Zantac for hiatal hernia

Hi,
Back in November I was on PEP (Aluvia and Truvada) for 28 days after a broken condom. I had GI problems for almost the whole time of taking it although to a much lesser extent after week 2. I was hoping all the issues would clear out after the treatment and they almost did, but my stomach would feel strange (and right-side pain under ribs) from time to time. My blood tests during PEP and after were perfect. Almost four months after finishing PEP I started getting heartburn for the first time in my life and just recently got diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. I've been obsessing about whether I caused this with PEP since end of March and the guilt is killing me. Do you think PEP could really cause this?
Thank you!

Hey everyone. Possibly have Crohn’s. Been dealing with a lot of GI issues recently after contracting the bad kind of E. coli on deployment. I waited over 2 months for my initial appointment with a heartburn clinic and then got referred to GI. The surgeon I saw at the heartburn clinic scheduled me for an endoscopy which was over a 2 month wait. I waited a month and a half for the GI consult which just happened about 2 weeks ago and the GI recommended a colonoscopy….which is now scheduled for August.
Just wondering what are the average wait times for your appointments? I’m currently in the North East US.
A little more backstory too…contracted E. coli in Iraq (most likely from the dining facility, HA!). My labs are all over the place. Basically no iron, B12, or vitamin D. Low ALT, low MCV, high MPV, high UIBC, and high TIBC…Enlarged liver, inflammation all throughout my intestines, pockets of diverticulosis, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, blood in stool (which has been increasing in frequency). Not to mention I had manometry done and got diagnosed with EGJOO and a sliding hiatal hernia (both which need to be fixed with surgery). I’m scheduled for an endoscopy with biopsies (to test for H. Pylori) and a colonoscopy. GI said he’s very concerned about Crohn’s. I’m just getting frustrated because I’ve been dealing with this since last September. I feel like crap all day almost every day. When does it end?! These appointment wait times are snatching away the little bit of hope I have left. I just want to get a diagnosis so that I can start getting the proper treatment but I’m slowly losing it. (I’m also seeing a therapist, so I am trying to take care of myself in all aspects). Any advice on how to not just lose it?!

I am 26, Female, around 150lbs.
Let me just start with the fact that I live in a place with a massive shortage in doctors, and it can take months to see a doctor, years for a specialist.
Back in 2022 I was recovering from an eating disorder and my doctor suggested I get a colonoscopy and gastronomy. I got them done and from then in 2022 until now I was unable to follow up with my doctor as she lives in a town over (an hour drive) and I don't drive, and don't have anyone I can ask to drive me, a cab would cost hundreds that far.
So not until now was I able to see her. I saw her yesterday and she doctor who did the scope had the report that said I had a small hiatal hernia of 3cm with no complications. In my stomach they saw multiple tiny ulcers at the atrium level. They were biopsies and came as chemical gastropathy, no H. pylori.
So while my family doctor is telling me this she's saying it's all really good results, and the tiny ulcers are barely anything to worry about. She prescribes me what the doctor who did the scope recommended.
Picking up the meds today, the pharmacist is shocked that they put me on such a high dose for never taking this medication before. It is two 40mg tablets of Sandoz-Pantoprazole a day. The pharmacist said that such a high dose is going to cause me some severe side effects, like nausea, stomach pains and headaches. She said it can be quite bad, since I've never taken this med, and this amount is usually for something very seriously bad. I was told it was tiny ulcers that were no big deal.
I'm very frustrated, there's more to the story that's made me upset but it's mostly irrelevant here, but I cannot afford to be feeling any worse as I work 12 hour days of a physical job and I cannot call in sick, but I'm already doing so bad that any extra severe side effects are going to knock me off my feat. I'm so fruatereated with the different things I've been told, can someone give me some insight on their opinion of all this? I have the scope reports so I have exactly what that doctor said in the report.

Submitted a disability claim for GERD in 2023.
In March 2024, I received a decision letter denying my claim. However, a month later, the VA reopened it due to an error and scheduled me for a second C&P exam. In May 30th, I received a 10% disability rating for GERD stating they used both the old and new rating criteria.
However, before the second C&P exam, I provided new evidence that included a diagnosis of a hiatal hernia discovered during an endoscopy, as well as additional documents detailing symptoms such as vomiting that led to the endoscopy, along with acid reflux, heartburn, and nighttime awakening. None of this was referenced in the evidence listed in the decision letter.
I have decided not to pursue a Higher-Level Review because I have an additional document to submit. Based on the old rating criteria, I believe I should be at 30%, but with the new criteria, I don't think it will make a difference and they will likely stick to the 10% rating. What would you do in my situation?

