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GERD issues
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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Have you cut out all acidic foods? Have you cut out alcohol, all soda, acidic coffee, citrus juice and tomato products? No fatty fried foods.
@johnbluffside, Good discussion starter. Here are a few related discussions about GERD:
- Severe Acid Reflux - Chronic GERD: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/severe-acid-reflux-chronic-gerd/
- GERD: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gerd-1/
- Atypical GERD symptoms: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/atypical-gerd-symptoms/
In addition to @riflemanz64 and @mikejjb123, I'd also like to bring fellow GERD members like @jamierb @gabrielm @fourof5zs @tracyfurtiscaudle @hamsy @pjbcorsi1955 @jenblalock @ginabeana @nexus @ken82 to share their tips.
John, you listed a number of things that you tried. Did any of them help somewhat?
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2 ReactionsColleen, thank you so much for including me. I have struggled for nearly 4 years now. Still searching for answers.
Thanks Colleen. I find that my symptoms are cyclical. Always taking famotidine. Adding dexalant when burning in throat gets particularly bad. I’ve stopped all the herbal supplements - didn’t seem to make a difference one way or the other. I eat to keep things under control - no alcohol, citrus, tomato sauce, spicy foods, etc. helps get things under control. I can then add a few things on occasion and follow up with Gaviscon without ill effect. I didn’t want to hear this when my symptoms all began, but it takes a long time to figure out what works for you. All the tests I underwent came back “good” - so it was up to me to work through. Lots of good suggestions on this site. Try not to get discouraged.
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2 ReactionsHi,
Would you mind sharing what the treatments are for your LPR?
Thanks….I also have LPR.
Randy
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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1 ReactionWhat helps relieve the consent acid in the stomach? I found EMI product while helping in Thailand and was told my my US doctor that it stops all the pump from working; well it has been the only relief for me. Now what can I try on top of the basic anti acids and purple pill?
I've been told I have GERD. But I don't have any symptoms of burning or indigestive problems. None of the meds I've been prescribed work. My largest symptom is drainage. Sinuses are clear but do have some problems to seasonal allergies. Does anyone have these problems. My doctor says live with it.
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1 ReactionIt's known as silent GERD. I would stay away from coffee, acidic foods and tomato based products. Chocolate and mint also affect GERD. Take prescribed med to prevent permanent damage or be very strict with your diet.
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3 ReactionsThe 2 people I knew that died from Esophageal cancer both had "Silent" GERD. Make sure to get it checked with a scoping at regular intervals since GERD can change to Barrett's and cancer quickly.
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