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Any Young GERD Sufferers Out There?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 2/12/2011 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I have just been diagnosed with GERD due to a relaxed LES, which to my knowledge is very hard to fix without going through surgery although my GI told me that it "might" tighten up again :P

I am only 26 years old (27 in a week), and right now it is a bit too much to deal with...imagine being on medicine for the rest of your life!

So I'm wondering whether any of you have been suffering from GERD and who are currently in their 20's/30's, or have been suffering since young. It would be great for moral support as we go through this long journey of life and staying positive despite of our limitations. Please reply so we know we are not alone in this~ =)
Posted 2/12/2011 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Usagihime

Welcome to the Forum.  Oh how I wish I was your age again :-) ! I have a granddaughter who is 24 years old. 

I know we have younger members so I am sure they will be along shortly. 

Again, a warm welcome.

Kitt

Posted 2/12/2011 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 27, been dealing with gerd for a almost 3 years. I've taken all the meds with no improvement, had the surgery 3 times with some improvement but I'm still having symptoms..although it's not common to have the surgery 3 times in a year. lol I'm just a very difficult case.
Posted 2/12/2011 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Stkitt: Thank you for your warm welcome! ^^ And age is not an issue as long as you are young at heart.

Babygirl10150: I'm sorry to hear that your nissens didn't go well, hope the 3rd time is a charm! As I don't really have damage at the moment, I am thinking of getting the Stretta or wait for the Linx to get approved, to the LES fixed while it's still early. May I ask how bad is your condition? Do you have any damage to your esophagus, etc?
Posted 2/12/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Usagihime-
I started my GERD journey when I was young. I first had symptoms in my teens. Had my first Nissen at 35. Unfortunately both my kids are showing the same symptoms in they're teens.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 2/12/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. I am 28 years old (29 next week) and I have been having GERD problems for years, but the past 6 months have been the worst. I am on the best acid reflux med I can be on and it still doesn't work. Going in for my lap nissen on March 30th. Hoping it will work!!!
Posted 2/12/2011 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
It's not as bad now. I don't have stuff coming up unless I eat too much. That itself took a while to learn. My main symptom was and still is severe nausea. They aren't sure what's causing it so I will probably go to a head specialist.

My gastro did a scope after my second nissen and he thought I had cancer because my esophagus was so discolored. He did a biopsy and it was negative. He said it was erosion from the acid. That was my proof the second nissen failed.

I'm still taking Aciphex. I tried weaning off of it and got awful rebound symptoms that I couldn't handle so I started back on it. I will try to stop taking it again soon. I'm sick of taking meds every day and being on a really strict diet is the worst. It's really difficult but it's been great for weight management. tongue
Posted 2/12/2011 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
opnwhl4 - it seems like a lot of people got this when they're young, so it is encouraging to see them still here and fighting! Sorry to hear your children showing symptoms also! =(

amandapanda82 - Which medicine are you on? Pantoprazole lost its effectiveness, and I am on my 2nd week of Nexium. I am skeptical about getting a Nissen due to the complications, so hope the medicine can hold out...but if I have no choice but to get a Nissen done I would do it ultimately. I can't imagine Nexium being effective for 30+ years!

babygirl10150 - Glad you're doing better! I also have to make sure I eat less and to eat slowly, then it's not so bad. I really don't like to "think" about what might happen after each meal, but it's hard not to if you don't know whether you'll have a reflux attack or not ^^; I really don't like the strict diet either, but I guess once in a while in very small amounts, mixed with other foods won't hurt too much haha...
Posted 2/13/2011 8:14 AM (GMT 0)
I'm 21 and I think I have this? I went to the ER for chest pains and they said I was healthy and it was acid reflux, I feel like indigestion in my throat a lot and I do a lot of burping so I don't know, do I have GERD?
Posted 2/14/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 28 and have GERD symptoms. I've had problems with bloating, etc. since high school, and now it seems to have gotten worse. Like 3doorsdown, I have been to doctors and ERs several times with chest pain, only to be told it's 'just gas' and 'acid reflux'.

Pinks

Posted 2/14/2011 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
I am 38 now but i have been on medicine since i was 24 for gerd. i started with prilosec, went to omerperozole and have been on nexium for the last couple years. just had nissen surgery 3 weeks ago to fix it. still waiting to see if it worked so i can stop the medicine. i have noticed a big change and only take 1 pill a day instead of 3. my doc still wants me on it for another couple of weeks though.
Posted 2/15/2011 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Usagihime,

I am 22 years old and ive been dealing with acid reflux since i was 16 years old. Ive been on different pills with little no help.