Hey there
I'm asking because I regularly use a pulse oximeter to measure my values due to my 5 cm hiatal hernia. I feel that my overall fitness has deteriorated significantly over a longer period of time, not suddenly, but gradually.
Even though I know that a hiatal hernia can cause shortness of breath and an elevated heart rate, I sometimes question if this is really the root of my problems. I've already had a cardiac test and visited both a cardiologist and a pulmonologist. Both tests came back normal.
However, I am aware that conditions like fibrotic lung tissue can also show normal test results in the early and middle stages. Given that my performance has declined so drastically, I am still concerned. Especially because I experience not only shortness of breath during exertion but also oxygen readings that sometimes drop below 90 or even significantly below 90, along with an extremely high pulse rate.
All these symptoms make me doubt that my issues are solely caused by the hiatal hernia. So far, I have always heard that people with a hiatal hernia do not have low oxygen readings. Additionally, I have an increased number of red blood cells. The combination of elevated red blood cells, low oxygen readings, and shortness of breath with decreased performance keeps me closely monitoring the situation, even though my pulmonologist and primary care doctor are skeptical of my concerns.
Therefore, I am curious if there is anyone among you who has observed similar values with their hiatal hernia. If so, that would be very interesting for me to know. So far, I am not aware of anyone having such values in connection with a hiatal hernia.
I look forward to your experiences.

After seeing a surgeon for the past five months for a hiatal hernia repair and possible intervention for acid reflux—linx procedure, TIF, or fundoplication—having spent over $10,000 out of pocket, taken two weeks off work for medical procedures, and endured three separate horrifying medical procedures (EGD, Manometry, and upper GI), my surgeon is now telling me that he won't operate unless my BMI is 30, which is currently 32. This requirement is another 20 pounds after already losing 30, feels like a betrayal. I have allot of muscle mass and low body fat so my BMI is misleading. If i loose another 20 pounds i will look emaciated before undergoing a surgery where i will be on a liquid diet for 3 weeks. I feel defrauded of my time and money, as I was unnecessarily forced to undergo medical procedures when he had no intention of doing the surgery in the first place. He never once disclosed that he would not operate until all testing and four office visits were over. Is this fraud?

After seeing a surgeon for the past five months for a hiatal hernia repair and possible intervention for acid reflux—linx procedure, TIF, or fundoplication—having spent over $10,000 out of pocket, taken two weeks off work for medical procedures, and endured three separate horrifying medical procedures (EGD, Manometry, and upper GI), my surgeon is now telling me that he won't operate unless my BMI is 30, which is currently 32. This requirement is another 20 pounds after already losing 30, feels like a betrayal. I have allot of muscle mass and low body fat so my BMI is misleading. If i loose another 20 pounds i will look emaciated before undergoing a surgery where i will be on a liquid diet for 3 weeks. I feel defrauded of my time and money, as I was unnecessarily forced to undergo medical procedures when he had no intention of doing the surgery in the first place. He never once disclosed that he would not operate until all testing and four office visits were over. Is this fraud?

I just found this Subreddit, and until now, it never occurred to me that there'd be a community of people with GERD. It's always just been apart of my life. I didn't think too much about it, if I'm honest.
I was diagnosed with GERD at 6 months old, when--for whatever reason--I stopped breathing in the middle of a nap. My mother picked me up and I started breathing again. My best guess is that I likely aspirated acid while sleeping. That's the only reason I can think of for why I stopped breathing.
My father has it, and my understanding is that my grandmother has it as well. I take some generic version of Nexium over the counter, but I've had prescriptions on and off for most of my life. I also have a hiatal hernia.
I'm not looking for any kind of help, per se. The regiment I'm on works fine, but I'm 23 years old and I've never met anyone in my age group with GERD. Most people my age haven't ever heard of it. I'm just curious if there's anyone in this group my age? What's it like for you?

