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I'm driving myself NUTS!

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/6/2010 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
I am completley driving myself nuts with my symptoms. This has completley consumed my life and I've now pretty much convinced myself I have the 'c' word. I know it's not very likley because of my age (26) but I've turned into a compulsive 'googler' and all of my symptoms point in a bad direction.

My symptoms are:

-feeling like food is traveling slow down my esophagus but not any food imparticular. I sometimes feel like one small piece of rice takes a while and other times I can swallow steak and not feel a thing.

-'gurgling/bubbeling ' sound coming up throat when laying down

-pain on right side of chest and under right shoulder blade. I feel it mostley in my chest when Im laying down or sitting up from bad and when I move a certian way. And my back seems to be more when Im reaching for something.

-when I drink really cold water I feel what I would describe as two little 'spasms' in my esophagus.

I've had a CT scan of my neck that went to just below my breasts. and all came back normal. A neck ultrasound (normal) and two blood tests that were normal. I'm not sure what the one test coverd but the second one was for my life insurance so I'm pretty sure it tested alot. (normal)

I'm taking Nexium 40mg. and not having any problems with reflux anymore.

My doctor has me set up to try Physical therapy on monday and I'm getting a chest x-ray on Thursday.

Does anyone have these symptoms? ANYTHING to ease my mind a bit would be GREATLY apprectiated!

Posted 5/6/2010 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hey! I can totally relate with freaking out over medical issues. Mine have been consuming my thoughts to the point which I'm losing interest in things that I've always enjoyed doing. You've got to stop looking up your symptoms on the internet. I'm totally guilty of it as well. I find that everytime I start googling symptoms, I end up thinking I have some incurable illness. I too am 26 years of age and have at points recently, convinced myself that I'm dying. I only have a couple symptoms that are similar to yours but I definitely know how frightening this all can be. When you are in discomfort, and don't have a diagnosis, it's easy to start thinking the worst and feeling as though you'll never feel good again. Hang in there and hopefully you'll start getting answers soon. You've already had several test done and it should be comforting to you that they have all come back normal. Even while I was taking Nexium, back a couple months ago, I was having chest discomfort after just drinking water at times. I'm still having issues with chest discomfort, back aches, some right side tightness, burping, and hiccups. I had an upper endoscopy that showed irritation in my esophagus from reflux - not sure if it is bile or acid right now. You may still be having issues with acid reflux without knowing it. I've only had heartburn a couple times but my doctor said it's clear that I've been having reflux for a while. Hope you start getting some answers and feeling better soon. Best of luck to you!
Posted 5/6/2010 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your response. Its good to know I'm not the only one freaking myself out about medical issues AND someone my age as well! =) I am a stay at home mom of two small children under two and it has totally affected my way of parenting and I'm so stressed out about my 'issues' I find myself not being very patient and on edge. I look at them and feel sad because I've now convinced myself I won't be around to see them grow old. Ridiculous, I know!
I've been referd to a GI to get an endoscopy but with everything else I've been doing (2 ents,many times to my GP and all of my tests..PLUS, still paying for medical bills from having my youngest.) I can't afford it yet. I could get a barrium(sp) swallow but since I've so recently gotten my CT scan, they don't feel comfortable with me getting more radiation yet.
I try to be realistic in my mind and convince myself I'm being silly. Like, if there was something SERIOUS, something would have shown on SOME test. ahhh.... I guess I just need comfort. My family and friends are sick of hearing about and and at this point think I'm nuts!
Posted 5/6/2010 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
You are totally not alone.  I can very much relate to what you are going through.  My friends and family are also getting tired of hearing me complain about this.  They were acting like it was all in my head because I'm having anxiety over it.  I  maintain that if they had to deal with the discomfort I deal with on a daily basis they would definitely be more sympathetic.  It's much easier to get on messageboards and find people with similar experiences that are very understanding.  My life is being impacted by this because I'm thinking about it all the time which leads to be being grouchy, can't focus at work, and even having trouble sleeping through the night.  You're not being ridiculous, lots of people get anxiety over their health.  I'm considering going to the doctor over my anxiety in hopes that maybe that will help.  I'm embarassed to go though even though I probably need to.  If there's any way you can afford to get the endoscopy done, you should.  I'm sure you'd be able to make payments on the procedure if you decide to have it done.  I had my gallbladder removed in December and am still making payments on it.  That is where a lot of my freaking out started, having surgery and still not feeling well afterwards.  Never had a medical issue until all this mess started 9 months ago.  Yes, if there was something serious going on it would've probably shown up on the tests that have already been run.  If you need to vent, I'll listen and I'm sure other people on this board will as well.  Feel better soon!
Posted 5/6/2010 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hang in there you two. There is no need to freak out over this. You are still new to GERD.
GERD can cause all sorts of weird symptoms and discomforts.

