hiatus hernia.

Robbo wrote: »

I had a test done to monitor the acid levels in my oesophagus over 24 hours. This involved having a tube rammed up my nose and down the back of my throat. It was extremely unpleasant

I'm having this done next Monday.... Is it really bad? Like TheZohan, I'm dealing with Prof. Reynold's in St. James'. Great doctor, can only praise him. But absolutely sh*ting a brick about this acid test on Monday...

You have NO idea how much that has helped... Everyone I speak to about it gives me the Wizard of Oz version.... Up until yesterday, I was basically led to believe that it would resemble a scene from The Sound of Music.....


Docs think I'll be heading down a similar route to all of you, so It's good to know there are other people out there in the same situation!

On top of the hernia, I'm having problems with the muscle at the end of esophagus, so suppose it's just a waiting game now to see what happens!

Anyone had the muscle problem and if so what was the remedy for this?

I was diagnosed about 8 years ago and was put on one of the types of tablets. Since then I have just been using the tablets like I would have taken a renne tablet, whenever my stomach hurts i would take one. This would probably do me for a few days or more. I did go on a carb free diet a year or two ago for about 2 months and I did not need a single tablet in that time and I have since been diagnosed with diabetes so my diet has radically changed and I have not taken a tablet since November.
I was told at the time they only operated if it was absolutely necessary as it was quite dangerous, they must have improved the method since then. I would definitely look into it if my symptoms return.

I've been suffering with heartburn and indegestion as far back as I can remember. I was living on rennies for a long long time. I always figured it was normal for people to occasional get it and all the adverts on TV for gaviscon and rennie only reinforced this.

The last 2 years have been really bad though, waking up in the middle of the night, having to sit up in the bed etc... and thankfully my GF forced me into a doctor. He said it could be a number of different things and prescribed me 1 months supply of Zoton and sent a letter to Tallaght for an endoscopy exam to find the problem.

It was a very uncomfortable experience, but short, and I chose no sedation in order to be able to drive home but the doc carrying out the procedure, found a restricted esophagus due to scarring probably caused by the reflux and, a hiatus hernia. She told me there and then, I can either continue with the Zoton for the rest of my life, or go the operation route.

I was undecided, so arranged an appointment to see her (Dr. Barbara Ryan at the hermitage). That appointment wasn't cheap (225 for the first visit and 175 thereafter). In the meantime she prescribed nexium as its a little stronger. I told her I wanted surgery mainly because 30 tablet of either Zoton or Nexium cost about 70 jibs! She organised a 24 hour acid test as above.

You can't take either medication 7 days prior. Was booked into Tallaght again, and it took about 20 minutes. Really nice bloke. Colm something. He sat me, straight up, on the gurny, surgical lubricant in the nostril, and slowly slides a small cable into the nose. Head goes forward, and sip water through a straw, as he slowly slides it down the back of the throat. It felt a little gaggy, but its not too bad. Then he measures the muscles in the eosophagus.

Next an even smaller cable, same procedure, taped to your nose and neck, and attached to a small box. Standing/Prone, Eating/Not, a large button for reflex. It was difficult getting asleep and occasionally it was a little gaggy, but once you keep occupied your fine, and you can eat and drink as normal, except for alcohol.

I have to ring the hermitage Monday to check if the results are in, and hopefully everything is right for surgery.

I'm so glad my GF made me do something about it rather than living an painful life eating rennies every half hour. And for all the discomfort from the above tests, truth is they were nothing compared to what I was suffering the last 2 years.

Thanks for the info!! Im quite nervous about it but Im looking forward to not suffering at some point! Did you lose a lot of weight>

Sugartri wrote: »

Hi how long is the recovery time? Like how long was it before you felt better? Ive been reading other things of peple who were still on liquid diet at 4 months, in pain and feeling worse. Also, you cannot burp again ever so you cant have anything that can produce gas??? Sorry im freaking out a bit!

Your burp isn't the same for a long long time, but it does come back. I was back eating solids at 6/7 weeks and probably could have waited longer but I was way too bored. The trick is to slowly introduce it back, as you would solids with a baby.

As I said, its over 8 months ago that I had my surgery, and I feel great, apart from occasional bloating which was caused by my diet being very poor. I've been to a nutritionist only very recently, and have started a diet plan. It was my diet that caused all the issues so I'm working towards fixing that. She made alot of suggestions and told me what was casuign the bloating. I would suggest to go see one as part of the procedure.

I thoroughly researched the operation beforehand, and I'm very glad I followed through, although it would not have been necessary if I had a proper diet and didn't smoke in my early 20's. Surgeon and every other medical professional sourced the cause of it all as poor diet, alcohol and smoking.