trigger warning for disordered eating, medical emergencies, and just general self-hatred.
im currently bawling my eyes out while i type this, so apologies for any spelling or grammar mistakes.
i was diagnosed with pcos in 2019 in indiana, but my life was so hectic at the time that when i moved to ohio a couple of months later, i completely forgot about it, so for context i technically was already diagnosed but didnt remember it (im also on mental health related medications that cause brain fog, so the stress of that paired with family issues and moving in with my mother didnt help). i went to an obgyn to get diagnosed in ohio, and they did a blood test and said that my hormone levels were fine, so i didnt have pcos, and they lied in my medical records saying i denied hirsutism and other pcos related symptoms, so i didnt go back. i was 210 lbs at 5 foot 8, so it wasnt that bad, but i felt horrible about myself and like a complete failure, so much so that i went inpatient to a mental health facility for reasons i dont feel comfortable exploring publicly, but it was bad.
my mother recommended i try a diet called optavia, so i paid half and she paid half, and i got down to 150 in an unhealthy amount of time, before i had gallstones in my bile duct and had to get my gallbladder removed, and was advised to stop the diet. within months i skyrocketed back to 190, and my pcp re-diagnosed me with pcos, but only told me i should eat less and exercise more, and would not refer me to an endo because "the people we refer to only take people with abnormal test results nowadays" for context, im autistic and i pace as a self-soothing mechanism. i pace over 50,000 steps a day because im on ssi because i cant work (i struggle with sensory related issues so bad that at 24 years old i have violent meltdowns still with no way to stop them, i dont hurt people but i throw things, which i am ashamed of, im sorry), so i have a lot of free time at home. i do not do well with other types of exercises because i have a sliding hiatal hernia, so i dont know what to do in that department.
i also have hypothyroidism and my tsh was recently tested at .53, and the lowest on mychart before it says its abnormal is .27, but the doctor said it was okay, despite it being a sudden drop from the 2.0-3.0 range, as well as my vitamin d dropping suddenly, she told me to take over the counter pills for my vitamin d, but i cant afford to buy them because i only get 943 dollars a month, and i have to make 250 last a whole month after bills, not even counting the money i have to spend on food for myself to last a whole month. i feel like im being failed by my doctors all around, and in a fit of desperation im going back to the same obgyn in upcoming months, hopefully being taken seriously now that i have paperwork from 2019 and from my previous doctor saying i have pcos, but i dont know how to advocate for myself because ive never done so, and i have medical trauma from not being taken seriously until it gets so bad i cant be ignored anymore, especially from my parents.
when i had my gallbladder issues my mom left me on the floor crying for 1-2 days (cant remember how long, it was all a blur), it wasnt until i physically could not speak and told her via text that if i died it was her fault while laying on my stomach in the middle of the living room on the floor, that i went to the er. i was very obviously jaundiced out of my mind and was immediately taken back for testing. im also worried if i push to be taken seriously ill be labeled a maligner or something, because i have been for my mental health issues by psychiatric stays in the past. im 24 but i constantly get told i act younger than i am, probably because of the autism, im not sure, but i feel so lost and small and i dont know what to do.
i posted a question on the r / columbus subreddit asking for experiences from people with pcos for the specific location i was going to, and was immediately given unwarranted and unasked for medical advice by a nurse who sarcastically called me out for complaining about 'canned diet and exercise not being something i wanted to hear', and after a while they deleted their comment, but i was so jarred by it that i deleted my post entirely and cried myself to sleep.
i dont want to be a skinny toothpick, i dont even just want my weight to be dealt with. i want to have periods again, i want to stop craving sweets constantly, i want to at least lessen my hair on parts of my body, i want to not be tired 24/7, i want to be a healthy but not unrealistic weight, i want to feel good about myself, i want to stop being hormonal. when i got my tubes taken out last november, i had cysts all over my fallopian tubes. im in so much pain but im so used to it that i dont often feel it until it really hits, and then its crippling and it hurts so much. i feel dramatic. my doctors make me feel like im dramatic. am i being dramatic? i dont even know anymore
i just want to be happy with myself, but it feels so far away, and i cant even afford vitamin d supplements, so how am i supposed to buy all these pcos related supplements? im on buckeye medicaid and i dont even know which medications can be covered to help me. ive been asked if ive been told im diabetic before and ive said no, and the doctors move on, but i feel like that possibly means im pre-diabetic but no one has ever put it in a chart or went further than asking that question, so i dont even know. i feel like i need to be handheld through this process but i dont even know where to begin or if im allowed to ask for help, or who to ask for help from.
im so stuck and so alone and i dont know how to even help myself.

I have been struggling with what my primary care physician suspects is gastroparesis or hiatal hernia and am concerned on some of the blood work results. I have a GI appointment Monday to get scheduled for an endoscopy.
I have been having a sensation of fullness in my lower throat and food seems to be sitting a very long time in my stomach. I have vomited or refluxed up food I have eaten in the prior 2 days and am feeling not so good in general. This issue has been tolerable the last 18 months but has gotten much worse in the last 4 weeks.
Eating dense food (bagels) is very difficult and they seem to get stuck 80% of the way down. Tough meat specifically sets things off.
My blood sugar is normally very well controlled but is rising consistently overnight despite not eating after 5 and trying to drink more.
I am also having sweats, hot flashes, muscle/skin pain when this seems to flare. I am also down 7-8 lbs between now and 2 weeks ago. I am about 40 lbs overweight. I have PCOS and am on sprintec, losartan, metformin and latanoprost for high eye pressure.
When my testosterone was tested in January it was very low but thought to be from the sprintec being used for the PCOS.
Does anyone have any feedback on what may be going on or what to ask for at the GI appointment?
WBC: 3.5 MCH: 25.8 MCHC: 31.6 RWD: 15.5 Neutrophils: 1.66 Lymphocytes: 1.44 TSH: 0.09
Lipase and comprehensive panel were all in the normal range.
Thank you!

