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I am a relatively healthy 69 year old male who has had bouts of gerd (acid reflex) in my life. I've had several endoscopy"s done, most recently January of 2022 diagnosis of Gastritis. I don't smoke and drink in moderation socially (not a lot). Recently I developed my worst symptoms ever, not sleeping very good ( I have elevated bed),very bad pressure in chest which creates tremendous anxiety making it had to breathe and catch my breath, floor pacing...terrible stress on body. Oddly enough it's been worse every other morning when I wake up. I take Protonix and Pepcid, Mylanta and I just got some new stuff called Nutrasec, a tablet like Tums only better that you take after eating that helps a little. I was cruising right along until 10 days ago the it hit me like a tank. I gave up coffee and changed my diet drastically and am trying to schedule another endoscopy. I'm hoping maybe my esophagus needs stretched or I'm a candidate for esophagus sphincter surgery. I feel beat and it sucks trying to sleep on my left side all night. Anybody out there having similar problems?
Replies to "I am a relatively healthy 69 year old male who has had bouts of gerd (acid..."
Glad you have found what works for you. Glad I found what worked for me without need for PPIs. We are all different but it is worth trying to get oneself off PPIs because of other effects of long term use.
Use of apple cider vinegar was not suggested as a "cure" but as a test of whether one's underlying issue was an excess or possible lack of sufficient stomach acid. If ACV gives one some relief it is, I believe diagnostic that underlying issue may be lack of rather than excess acid.
My father lived off of TUMS. And I have found that Bicarbonate of soda gives immediate relief on the exceedingly rare occasions I may have a night bout after a particularly poor restaurant meal. For me, it avoids long term use of PPIs...but as I said, I cannot believe how much I have managed both to wean myself off PPIs (which must be done gradually lest one trigger a God Awful rebound since your body keeps trying to make additional acid pumps to compensate for the PPI use (or at least mine did). I just wanted to say that for some of us life without PPIs and without GERD is in fact achievable.
I was on omeprazole for four years before slowly weaning off due to DX of chronic kidney disease, which can be a side effect of a PPI (altho my GI doc doesn't believe it. However, my eGFR value increased significantly after stopping the omeprazole). I rely now on the low acid, whole food diet, and lifestyle changes. If I follow all the rules I feel good. If I don't, well, I am not too bad off and I revert to following the rules. I have had my esophagus stretched three times and if I eat properly, the esophagus doesn't develop strictures, and therefore no stretching needed. I also tried taking an HCL betain capsule to experiment on whether I had too little acid; the answer, nope! ENT doctors Aviv and Kaufman have free info online on how to manage GERD and respiratory reflux without drugs. I sleep on my back with head elevated, and drink filtered tap water with alkaline drops added, as examples of lifestyle/diet changes. Personally I wanted to avoid drugs and surgery, so I am motivated on doing the diet/lifestyle thing. It is certainly harder to do, but I don't worry about the side effects, and apparently I don't have a hugely complex situation so my body responds to the natural method. Good luck on whatever choices you make!
The same exact thing happened to me in march of 2023. The only thing different is I started taking papaya enzyme tablets after eating. I'm 70 years old with a history of stomach problems ( stomach obstructions, ulcers, bleeding ulcers) and it's very scary feeling when gerd happens. Hopefully for you it heals up. I had endoscopy shortly after it healed and the doctor said it looked good and didn't need stretching. It's been good since (n.o.w.). I have been on protonix and pepcid for a long time and the only thing different is that my doctor put me on a low dose of paxil for anxiety. The hardest thing was giving up coffee, I now drink tea.
I just had the worst acid reflux and heartburn ever. I thought I was going to die,
Esophagus, throat, and even my ears were burning. I have a hiatal hernia. I take famotidine twice a day and omeprazole 1 time a day. I ate bread, drank water and milk, took extra pills, 3 tums chewable and after maybe an hour I’m starting to feel better. If this ever happens again what should I do? I plan on seeing my doctor as soon as I can get in.
@biga282 yes, I have had my gallbladder out. In the early 1990s.
Okay 👍 have had an Endoscopy ? Checked for ulcers maybe? Best of luck! 🙏
I would go toner first gi cocktail if it got that bad. It works pretty quickly and really well. I’d also get in to see my gi dr asap. You may need an endoscopy or stronger meds. Hope you feel better!!!
It’s three different meds including maalox higher dose, lidocaine and one more medication.
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ese,
Yes, I too am having the worst GERD attack ever. I am scheduled for an endoscopy tomorrow. I’m had them before and the gastro stretched the ring at top of esophagus each time which helped. This problem has been going on for many years, so I’m worried about having Barrett’s Esophagus. Also, worried that I might not be able to get symptoms under control.
I’m on Protonix and prescription Pepcid. Sometimes, I have to take a Gaviscon. That actually seems to help.