Hiatal Hernia Journey
So about 4 months ago, I thought my appendix was bursting. Long story short, it was not my appendix. The ER did a CT scan and blood work, everything looked fine, except I had a small hiatal hernia. At the time, I was so relived “Thank God, it was not my appendix!” not fully comprehending what this would mean or how it would change my life completely.
In all transparency, I have other health issues going on as well. One that I found about the same time as the hernia which has put me all in severe anxiety and depression. I won’t go into detail about the other issues, but just stick to the hernia.
At first, I was put on a PPI (Pantoprazole), an HR blocker (Famotidine) and a magnesium supplement. I think I was on them a week or so, but stopped as I was not having acid reflux and was feeling fine. I put myself on a clean diet (no coffee, spicy foods, citrus, the usual) and was feeling ok, if not 100%.
However I would have flare ups and would try to put myself on the Pantoprazole or Famotidine, but I hated those mediations. I would, at best, be on them for a couple days than quit. My Dr. tried to switch me to Omeprazole, but that made me feel worse. After this last flare up and talking to my dr., I have been using the Pantazole and the magnesium for over a week now. It has helped, but now I am getting a burning sensation behind my sternum (hello anxiety attack!), and a feeling like a sore throat. I was also having a sensation like something was stuck in my throat or that my throat would close up.
Since my original hernia diagnose, I have lost over 30 pounds (not just fat, but muscle too), feel week all the time, have gotten migraines (never had them before), constipation, can’t sleep well, and to top it off, sever anxiety and depression. 4 months ago, I was fit (a bit overweight), active, enjoyed life, traveled, and ate whatever I wanted to. Now, I can barely leave the house, and on a very restricted diet (no coffee is killing me!) I am obsessed with my health! Any little pain sends me into a panic. Certain movements seem to irritate the hernia (bending over, laying on my stomach, carrying anything heavy), I have a constant feeling like I will never get any better. I have been to the ER a couple times in a panic (where they found nothing really wrong with me and said it was GERD or gastritis.).
My dr. originally put me on Sertraline (Zoloft), but I had a reaction to it. I’m on Buspirone (Buspar) now which seems to be helping. I have only been on it a week so I still am having anxiety flares. I do have lorazepam for panic attacks but try not to take these as little as possible (afraid to get addicted). I am staring to talk to a therapist as well. I have been trying to walk every day (I use to power walk 5 days a week before this) and started to use resistance bands for strength training. I have tried to do Yoga, but certain movements irritate my hernia.
I’m getting an Endoscope and Colonoscopy Thursday and am (of course) anxious about. I am anxious about the procedure and what them might find.
I am so worried about the burning in the chest. My rational mind says it’s the GERD, the other side (the dark place) says it’s a heart attack or angina.
I’ll just say this whole thing sucks, but I am trying to do better. I am trying not to obsesses about my life before or what I could be. I am taking it one day at a time and just trying to do better on that day. Anybody else going through this or feel like this?