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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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Profile picture for windyshores
windyshores | @windyshores | Mar 6, 2024
In reply to @rosemaryhow "To leelou03- I can only relate to you, my issues, and tell you that I always..." + (show)
Profile picture for rosemaryhow @rosemaryhow

To leelou03- I can only relate to you, my issues, and tell you that I always practiced being an active person, biking, exercising, walking, and I thought eating healthy. This whole thing with GERD, and LPR has caused me so much anxiety that sometimes I think I am going to have a coronary. My voice has changed, I can barely sing in church, I have a chronic cough, and so many secretions in my throat, that I cannot be around people, as I am embarrassed with constantly clearing my throat. I have seen GI, ENT, and an Allergist. I finally resigned myself to the fact that this is never going to go away, and I need to accept it, and do all the things they tell you to do to try and make it better. I also meditate and pray when I feel an anxiety attack coming on--not for everyone, but it helps me . God bless you in your journey.

Jump to this post

rosemaryhow a friend of mine had your symptoms and finally had imagine of sinuses. The ENT cleared the sinuses and her symptoms went away. Is that a possibility for you? She no longer constantly clears her throat!

REPLY
1 reply
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cj16 | @cj16 | Mar 7, 2024
In reply to @rosemaryhow "To leelou03- I can only relate to you, my issues, and tell you that I always..." + (show)
Profile picture for rosemaryhow @rosemaryhow

To leelou03- I can only relate to you, my issues, and tell you that I always practiced being an active person, biking, exercising, walking, and I thought eating healthy. This whole thing with GERD, and LPR has caused me so much anxiety that sometimes I think I am going to have a coronary. My voice has changed, I can barely sing in church, I have a chronic cough, and so many secretions in my throat, that I cannot be around people, as I am embarrassed with constantly clearing my throat. I have seen GI, ENT, and an Allergist. I finally resigned myself to the fact that this is never going to go away, and I need to accept it, and do all the things they tell you to do to try and make it better. I also meditate and pray when I feel an anxiety attack coming on--not for everyone, but it helps me . God bless you in your journey.

Jump to this post

I also had lots of coughing,breathing issues . I was diagnosed by ent with lpr or silent reflux or respiratory reflux. Check out Dr. Jamie Koufmans website to understand what it is. I also researched vcd disorder and doing certain exercises helps. Coughing makes it worse and one of the exercises ,swishing your tongue over your front teeth 5 times on each side helps stop the coughing. Sounds silly but it helped me. I also drink alkaline water all day that helps. Hope u feel better. 😘

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Profile picture for rosemaryhow
rosemaryhow | @rosemaryhow | Mar 7, 2024
In reply to @leelou03 "I have a chronic cough, and Shortness of breath. My pulmonologist said it was my GERD,..." + (show)
Profile picture for leelou03 @leelou03

I have a chronic cough, and Shortness of breath. My pulmonologist said it was my GERD, my gastro doctor said no GERD or anti reflux doesn't cause that. Well, I need to send both of them news articles, because both conditions cause the above.I'm trying to change doctors with both of them. Has anyone else have symptoms from GERD that causes SOB or other things,? Both lung and gastro problem can cause a lot of problems for a person.Thank you for listening. I pray everyone on here gets help they need

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Thank you so much for your ideas. Thats the reason I joined this website. It is always good to know others are dealing with similar issues, and how they deal with it.

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Profile picture for celia16
celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 7, 2024
In reply to @rosemaryhow "To leelou03- I can only relate to you, my issues, and tell you that I always..." + (show)
Profile picture for rosemaryhow @rosemaryhow

To leelou03- I can only relate to you, my issues, and tell you that I always practiced being an active person, biking, exercising, walking, and I thought eating healthy. This whole thing with GERD, and LPR has caused me so much anxiety that sometimes I think I am going to have a coronary. My voice has changed, I can barely sing in church, I have a chronic cough, and so many secretions in my throat, that I cannot be around people, as I am embarrassed with constantly clearing my throat. I have seen GI, ENT, and an Allergist. I finally resigned myself to the fact that this is never going to go away, and I need to accept it, and do all the things they tell you to do to try and make it better. I also meditate and pray when I feel an anxiety attack coming on--not for everyone, but it helps me . God bless you in your journey.

Jump to this post

Did you have covid? Plenty of us who have been diagnosed with post covid syndrome or long covid, have similar symptoms.

