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Diagnosed with GERD about a month ago

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/21/2009 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
So I've been to the hospital 3 times because of chest pains. Nothing wrong with me of course. They finally diagnose me with GERD. The annoying thing that comes with this is thinking that something is seriously wrong with you when it's just gas or acid reflux

Anyway, I think there is something wrong again. My left side and my lower back is hurting so badly. But I don't know whether I should go to the doctor or not, or if it's just gas. I also have slight nausea, I have a feeling of fullness all the time, and I do feel like if I could just pass gas it would feel better... I have been passing gas in little spurts, but it still sucks. (i feel a little embarassed talking about gas, but at least I'm in the right section, lol)

It started with just a little pain under my left rib cage and now it has traveled down the side of my stomach. Of course I'm in anxiety whether it could be my kidneys, gallbladder, liver, etc. But what if it's just gas??? I can't afford to keep running out the hospital every five minutes for this. Also, I just started to exercise, I'm wondering if I have pulled a muscle in some sort of way.

I have not learned to eat correctly with GERD yet. I've been eating tons of tomato products like spaghetti or using ketchup or pizza. And sometimes I drink diet sodas or I indulge in dessert that has tons of sugar. All I know are terrible for GERD. I also sometimes eat Nutella (the chocolate spread) for breakfast on toast.

What sort of diet should I do if GERD is effecting me so badly? Should I do a gluten free diet? I'm willing to do anything, I just have to change my habits.

Also, has anyone else around here dealt with the same symptoms I'm having???

Post Edited (girlinred) : 5/21/2009 11:58:43 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/21/2009 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Girl in red, If you read the other posts you will see who has what symptoms. why arent you on any meds for the gerd since you were diagnosed? Did you try pepcid over the counter or gas x? Not everyone has the same smptoms and or outcomes so it is best to trust your own mind.
Good luck
Bea
Posted 5/21/2009 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum; it's not unusual to have more than one problem with the gastro-intestinal system, when one thing thing is out of whack it seems like other things are as well. Irritable bowel is not unusual, especially when you aren't eating properly; this will cause a lot of gas problems; have you tried gas-x or any other gas aid? They do help and they won't hurt. Have you tried probiotics?; a natural method to get these is by eating yogurt, if you can't tolerate yogurt, there are several over the counter types that you can purchase.

Gas, despite all the jokes, is no laughing matter, it hurts a lot! Bea has a point though, have they started you on any meds? if not, do look at some OTC's for that too and look at the self help measures on-line.

Good luck.
Janice
Posted 5/21/2009 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Girlinred!
Sorry to hear you're having so many problems. It is difficult getting adjusted to a GI problem like GERD and it's symptoms. You've got a lot of company here. The typical triggers are a real no no--chocolate, caffeine, peppermint. You're right to stay away from tomato products for a while. Alcohol and coffee (even decaffeinated) can cause real problem. I find weak decaf tea to be fine...it actually makes my stomach feel better. Think about cutting out unnecessary supplements, as they can irritate when your stomach is already on a roll.

I agree with the opinions expressed by Bea and Janice--if you're having symptoms, you should probably be on some acid reducer. There are over the counter (Prilosec, etc.), or you could go to your doc for a script if you haven't already got one. Prescription strength is more effective...if you have good insurance, it's cheaper, too.

I wish you lots of luck with your problem. There are lots of posts here written by people experiencing similar problems.


Janice,
So good to see you back. I missed you! You gave me so much support and information as I was making my decision for surgery. I understand you're going through your own health issue right now. I'm sorry to hear that. But you're back among friends, and will get lots of support and encouragement.
I'm 3 months post op, and doing really well. Hopefully it holds, since my allergy/asthma is killing me due to tree pollen. I'm definitely challenging my hernia. If I don't get my allergies under control (and in that way, my asthma), I'll expect I'll need further surgery. Oh well...it is as it is. If it happens, it happens. I'll deal with it then.
Take care and be well.
Denise
Posted 5/21/2009 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with GERD in the emergency room, they told me to take two doses of Pepcid. I only take Pepcid when I have acid reflux really bad.

Thanks for all your help. I think the proper thing is to just go get checked out again.
Posted 5/21/2009 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Girlinred, please do; find yourself a good gastroenterologist for a thorough work-up and let us know what you find out.

