Hiatus hernia experiences?
in Health ·
Hey, haven't seen any recent threads—hope I'm not too late to the party here. If not, I'm just trying to get some answers. I've been dealing with a hernia for a few years now—Nexium 40mg helps every 5 or 6 months if I do a quick course, and things usually settle down. I've lost weight—maybe too much, actually—dropping from about 200 to 180 lbs (6'1"). I don't eat after 8 PM, and even then, it’s basically a kid's portion. Rarely drink, maybe an occasional beer, one coffee in the morning, and I try to eat as healthy as possible. Can't kick the smoking habit yet, though I've cut back to half a pack a day. I take half an effervescent Ranitidine tablet before bed, so I haven't had heartburn in a long time, but there's this other issue. I get this pain in my right chest area—somewhere near the right breast. It's always the same spot—sharp, not super intense, just a short burst that pops up out of nowhere. Often happens when I eat, but sometimes it hits even when my stomach is empty. It shows up for 10-15 days and then disappears for a few months. Is this a sign the hernia is getting worse, or is it something else entirely?