I am so glad i've found this thread.
Started about three years ago each night when i went to bed. Got short of breath and could feel my heart beat in my ears, doctors out it down to panic attacks and prescribed drugs for this. Didnt work each time i ate i would get severe heartburn when i sat down but just fobbed it off. Devoloped a contant cough, well not really a cough more of a *AHEM* if that makes sense, like constantly clearing your throat.
Went back to doctors several times with symptoms and was sent for scope.
When i went for the scope I rejected it because my throat was so burned by the acid i constantly wretch when anything is pressed more than halfway down my tongue.
Had a second scope under full anesthetic and it worked. showed up hernia.
Went back to doc thinking that i would be sent forward for surgery and they said no that surgery was the last thing they would do, they would try medicating it and sorting my diet, it felt like they were trying everything BUT the thing that would fix the problem. I'm on 60 mg of Nexium a day and 20mg of Rantidine at night and still wake up with my throat burning and sore and stomach in bad pain.
Before Christmas i lost my swallow and ended up in A&E ended up going to another doctor and he sent a letter to Prof O Connor in Tallaght Hosp to find out Why i haven' been put forward for the op.
My life has practically stopped cause of this illness, used to be a weightlifter and really fit, cannot socialize because nearly all drinks make me short of breath.
Don't know what to do anymore, I've been told because i have no health ins and no medical card i will be left waiting on any sort of help.
I've contemplated ending it twice its gotten so bad and that's the first time I have told anyone, not even my wife and family.
Recently i spoke to a nurse that works in Gastro and she explained what way to put to the prof at my next appointmen to maybe tell him the severity of how i'm feeling, Next appointment is end of Jan so fingers crossed.

davidd24 wrote: »

I am so glad i've found this thread.
Started about three years ago each night when i went to bed. Got short of breath and could feel my heart beat in my ears, doctors out it down to panic attacks and prescribed drugs for this. Didnt work each time i ate i would get severe heartburn when i sat down but just fobbed it off. Devoloped a contant cough, well not really a cough more of a *AHEM* if that makes sense, like constantly clearing your throat.
Went back to doctors several times with symptoms and was sent for scope.
When i went for the scope I rejected it because my throat was so burned by the acid i constantly wretch when anything is pressed more than halfway down my tongue.
Had a second scope under full anesthetic and it worked. showed up hernia.
Went back to doc thinking that i would be sent forward for surgery and they said no that surgery was the last thing they would do, they would try medicating it and sorting my diet, it felt like they were trying everything BUT the thing that would fix the problem. I'm on 60 mg of Nexium a day and 20mg of Rantidine at night and still wake up with my throat burning and sore and stomach in bad pain.
Before Christmas i lost my swallow and ended up in A&E ended up going to another doctor and he sent a letter to Prof O Connor in Tallaght Hosp to find out Why i haven' been put forward for the op.
My life has practically stopped cause of this illness, used to be a weightlifter and really fit, cannot socialize because nearly all drinks make me short of breath.
Don't know what to do anymore, I've been told because i have no health ins and no medical card i will be left waiting on any sort of help.
I've contemplated ending it twice its gotten so bad and that's the first time I have told anyone, not even my wife and family.
Recently i spoke to a nurse that works in Gastro and she explained what way to put to the prof at my next appointmen to maybe tell him the severity of how i'm feeling, Next appointment is end of Jan so fingers crossed.

Update from my previous post,
I've been sent forward for surgery.
After realising the amount of medication i was on 120mg of Nexium + 300mg Of Rantidine @ night they referred me to a Surgeon, Ive been told expect an appointment in the next three months to see surgeon and get the ball rolling.

That's how my hernia began was all of those symptoms and gradually got worse.
It took my doctor over a year to diagnose me and send me forward for scope and stuff.
Get a second opinion from another doctor.

Originally, i was told the same as you, i had a relativley small hernia and id more than likely be on ppi for the rest of my life which i didnt accept,but i gave a chance, after a few weeks symptoms were getting gradually worse and worse even on ppi. dosage was increased beyond max and a second scope was ordered, irejected two further scope tests and a 24 hour ph study because my throat was destroyed by acid and was sent forward to surgeon..

Everybody is different, I used to have a woken up at night with severe pain.
But no salty taste

Pre Op is 23rd May

tazmission wrote: »

yeah i hate taking the meds, especially when i might as well be taking smarties !
as for the meds , i know they stop stomach acid , which we need to digest food , and undigested or slowly digested food can cause reflux , hello !
as for Docters , mine is a joke also .
my symptoms , dont really feel like reflux or regurgitating , its constant sore throats and burning all the way down and like i said hot poker in sternum. my doc just shrugs and gives me tablets.
How is your work mate after Op ?
I think i will go the same route , i cant believe you have suffered since you were 18 .

Ya, the hot poker in the sternum rings more than a few bells! Anything hot then, I can feel it slide down my foodpipe to my stomach - not pleasant.

Workmate is grand now. He's 4 weeks over it, not taking any meds at all, but is still on the liquified food. He's down about 1.5 stone in weight, but sure, I wouldn't mind losing that, although I'm not overweight.

tazmission wrote: »

yeah, i went to nutritionist , ate the so called right foods. no real difference.
Its annoying , how did your friend go about getting the op ?
I think i will go straight to specialist.
Initially i went to physio with back pain and sore chest and she mentioned gallbladder or hernia , my doc would not refer me to specialist , he more of less thought it was all in my head i think ,so i had to go private and got scope they said hernia. great Doc i know!

As far as I know, he went for the scope, and then they arranged an acid test, where they stuck a tube up his nose, and down into the food pipe, to measure the amount of times reflux would happen. Based on the results, he was deemed a good candidate for the surgery, and went ahead.

I have the name of his doctor got now, who performed the surgery, so I may ask to be referred up to him (Galway), and if the GP fobs me off again, He may just be told to gather up my files, cos I'm moving to a GP who gives a fúck