Hi,
I don't know if I have GERD, but I suddenly developed daily heartburn/indigestion/lump in throat/reduced lung capacity about 2.5 months ago, plus occasional diarrhea and weird patches of eczema on my hands. My doctor had me try 40 mg omeprazole, but I had a bad reaction to it, and she didn't suggest anything else. I have been found to be asthmatic, too, but I know that it can be tied to stomach acid. Ever since the fiasco with the omeprazole, I have been trying to figure out what's wrong with my digestive tract on my own. That includes going on a strict elimination diet (this is my third week). I now seem to be sensitive to some foods that I could eat with impunity only 6 months ago, like beef.
Anyway, my question has to do with stomach acid and illness. I have finally gotten over a 2 week respiratory infection (maybe swine flu? Who knows...). The thing is, from 1-2 days before I showed symptoms, to 1-2 days after my symptoms were mostly gone, I had no problem with heartburn. I downed tons of vitamin C in orange juice and in supplements, I could eat while lying flat in bed and then go straight to sleep, and my stomach/esophagus felt completely normal except for fighting off the infection. Now after I beat this virus, my heartburn is returning a little more each day.
Does anyone else experience this? Can it be a clue to what's going on with my GI tract?