A few notes

[Guest guest]

Here is the definition of a hiatal hernia:

³A hernia occurs when one part of your body protrudes through a gap or

opening into another part of your body. Many types of hernias occur in the

abdominal area. But hiatal hernias ‹ also known as diaphragmatic hernias ‹

form at the opening (hiatus) in your diaphragm where your food pipe

(esophagus) joins your stomach. When the muscle tissue around the hiatus

becomes weak, the upper part of your stomach may bulge through the diaphragm

into your chest cavity.

Hiatal hernias are common, occurring in about one-quarter of people older

than 50. They're especially likely to occur in women and in people who are

overweight.

Most hiatal hernias cause no signs or symptoms. You may never know you have

one unless it's discovered during a test for another problem. Although small

hernias aren't painful, larger ones may allow food and acid to back up into

your esophagus, which can cause heartburn and chest pain. Self-care measures

or medications can usually help ease these symptoms, although very large

hiatal hernias sometimes need surgical repair.²

Also, regarding acid reflux in CP sufferers:

From my knowledge and experience, you HAVE to take your digestive enzymes

with food. There is a reason for this: these enzymes are, technically acid!

Most who take digestive enzymes will also need an antacid that can counter

the double dose of acid that occurs when adding to whatever digestive acids

the body produces naturally. Also, with a high level of acid, you are going

to have reflux because the stomach acid will eat away at the esophageal

valve until it no longer can contain your stomach content. This takes place

over time.

Regarding pain:

As pain may well be an ³internal construct² of the mind and body, it would

seem to explain why the ³reality² of our pain changes over time. Some say

they have a pain that ³may² mimic some other pain or pain that moves

somewhere else in the body. Why does this move? I know that this is a heavy

³abstract,² but it should be addressed. While it may be difficult to view

pain in this manner, because one has to admit these changes and that they

may all ³be in one¹s own head,² as it were. This does not denigrate one¹s

level of pain, only an acceptance of its dynamic. Remember, these types of

medications have only recently been given to those of us with such chronic

pain and was usually reserved for the dying, who would only take such

medications for a few months and that was it. Research has yet to be done on

this dynamic.

Anyse