I have had a problem swallowing since I became ill in July 2010. I CAN swallow food, water, etc. but it feels like the process is not so natural. It feel like nothing at all goes through down the right side and just gets re-routed to the left(I realize there is only one tube that everything passes through, but this is just what it feels like). I also feel like maybe the veins / muscles on the right side of my neck are swollen and perhaps like they may be pushing on my esophogas or something like that. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I have not had any relief of this symptom?
Also, I did have an endoscopy done in November 2010. My doctor found a small hiatal hernia and a little inflammation but he said it was not anything to worry about. I am beginning to wonder if the hiatal hernia might be contributing to all this discomfort though? I did a search on here and read that a lot of people have had their hiatal hernias fixed by chiropractors. I found a link that someone posted as well with chiropractors that had experience doing this, but none of the doctors listed were located in Mass. - I am wondering if anyone has had this done and if you felt it helped? Also, does anyone know of any chripractors in MASS that have experience with this? I appreciate any feedback. Thanks a bunch!
Posts: 200 | From Boston | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
anyone??
Posts: 200 | From Boston | Registered: Sep 2010
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gwb
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M wife had this and our Biological doctor, Dr. J, fixed it for her. He taught her how to fix it herself. She told me to tell you that after church she will write to you.
I do believe you can find online how to do it, but it's best the first time to have a qualified chiropractor to this. Not all chiropractors are good at this, they need to know what they're doing. Again, my wife, daisyrlb, will write to you this afternoon.
daisyrlb
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Good Evening Undiagnosed,
This is GWB's wife. I'm sorry for the issues you are going through.
Following is my experience. But first, let me ask, Have you been to an ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor to rule out any issues it could be?
Anyway...
July, GWB and I were at a conference out of state. The morning of our flight home, I woke nauseated. Started feeling worse as the morning went on. I brushed it off as nothing.
At the airport I was...short of breath, nauseated, sweating and chills, left arm and left hand became numb, pain in center of chest that got worse and worse...so airport personnel called 911.
At the ER...a heart attack was ruled out...the doctor said I probably had either an ulcer or gastritis and wanted to give me a proton pump inhibitor which I refused.
Long story short, we arrived home and off and on I had some issues specifically pain in the center of my chest and shortness of breath...but didn't think too much about it.
Then in August, I had the worst stomach pain in my life, which seemed to radiate everywhere all over my abdomen. I stayed in bed most of the day. It was a few days later I had an appt with my Lyme Literated doctor...
I shared the above with him...Dr. J in Kansas
He felt my stomach/abdomen and could feel that I had a hiatal hernia.
Mini-lesson: The diaphragm separates our lower organs from our heart and lungs. There is a hole in the diaphragm where the esophagus passes through. A hiatal hernia happens when the stomach or part of the stomach passes through the opening in the diaphragm and moves upwards. This can cause various issues including putting pressure on the heart and lungs. (In the ER the doctor never did touch my stomach or abdomen.)
Dr. J did a procedure, it took several times. I was lying on my back, he pressed on the middle of my chest and then pushed down until he got the stomach back to its proper position. The results were immediate; I could literally feel the difference. And I have not had any problem since.
(You can google about hiatal hernias and specifically that procedure...I found it interesting to read about. A person can actually do a procedure on themself too)
Here is one link that shares about hiatal hernia. I notice one of the issues is that it can cause difficulty swallowing. The link explains why that is too.
I'm not sure of doctors in your area who are trained at feeling to find a hiatal hernia and then do the procedure. It seems chiropractors are trained for it. I guess I'd just call around in your area, after finding someone (or several doctores), I'd check out doctor ratings on line and go from there.
If you have any questions please let me know, and I'll do my best to answer.
Pray you get the answers you need and feel better soon.
Posts: 2188 | From Oklahoma | Registered: May 2008
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lululymemom
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Thank you, Daisyrlb, for this fascinating information! This has been the source of the majority of my symptoms. Everyone seems to have one area or another that bothers them more than others and this has been mine.
I had no idea that this could be corrected without surgery. I even found a video on how to correct this and the doctor states that it's linked to long term chronic illness including chronic fatigue..
If the procedure works, it would be a miracle for me.. however, I will have to try it first to see if it can make a difference.
Bartonella henselae 1:100 Posts: 2027 | From British Columbia | Registered: Jun 2010
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Razzle
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Be careful doing this to yourself.
I found acupuncture more effective and safer for pulling my stomach down.
After gallbladder removal surgery, I've not had my haital hernia act up again...so something to look in to is gallbladder issues as a contributing factor...I don't know how they are connected, but for me they certainly were...
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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daisyrlb
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You can read online (Google it) about the lack of success that surgery has on hiatal hernias...that just doesn't seem like a good option at all to me. Especially when there are less invasive options out there.
Related to the Gall Bladder, I found this article very interesting and informative. A must read for people who wonder if they have Gall Blaadder issues or think they may have Gall Bladdeer issues...