Late 20s male here. Not close to obese. Very active (was a D1 athlete in a heavy running sport). I have cut out dairy, gluten, sugar, most carbs, soda, carbonation, etc. I have tested negative for SIBO, SIFO, H. pylori, etc. I have tried Mutaflor, VSL#3, etc. I have tried all manner of supplements from magnesium to vitamin D3 to zinc to glutamine to slippery elm to anything else you can think of. I have had every blood test known to man - all perfectly in range. Saw two GIs who completely waved me off.
The only real lead is that I have moderate constipation. It’s not severe, but it is there. Nothing I do works without ultimately either waiting 3-4 days or relying on magnesium oxide or Miralax. My only lead on this is that I occasionally I’ll think of something stressful I have to do and it sends a “pang” into my stomach. My mom was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago and that stress really destroyed my stomach. Everything has since gone away except the constipation and dry mouth and extreme bloating all the time. I seriously look extremely pregnant constantly. I also belch a ton after eating.
I’m fearful I’ve somehow developed a hiatal hernia or gastroparesis.
Fiber doesn’t help at all. Fermented foods don’t help. Today I randomly because extremely fatigued and bloated after eating some raspberries? I don’t get it. I have been extremely, extremely fit and healthy and eating clean for years now. Why am I this way?
I am at my wits end. Please help me.

36 y/o female. Acid reflux for years and bloating. Had upper gi scope and they found a 3cm polyp in my duodenum. Normal mucosa in whole esophagus and whole stomach. What are the chances it’s cancerous.
Also found nodule in the antrum and esophageal hiatal hernia.
Thank you

Looking back I think I’ve had this since 2017, I lost 6 stone on slimming world & started walking loads, I’d feel so energetic but as soon as I’d stop to rest, I’d get the shivers & just feel awful. I got Tonsilitis twice during this time & would often feel dizzy & kept getting ear infection.
Got pregnant stopped walking as much, all my symptoms previously went away.
After pregnancy, gained all the weight back, struggled with walking, air hunger and would need to lie down afterwards and would take about 2 hours after walking to feel better. I have a hiatal hernia so just thought it was that & the weight making this happen.
Joined slimming world last September after I’d lost 4 stone, all the shortness of breath went away & I got so excited and started travelling to Liverpool everyday (I live in the Wirral) I’d feel great in the moment, full of energy & really healthy. I’d notice as soon as I got on the bus home I’d feel exhausted. Excessively yawning too. All afternoon I’d feel low energy & a miserable. Doing the second school & making the kids tea is just awful I just want to lie down. The next day I’d get up and feel fine & do the same thing again. It felt like I was having massive amounts of adrenaline & then feel the comedown afterwards. As soon as it was half term & I stopped I got Tonsillitis. I’ve had Tonsilitis 4 times this month & I’ve not had it since 2017. This all started after all the walking. I’m now at the point where I go to Liverpool and the next day I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. So I stay in and as soon as I feel better I go to Liverpool & it keeps happening. You’d think I’d of noticed a pattern but I didn’t 😅 I mean everywhere you read is that walking is good for you, so I couldn’t connect the dots. I didn’t even know this was a thing. I went to liverpool yesterday & today feel awful, it’s become noticeable now as the last 2 times I’ve been it’s happened & happened to find this Reddit. Ive rested today and just hope I don’t wake up with Tonsilitis tomorrow. :(
Does this sound like it? I guess the only way I’ll know is stop doing it & see if the symptoms stop.

