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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.

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rashida | @rashida | Aug 21, 2023
In reply to @brittis "I bought mine at Amazon!" + (show)
Profile picture for brittis @brittis

I bought mine at Amazon!

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@brittis how does it taste? Is it sweet?

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brittis | @brittis | Aug 21, 2023
In reply to @rashida "@brittis how does it taste? Is it sweet?" + (show)
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@brittis how does it taste? Is it sweet?

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I bought the caramel taste and it is like caramel sauce. Yes, definitely sweet.

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marjoriem | @marjoriem | Aug 21, 2023
In reply to @jimaddessi "I am a relatively healthy 69 year old male who has had bouts of gerd (acid..." + (show)
Profile picture for jimaddessi @jimaddessi

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?

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Can you provide more information on digestive bitters and Betain HCL Pepsin? I did a google search and there are many different ones, some have both digestive bitters and Betain HCL Pepsin or do they all? What works for you, strength and dosage? Thank you!

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marjoriem | @marjoriem | Aug 22, 2023
In reply to @ese "Oh to protect your esophagus take black raspberry powder from BerriBerri. I even have Barett's Esophagus,..." + (show)
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Oh to protect your esophagus take black raspberry powder from BerriBerri. I even have Barett's Esophagus, probably from all those years of GERDS

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Curious, did you start taking black raspberry powder from your own research or did a doctor recommend it? And yes, one of my possible diagnoses is Barett's Esophagus.

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marjoriem | @marjoriem | Aug 22, 2023
In reply to @dragnwc19 "Hello, Much of what you say has a solid ring to it. Leaning toward trying some...." + (show)
Profile picture for dragnwc19 @dragnwc19

Hello,
Much of what you say has a solid ring to it. Leaning toward trying some. My anemia needs attention desperately. How functional is your Lower Esophageal Sphincter, do you know? Mine no longer works.

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I'm not sure about the functionality of my lower esophageal sphincter per se, just know from tests that I have esophagus motility issues.

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ese | @ese | Aug 22, 2023
In reply to @marjoriem "Curious, did you start taking black raspberry powder from your own research or did a doctor..." + (show)
Profile picture for marjoriem @marjoriem

Curious, did you start taking black raspberry powder from your own research or did a doctor recommend it? And yes, one of my possible diagnoses is Barett's Esophagus.

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William Liu's book on healing yourself with diet. I have no idea if it has become better but the last time I had an endoscopy done because of bad anemia (looking for a silent bleed when the problem in fact was failure to absorb nutrients because of too long treatment (on doctor's orders!) with PPIs, the Barrett's esophagus had gotten no worse.

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oppdalloen | @oppdalloen | Oct 27, 2023
In reply to @buffy143 "Hi there. Does anyone else out there experience acid reflux to the point where your reflux..." + (show)
Profile picture for Buffy143 @buffy143

Hi there. Does anyone else out there experience acid reflux to the point where your reflux , when lying down/sleeping, enters into your lungs and/ or your sinuses? If so, have you been treated successfully? I have had GERD since high school. I have tried all the PPIs under the sun and I finally found a PPI that successfully treats the burning sensations and pain experienced from GERD. However, I have noticed that over time, my LES (lower esophageal sphincter), the sphincter muscle that prevents back up of stomach contents into the esophagus, is gone. It doesn't do what it's suppose to do anymore. So I fight gravity everyday and when I lay down at all, I get back up to my throat and when in a deep sleep and lying flat it goes into my lungs and sinuses and inner ear cannal. I sleep propped up with a million pillows but it seems to just be band-aide. So some side effects are: coughing/productive coughing, pneumonias, yellow sputum, post nasal drip, inner ear pain, dizziness from inner ear pain, vertigo, and the most serious, spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Anyone have any inspring stories of treatments, excercises, natural treatments, special doctors they've encountered concerning this? Anything? Thank you so much 🙂

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Hi all I see great comments and suggestions, and I thank you for that, I myself I am suffering from accid reflux every morning I wake up I feel bitter mouth, I've seen my GI doctor and done endoscopy the doc says everything looks fine and gave me a med it worked for about a week was great but problem came back, I dont know what else to do, my doctor doesn't seemed to care much I can't change a doctor either here where I live I have to continie seeing same doctor because government paid doctor.. it's very very uncomfortable life quality deteriorates I'm afraid to develop cancer. I dont smoke i dont drink and i eat mostly healthy. please need help