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1 reply
Profile picture for helenaj1126
helenaj1126 | @helenaj1126 | Mar 8, 2024
In reply to @leelou03 "I have a chronic cough, and Shortness of breath. My pulmonologist said it was my GERD,..." + (show)
Profile picture for leelou03 @leelou03

I have a chronic cough, and Shortness of breath. My pulmonologist said it was my GERD, my gastro doctor said no GERD or anti reflux doesn't cause that. Well, I need to send both of them news articles, because both conditions cause the above.I'm trying to change doctors with both of them. Has anyone else have symptoms from GERD that causes SOB or other things,? Both lung and gastro problem can cause a lot of problems for a person.Thank you for listening. I pray everyone on here gets help they need

Jump to this post

I have wheezing with my uncontrolled Gerd/acid reflux I wheeze, crackle even when exhaling. It’s annoying and I do it on a daily basis. I take a ppi and it doesn’t seem to help whatsoever.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for rosemaryhow
rosemaryhow | @rosemaryhow | Mar 8, 2024
In reply to @windyshores "rosemaryhow a friend of mine had your symptoms and finally had imagine of sinuses. The ENT..." + (show)
Profile picture for windyshores @windyshores

rosemaryhow a friend of mine had your symptoms and finally had imagine of sinuses. The ENT cleared the sinuses and her symptoms went away. Is that a possibility for you? She no longer constantly clears her throat!

Jump to this post

My primary doc. ordered CT of my sinuses that showed almost complete blockage on the right , and partial on the left. Thats when he tossed a brochure on LPR at me and said this is a GI issue. GI does not believe this, so sent me to Allergy doc. A $200 nasal spray that does not work, and etc. etc. and I am now looking for a new ENT.

REPLY
Profile picture for rosemaryhow
rosemaryhow | @rosemaryhow | Mar 8, 2024
In reply to @celia16 "Did you have covid? Plenty of us who have been diagnosed with post covid syndrome or..." + (show)
Profile picture for celia16 @celia16

Did you have covid? Plenty of us who have been diagnosed with post covid syndrome or long covid, have similar symptoms.

Jump to this post

Interesting! I thought I had it once, but home test said negative.

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1 reply
Profile picture for celia16
celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 8, 2024
In reply to @rosemaryhow "Interesting! I thought I had it once, but home test said negative." + (show)
Profile picture for rosemaryhow @rosemaryhow

Interesting! I thought I had it once, but home test said negative.

Jump to this post

Some tests are not accurate for covid results, especially the most recent covid strain. My ENT told me that if you have multiple symptoms, one test is not reliable to prove you are negative. I’ve read that timing of the test is important and some people have to test 3 times before it shows positive. Just a thought.

REPLY
Profile picture for brittis
brittis | @brittis | Mar 9, 2024
In reply to @helenaj1126 "I have wheezing with my uncontrolled Gerd/acid reflux I wheeze, crackle even when exhaling. It’s annoying..." + (show)
Profile picture for helenaj1126 @helenaj1126

I have wheezing with my uncontrolled Gerd/acid reflux I wheeze, crackle even when exhaling. It’s annoying and I do it on a daily basis. I take a ppi and it doesn’t seem to help whatsoever.

Jump to this post

I had the same, then I went to an allergist and he said it was from acid leaking into my lungs. He prescribed an inhaler to take 2 puffs at night for prevention. Don't have the wheezing anymore.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 9, 2024
In reply to @helenaj1126 "I have wheezing with my uncontrolled Gerd/acid reflux I wheeze, crackle even when exhaling. It’s annoying..." + (show)
Profile picture for helenaj1126 @helenaj1126

I have wheezing with my uncontrolled Gerd/acid reflux I wheeze, crackle even when exhaling. It’s annoying and I do it on a daily basis. I take a ppi and it doesn’t seem to help whatsoever.

Jump to this post

Hello @helenaj1126 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You ask an interesting question about GERD. I looked on the Mayo Clinic website and found some information about symptoms of GERD. Here is a link to that information,
--GERD symptoms and causes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940
If you read to the end of the article, you will see symptoms of nighttime GERD which includes new or worsening asthma.

You mentioned that the PPI you were using hasn't helped. Have you talked with your doctor to see if you can find a different med? How long ago were you diagnosed with GERD?

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