Newbie with Questions

Hi there,

I'm new here and have been checking out this site for awhile but never wrote. It's been helpful for me and makes me think I'm a little less crazy.

So here's my story.

Started in May, woke up nauseous, chest pains, loss of appetite, went to the Dr. She did the ECG test and blood work was done. She gave me Protonix but I still ended up going back in a couple days. Still nauseous (mostly in the mornings), losing weight, and now added, I had thickness in the throat, clearing throat and a feeling like a lump is in there. Started feeling a little better later that week, got my appetite back, thickness pretty much gone, but now my throat has a burning sensation, also once in awhile voice was hoarse. So the Dr. ordered a stress test (was OK) and also an endoscopy (everything looked ok). Last week the Dr. put me on Nexium to see if that would help but I still have the burning throat or just irritation of the throat and sometimes chest pains, that will be in the middle and other times all over. I never have a good day with something always acting up. I cut out all the trigger foods and also have quit smoking the day I got sick. I guess I physically can't smoke, the only good thing that came out of this. Next step is that I'm going to the ENT dr next month.

Ok now the questions.

Could this be something other than GERD?

Do the meds fix some of the symptoms but now all of them?

When changing meds does it take awhile for the new one to kick in? I was on Protonix for 9 weeks and Nexium for 1 week.

Thanks

Thanks Janice,
If the ENT doesn't find anything, then I'll be going to the gastroenterologist. Is that where you got your answers from? It just get frustrating with everyone saying they can't find anything wrong with you and you still don't feel good.

Thanks again

Jax,

If you have LPR, reflux all the way into the throat, the ENT should be able to tell you. I understand that it has to be treated more aggressively that GERD. When I was on just one 40 mg Nexium per day, I noticed no change in my symptoms. Now a Nexium before dinner and a 300 mg Zantac at bedtime have me back to normal - except when I eat trigger foods.

Maybe you've got something similar going on. At any rate, you're taking the right steps to track it down.

percycat

Hey there,

When evaluating a aptient for possible GERD, a pertinent health history will include questions about eating habits, the relationship of symptoms to meals, the frequency and characteristics of emesis, and a desrioption of any aggravating factors. 

The esophageal pH probe study has become the gold standard for the measurement of acidity with GERD because it is the most sensitive and specific test for reflux.  A flexible pH electrode is fed down into the lower esophagus to measure refluxed acidic matierial over a period of 12-24 hours.  Symptoms that occur during the study are correlated with the recorded episodes of reflux. It is very expensive and is not available in all facilities.

I hope you can get you dx and your pain under control.

Take care and keep posting.

Kitt