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Severe acidity

06/18/2003

Question:

Hello, My mother has been told by the doctor that she has hiatal hernia/GERD. She can hardly eat anything and feels bloated even after eating a small meal. She has frequent vomitting and severe acidity. An endscopy was done and they said there was myopathy in the digestive muscles. What would be the outlook for her? Can she be helped in any way? She has Interstitial Lung Fibrosis which is under control and she has stopped taking steroids for the same. I will be grateful if you can tell me what she can do now.

Answer:

It sounds like it is not really clear what is causing your mother`s symptoms. Symptoms such as an inability to eat, bloating, early satiety, and vomiting are not caused by a hiatal hernia or GERD. In fact these symptoms usually indicate a problem with the stomach rather than the esophagus. I also don`t understand the finding of a “myopathy of the digestive muscles” by an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a test that visualizes the inner lining of the digestive tract and could not possibly diagnose a muscle problem. Finally, you did not mention whether your mother has been given any medical therapy directed at treating severe acidity. My advice would be to clarify her diagnosis and then you might be able to get better advice on treatment and prognosis. 

For more information:

Go to the Digestive Disorders health topic.