, my asthma symptoms have decreased dramatically.

[Mary Biederstadt]

Hi. My name is Mary Biederstadt. I suffered for many years with constipation, hemorrhoids, and painful urination. I couldn't sleep well at night because of very bad leg cramps. I began experiencing the nightmare of GERD, Hiatal Hernia, Acid Reflux, or whatever they call it. I was so scared! Then, I developed Plantar Fasciitis, and then Sciatica - pain in the butt and groin that radiates down your leg. My body was trying it's best to get my attention!

I've started a blog to inform people about their Psoas and Piriformis muscles, and how to stretch them.
These muscles and others in the area are what truly supports our internal organs and holds them up in the right places! Also, the diaphram is connected to the psoas at the very bottom via a tendon.

I don't have acid reflux, or any of those other symptoms, anymore. I seldom have the leg cramps, and when I do it's very slight. I truly feel like a new person.
Please go read http://mystretchedbody.blogspot.com/search/la...

[Carl]

I am 25 year old that has had pretty bad chest tightness and shortness of breath. Had Nuclear Stress Test, Echo, EKg, lung function test, basically everything with heart and lungs is all clear. I have a history of gerd and have been getting some major bloated feelings as of lately, my Question is are there ay cases of hiatal hernias that cause breathing problems without extreme heartburn pain in chest? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Sharshar]

I have also been diagnosed with a "small" hiatal hernia but have all of these same symptoms. It feels like someone is stabbing me under my left rib cage, I feel the need to belch (but don't feel any acid reflux). I get shortness of breath, and then chest pain. My doctor too told me I had asthma , but it's clearly related to the hernia. I never had this kind of problem until this came on full force. Just today I realized that it is worse right before my menstrual cycle and that's when I notice symptoms at their peak. I wonder why that is? If we do not want to take medications are we just stuck with this pain? Does themedication even work? The doctor told me that because it was small no surgery was necessary. It has changed the quality of my life!

tisheae wrote:

Jillymac it is good to hear that someone is feeling what i feel i have been complaining to my doc's about this pushing up in my chest feeling for 3 years. This all started during my pregnancy 3 years a go my daughter is 3 while preg i had heartburn, reflux and breathing issues when lying down.
Nonetheless i am still having the same issues...its really bad during either right before,during, or right after my menstrual. I sit down and it feels light everything is bunching up and my left rib is always hurting or sore my stomach bulges and i've been trying to lose weight but it doesn't seem to work..the breathing isn't good either worse around menstrual time..the doc gave me a test to test me for asthma and said i have a mild case of asthma i don't take any of the meds until i get to the bottom of this i have not yet been diagnosed with hiatal hernia no tests just been testing at th e heart doc who suspects hiatal in which i suspected after my research...i hate that it takes the doc's so long to figure things out! I just want relieve and to feel normal again. I haven't tried to workout but i will but i am hearing its not good to workout i will do cardio/treadmill anyone think that will be ok??
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[Howie]

Look at Dr. Ralph Aye in Seattle as a top Lap Nissen surgeon to fix your hiatal hernia. He is at Swedish Hospital.

[seb]

sandy wrote:

hi anyone get burning in upper back and shoulder blades with hiatus hernia?

Yes and down into the left arm.

[Lisa K]

Yes, I have awful pain in chest (hot heaviness some call asthma) and across the top of my back, shoulder to shoulder. Pain runs from armpit down inside of arms to hand. Sometimes I feel lightheaded or like I'm going to sweat. I've had total hear workup that was fine. I do have 3 cervical disc bulges which complicate the diagnosis. Endoscopy showed h. hernia and esophogus damage (although Dr. assured me I didn't have reflux-even though I've been feeling it in my throat since my pregnancy with 9.4 pound first child and continuing on through my full bedrest pregnancy with triplets 13 years ago. I'm so confused about which problem (neck or hernia) are causing the symptoms and which to concentrate on getting repaired. BTW I also have gained weight although I try religiously to walk (which with even the slightest incline is very painful in chest and across the back.) I eat several small meals which helps w/ reflux but the weight won't budge.

[scott s]

When I play racquetball I get a tight sensation in my chest and left arm. I have a heart stent,acid reflux and a hiatal hernia.My cardiologist says its not my heart after having a stress test. I guess I'm lucky I can excercise to some extent but feels like I'm going to have a heart attack. This is a new symptom. After getting a stent a year and half ago, I felt great, but recently excercise is causing these symptoms.I take 2 Zantac a day which helps with seleeping but doesn't seem to do anything when excercising.

[Lisa]

I believe I have a hiatal hernia and I have all of the symptoms that everyone else has mentioned. My question is does anyone have any issues with altitude? Whenever I go into any altitude, I can't breathe. It used to be at around 6,000 ft and now it's down to 2,000 ft. Any info?