Please help, severe pain! I went to the ER last night for bad lower right quadrant flank/back/abdominal pain and nausea. Was almost mistaken for appendicitis and then the Dr came in and said it's mesenteric adenitis. Pretty much said there's nothing I can do and it'll just go away on it's own.
I was relieved at first but now I'm not sure what to think. It feels like something is going on, I'm in severe pain.
I will put lab results in comments but the abnormalities are: High granulocytes 77.5% low lymphocytes 16.3% high absolute granulocytes 7.5/CUMM Straw hazy urine Urine leukocyte esterase - Trace A Urine RBC rare/HPF Urine WBC 1-3 A HPF Urine squamous epithelial cells few LPF Urine transitional epithelial cells High albumin 4.9 Low anion gap 4.7 L Light urine amorphous sediment
CT showed small hiatal hernia, kidney cyst, ovarian cyst, and mesenteric adenitis.
Should I really just wait it out or should I go get checked out again? It's my understanding that mesenteric adenitis is likely a symptom of something else and not a diagnosis. I could be wrong?
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Hey everyone! I just got my endoscopy for my swallowing issues and got diagnosed with small hiatal hernia (3cm). This is not very reassuring for me because the cause behind it is basically weak diaphragm muscles. My twitches, buzzing, pre-twitch sensations continiue, I feel like I get more of them when I`m sleep deprived.
I also get more twitches on my right side, specifically my right leg, which adds to my fear of you know what. I also feel like my right leg gets fatigued faster than my left, but I think it was like this for a long time.
I will also schedule an appointment with rheumotologist to get tested for autoimmune causes, but if that come back clean, I don`t know what to do.
I`m only 20 years old and I feel like I have issues of people in their 40s. Its just hard. Hope you`re doing better than me :)

Hey all,
I have been reading posts in this community for months now and feel so seen, so thank you to everyone who shares their experience. I want to share my story and am seeking advice/would love to hear from anyone who relates to what I have experienced these past couple of years. I would like to preface this by saying I am a physically active 23-year old female. My symptoms began when I had just turned 22 years old.
My symptoms started back in September of 2022. I had just gotten back from Mexico where I had an allergic reaction to something in sushi I ate (I have oral allergy food syndrome- not a severe allergy, causes itchy tongue but this specific reaction scared me bc idk what I was allergic to in that sushi to this day). Anyway, when I got home from this vacay a week or so after that allergic reaction, I described that everytime I ate something it felt like the left side of my throat was closed off and it was hard for me to swallow. I thought my tonsils were just really swollen and assumed I was getting sick. I went to the doctor and they gave me prednisone which didn't help. A week later, I was working out and felt super short of breath. I have exercise-induced asthma and used my inhaler which didn't help at all. This started happening in my daily life as well so I took a break from the gym. I became super short of breath for several days and it felt as though a brick were on my chest. I took time off of work because I was so miserable. The globus sensation never went away either, and it's always been more prevalent on the left side of my throat. I went to the ENT, nothing was found- had thyroid levels checked as well. My main symptoms by this point were heaviness in the chest and the feeling of a constant lump in my throat that has never gone away- even until this day. I got my first endoscopy in December 2022, and nothing was found. By that point, the chest heaviness and shortness of breath were better, but the lump in the throat remained of course.