Denise, thank you for your sweet words, I really appreciate it! I will be fine, it's just another challenge to go through, but it could be worse, we caught it early. Are you on allergy shots?, I can't remember if you are; I've had to kick my shots into a higher gear this spring, but they help so much!
I hope you feel better too!
Janice
Posted 5/22/2009 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Janice.
I do take allergy shots...one in each arm. I was fine until last year and this year...some allergic response, but not bad. These past two years it's like pollen on steroids.

Each time my allergist was ready to check and adjust my serum, I had a GERD/asthma episode, so he hasn't been able to increase the strength yet. He's actually a bit worried to increase it much, because it's already pretty strong. I'm giving it another try next year, after her (hopefully) tests and adjusts after the season, in Nov. or Dec.

If that doesn't help, I guess I'll have to try the new med that is injected monthly, for allergic asthmatics who don't respond to regular treatment. It's called Xolair. You stop allergy shots and take that instead. The problem is that it's only been on the market for about 5 years. In testing they found a numerically (not statistically) significant increase in cancer incidences among people taking the drug. My allergist says that I should consider it, since my quality of life is so affected by my allergies/asthma. Hopefully I won't have to make that decision.

I am going to shots every 2 weeks during the season, but it's really not helping much. I'm on z-pac and prednosone, and actually got worse a couple days ago. I'm a little better today, but am driving my husband crazy with coughing. He thinks I need to go to different doctors. It's just that there are no magic solutions to an inflammatory problem like asthma...it just takes time to heal, and it can't with all the pollen.
Thanks, Janice, for asking.
Denise

PS--Girlinred...I agree with Janice--you need to get an appointment with a good GI doc! Good luck.
Posted 5/22/2009 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Girlinred
I do feel your pain. At the age 25 I was also in out of hospitals, seeing different doctors I had one doctor tell me i have h-pylori this is a bacterial infection of the stomach and small intestine so they gave me meds for it and still had stomach problem untill one doctor did altra sound said it was my gallbladder so i had that removed and 6 months later they said i had acid reflex. Im 33 now i have full beyond gerds were if i played with my kids i end up with a cronic cough untill i vomit. I had to change my whole diet around i also did take prevacid ,prilosec all the acid pills you can name it i have taken them but the down fall is that your system gets to use to the pills your always switching around the meds. now its been 3 weeks of my surgery i had laparoscopic nissen fundoplication so far so good no acid reflex but you do need to see a GI doctor but i do hope everything goes well for you.
Posted 5/22/2009 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Just a quick note Denise...the xolair works....especially for tough cases!, but you know, how well do you get on with your current dr?, perhaps a second opinion would help...or I would suggest a trip to National Jewish in Denver, it is well worth it.
Posted 5/22/2009 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Janice,
Thanks so much for that information and suggestion. My husband is at his wits end, and is ready to take me anywhere to get help. My family doctor has exceptional knowledge of asthma, and he gets on well with my allergy/asthma doctor. They have a good working relationship. I have suggested changing allergists or getting a second opinion, and he discourages me from doing it. He thinks it is very difficult to start over, because that doctor won't know me at all. I've suggested a pulmonologist, and he thinks "too many cooks will spoil the broth".

I think about it sometimes, then think about the fact that there aren't any magic solutions. The meds that are out are available to all doctors. My allergist/asthma doc is very well thought of. He has gotten me through some tough times. My family doc (of about 25 years--he is the one who really knows my stomach, and kept nudging me until I decided to get the surgery. My asthma was made so much worse from reflux. I actually had three weeks of perfect lungs after surgery--the first time in at least four years. Unfortunately, my allergies kicked in, and that was the end of healthy lungs.) My allergist also wanted me to get the surgery, but he's much less assertive than my family doc.

Up until last year, my allergy shots worked just fine. I don't know what happened. Global Warming and increased CO2? I've developed new allergies?
Thanks again, Janice.
I appreciate your support. It's hard to live with this--especially when my husband gets so worried and frustrated about it!
Take care of yourself.
Denise
Posted 5/26/2009 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
A bit of an update... Cuz who knows, I may help someone out there with the same problem.

As I said above I've been having flank pain - left and right side. Horrible pain that has made me lay in the bed wondering what the hell is happening to me. I was surfing online for my problems and all I could find was horrible stuff like acute kidney failure and cancer and gallbladder problems. Ugh.

