1. Alan has completed the new Pain Recovery Program. To read or share it, use this updated link: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/
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Hiatus Hernia from TMS and is it reversible?

Discussion in 'Structured Educational Program' started by cuzlap, Jun 1, 2024.

  1. cuzlap

    cuzlap Newcomer

    Hi. On the structured program and in Week 1. Already seeing improvements in my back.

    My chronic back pain has been by far my main concern for the past 5 years, but for the last 6 months I have had bad acid reflux and GERD symptoms which haven't been solved by the PPI tablets the doctor has prescribed.

    Had an endoscopy a month ago and been told I have a Type 1 Sliding Hiatal Hernia. I've seen that Hiatus Hernia is another common manifestation of TMS, and I can se how the stress and tension can leading to physical pushing the stomach to cause the Hernia. But I'm wondering is this reversible, or is the damage done? Even if I mentally sort myself out, will the Hernia go and my stomach move back to where it should?
    I'd rather not have to have the surgery to rectify the damage and get it back to normal.
     
  2. Cactusflower

    Cactusflower Beloved Grand Eagle

    You actually created a link to threads about hiatus Hernia by just typing the word (it's magic here! :)
    So click on it, and you'll see the words directly from Dr. Sarno, about his findings on Hiatus Hernia.
    If you'd like more concrete medical information (none of us here are Dr's so we can't give you medical information), you could consult with a TMS doctor.
    One caveat of TMS is that nobody can guarantee your conditions will "go" and what your body will do in relation to your situation. That is completely up to you, and how you are dealing with TMS. We all get pain and illness, it's part of life and being human.
    One part of TMS I find is that many folks don't want to feel ANY sensations in their body they think of as negative, and they also don't want to feel any emotions of any kind. This is the protective mechanism of TMS, and instead of focusing on the psychological aspects, our mind keeps us focused on the physical - and often repeating the same questions over and over and over. We just can't accept that stuff isn't guarenteed or is unknown - that's unsafe and scary to the mind.
    Acid reflux and GERD are equated with TMS and with anxiety. I have silent GERD on and off -and it is 100% related to my internal stress (generally how I find I am thinking about myself) I do use some medication when I feel it's really necessary but other than that, I don't bother with it. I focus on the psychological aspects of my experience.

    The SEP suggests that before you start doing the daily work, you read a book by Dr. Sarno. Have you done this yet?
     
    JanAtheCPA likes this.
  3. cuzlap

    cuzlap Newcomer

    Thank You.

    Yes I've read 'Healing Back Pain', currently seeing a TMS trained psychotherapist, on the TMS education program and doing 'Journal Speak' journalling. Very much on my journey and seeing improvements already.

    My main problem is my chronic back pain, but I was just wondering whether my newly developed Hiatus Hernia can also be solved by TMS therapy too
     
  4. BloodMoon

    BloodMoon Beloved Grand Eagle

    On this website https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8098-hiatal-hernia (Hiatal Hernia: A Hidden Cause of Acid Reflux) it says:
    "Type 1 — also called a sliding hiatal hernia — is by far the most common type, accounting for 95% of all hiatal hernias. In this version, the part of your esophagus that connects to your stomach slides up through the widened hiatus at times and then slides back down."
    So, presumably, your doctors actually saw this physically happening during your endoscopy, so, if that was the case, unfortunately, I doubt that doing TMS work will serve to stop your stomach from sliding up and down. (There are numerous websites that advise that once a hiatal hernia has happened it won't repair itself on its own.) However, that said, I don't know whether if you are overweight, losing excess flab/fat could stop this 'sliding' from happening by relieving pressure around that area... I noticed that in the above link losing weight (having the appropriate BMI) is one of the non-surgical recommendations that people can do to help themselves, so maybe it's not beyond the realms of possibility that it might sort things out enough symptoms-wise to stop you from having to consider surgery. (And doing mind/body work to relieve stress, anxiety etc., might also of course help to reduce gastric symptoms and help you avoid surgery.)
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2024
  5. Fal

    Fal Peer Supporter

    I was diagnosed with a 2cm hiatal hernia but i wasn't even aware i had one until i did an endoscopy and colonoscopy when i was losing weight, only after being told did i have start having any issues like acid reflux but i don't have acid reflux or issues eating anything anymore. What didn't help is the tension from the stress my body was under had stiffened up my chest area so whenever i bent over i would get a diaphragm spasms causing my muscle to look like its popping out of my chest which was painful but within a minute of so it eases and then goes away.

    I have not had an issues like that for at least 6/7 months since i worked out TMS was the source of all my problems and started to get better and improve.
     
  6. cuzlap

    cuzlap Newcomer

    Thanks Fal, it's nice to hear someone with a similar experience.
    Thanks Fal. Very comforting to hear about someone with similar symptoms. And glad you've managed to push through it .
    Did you have another main TMS symptom like back pain, and then the the acid reflux was a second symptom you cos later on after being diagnosed with the hiatus hernia?
     

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