Fast forward to May 2023, symptoms are slowly progressing. I'm noticing that I can't eat pineapple without my throat burning and this is where I began experiencing trouble swallowing again- except to a whole new level. I also started getting air coming up constantly, even after drinking water- not a full on burp or belch but I've never been one to burp to begin with. I'm out one day at lunch eating a sandwich and suddenly when I go to swallow (thick sourdough bread to be specific) my throat felt as though it spasmed and I got super anxious. It felt like the bread was stuck in my throat/chest. I started panicking, tried to control my breathing, calm down, and had my mom there to support me as well. Ultimately we decided to head to the ER because I was not feeling better. I sat in the ER shaking and in extreme discomfort for about 6 hours until they would see me. They did a CT scan of my chest and found nothing but by the time they finally took me back the discomfort had lessened so this didn't surprise me.
I got booked for a second endoscopy with the same GI doctor as my first. Again, nothing was found. He told me to take Nexium for 2 months. I did, and I didn't notice any improvement. Tums did seem to provide some relief for me though when my throat felt really distressed/burned. Over time, I had to begin avoiding more and more foods as the swallowing issues and burning would get so severe. At one point in time before I realized dairy was a trigger food for me, I had lost 25 lbs within a couple of months because I could barely eat anything or swallow water as the swallowing issues and lump feeling became so severe. This was November 2023.
I totally changed my diet during the fall of last year because my symptoms became so severe. I completely cut out dairy, caffeine and alcohol (rarely had these to begin with), acidic foods, fried foods, spicy foods, and limited chocolate (it's my fav, couldn't completely knock it out), highly processed foods, and foods high in fat. My diet mainly consists of berries, vegetables, rice, and chicken. I switch it up but everything I eat is pretty plain and healthy. I also workout about 5 days a week on average. I love hot yoga, going to the gym, and walking.
Anyway, my search then began to find the best GI doc in my state at the beginning of this year because I had enough of no answers. I actually found my doctor from reading posts in this community. She did a 3rd endoscopy for me and found a 1 cm sliding hiatal hernia. She has been wonderful so far, agrees that I shouldn't take anti-acids as my esophagus is not damaged and I am managing my reflux symptoms by modifying my diet. The downside is that she is completely booked out and it takes months for me to even be able to get in to see her.
The swallowing difficulty and constant 24/7 lump and pressure in my throat does not go away and makes me feel absolutely miserable. In terms of my swallowing difficulties, it is mostly hard for me to initiate my swallow- especially multiple in a row. I also get pain in my chest/abdomen and shortness of breath, especially after eating. I also experience regurgitation when drinking water while exercising and if I lay down too quickly after eating. I sleep with my bed elevated every night and on my left side. I eat smaller, more frequent meals. I also have constant gas and bloating after almost every meal and still have the air coming up all the time.
To conclude, yesterday I visited a general thoracic surgeon my GI doc referred me to in order to discuss surgery because I just can't live like this anymore. He said because I don't have acid reflux and my hernia is so small he would not do surgery for me- he thinks my symptoms aren't proven to be caused by my hernia. As this timeline is so long I must add that throughout this whole process I have done an H. Pylori test, 24-hour pH study, esophageal manometry, modified barium swallow study, allergy tested again, MRI of my brain, and wore a heart monitor for a week (these were all tests that I was directed to do by doctors). None of these tests showed anything significant. I had reflux episodes, constant burping and regurgitation while doing my 24-hour pH study but it wasn't enough for a positive GERD result- keep in mind I was barely eating reflux-inducing foods, I tried to but it was literally so hard for me to swallow I barely could.
I have an upper GI with air contrast scheduled now as well as a gastric emptying, and 96-hour bravo test. I don't eat out at restaurants, I miss eating SO many foods, I am limited in my traveling because I have to plan the whole vacation around being able to make home-cooked meals. I am constantly uncomfortable and these symptoms consume almost all of my thoughts at any given point in the day. Sorry this was way too long, I just wanted to include everything and hopefully someone reads it.