Almost 9 months ago my GI mentioned going one step further in my treatment- SURGERY! I basically freaked, but my symptoms were driving me nuts. I had coughed for three years!
I immediately started googling everything I could find on the net. Everything I found said don't do the surgery- there's no success to it. The recovery can take forever. I was freaking...
I happen to stumble upon this site and I saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

I found a wonderful surgeon, had the surgery, and I don't cough anymore.

Joy
Posted 5/8/2010 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
That you for your response Joy! =) I know, even my doctors have told me to stay off of the internet. Easier said than done huh? Its kind of discouraging seeing 60 people viewed my post. THEN I start freaking myself out even more! =/ I just need to continue searching for the causes trough my doctors, or just deal with it if it really is all from GERD. I know anxiety can worsen things as well.

Thank you! Everyone on her is so helpful and encouraging!

Posted 5/8/2010 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Stick around. We can answer most of your questions. We're not doctors, but we have sure seen alot. :))

Joy
Posted 5/9/2010 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
My primary care doctor seemed very annoyed with me when I mentioned looking up symptoms on the internet. He was kind of rude and asked me what I had found. I tried to dodge the question but he asked it again until I answered. This was over a month ago, it's so ridiculous, but at the time I thought I may have Hodgkins lymphoma. Now I knew all along that I didn't really have it. The only real symptom I had that had matched was pain after drinking aloohol. I had posted on another messageboard specifically about the pain after alcohol and someone responded to my post. Said she didn't want to scare me but that she had the same pain, as I described, and had Hodgkins. My doctor blew me off and said that wasn't a symptom when, in reality, it sure it. Now, as I'm posting this I'm starting to wonder again...haha! Gosh, I'm losing my mind! GERD sure can cause some strange symptoms apparently. I always though issues with reflux would cause heartburn. Guess that is not true. Hope you are doing better! Take care!
Posted 5/9/2010 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi NeedingAnswers,
Everything you describe in your first post has been described in other posts by GERD sufferers. There are MANY different symptoms that can be caused by reflux, and some people don't even know they have it, and get various symptoms with no heartburn. I had some heartburn, but no GI docs thought it was very severe. Turns out it was causing horrible asthma. Many have swallowing problems and pains.

Relax...your doctor was out of line, but I'm sure he sees lots of patients who panic over things they read on the internet. Many docs don't like patients to take their health in their own hands and try to educate themselves. So you have overreacted about what you saw and are scared--believe me, you're not the first one! We've all been there. Some doctors are more accepting of patients who take more control of their medical care. You can always shop for a better communicator and more accepting physician.

You've had tests that can rule out some of your worries. Try to relax and trust your doctor's diagnosis. Stay with us, and you'll see that you're not alone with those "strange" symptoms! GERD is a pretty odd problem that can create a wide variety of symptoms.

Hang in there!
Take care,
Deniseturn
Posted 5/9/2010 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this forum, happy to have found it.  My reflux is manifested in my throat.  I had an endoscopy, which showed some reflux and a small hiatal hernia (which I have heard can be helped with chiropractic).  I am currently taking Nexium.  I also saw an ENT who looked in my throat and said "classic reflux".  So, happy to have that confirmed.  But my question is, does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with the "lump in my throat" symptom?  The hoarseness is annoying, but the lump feeling is really aggravating.   Thanks.
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