Talk to your doctor; you may need a Gastroscopy to determine if you have a Hiatal Hernia.
A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach bulges through the large muscle separating your abdomen and chest (diaphragm). Your diaphragm has a small opening (hiatus) through which your food tube (esophagus) passes before connecting to your stomach. In a hiatal hernia, the stomach pushes up through that opening and into your chest.
A small hiatal hernia usually doesn't cause problems. You may never know you have one unless your doctor discovers it when checking for another condition. But a large hiatal hernia can allow food and acid to back up into your esophagus, leading to heartburn. Self-care measures or medications can usually relieve these symptoms. A very large hiatal hernia might require surgery.
Symptoms
Most small hiatal hernias cause no signs or symptoms. But larger hiatal hernias can cause:
- Heartburn from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Regurgitation of food or liquids into the mouth
- Backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus (acid reflux)
- Bloating
- Burping
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest or abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting of blood or passing of black stools, which may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding
HI AGRO,
Thank you heaps for this, I am having a gastrophosy soon and have taken a note of this condition, very helpful thank you so much!
Christa