hi! found out last month that i have a medium hiatal hernia and grade 4 esophogitus (which caused severe anemia) due to that and gerd. this was diagnosed about a month ago, and i was prescribed 40mg omeprazole BID. i think it is helping (prev was waking up choking/throwing up 3-4x/week at night, have only had 3 instances of this since started meds). all this thanks to hEDS. i see a gi specialist in a month after recheck endoscopy. my question is: i’d really like to not be on any more meds long term if possible. does anyone have experience with surgery or other treatment modalities for hiatal hernia and gerd? i already do the lifestyle mods (and had been prior to omeprazole) ie noting and avoiding triggers, not eating close to lying down, etc etc. thank you!!!

I am writing this because the Canadian health care system is in a crisis, and it seems my best and most immediate pathway to get answers to these medical questions (or what to do next) is to post my personal and private health care data online (truly no disrespect to the doctors and nurses that are basically shouldering the weight of our entire system while it crumbles around them, I’m heartbroken for what we put our medical professionals through… that’s a post for another day).
38 yo female 20 months postpartum History of migraine with aura, anxiety 20 months on Zoloft 50mg daily Vit b2 400mg daily for migraine prevention On hormonal contraceptive pills for majority of life, then iud, then a short period (1-2 years) without any contraception and experienced strong predictable symptoms throughout cycle (bloat mood swings migraine with aura mastalgia etc). Also experience mid cycle ovulation pain and random ovary pain mostly on left side.
Ffwd to a couple months ago: Started seeing ND 6months PP- gave history and details of my cycle and pain, along with my fatigue levels, and ND suspected PMDD and strongly suspected Endo. CA125 levels were elevated ‘ruling in’ Endo. PMDD symptoms and even migraine and anxiety were much reduced at this time given zoloft, so did not explore this Endo suspicion clinically or for symptom relief as things were manageable.
Fast forward to Feb of this year and I start noticing major symptoms from my cycle again. Migraine with aura at ovulation. Intense bloating. Night sweats. Rage before period. Random bouts of pain in ovary area, etc. hair thinning- rapidly!
The next cycle is the same, except this time right before my period I get a ‘stomach bug’ which felt like gastritis if you’ve ever had that. Gnawing pain in stomach. And then at night I’d get huge waves of nausea and then throw up. Went to ER. Waited in agony to have the abdominal pains and vomiting explored… and physically couldn’t wait any longer sitting up as the pain was just too much (and the floor had gross bugs all over it… so no laying down on the floor). Went home and drugged myself with gravol to see if I could sleep the pain off, went to urgent care the next morning and they said ‘you’re constipated’ (saw on xray). Cool. Why tho? Why is this suddenly happening? Do most people barf when constipated? I use the washroom daily, it was only after my stomach started hurting (less than 24 hours ago) that no BMs occurred. In fact, it felt like my bowels stopped working entirely. Like my abdomen was so inflamed from something and something was pinched or not moving properly.
Docs eyes glossed over when I talked about how this is happening when my cycle is suddenly out of whack. Wouldn’t engage in the topic. Said my inflammation markers show no gallbladder or appendix issues. I said I had my appendix out and it took 3 years to get to that point because at each flare, I didn’t have typical symptoms, no inflammation markers on blood work, and X-ray showed I was ‘just constipated’ so I was reluctant to believe this was just not pooping for 24 hours and having a bit of dejavu. Left and Booked with my PCP- sent me for colonoscopy and endoscopy but also didn’t seem to think cycle and the vomiting stomach issues were related.
I booked AGAIN and just described my cycle pain and symptoms and didn’t front load it with the vomiting episode and she said ‘wow it sounds like you have Endo!’
I have a referral for like -8 months from now.
Endoscopy and colonoscopy were uneventful thankfully, I have a small hiatal hernia which I’ve had my whole life, nothing else noted.
All that to say, it just happened again same part of my cycle. Thought it was a gastro bug. I’ve missed a week of work. I have a young child to care for, I can’t be out of commission and vomiting this often. I had EXTREME fatigue before it hit- like someone drugged me. Then I struggled to get through the rest of the day and nausea crept up. It felt like noro- nobody around me is sick at all (for once). Was hoping it was just a stomach bug but it truly wasn’t acting like one. The waves of nausea were most extreme at night. I took zofran and it helped me not to vomit the first night but I found that more miserable because nausea was still extreme and my body clearly needed to vomit. I felt like I was ‘getting better’ the next night but the nausea peaked again while in bed and gravol couldn’t keep the vomit down- threw up food that was in my stomach more than 24 hours prior.
What’s going on with these sudden wild cycles, and what can I realistically do about it? Can’t take hormonal BCP because of previous blood clot (a wild anomaly not related to any blood clotting disorder) and migraine w aura. The iud was a traumatic experience for me and made for strange symptoms (and near constant bleeding).
What are the chances these hormonal changes are wreaking havoc on my GI system and ‘shutting things down’. Could it be related to Endo?
What steps would you take if this was you? Any particular imaging or blood work that would be helpful? Is there something I can advocate loudly for? I don’t want to live in fear of this happening monthly. It’s really terrible and we can barely manage as it is with two people taking care of a house and pets and jobs and chores and a little one.
Looking for any/all suggestions and ‘did you try this?’ types of questions.

