@ewalkercece

No not normal. Being you are like me living in a small city.. more on town level now.. you may have to do a bit of traveling to get help. I have traveled over an hours drive to another city and much longer drive to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. I have asked opinions of what doctors to go to in the other city. The best from a nurse friend who I went to high school with.

To me it sounds like GERD, Swallowing problem and perhaps something unknown going on. Swallowing problems can cause dry mouth. Acid could be going up into your nasal passages or something else going on with them.

Many medications can worsen GERD as well as what you eat and things you do. Most definitely sinus problems can make Gerd Worse.( have a checkup with ENT doctor to make sure all is well) Drinking alcoholic beverages, juices and sodas and eating certain foods can make GERD much worse. Some medications and combinations of medications can make GERD worse. A change in a hiatal hernia can make GERD worse. .. and the list can go on.

First I would keep a journal and write down what makes my symptoms better and what makes them worse. Is is worse after eating certain foods? Worse certain times of day or after activities? What effect does medications have on symptoms? How long after eating or taking medications are there changes in symptoms and what change? Be aware there is no one diet fits all. .. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT even though we all have the same basic organs within our bodies. Avoid food that trigger your symptoms. Eat small meals 4-5 times a day. Some people find it helpful to raise the top of their bed or use a wedge to raise their upper body. Some sleep in a recliner.

Second I would talk to a pharmacist about my medications including over the counter medication. Make a list of your medications.. prescription and over the counter medications. .. I made a chart on my computer for this and print it out for my doctors, pharmacists and hospitals. Include the name of medication, dosage and number of times a day taken and prescribing doctor. Tell the pharmacist about any side effects you may be feeling. Your pharmacist may see a conflict in medications that your doctor may not be aware of. The pharmacist will know more about the side effects than your doctor. The pharmacist can suggest better options for you.

Third.. take what you have learned from the pharmacist and talk with your doctor about it. Write your questions down and take a pen to write note with. If you are not seeing a gastroenterologist (GI) do so. If you are having swallowing difficulties you need swallowing tests. Yes, tests, plural. There are several types of barium swallow. Some with just the barium and others with barium tainted foods. Some swallow test are to see which consistency of foods you can swallow. Esophageal manometry is another test. A good GI doctor will know which ones need to be done according to your symptoms. You should probably have an endoscopy too.

Recovery or reduction in symptoms of GERDS depends on the cause. There are surgeries to help. Nissen fundoplication is one. It does not have a high success rate. .. 1 in 6 fail. The Linx procedure has helped many. Reading through discussions here on Connect might give you more information. My story at my blog.. which I keep saying I will get back to.. here if you so desire to read https://zarogasnook.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-long-time-passing.html l

ZeeGee

@ewalkercece I had a hiatal hernia and GERD... had taken Nexium for a decade or more.. then my central Iowa town GI doctor recommended a "Nissen" surgery... WORSE thing that has happened in my life of 83 yrs.. that was 6 years ago.. I have post-operative gastroparesis ....They could not diagnose what went wrong..
After losing 50 pounds in 2 months I went to Mayo MN... they diagnosed it in a day.. 3 tests .. in the Best GI Dept in the US... the doc said that 1 in 6 of those surgeries FAIL... So change your eating habits.. the Process of eating ... smaller amounts, Slower, chew very well, do not lie down/get prone for 2 hours after eating ..raise the head of the bed at least 6".. Gravity works to keep that stuff from coming up.. Keep a daily log of what you eat and what happens .. do this for at least a month.. There are so many variables in GI issues.. but you can narrow down the possibilities by understanding what the stomach does and how to help it do its job easier..

I have had Gerd, metaplasia and now autoimmune gastritis I too believe started with a thyroid medication I was taking. It's been 3 years, mostly better now however there are many foods and drinks I can not have. I take meds when I flare up and keep a very close eye on what enters my mouth and try to keep it from further damage. Good luck, keep up the good work...