I believe that if you have a serious hiatal hernia, where the stomach moves up into the chest, you can have SOB then and it would go away, when the stomach moves back down. The stomach compresses the lung temporarily, and it feels strange and sometimes alarming.

I have a severe hiatal hernia, and I get weird feelings at times, and it sometimes even flutters. Gas makes it much worse.
Lying on my left side makes it better. This is not an every day thing, as a rule for me. I have a congenital defect in my GI tract where it is also twisted... makes for many uncomfortable events.

How is hiatal hernia diagnosed? What are the symptoms?

Thank you Mrs.D

I had an upper GI barium swallow. Once the doctor saw what I have--the twisted stomach and all the rest--
He had me lie on my RIGHT side and drink more, and could then watch the stuff reflux even.

My own internist said only about 5% of Xray studies actually show the reflux this way, and it was probably because my stomach was twisted as well. I have my pylorus (the end part of the stomach twisted 90 degrees and emptying in my back.

Hiatal hernias can come from frequent vomiting...which I had as a child, or mine may be part of the birth defect. They don't really know in my case. But hiatal hernias do tend to be somewhat common. Getting up, changing position, lying on my left side, having hubby rub my back, will all minimize discomfort when it happens. I really can't eat large amounts of food either, like at holidays. Avoid chocolate, and high fat meals, as this tends to slow stomach emptying. Coffee is completely out of my life too.

However, I've learned to control things so the vomiting is not common anymore. But when I was younger... my "spells" were very alarming and uncomfortable. GAS is my enemy. I avoid
carbonated drinks, and cabbage and most beans because of it.
Sometimes I use simethecone to break it up. Since using Kefir,
the gas problem is less. The probiotics in it seem to help with it.

Just to clarify. The empty test requires NO sedation of any kind. You eat a small amount of scrambled eggs with contrast mixed in, then lay very still on a table (on your back) for the next 2-3 hours. They usually have a TV set up right over head to you can pass the time easier. Other then being bored and the table is hard like an xray table, the test is a piece of cake.

ugh... I could NEVER lie on my back for 3 hrs! My GI tract won't move in that position. oh ick! makes me ill to think of it.

I am now on Kefir for 2 months. I am not sure if it does anything for me. But, I just keep on doing whatever is good to encourage emptying. Oh, gas is also a problem to me but it doesnt bother me much because it happens most of the times at home.

I hope that gastro will give me the tests to see whether I empty or not, or if I have villi atrophy.

Ihope the anaesthesia is not a threat or a trigger to the nerves.

Barrium swallow, does not sedate. However if you have an endoscopy, to take a small camera and look down your throat, and perhaps biopsy, then they do sedate you. It depends on the test. don't hesitate to look up any tests that your doctor wants to do, and ask him about the NP too. ginnie

Sorry for the details, but can you have a pillow? I feel extremely dizzy when I I dont have any pillow, particularly on a hard surface.

Its very good to know that this test does not require any sedation.

What does NP stand for?

Can anaesthesia be trigger or further damage the nerves?

Thank you.

Yes, you can have a pillow. They try to make it as comfortable as possible...the worst was that time just crawls.