I really understand how you are feeling. I have to deal with nausea almost everyday and my diet is limited. I have lost so much weight. I dont go out anymore and it is so hard to see young ppl eat everything they want and do the normal things that a young person does. The idea of taking medication for the rest of my life and having to worry about every little thing that i have to eat is stressful. I am seeing a therapist to deal with depression and anxiety. I guess after all these years, i have not accepted my illness and dont know how i will ever.

I really hope you find something that will ease your symptoms without having surgery.

We cant escape this but we can try to be optimistic (a very hard thing for me) and hope that modern medicine will come up with better medication for all of us sufferers.

Posted 2/17/2011 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi amandapanda!
I had GERD in my early 30s. I met many people along the road to recovery - some as young as 15 years old, some were in their 60s. Some had already healed, while others were still searching for answers. It took me more than a year and a half to fully recover - I chose the natural route and definitely had a few setbacks. I am a huge proponent of natural remedies after suffering several medical fiascos with PPIs, mobility drugs, and unnecessary tests. Thanks to a few alternative care practitioners, and some healthy skeptics, I found that there are many solutions to healing a body. In the end, it's about doing what you think is right for your body/condition and being able to work with the consequences to get to where you want to be in your health.

I elected to not undergo the surgery because of the statistics I was given. More importantly, I am a chicken little when it comes to surgery.

My advice to you is this: Ask questions until you are blue in the face. If you are confused, take whatever time it takes to get the facts straight. Sometimes, making a decision with incomplete information or a muddled understanding of what is going on can lead you into a worse predicament (2 of the individuals I met actually got worse after the surgery and have been dealing with the effects of the surgery for 6 years. They lament ever having it done. Another person I spoke with shouts for joy when he hears Niessen surgery - he is a huge proponent since his surgery went well - he is still doing great 5 years later).

Doctors are not responsible for our health - we are, each one of us. Doctors are an amazing resource that offer approved medical solutions that they are trained to perform. They are experts in their line of work: western medicine. You are the expert on your body (or should be). There are experts in Eastern medicine, Homeopathy, Nutrition (one person I know got rid of his GERD eating papaya every day for a year), etc. Question anything that doesn't sound right. Get a second opinion (I got no less than 6 opinions when it came to the surgery). Some people will be very lucky and come out all the better bc of it, and some people will not, so make sure you are adequately educated about either scenario. You will live with the outcome, not your doctor, not me, not anyone else on this forum. We are here to support you and share our own experience. Bottom line: if you are confused, keep digging! You should feel comfortable and good about whatever decision you make.

Best of luck to you and I wish you wellness!
-Gerdo
Posted 2/19/2011 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
I just want to ask everyone...how do you come in terms with your illness and just accept the fact that you cannot be normal again? And how long did it take you to get over the "shock" of having this disease? I am kinda going through this "phase" right now, I'm jealous of seeing people being able to eat whatever they want...I mean, that used to be me just a month ago, and now I am like this, have to be careful of what I eat and what I do. It is very upsetting to become like this all of a sudden, and not seeing an end to this anytime soon, not sure if there will ever be an end to this...I guess for me it is this "fear of the unknown" part that is very devastating...you are just not sure if you will ever feel better, can eat whatever you want, and not be on any medicine.

Since a lot of you have been with GERD for years, what are some of your strategies of staying positive and not be let down? I really don't like having crying fits every few days *sigh*
Posted 6/22/2011 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I know this is an old thread, but...

I am 31 and have been dx with GERD.

It was really been difficult for me to adjust to since it seems even water hurts my stomach and my esophagus.

I have been researching as much as I possibly can since my faith in doctors has dwindled. I am tired of them telling me to try this drug and that one when they cause me to hurt more.
Posted 6/22/2011 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Im 21 years old and suffer from LPR. Ive had acid reflux problems since I was 17 but when it started it was GERD and the PPIs would do the trick but as time went by the meds lost effect and now I have developed LPR.

@+IWillBe - I totally understand your situation. I miss out on a lot of social reunions because I cant eat or drink anything a young normal person would. Thats the worst part!
Posted 6/23/2011 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 31 and had GERD from the age of 18. After over a decade of PPIs I finally got the chance to try surgery. To be honest it wasn't a nightmare taking the pills for that long (until you forgot to take them). I found I couldn't drink wine or neat spirits or eat spicy food but I discovered the world of cocktails and Belgian beer so social events were never really a problem. I think the worst bit was not being able to have a champagne toast at my own wedding, I had to drink pear cider instead. The nagging thought of taking the PPIs forever and the increased dosage over the years was enough to convince me surgery might be the better option. I'm now 14 weeks post Nissen and feel great, no reflux and I can eat and drink anything I like. I've rediscovered wine and am a bit more adventurous with my cooking.
I used to think it was mainly old people that had this but it seems there's increasing numbers of people my age and younger developing symptoms. You're not alone matey. Take care.
Posted 6/24/2011 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
I had GERD when I was around 23 due to a weak LES. It took me 7 years of tablets (which worked perfectly - Lansoprazole) before electing to get surgery.  Main reason was that I'm planning on going travelling in a few months for the best part of a year, and didn't want to be reliant on tablets for the rest of my life.