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riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | Oct 28, 2023
In reply to @buffy143 "Hi there. Does anyone else out there experience acid reflux to the point where your reflux..." + (show)
Profile picture for Buffy143 @buffy143

Hi there. Does anyone else out there experience acid reflux to the point where your reflux , when lying down/sleeping, enters into your lungs and/ or your sinuses? If so, have you been treated successfully? I have had GERD since high school. I have tried all the PPIs under the sun and I finally found a PPI that successfully treats the burning sensations and pain experienced from GERD. However, I have noticed that over time, my LES (lower esophageal sphincter), the sphincter muscle that prevents back up of stomach contents into the esophagus, is gone. It doesn't do what it's suppose to do anymore. So I fight gravity everyday and when I lay down at all, I get back up to my throat and when in a deep sleep and lying flat it goes into my lungs and sinuses and inner ear cannal. I sleep propped up with a million pillows but it seems to just be band-aide. So some side effects are: coughing/productive coughing, pneumonias, yellow sputum, post nasal drip, inner ear pain, dizziness from inner ear pain, vertigo, and the most serious, spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Anyone have any inspring stories of treatments, excercises, natural treatments, special doctors they've encountered concerning this? Anything? Thank you so much 🙂

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Don’t eat 4 hours before bed. Buy a bed that you can elevate the mattress. Cut out all fried foods, soda, booze and no weed. I bought the book the acid watcher diet.

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x999x | @x999x | Oct 28, 2023
In reply to @buffy143 "Hi there. Does anyone else out there experience acid reflux to the point where your reflux..." + (show)
Profile picture for Buffy143 @buffy143

Hi there. Does anyone else out there experience acid reflux to the point where your reflux , when lying down/sleeping, enters into your lungs and/ or your sinuses? If so, have you been treated successfully? I have had GERD since high school. I have tried all the PPIs under the sun and I finally found a PPI that successfully treats the burning sensations and pain experienced from GERD. However, I have noticed that over time, my LES (lower esophageal sphincter), the sphincter muscle that prevents back up of stomach contents into the esophagus, is gone. It doesn't do what it's suppose to do anymore. So I fight gravity everyday and when I lay down at all, I get back up to my throat and when in a deep sleep and lying flat it goes into my lungs and sinuses and inner ear cannal. I sleep propped up with a million pillows but it seems to just be band-aide. So some side effects are: coughing/productive coughing, pneumonias, yellow sputum, post nasal drip, inner ear pain, dizziness from inner ear pain, vertigo, and the most serious, spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Anyone have any inspring stories of treatments, excercises, natural treatments, special doctors they've encountered concerning this? Anything? Thank you so much 🙂

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Cromyln Sodium might be an option. Usually from allergist

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jackielb | @jackielb | Oct 28, 2023
In reply to @buffy143 "Hi there. Does anyone else out there experience acid reflux to the point where your reflux..." + (show)
Profile picture for Buffy143 @buffy143

Hi there. Does anyone else out there experience acid reflux to the point where your reflux , when lying down/sleeping, enters into your lungs and/ or your sinuses? If so, have you been treated successfully? I have had GERD since high school. I have tried all the PPIs under the sun and I finally found a PPI that successfully treats the burning sensations and pain experienced from GERD. However, I have noticed that over time, my LES (lower esophageal sphincter), the sphincter muscle that prevents back up of stomach contents into the esophagus, is gone. It doesn't do what it's suppose to do anymore. So I fight gravity everyday and when I lay down at all, I get back up to my throat and when in a deep sleep and lying flat it goes into my lungs and sinuses and inner ear cannal. I sleep propped up with a million pillows but it seems to just be band-aide. So some side effects are: coughing/productive coughing, pneumonias, yellow sputum, post nasal drip, inner ear pain, dizziness from inner ear pain, vertigo, and the most serious, spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Anyone have any inspring stories of treatments, excercises, natural treatments, special doctors they've encountered concerning this? Anything? Thank you so much 🙂

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I have GERD. My gastro doc recommended 6 small meals instead of 3 and chew slowly/thoroughly. I also have to take a PPI 40 mg and sometimes 80. 40 in am and 40 before dinner. I was also recently diagnosed w/presbyesophagus after having esophageal manometry test. This makes GERD worse. I had my gallbladder removed in 2021. The recovery period took 3 months for me. I had no appetite and lost 15 lbs. One doctor told me it shouldn't take more than 3 mos to recover. If its been longer than that go back to surgeon.

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