My husband has a hiatal hernia, recently he had to do some extreme heavy work in cutting down a tree. He is experiencing pain in the rib cage and last night he was up all night with extreme belching and trouble catching his breath?

I agree with Rooster, take him to the ER! He could have all kinds of issues going on, the least of which he's made the hernia bigger. He may have caused a stricture in his intestine.....bad news if left untreated. Go to the ER please!