GERD: What are your symptoms and what helps?

My abdominal pain which is high up spikes 6-8 x a days and can last for a couple of hours each time. Virtually all the time. I have lost 28lbs because I don’t have an appetite mostly and now only eat very small portions of food. I have found hardly any food that makes it worse on better. I stay away from spicy foods. I have had this problem for about 21 months. I have mostly regular Bowel movements.

@lgumerman -
I understand how you feel- I have lived like that for a few months this year, also losing weight.
Before you contacted Mayo did you have tests done locally- such as endoscopy, ultrasound,CT or MRI?

Yes I had soooo many tests also and allergy test with naturopath. No diagnosis!! Have you found anything that helps with your pain you can tell me about?

@lgumerman
Yes, I got a diagnosis and treatment. I don’t know if you have heard of a very rare condition called MALS- Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome?
There is a ligament from the diaphragm going into the abdominal cavity that can put pressure on the celiac artery. The celiac artery supplies blood to intestines, pancreas, spleen and liver. If this artery is compressed enough there won’t be enough blood going to the intestines for digestion after a meal. This causes pain of varying degree- it’s also called abdominal angina.
It can be diagnosed with a Duplex ultrasound of the abdominal blood vessels or with a CT scan- the most accurate being a CT angiogram.
I was diagnosed 2015 and had the ligament cut laparoscopically. 6 moths later I had a stent placed because the blood vessel was still kinked. I was fine until this fall when I needed another stent.
We have a MALS Connect group too.
You may want to ask your local doctor about these tests, if they were done.
Typical symptoms are pain related to eating, fear of eating and weight loss.

GERD can be a sign your gallbladder is not making enough Hydrochloric acid (HCL) which causes the lower opening of the stomach not to close well after food passes through it. What little acid you might be making then flows up into the esophagus. Here is how I find out if this is ur situation: take two capsules of HCL in the middle of your meals. If no burning or no good result, try three. If no burning, and you feel better that day. you’ve probably found the right dose.
Having your gall bladder removed would cause ur problem but aging also makes ppl make less HCL. HCL is terribly important. It breaks down protein and kills most of the germs we swallow. Also it triggers the closing of the lower valve of the stomach.

I asked my doctor about Mals and he said I had a CT scan with IV contrast and celiac artery narrowing wasn't mention. He said he has looks for this a few times. Liz

I searched for the MALS connect group. Couldn’t find it. Anyone know how to connect? Thks

None that they're reporting. There is a link between asthma and GERD however

@lgumerman -
I found that before my diagnosis I had been seen at Mayo and a CT with contrast did not show it but a Duplex ultrasound did.
Also, recently before my new stent was placed I had a regular chest CT that caught the narrowed celiac artery by chance.
CT angiogram or Duplex ultrasound are the definitive tests for diagnosis.
Let me see if I can connect you with the MALS group.

You’ll find it under the Digestive Health Support Group :
Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/median-arcuate-ligament-syndrome-mals/