Treatment of Hiatal Hernia + Hernia Symptoms Posted: 05-28-07 03:37am
I have recently had trouble with
breathing. When I walk up the stairs, I
can barely breathe at all. I used to use
the stairs as an exercise mechanism
regularly, and then suddenly this
happened. I have noticed no abnormalities
in my heart-rate.
This occurs every time I walk upstairs,
regardless as to whether I've just eaten
food (I've read about a relationship to
hiatal hernias and post-eating shortness
of breath).
My hernia has been properly detected.
Is this problem due to the hernia, or is
there potentially something else going
on?
What can I do?
Also, I really think I need a second
opinion on treatment of this hernia... My
doctor thinks that it is untreatable. I
have heard that surgery is used in a small
number of these cases and it seems odd
that mine is untreatable by such methods.
Thank you!
|
DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Hernia Answer A2839 Posted: 06-06-07 02:31am
You wrote: "List of pre-existing
conditions: Large hiatal hernia. Herniated
disk in spine (treated with PT back
stretches and Vicodin. Has been getting
worse).
Current medical status: Suffering from
periodic chest pain & difficulty
swallowing. My doctor doesn't know what to
do about resolving the hiatal hernia: he
says that it cannot be treated surgically.
It is large, and has reached the point of
turning my stomach upside down. The
herniated disk in my spine brings about
chronic moderate to severe back
pain/spasms.
Current medical treatment: Vicodin as
needed for pain regarding the herniated
disk. Office visits are as necessary, and
currently there is little point in going
back other than for a prescription."
A hiatal hernia is a protrusion of the
upper part of the stomach into the thorax
through a weakness of the diaphragm. The
symptoms of a hiatal hernia include acid
reflux as well as pains similar to
heartburn in the chest or stomach.
Sometimes a person with a hernia
experiences additional difficulties after
eating, such as more discomfort in the
upper stomach area. In some people, a
hiatal hernia doesn't cause any symptoms
at all. Usually, hernias are treated via
medication, but if chronic acid reflux and
severe pain is present, surgery is
commonly recommended. You might want to
seek a second opinion about your treatment
options as it seems that your current
doctor doesn't consider surgery a
possibility for you.
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