new to forum

Hi all,

I have been a lurker on this forum for months and I must say there is a wealth of information here. I have suffered with heartburn for about 30 years.  I had my first scope about four years ago and I have been on protonix 40mg twice a day.  Last January 09 I was having alot of problems and the GI doctor did another scope and there was alot of inflamation he said I had gastritis and he wanted to do surgery.  That scared the heck out of me.  He insisted I have it and finally he said if he does another scope in six weeks and it comes back perfect he will work with me.  Well the scope results were alot better like 90% better  and he still wanted me to have surgery,  but said to come back in six more weeks and he would re scope me.  In the meantime I went and got another opinion from a thoratric surgeon that does alot of gerd surgery and he is also recieved the reconizion of being one of the best doctors in America.  He did his own tests and he didn't think my esoghagus looked that bad and his recommedation was to keep a eye on it every six to 12 months. When I went back to my GI doctor  he got mad that I went for a second opinion.  He was very pushy and his nurses came to my defense and walked me out.  Since then I have made alot of changes and what a difference it has made, things I have heard a million times but just didn't do.  I have been chewing my food more thourghly.  I use to gulp my food because I am always in a hurry.  I don't over eat.  I do my best to stay away from trigger foods.  Don't eat three hours before I go to bed.  I quit smoking and now I am trying to lose weight.  I have a moderate size hiatal hernia,  but I don't get chest pain and I don't get out of breath.  I have been taking my medicine religiously,  used to be if I started feeling better I just wouldn't take it and that is why I believe I had most of the problems.  Now I'm trying to lose weight.  I believe that also will help.

Judy

 

Thanks for the welcome. I have been drinking Folgers Simply Smooth and haven't had any problem with it. Two cups a day is my limit.

Thanks for the welcome Kitt. I'm planning on finding a different GI doctor. I'm so glad I got a second opinion.

nofun

Hi Nofun,
Glad you found a new GI doc, and I hope he/she does a better job of communicating with you. You have the opposite problem from the one I had. I couldn't get a GI doc to recommend surgery, when I badly needed it. I had no esophageal irritation, and my 24hr PH monitor results were very unimpressive. That said, my asthma and regular doctors were struggling with my uncontrolled asthma, and knew that reflux was the culprit. Finally, after years of very sick lungs, my GI doc finally decided that perhaps it didn't take very much reflux to inflame my lungs, and recommended that I either continue to treat my reflux with meds (come on...they weren't working, and I'd been on them for years), or visit the surgeon he recommended, which I did.

Long story short, surgery was just what I needed, and after my lungs healed post-op, they because healthy again. If you do end up needing the surgery, you shouldn't worry about it. Just be sure you find an excellent surgeon who is experienced in doing Nissens. The recovery is much, much easier than i'd ever imagined, and any inconveniences that the surgery creates in your upper GI tract are well worth it for the improvement in your quality of life.

Glad to have you join the ranks of Healing Well. Stick around, and if you have any questions after your visit to the GI doc, we'll do our best to answer them. It'll be interesting to hear what your new doc has to say. Good luck! Be sure to take a list of questions, so you don't forget what to ask!
Take care,
Denise

Judy,

Good to hear from you and to know you have a new Dr.  September 23rd is not far off so I am sure you will be glad to get a new perspective on your problems.  I will be watching for your update when you have seen the new physcian.

Remember to be your own best advocate and don't let any physician yell at you or bully you into something you are not sure about.

Kindly,

Kitt

nofun, I have also been diagnosed with gastritis. What were your symptoms and did the Protonix work for you? I tried it once and got a migraine and was scared to take it again.

Hi Tinlou,

My main symptom was the heartburn and a few times I had the acid come all the way up and it came out of my nose. It was horrible. I haven't vomited or haven't had trouble breathing or anything. Protonix works good for me. My problem is when I would start feeling better I would forget about taking them. When my GI doctor scoped me he said I had gastritis and didn't really say anything about it except I had alot of inflammation.
Did you talk to your doctor about your migraine from the protonix or are you taking something else?

Judy

I met with my new GI doctor and everything went well. He had all of my records and he went over my food journal I had for him. I also brought pictures of my last two scopes so he could see those too. He told me to keep doing what I am doing. He said he would do a scope within a year to see how things are progressing. He did seem impressed that I kept a food journal.
He put me on a new medicine. The name of it is Dexilant 60. He said it was better than protonix, and so far I haven't even had to take a tum. Its once a day and time released. I was on protonix 40 twice a day.
Now if I could only lose weight it may help even more.

Judy

Ritch,

The doctor gave me a month of samples and did give me a coupon card up to $55.00. I guess I just assumed my insurance would pay for it. The doctor did say if there was a problem he could give me something else.
Thanks for letting me know

Judy