Connect
Reflux that disappears when out of town
Wondering if anyone else has had this and found a way to get through it. Hoping that this is something that can be resolved….
Around 5 months ago I suddenly started with an incredible amount of sinus drainage (only down my throat, I was never congested). That lasted several weeks and then what I call heartburn started. It is some kind of reflux so maybe heartburn isn’t really the right name. Burning in the throat that would often wake me up around midnight and I’d have to sit up for about an hour and then I could go back to bed. It was occasional at first but progressed to several nights a week. Also issues with bending over. So after about 6 weeks we took a trip to Florida for 2 weeks. Everything cleared up within a couple of days. We drove down so I was sitting for the days down (we only drive about 6-7 hours a day). I was fine the whole trip and we came back. I think I was good for a few days and then the reflux started again (thankfully the drainage didn’t come back). Went to a GI doc who told me to take a PPI for 6 weeks and maybe get an endoscopy. I wanted to wait on the procedure but tried the PPI. Lasted 10 days but was so sick I had to stop. I switched to Iberogast and added some melatonin at night (based on some studies I read). Then we took another trip for 3 weeks.
I was fine within a couple of days despite being in the car most of the time. I was eating things I haven’t been able to eat in months and zero issues.
I became convinced it was something in our well water so I arranged for it to be chlorinated before we came back (no, I did not bother to have it tested and I haven’t tested it in many years but I will be doing that from now on).
Since getting back we drink only water we get from the filter station at our grocery store now. I don’t even brush my teeth with the well water.
I was fine for about 10 days but then I had spaghetti for lunch and a soup with tomato base for dinner and was up at midnight with chills, shaking legs, and horrible reflux. Sat up for an hour and took a product called reflux gourmet and I was able to sleep again. The next day I’m still having some issues with burning lower than before (more stomach than throat) and am avoiding tomatoes.
Oh, and I don’t have a lot of stress at home, so it’s not that. I work very part time and spend a lot of time with friends and hobbies.
So could I have damaged my stomach lining and esophagus with the bacteria that I am convinced was in the water, and it just needs to heal up and then it’ll all go back to normal? And how can I control this meanwhile without going on the PPI again? Obviously avoiding trigger foods but I don’t always know what they will be….(I don’t really think the GI doc was listening because I feel he should have picked up on the fact that when I left home for a while I was fine very quickly)
Thanks for any hope anyone can provide because this is really miserable! I thought I was having a heart attack the first time it woke me up at night and almost went to the ER. Just want to get back to normal…
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.
Connect
My rough guess is it’s your diet at home. Are you consuming different foods in Fl from home base? Eating pasta, tomato type foods contain acid that can possibly cause your night time difficulty. Your throat burning sounds like GERD?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsChills and shaking legs sounds like it might have been a stomach upset /virus and doesn't sound like GERD. So, that could have been a one time thing.
Are you cold at home/in your house, as compared to Florida which was warm? You might try to breathe, stretch, and don't slouch at home. Also chew your food well (maybe you rush more at home). Keep a written log of when you have heartburn or other symptoms, and see what could trigger it. Instead of a PPI better to try an H2 blocker first (Pepcid) or the reflux gourmet before bed. Also think about what happened before your problem started. I had a problem with my jaw that caused me not to chew properly (especially things like popcorn), and another time I had a surge after carrying something very heavy, and another time I had a surge after having lots of coughing from a respiratory virus. And each of these things caused me to have reflux for quite a while afterwards.
Good luck, I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Actually what I ate out of town was much worse than what I eat at home. I was able to eat things there that if I eat at home, cause some issues. So that’s a logical guess but other than the spaghetti, I ate the same or worse things (oranges, salsa, cobbler with ice cream, things with cinnamon in them, tea etc) while I was out of tile and not having issues. Thanks!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionOh, interesting that when you had a surge from a one time thing that the reflux lasted a bit. I did start keeping a journal again with what I eat. The reflux gourmet may help- I started taking it before bed after the spaghetti incident and haven’t woken up at night (it’s only been a couple of nights but still). Maybe the Pepcid during the day is a good idea, or at least if I feel burning just to keep ti from messing up my esophagus. Thanks! I hope yours stops, sounds like you’ve had it a while.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI take the Pepcid sometimes before bed. I always wonder about taking these acid reducing medicines during the day, when you need the acid to digest food properly. So, I think I prefer the reflux gourmet or Gaviscon Advance after meals during the day, if you need it, because they have less antacid but create a block to the stomach leaking upwards to the esophagus. During the day I've also found some other things that help: probiotic before meal, after a meal: moving around (to move the food lower down), some pomegranate juice, chewing to increase saliva - saliva is alkaline, soothes esophagus.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThanks! I love pomegranate juice and I just got back from buying a probiotic. You have great advice, I really appreciate it!
My issues are different but GI related, that is nausea for no known reason. Our psychology and gut have a strong relationship and I suspect that is part of my issue and perhaps something to consider, for example, Unrecognized stresses at home that don’t come up when away. Even when I recognize the stress it doesn’t automatically resolve the nausea but using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and self talk have helped.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionCan you tell me which probiotic you use before meals and how effective it is for you? I tried a chewable acidophilus before each meal with no effect. Thanks.
My doctor put me on pantoprazole 40 mg. It seems to work.
Thanks, @robertatheriveter . I was actually trying to learn what probiotic another poster had used. I don't want to use a PPI since I already have osteoporosis. I'm glad that your medication is helping you!