GERD. My story

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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I have the same problem. I have sore lips, throat and bloating all the time after eating fatty fried food. I am in nexium 40mg twice a day, which is helping me to fight with this reflux. I only left little choice of food. Hope we all get heal soon..

REPLY

What did you find out Janarose and are you better now? I'm going thru a lot of the same symptoms and have requested an appointment at Mayo. I've had severe throat pain/lump sensation every day for the last 6 months as well as hoarseness, nausea, insomnia from the pain and feel desperate as well. My quality of life has just plummeted and I feel like I can't enjoy anything anymore. were you able to get help? I certainly hope you're feeling better.

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@lindasz

You might want to research LPR. Dr. Koufman has a new diet book called "Dropping Acid" that may help your throat. I am experiencing the same symptoms. I am currently being treated for LPR. Hopefully, it will soon help.

Jump to this post

Hi,
Would you mind sharing what the treatments are for your LPR?
Thanks….I also have LPR.
Randy

REPLY

Hi, have been where you are.
Finally decided to have a Nissan Funduplication procedure. Turns out I had a torn diaphragm and hiatal hernia. That was in 2006. It helped a lot however, not perfect. Elevate your bed for starters. No mint or chocolate, they loosen the LES muscle. Chew "DGL" which you can get at health food store. You have a structural defect which should be fixed soon. Research the best thoracic surgeon you can find. Good luck !

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