This morning I had trouble breathing. And it seemed like my chest was sooo tight and my upper back. I ran out to hospital as soon as possible. They did xrays and some tests. Everything came back normal.

It's just GERD!! Argh.

They told me to eat a bland diet and take gas and acid reflux medicine.
Posted 5/29/2009 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hello girlinred,

 I saw your post and I had to write it. 6 months ago I started with the EXCATLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS as you!! However, I already had been diagnosed with GERD several months before, which I take Nexium for. I had my 1st bout of nausea, vomiting back pain & chest pain........and off to the ER I went. It was the most horrible pain!! I really thought it was my gall bladder because of my symptoms. While in the ER my PCP ordered a CT Scan & Abdominal X-Ray...which showed nothing-all well. They ended up shotting me up with Demerol and let me go home.  After that I literally stopped eating because everything I ate I threw up! I was on a rice and turkey diet for 3 months! I have slowly been adding foods back into my diet...don't eat greasy or fast foods and in the process lost about 20 pounds!! Which I feel has helped me also.

I still had the mid abdomen pain & made a GI doc app. Well, I had a HIDA Scan (glall bladder working fine) & another abdminal x-ray done (no gall stones)....both good. Well,  I was still having the upper abdominal pain.....not as bad as in the past but....still there.  Then two weeks ago I had a CAT Scan of the Abdomen and an ERMC test done. The doc said it showed my pancreas to be a "little inflamed" and maybe a Kidney infection. Well, during theis time....I have been taking Darvocet (when I feel I need it) or I take Tylenol for the pain. I have another GI appt. in a few weeks to see WTH he thinks I should do next? I mean....I still have the upper abdominal pain....It's not as bad as it used to be...but it's there and I don't like it!! I also have pain in both of my sides (just when I lay down to go to sleep???) Who knows what the heck it is....The good news it that its not cancer or gall stones...which I thank God For!! Anyway...just wanted to give you some insite....Gloria

Posted 6/2/2009 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
girlinred.........Just checking in to see if you have had any relief.....I know I haven't....especially with my side pains....now I am getting right upper abdominal pain during the day!!! shakehead confused eyes
Posted 6/17/2009 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Bumping up for anyone elses imput....

Posted 6/18/2009 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
I also have gerd. I have been taking protonix for about 5 years. This is one medication that definetly keeps the weight on.

I ended up going to Mayo Clinic for all of my problems. They also mentioned I may have Barretts esophagus. Which, if you read about it, you don't want it. It is one of those things I don't want to know about (dumb I know). In the morning I sometimes have a mouth full of bile. I also agree that GERD is nothing to joke about.

On another note, I also would get bad pain in my chest and my ribs. I now know what thats all about, costochrondritis.
It hurts like the dickens. Just reaching for something can rip the muscle from my ribs, I broke 2 ribs doing that.

Anyway, Girlinred, I hope you have found some relief, and some answers. Hang in there.
This forum is wonderful, this is only my 3rd post, but I have learned so much in just 2 days.
Posted 6/19/2009 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,

If u go to the other posts you will read everyones stories. I also had costcochondritis and i thouht i was having a heart attack. I did get the nissan fundo surgery for my gerd .It was uncontrolled even wit meds. MY LES valve was defective so everything came up allnight all day and i lost a bit of life from it. I am now a new woman what a difference to sleep and i look younger .lol Well at least in my head thats what i think.lol

Take care and good luk

Bea

Posted 7/24/2009 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
girlnred:

Welcome to the forum there is a world of help and support here.
Your story sound all to familiar. Bear in mind that Anxiety and stress can cause these symptoms also. Right now your mind is wrapped around your stomach. You have to find a way to unwrap that and think about other things. Stay off of the trigger foods that cause the acid reflux untill you can get a GI to look at you and perhaps conduct some tests to determine what is causing the reflux. Once you have that diagnosis you can make informed decisions such as what foods can I eat what meds do I need to take.

In the meantime Chamomile tea is a good calming tea for both you and your stomach. No carbonated drinks as they make matters worse. Most important keep talking to us gas no gas
bowel movemente etc. You will find help and support.

BREATHE!!!


LP
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