Newbie need's advice

 Hello to all- I am having some of the worst pain I have ever had in my life from Acid Reflux!! I was in the hospital two weeks ago with it and the pain has only given me two days relief!! The pain comes every 20 minutes to and hour and was every hour last night so I got no sleep at all!!! I am affraid to eat or drink anything! I can't go to the Doctor til next week.Is there anything I can do to stop the heart attack feeling til then??? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thank You!!!

Just remembered, you may also want to try chewing some gum (although not cinnamon, as it would probably enhance your discomfort). Supposedly, it creates more saliva which helps wash acid down into your stomach.

Sorry it wasn't any useful advice! :(  Yes, stress tends to be acid's best friend.  I usually get awful heartburn & stomach ailments when I'm stressed.  But I know it's hard to NOT worry and stress when you haven't felt well for so long!!  Green tea should be great, in fact, its renowned for its help with your tummy & digestive system. 

Have you tried sleeping sitting up? I know it sounds uncomfortable, but sometimes I've had to sleep like this to get relief from acid so that I could get some shut-eye. 

Hope you are acid-free soon!! And no worries bout the questions, I'm glad to help!

Toni

Hi Carolyn,

 

I'm so sorry!  I've never actually had to throw up, but I've come close, so I can imagine how you feel!  In fact, I usually get nauseous immediately preceding my heartburn, but it goes away.  Not to sound gross, but was it food or just bile you vomited?  Because if it were just bile, that would definitely tear your chest & throat up!  I really wish I could remember the prescription that I took when I had bile troubles, it really helped .. I might have record of it, I'll take a look tonight and let you know. 

 

Glad the recliner helped you get some rest!  And I hope the tea and Prilosec help! 

 

Right now, I'm taking a medicine called Zegerid - it's a powder that you mix with water and drink.  It's basically a PPI, but it's more effective than the pills (Nexium, Prevacid) I have taken before.  Is your Dr's office close?  Maybe they could give you some samples to tide you over until your visit.  I am taking it 2xday, morning & night, and my heartburn is barely noticeable.

 

I really hope you feel better soon .. I'm thinking of you!!
((HUGS))

Toni

I'm so sorry, I hope you never have to go through that again! I will def. look up that RX, as I'm sure I still have it somewhere!

I hope the Zegerid works for you! I've taken every medication out there for GERD .. you name it, I've been on it! This is my last-ditch effort, and if/when it stops working, I'm seriously considering an out-patient procedure that my Dr. recommended called Endocinch.

I know what you mean! I have insurance, but they won't cover my RX for 2xday ... so my Dr. has been kind enough to provide me with tons of samples until the situation is remedied. I am getting married at the end of April, so I will then go on my husband's insurance, but until then, it's nice having an understanding doctor!

I'm glad to have found you, too! My family is very supportive as well, but they can't fully understand. I'm from OH .. will probably always live here, but I do want to travel and see the world :)

((HUGS))

Toni

I'm so happy that you're having some relief!!!! :):):)  I'll knock on wood and keep my fingers crossed, so whatever is helping KEEPS helping!!

Okay, the medicine my Dr. prescribed for my bile is called Metoclopramide (Reglan) and I was taking 10mg 4xday.  Try and see if your Dr. can get you something along those lines.  It took a couple of days to kick in as I recall, but once it did, I was a happy puppy!

 

Which do you prefer, of the places you've lived?  I've always thought TX seemed like a really great place to live, nice & warm. I'm a freeze-baby!

 

Thanks, I'm excited .. wow, how'd my font get black?!? lol  It's fastly approaching but that's good, I'm pretty impatient! :)

I'm sorry you're hungry.  I know exactly how you feel!  I've had days where I'm so frustrated & afraid to eat, too!  Bread's usually a good food, because it's supposed to 'soak up' the acid.  At least that's what I always thought! 

I'm doing OK tonight ... stomach's a bit irritated, but it's been strange all day.  Haven't had much of an appetite (very unlike me!).  It's gurgling now, so I suspect I'll be hitting the bathroom soon!

((HUGS)) Keep feeling better!!!
Toni

Hi Searchin'!  Welcome to the GERD board!

I recently joined HealingWell in Dec. and have found the most wonderful people here!

I personally do not have bad breath, but wouldn't doubt that could be a side effect from acid reflux. 

As for the 'acid fumes', I'd imagine you could have that.  I rarely have bile, but often have heartburn. 

I also think that you can have acid reflux even with your LES sphincter working perfectly, although when it DOESN'T work well, you're liable to feel much worse (as I'm sure you know!).

I'm not sure how long it takes Barrett's Esophagus to develop.  I know that if you have GERD, you are more likely to get Barrett's, but on the same note, you can have GERD forever and NOT get BE, too.

As far as I know, GERD & Acid Reflux are one in the same.

And I am probably considered 'skinny' (5'6", 120 lbs), and I've had GERD since I was 15 (8 years).

Hope this helps! :)

Toni

Toni-Thanks for your response.  I appreciate your comments.

From what I have read about GERD, your being slim is to your advantage.  I have about 16 pounds to lose and while I don't think weight causes GERD, it apparently can certainly contribute to the symptoms.

Thanks again for your interest.  It is really helpful to read about the ways in which people are coping with this illness. Best wishes.

Carolyn, I wish you well also.

 

Searchin' -

Glad to be of some help! Please let us know if there's anything else we can help with :)

Toni

Searchin'

I too had trouble finding a site that didnt have two year old post on it. Finding this one and finding Toni has been a God send!!!
Hope it is for you also.
hope your feeling better.

Hey Toni-I cant really think of anything that stressed me out,but who knows? Had to sleep in the reclyner last night.Had to vomit three times.I have reached a point now where all I want to do is cry cuz I think it is never going to go away.I was only awake for 30 minutes this morning and it hit so bad that all I could do is moan and cry.
I would love to exchange email addresses with you!! Mine is [email protected] Just got an email from my sister in law and she said my brother was the same way when he had five ulcers so I think I am going to ask her more about it.
I understand about not wanting to leave Ohio,I am getting that way with Texas.My husband would love to go back to Oregon where he is from.I like it there also but I think our place is here for now.Maybe someday when the time is right we will go back there.
I'm sorry to hear about your tummy!!! Hopefully your Dr. will give you something else. I hate this hit and miss thing with the meds,dont you?
Well,I hope you feel better :) Buh bye for now.
Oh Yeah,I also have Yahoo messenger if you want to do that also.Let me know.
Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!!!!!

Carolyn - Have you ever had an endoscopy procedure?  If so, what did they find?  How is the OTC Prilosec working for you?

Do you ever have a burning throat and mouth?    Mine is all of the time anymore, or so it seems, but it is especially bad several hours after I eat.   Strange, though, that my appetite remains fantastic!  Wouldn't you know it!!!!! Can't figure that one out.

I am surprised that there aren't more posters on this board because I know that many people suffer with GERD.  Keep in touch.

P.S. Hi, Toni!

Hi, Toni!  You're right.  It's about as dead as a doornail here.

Maybe people are just tired.  Maybe they don't know about the website. 

As for my acid reflux, I think it may havr a lot to do with anxiety.

Sometimes the reflux is worse than other times.  I am not depressed, but I guess I am subconciously anxious.  I worry a lot and I know that this is not good but it is hard to stop when it is in a person's nature.

I don't take any medicine for the reflux except intermittent Pepcid and Tums and sometimes Pepto Bismal.  The Prilosec made my stomach cramp and feel bloated.  I try to eat well.  Have cut out all carbonated drinks, tea, and coffee.  I only drink water.

Hope you are doing well.      Searchin'