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24 Hr PH test for GERD - question for those who have had this done
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Oct 10, 2017 | Replies (113)Comment receiving replies
Thank you all for this info/discussion! I just went to a new pulmonologist & he said the areas of bronchiectasis in the front, midsections of my lungs are consistent with GERD. I've taken 40 mg Famotidine twice daily & have had my esophagus dilated twice due to strictures (scarring) narrowing the esophagus making it tough for food to get through. I just ordered a wedge pillow & a book about GERD. Sounds like it is a BIG factor with MAC!
Replies to "Thank you all for this info/discussion! I just went to a new pulmonologist & he said..."
I have a question about GERD. I have never been diagnosed with GERD. But I have been reading a lot about it here. For those of you who have been diagnosed with it, do you experience symptoms, like heart burn? Or is that not always the case?
@ling123, I was diagnosed with MAC this past June. I have been taking Famotidine (Pepcid) for 7 or 8 years for GERD. I have rarely to never had heartburn or any symptoms I associated with it. However, I started having intermittent difficulty swallowing food around the time I was diagnosed with GERD, especially if I was eating fast or fairly big pieces of foods like meat. It was like the food got hung up part way down & was VERY painful. Fluids made it worse. The only thing that helped was going to the restroom & gagging myself until I belched or threw up. Turns out I had what is called an Esophageal Stricture, or a narrowing of the esophagus (tube) due to scarring from acid being washed up into the esophagus. This was found during an endoscopy & while there, the Gastroenterologist dilated the esophagus. I recently had another endoscopy & he dilated it again after finding the scarring was building up again & narrowing my esophagus. Sooo, I'd say yes, you can have GERD without knowing it. I have never had any of the tests discussed here, though.
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn, @cld120
Your experience offers some insight into the phenomena of "silent reflux" which many people have but without the traditional symptoms of heartburn, etc. they are not aware of the problem. Thanks for sharing this experience! I'm glad that you are getting some relief from the dilating of the esophagus.
Are there other measures you use, like elevating the head of your bed, etc.?
Teresa
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@cld120, Hi Carolyn, good for you staying on top of your GERD! I too had my esophagus widened a few years ago. It made all of the difference in the world for better swallowing. I was told that it is a procedure that will most likely need to be repeated annually. I skipped last year, but can tell I need to start thinking about having it done again. I am starting to have trouble again.