We are doing ourselves/our bodies a big favor by keeping informed.
lululymemom
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I have had mine out 9 years ago.. I think where I live finding an acupuncturist who knows how to do this would be very difficult.. although I do see the benefits.
posted
Thanks for the responses! daisy, I have been to an ENT several times, and he cannot find anything wrong. I have even had a CT scan of my throat and sinuses.
My GI doctor is the one who found the hiatal hernia...
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lululymemom
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Got back from my chiro yesterday.. He told me that there is no way of treating a hiatal hernia without surgery.. He stated that even if you can move it back into place it will continue to slide back. So disappointed..
Bartonella henselae 1:100 Posts: 2027 | From British Columbia | Registered: Jun 2010
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daisyrlb
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lululymenmom,
I'm sorry that your chiro is not up-to-date on the latest in regards to treating a hiatal hernia without surgery.
I can understand how you would be disappointed. At the same time, I'd definitely start looking for someone else. Don't stop until you find someone who is competent and familiar with the procedure.
Not all chiros are "neck snappers" (as my husband calls them). You need to find a chiro who has the advanced training.
Since Dr. J did that procedure/maneuver on me--which took about four tries, in 1 1/2 minutes and it did not hurt (and he is 6'8" and I am 5'0") and pushed my stomach back through the diaphragm to where it belongs, I have not had the problem. My symptoms instantly disappeared in his office! That was six months ago.
BUT if I did have it come back, I would go back and have him do that procedure again over surgery any day!
I know people who had the surgery and it did not fix the problem. It actually made it worse. And one was my aunt...poor thing. After that surgery she suffered worse. Doctors could do no more for her. I have not met one person that was better after that surgery.
Razzle,
that's interesting you share about acupuncture helping to pull the stomach back through too. I'm always learning new stuff.
As many of you know, it wasn't until a little over a year ago that my husband, GWB, and I even looked into alternative medicine. And only because modern medicine could do no more to help him...but that's all chronicled on the Hansa Center thread.
Anyway...
When you're desperate like we were, you start thinking outside the box. And I'm so glad we did.
Also, one other thing we do now that is very important. When we go to the doctor we do not check our brains out at the door, nor do we take off our thinking caps. Plus when we get home we google. Check things out for yourselves. We ask questions. We even go to online sites where doctors are rated and reviewed. We figure it's a matter of life and death, ours! OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.
BTW, I am not a doctor.
PS: GWB is planning on posting a link for you...
Posts: 2188 | From Oklahoma | Registered: May 2008
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gwb
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lulu, obviously the chiro you talked to has no experience with this. You need to see a chiro who knows how to do things other than pop and crack bones.
Below are some links from chiros who do this and don't recommend surgery. My aunt had hiatal hernia and had surgery for it. She regretted it for the rest of her life. Had to be on pain pills till she died at an early age in her 40's. It totally messed up her life.
See if you can find a chiro who is familiar with kinesiology. They're the ones that usually know how to do this.
Hope you get some relief for this soon!
Gary
[ 03-16-2011, 12:40 AM: Message edited by: gwb ]
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lululymemom
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daisyrlb and gwb, thank you for the words of encouragement.. I am not ready to give up and will try and locate a chiro in my area that is even remotely familiar with this procedure..
In the meantime, I will try Dr. Dahlmans method of correcting this myself. It does make sense in the way he describes it.
I am sorry to hear about your aunt, I feel bad for that poor woman and how much she must have suffered.
I still have faith that I can correct this without surgery will keep on with my search.
Thanks again!
Undiagnosed, please don't dismiss the hernia as being a benign condition that does not cause too much problems.. That is what most doctors have us believe..
Bartonella henselae 1:100 Posts: 2027 | From British Columbia | Registered: Jun 2010
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daisyrlb
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lululymemom says,
"Undiagnosed, please don't dismiss the hernia as being a benign condition that does not cause too much problems.. That is what most doctors have us believe..
Undiagnosed, glad you're doing your research. Let us know if you've found a chiro in Mass yet?
Have a day filled with HOPE!
Posts: 2188 | From Oklahoma | Registered: May 2008
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Thanks so much! I haven't found one yet, but will do more searching next week. I have been pre-occupied with other doctor appts. this week.
So, did you guys have swallowing issues bc of your hiatal hernia? What other issues does this cause? - Could my acid reflux be related to this?
What symptoms did you guys have bc of it??
Posts: 200 | From Boston | Registered: Sep 2010
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lululymemom
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I have the swallowing issues. Sometimes it feels like something is stuck in my throat.. Acid reflux is definitely part of my problem because the sphincter muscle has loosened it allows the acid to flow back up and has chronically inflamed my esophagus. This can become a serious condition and I have to be careful to keep it under control.
There is also alot of chest pain that I am experiencing however I am not sure yet what is causing that. I have been told many things, costochondritis, musculoskeletal pain, esophageal spasms... I feel it's the hernia causing it.
I was always told I had a small hernia and it wouldn't be causing me many symptoms. I always believed them but I see now they were wrong.
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daisyrlb
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I was doing a google search and came across this information related to Hiatal Hernia, Acid Reflux, and exercise. Worth reading. Very informative ...Wanted to pass it along.
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