GERD issues

Posted by janarose @janarose, Feb 29, 2012

I am 22 years old. I don't smoke or drink. Growing up I can remember having a slight hoarse voice in the morning if I ate to late at nights. But never anything too miserable. It would go away within a hour after drinking water.
March 2011 on a Wednesday. I woke up with a hoarse voice that never went away. After a few weeks I started to get slightly worried so I went to my family doctor. I went 3 times over a course of 5-6 weeks and they had no idea after giving me multiple steroids and antibiotics that did nothing. I also had no pain in the beginning my throat didn't hurt at all. My only symptom was the voice. So they sent me to a throat specialist. (Audiologist) He did a throat endoscopy and told me I have GERD. He prescribed me omeprazole 20mg once a day. I changed my diet. I stopped eating hours before I went to sleep. I have never been a soda drinker, I am not a fan of fatty foods. The fattiest thing I like to eat sometimes is chocolate.. So I gave that up. I don't eat big meals. I have always been a snacker. But I didn't seem to get that much better so back as planned in 6weeks. He told me to start taking it twice a day. my throat started to hurt and become really sore around this point. I would wake up in severe pain, and it would hurt through out the day. I would take 2- 20mg omeprazole and I would also drink baking soda mixed with water whenever I couldn't handle the constant burn anymore.. I wouldn't drink the baking soda/water at the same time as taking the omeprazole. I made sure I did that hours apart from one another.
So about 10-12 weeks later my symptoms got much worse. It wasn't working. Nothing seemed to work.
So I went back to the doctor. They did another endoscopy and my throat is more swollen than the first. It's starting to swell up even higher around where my thyroid is.
I started having chest pains and it has become hard to swallow anything.
My heart rate gets insanely high in random occasions.
I feel a knock/thump whenever I swallow.
My throat is always hurting.
I am nauseous when I eat.
It's painful to eat or drink anything; I have lost almost 30lbs because of it.

So I have had a endoscopy twice now,
I got a barium swallow done and he told me I have acid reflux. probe test done,.,Blood work....How many more test need to be done?
I haven’t heard my voice in a year now. It's to the point where I am becoming depressed and I ignore talking to people. I ignore hanging out with friends, because if I talk to much my throat becomes incredibly sore to the point where I won't be able to sleep. I can't yell or whisper. I have one tone. If I yell then I’m pretty much out for the rest of the day because my throat hurts so badly.
I am thinking about going to the Mayo Clinic. Has anyone else been through this? Do you think they will be able to help? Could it be something else?
Im desperate.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for danybegood1 @danybegood1

@doron, what supplements do you take? Did the Dr tell you to take them? No sometimes they dont work. When my GERD is bad, its bad. If i can't get relief at home i gotta get it somehow. Good thing i went because i was having a HA not GERD.

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I take the following gut supplements as recommended by Kris Kresser (here is the link: http://my.chriskresser.com/the-supplement-guide/). I take the list for digestive disorders and the list for autoimmune.

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Profile picture for megagrif @megagrif

Severe GERD has been my enemy for 15 years.Doctors prescribed and I've taken the usual, and well known meds for GERDS, but none have given me any long term relief. The gas, nausea, stomach gurgling, stomach pain, bloating, indigestion, and gastritis had become my new normal. I've had all the usual tests for stomach, colon, and whatever else.....Results Always GERD! I think I've taken every med for GERD.I stopped taking Prilosec six weeks ago after hearing, and reading negative reports on the long term use of these medicines.Was seeing my Primary Physician for my yearly physical, and he questioned me about the Toprol 50mg XL. He asked me if the meds made me feel lethargic, depressed, any indigestion, any gas. My answer was YES, YES, AND YES to all the above. He gave no comments, but his questions caused some concerns for me and I called my Cardiologist with my concerns....taking Toprol for rapid heartbeat. Shared my concerns with my Cardiologist and he advised me to take half/25mg pill before bedtime.....I was taking pill in the AM after breakfast.....breakfast is a bowl of instant grits. Heartbeat has always been rapid after meals and I'd start to associate eating with heartrate. I had some serious indigestion and heartburn 2 weeks ago and tried the new Duo Fusion Chewables by Zantac. AND WHAT A RELIEF!!!!!! I now chew one Fusion after meals and absolutely NO Gas, No Indigestion, No Heartburn, AND NO RAPID HEARTBEAT.I could get my heart rate down if I could manage to get that long belch out, the one that starts at the bottom of the leftside of my diaphragm and travels up and out....feels so good, but the Fusion prevents the buildup of air/gas for me.The Fusion is the BEST and I feel GREAT. I'm no longer limiting my foods to white rice, green beans, and grilled salmon.....this has been my main meal for about 3 years, at least four times a week. CAN'T EAT ANY FRUITS, DAIRY PRODUCTS(Lactose Intolerant), most vegetables, wheat, nothing Red, and most breads, I'm okay with eating Flat Bread. No juices, nor sodas, but ok with Ginger Ale.Do you think it's okay to chew the Fusion daily which gives me so much RELIEF? I don't believe they would be as harmful as taking the prescribed meds for so many years and had no healing nor relief.

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@danybegood1 I did the research on my own, when my Dr. was out sick. He thought it was a good idea and the effects have been amazing.