I am writing this because the Canadian health care system is in a crisis, and it seems my best and most immediate pathway to get answers to these medical questions (or what to do next) is to post my personal and private health care data online (truly no disrespect to the doctors and nurses that are basically shouldering the weight of our entire system while it crumbles around them, I’m heartbroken for what we put our medical professionals through… that’s a post for another day).
38 yo female 20 months postpartum History of migraine with aura, anxiety 20 months on Zoloft 50mg daily Vit b2 400mg daily for migraine prevention On hormonal contraceptive pills for majority of life, then iud, then a short period (1-2 years) without any contraception and experienced strong predictable symptoms throughout cycle (bloat mood swings migraine with aura mastalgia etc). Also experience mid cycle ovulation pain and random ovary pain mostly on left side.
Ffwd to a couple months ago: Started seeing ND 6months PP- gave history and details of my cycle and pain, along with my fatigue levels, and ND suspected PMDD and strongly suspected Endo. CA125 levels were elevated ‘ruling in’ Endo. PMDD symptoms and even migraine and anxiety were much reduced at this time given zoloft, so did not explore this Endo suspicion clinically or for symptom relief as things were manageable.
Fast forward to Feb of this year and I start noticing major symptoms from my cycle again. Migraine with aura at ovulation. Intense bloating. Night sweats. Rage before period. Random bouts of pain in ovary area, etc. hair thinning- rapidly!
The next cycle is the same, except this time right before my period I get a ‘stomach bug’ which felt like gastritis if you’ve ever had that. Gnawing pain in stomach. And then at night I’d get huge waves of nausea and then throw up. Went to ER. Waited in agony to have the abdominal pains and vomiting explored… and physically couldn’t wait any longer sitting up as the pain was just too much (and the floor had gross bugs all over it… so no laying down on the floor). Went home and drugged myself with gravol to see if I could sleep the pain off, went to urgent care the next morning and they said ‘you’re constipated’ (saw on xray). Cool. Why tho? Why is this suddenly happening? Do most people barf when constipated? I use the washroom daily, it was only after my stomach started hurting (less than 24 hours ago) that no BMs occurred. In fact, it felt like my bowels stopped working entirely. Like my abdomen was so inflamed from something and something was pinched or not moving properly.
Docs eyes glossed over when I talked about how this is happening when my cycle is suddenly out of whack. Wouldn’t engage in the topic. Said my inflammation markers show no gallbladder or appendix issues. I said I had my appendix out and it took 3 years to get to that point because at each flare, I didn’t have typical symptoms, no inflammation markers on blood work, and X-ray showed I was ‘just constipated’ so I was reluctant to believe this was just not pooping for 24 hours and having a bit of dejavu. Left and Booked with my PCP- sent me for colonoscopy and endoscopy but also didn’t seem to think cycle and the vomiting stomach issues were related.
I booked AGAIN and just described my cycle pain and symptoms and didn’t front load it with the vomiting episode and she said ‘wow it sounds like you have Endo!’
I have a referral for like -8 months from now.
Endoscopy and colonoscopy were uneventful thankfully, I have a small hiatal hernia which I’ve had my whole life, nothing else noted.
All that to say, it just happened again same part of my cycle. Thought it was a gastro bug. I’ve missed a week of work. I have a young child to care for, I can’t be out of commission and vomiting this often. I had EXTREME fatigue before it hit- like someone drugged me. Then I struggled to get through the rest of the day and nausea crept up. It felt like noro- nobody around me is sick at all (for once). Was hoping it was just a stomach bug but it truly wasn’t acting like one. The waves of nausea were most extreme at night. I took zofran and it helped me not to vomit the first night but I found that more miserable because nausea was still extreme and my body clearly needed to vomit. I felt like I was ‘getting better’ the next night but the nausea peaked again while in bed and gravol couldn’t keep the vomit down- threw up food that was in my stomach more than 24 hours prior.
What’s going on with these sudden wild cycles, and what can I realistically do about it? Can’t take hormonal BCP because of previous blood clot (a wild anomaly not related to any blood clotting disorder) and migraine w aura. The iud was a traumatic experience for me and made for strange symptoms (and near constant bleeding).
What are the chances these hormonal changes are wreaking havoc on my GI system and ‘shutting things down’. Could it be related to Endo?
What steps would you take if this was you? Any particular imaging or blood work that would be helpful? Is there something I can advocate loudly for? I don’t want to live in fear of this happening monthly. It’s really terrible and we can barely manage as it is with two people taking care of a house and pets and jobs and chores and a little one.
Looking for any/all suggestions and ‘did you try this?’ types of questions.

hi! found out last month that i have a medium hiatal hernia and grade 4 esophogitus (which caused severe anemia) due to that and gerd. this was diagnosed about a month ago, and i was prescribed 40mg omeprazole BID. i think it is helping (prev was waking up choking/throwing up 3-4x/week at night, have only had 3 instances of this since started meds). all this thanks to hEDS. i see a gi specialist in a month after recheck endoscopy.
my question is: i’d really like to not be on any more meds long term if possible. does anyone have experience with surgery or other treatment modalities for hiatal hernia and gerd? i already do the lifestyle mods (and had been prior to omeprazole) ie noting and avoiding triggers, not eating close to lying down, etc etc.
thank you!!!

I (63F) had endo a few weeks ago and finally able to discuss report with MD. (Doc said he did in recovery but I have no recollection of discussion). Endo went well, was knocked out. NEVER HAD INDEGESTION ISSUES BEFORE.
Hills Grade II - hiatal hernia; they’re graded from I - IV, and grade I is normal. So pretty minimal hernia, but does affect the flap and cause poor closure. No inflammation or ulcers. Did have some polyps but due to PPI use (after only 2 months). Pathology was negative.
I’ve never had issues with GERD before Dec/Jan. Blame it on stress AND 2 bouts of food poisoning (Nov and Dec) that caused horrific vomiting to the point of dry heaves. Lots of stress on gut/sphincters/diaphragm.
Symptoms less with diet and exercise, have lost about 20# and continuing core and wt training. Diet involves mainly alkaline foods. Not bad actually. 5,7”; 173#; now 163# with some definite signs of muscle toning.
Have decided to go off PPI and have for 6 days. Just taking PepcidAC in am/pm and most symptoms are covered. Some days am free of throat burning. Halls lozenges take care of that, or some tums. I’ve had a few days free of symptoms. Yay me! Hopeful I can continue to reduce post-menopausal belly fat and take even more pressure off stomach. If that doesn’t work, then will discuss hernia surgery. I mean, why wait until I potentially progress to a more severe hernia and/or esophageal inflammation.
My more burning symptoms occur when I sneak in an espresso with oat milk. Very watered down. Need to figure out a decent low acid coffee for when I do want one. Also, as a red wine snob, that’s off the table for now. Have given away half my cellar. 😢 At least my neighbors are happy!