I too was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. I spent an entire year in misery. I had severe pain between my shoulder blades, heart palpitations, anxiety, distended stomach, low energy and always had to snack between meals. I tried different diets, but nothing helped. It hurt to even drive over a speed bump. I had a bunch of tests, colonoscopy, endoscopy, and sonogram. So, after a year of trying to heal myself I thought I would go to another doctor. I told him I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. He said, well lots of people have those, but you should not be having that many problems. He had me submit to a simple blood test and he looked for several things. He found the problem right away. I had a high dose of H. pylori bacteria in my stomach. It is the bacteria that causes ulcers, although I did not have one. Please everyone, if you have severe stomach problems, take the simple blood test, or breath test and find out if you have this bacteria. I was cured with a triple set of pills called a Prevpac. Look up H. pylori for yourself. It is a nasty bug and is hard to kill. Many people suffer with this. I feel great now!

I have two distinct symptoms: 1. The esophagus squeezes shut on a piece of bread or dry meat. It has occurred when drinking a very cold drink. I must wait for it to release. There is a pain like a heart attack with lots of pressure and breathing is difficult. (I have had one heart attack). 2. Sometimes when I lie down to sleep, the mouth of my stomach lets the contents out into the esophagus. I get a sour taste and a burning sensation.

For my hiatal hernia, my food was not going down. I had severe pain in my chest and I was vomiting bile. I could hardly drink anything.

I have an acute pain in my upper chest, even finding that my glands are sore. Painful when I lift my arms or move in certain ways.

I am a 41 year old female who has been slightly overweight most of my adult life. I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and I feel like it is the end of my life. I have pain under my diaphragm all the time, I want to eat mostly late at night, and I feel horrible and sick to the stomach most mornings. My doctor did an EGD and found this hernia. I had a colonoscopy done also and found out I had grade 2 hemmoroids. I have lost about 12 pounds within 2 months. God will be the one who blesses me to get over this because my doctor seems to know nothing about surgery for this problem.

I have suffered with a hiatal hernia for 24 years. After eliminating caffeine, I started drinking decaffeinated green tea and increased my intake of water. That combined with regular chiropractic adjustments (every 4 weeks back and neck) have allowed me to enjoy a 1/2 and 1/2 coffee a couple of times a week as well as the occasional caffeinated diet coke. If I get too carried away, a nexium for a day or two gets me back in line. A regular fitness routine, nightly walk, gym visit helps too. It took me a good 3-4 years to understand my limitations with diet. The worst thing you can do if you suffer from this is to eat a big meal after 8 o'clock at night or just lay down after any big meal. Hope this helps.

I was told last week that I also have hiatal hernia, but I know that I have had it for years. Every time I complained to the Dr I never got a straight answer just put on another pill. I am taking the meds and the major pain is gone, problem is I don't want to be on meds for the rest of my life. My grandmother died from cancer of the esophagus, which is what can happen when you have constant heartburn. I am hoping that the doctor will do surgery.

I have all of the symptoms of hiatal hernia mentioned here plus the horrible feeling of burning right at the rib line across my abdomen when I drink or eat something with alot of acid. This is not a good thing.

I have been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and it is 6cm in size. They have me on Zantac and Omerprazole. I have been bloated for approximately 4 years without any relief. The doctor thinks but doesn't know for sure what the cause is. He says it maybe due to the size. I do not have any pain just bloating and gas which is horrible. They have me on a diet but still unable to lose any weight.

My son has a bloating all time feels like he cannot get the pressure off his stomach, has ulcers in small intestine track. He has gone to several doctors and no one can help him. He swallowed a camera. He is 47 years. old. Needs help . We don't know what else to do.