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Profile picture for megagrif @megagrif

Severe GERD has been my enemy for 15 years.Doctors prescribed and I've taken the usual, and well known meds for GERDS, but none have given me any long term relief. The gas, nausea, stomach gurgling, stomach pain, bloating, indigestion, and gastritis had become my new normal. I've had all the usual tests for stomach, colon, and whatever else.....Results Always GERD! I think I've taken every med for GERD.I stopped taking Prilosec six weeks ago after hearing, and reading negative reports on the long term use of these medicines.Was seeing my Primary Physician for my yearly physical, and he questioned me about the Toprol 50mg XL. He asked me if the meds made me feel lethargic, depressed, any indigestion, any gas. My answer was YES, YES, AND YES to all the above. He gave no comments, but his questions caused some concerns for me and I called my Cardiologist with my concerns....taking Toprol for rapid heartbeat. Shared my concerns with my Cardiologist and he advised me to take half/25mg pill before bedtime.....I was taking pill in the AM after breakfast.....breakfast is a bowl of instant grits. Heartbeat has always been rapid after meals and I'd start to associate eating with heartrate. I had some serious indigestion and heartburn 2 weeks ago and tried the new Duo Fusion Chewables by Zantac. AND WHAT A RELIEF!!!!!! I now chew one Fusion after meals and absolutely NO Gas, No Indigestion, No Heartburn, AND NO RAPID HEARTBEAT.I could get my heart rate down if I could manage to get that long belch out, the one that starts at the bottom of the leftside of my diaphragm and travels up and out....feels so good, but the Fusion prevents the buildup of air/gas for me.The Fusion is the BEST and I feel GREAT. I'm no longer limiting my foods to white rice, green beans, and grilled salmon.....this has been my main meal for about 3 years, at least four times a week. CAN'T EAT ANY FRUITS, DAIRY PRODUCTS(Lactose Intolerant), most vegetables, wheat, nothing Red, and most breads, I'm okay with eating Flat Bread. No juices, nor sodas, but ok with Ginger Ale.Do you think it's okay to chew the Fusion daily which gives me so much RELIEF? I don't believe they would be as harmful as taking the prescribed meds for so many years and had no healing nor relief.

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I am taking generic Nexium twice per day—before breakfast and before dinner. I still have nightime GERD.My doctor suggested a bedtime Zantac 150 mg which helps but only for about five hours. Has anyone compared these H2 blockers—eg Pepcid with Zantac? Does Pepcid last longer?Just a note that I hate taking all of this stuff but at this point, I am not on a mission to stop. Right now I need to control the GERD and manage IBS while I find a good GI doctor. Mayo has turned me down so no option there.

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Profile picture for jackiem95 @jackiem95

I am taking generic Nexium twice per day—before breakfast and before dinner. I still have nightime GERD.My doctor suggested a bedtime Zantac 150 mg which helps but only for about five hours. Has anyone compared these H2 blockers—eg Pepcid with Zantac? Does Pepcid last longer?Just a note that I hate taking all of this stuff but at this point, I am not on a mission to stop. Right now I need to control the GERD and manage IBS while I find a good GI doctor. Mayo has turned me down so no option there.

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@jackiem95 I took Nexium for 16 years. As a result my body stopped absorbing nutrients and I have to take large doses of many vitamins everyday. What I discovered is when you get heartburn doctors think you have too much stomach acid but you actually have too little. Instead of a PPI, such a Nexium, Peocid, Zantac, I take Betaine HCI with Pepsin before each meal. I drink a coffee cup of ACV, Lemon Juice and Water with it. No more heartburn and my body is finally starting to heal from all the damage PPI's caused. Betaine helps build good gut bacteria.

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Profile picture for fitchick40 @fitchick40

@jackiem95 I took Nexium for 16 years. As a result my body stopped absorbing nutrients and I have to take large doses of many vitamins everyday. What I discovered is when you get heartburn doctors think you have too much stomach acid but you actually have too little. Instead of a PPI, such a Nexium, Peocid, Zantac, I take Betaine HCI with Pepsin before each meal. I drink a coffee cup of ACV, Lemon Juice and Water with it. No more heartburn and my body is finally starting to heal from all the damage PPI's caused. Betaine helps build good gut bacteria.

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Thanks for your input. However, as I mentioned I am not in a position now to experiment and make major changes without seeing a competent GI doctor for evaluation and testing.

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I have bradycardia and has only been this way last few months. I’m research I read that ppiS for reflux can cause such. This is fascinating to me as the symptoms strarted about the same time. Anyone here have any information on this as I am very curious ???

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Profile picture for pjss48 @pjss48

Having trouble with GERD. Taking Tums. Going to see my GP today. Wondering if I should tell him. It's for a checkup.

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Yes of course you should tell him. Doesn’t he already know you have GERD? Are you taking something else besides Tums for it?

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Profile picture for jadillow @jadillow

I have bradycardia and has only been this way last few months. I’m research I read that ppiS for reflux can cause such. This is fascinating to me as the symptoms strarted about the same time. Anyone here have any information on this as I am very curious ???

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Having trouble with GERD. Taking Tums. Going to see my GP today. Wondering if I should tell him. It's for a checkup.

REPLY
Profile picture for jackiem95 @jackiem95

Has anyone experienced GERD symptoms after taking Miralax? Have you found a way of eliminating or minimizing this connection eg by taking the Miralax at a certain time of day, before or after eating, drinking anything, taking a fiber supplement or??? My doctor’s office has no suggestions.

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Yes, triggers reflux every time for me. Domperidone can help sometimes to stop the reflux.

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Profile picture for jadillow @jadillow

I have bradycardia and has only been this way last few months. I’m research I read that ppiS for reflux can cause such. This is fascinating to me as the symptoms strarted about the same time. Anyone here have any information on this as I am very curious ???

Jump to this post

Has anyone experienced GERD symptoms after taking Miralax? Have you found a way of eliminating or minimizing this connection eg by taking the Miralax at a certain time of day, before or after eating, drinking anything, taking a fiber supplement or??? My doctor’s office has no suggestions.

REPLY
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