It was successful but had some side effects...which I'm going to discuss in another thread.

But to address the question, was surgery the right move? I believe so. Acid build up in the oesophagus can lead to cancer, and there's enough of that in my family history to not risk anything more. Also, as I said, reliance on tablets isn't something I was keen on. I hope the side effects improve, but I guess time will tell.

Posted 6/26/2011 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
im an 28 and have had it for 4 years, didnt really know too much about it in the beginning. ever since i was rushed to the er with an severe attack 3 months ago it has gotten worse. stomach has been killing me lately, alot of pain going on down there. And it has giving me bad breathing problems, dont sleep, hardly eat or do anything physical. docotor has me on pepcid right now, but it hasnt been working, just about tryed all the meds, dont want to take those my whole life. dont see my g.i. doc until august. dont know if i can handle it til then. i want to start the process to see if i can have the surgery. so tired of not having a normal life.
Posted 6/28/2011 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I am 18 and I've been dealing with GERD for the past two years.... I know what it's like to wake up with pain and not being able to sleep. It's on and off for me, and my worst symptom is chest pains. I am fairly sure I had an ulcer and now I'm just dealing with chest discomfort. No nausea or anything for me, no breathing problems, but I had shortness of breath, lump in throat, and all kinds of GERD symptoms before. It's good to see such an active community here. I hope we all will get the support we need.
Posted 6/28/2011 8:57 PM (GMT 0)

Hello ALL

Im 23 and I got the GERD!! I started showing signs in my teens. It not all fun which Im sure everyone here knows. When I was diagnosed I was put on pills for about 2-4 . I changed my eating habits extremely and after that I was feeling " normal" although I couldnt eat like many 23 year olds Im definatly the healthest one! I've noticed with GERD that there are great days, good days and just off days but not many many off days. Its really like trial and error with certain foods  for instance I cant consume any dairy but if I got out to eat breakfast and order french toast which has egg in it, it doesnt effect me. Mind you I don't go out to eat for breakfast often. 

I also Have the GERD hiccups!! Which are annoying they do go away at some point but there are always the occasional few the pop out usually at the wrong time and place. 

I was curious if anyone had any knowledge why the hiccups occur. I know its due to acid but WHY? Any Hiccup knowledge would help

Thanks all

-A.V

Posted 6/28/2011 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Butta, the hiccups come from the vegus nerve charging up the diaphram. When you have acid problems the vegus nerve reacts by causing all sorts of weird reactions.
Posted 7/3/2011 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Usagihime,

I'm sad I didn't see this post before, because I am 26 and my GERD just started to flare up around the same time as yours.

It is horrible and jealousy-inducing to see others eating every little thing they want... including when I see people who are WAY unhealthier/larger than me shoving down burgers and fries with ketchup while I pick at a salad with no dressing and PRAY that it doesn't cause me pain!

It started suddenly for me. I cut my portions by about 75% and lost a ton of weight (I am 5'8" and weighed about 200 - now I'm down to 175 after just one month) and that's definitely helped, but I always feel like the GERD is lurking, ready to pop out at any moment... I never feel just 'fine' after eating anymore, there's always the anxiety that it's going to flare up. I just started Nexium for 6 months about 2 weeks ago, it's definitely helping, but I'm feeling a lot of what I used to call "pre-heartburn", which still sucks, but is way better than the pain that keeps me up all night.

It is horrible, and I completely feel you on the jealousy and irritation that we all got cursed, but you can just look at it as a huge shove to be super healthy. At least, that's how I calm myself down while at a pizza parlor :)

Plus, this website is awesome for venting and also commiserating AND good tips!

Ashley
Posted 7/3/2011 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Why does gerd have to ruin my whole life. Its such a pain to deal with everyday. Just to breathe takes all the energy i have, the burping makes it even more difficult. i get 5 hours of sleep if im lucky and thats the only time i hardly have pain. But it does take forever just to get to that point. Not social anymore, Hate the holidays, no job, no income, cant really do anything. I wouldnt wish this on nobody. My future isnt looking to bright rite now.
Posted 7/3/2011 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

For those of us living with a chronic illness, there can be many ups and downs. Nothing is as it once was, and "normal" no longer exists in our vocabulary.

Living well with a chronic illness begins with understanding your illness. What you know about your condition can make a difference in how you approach each day.

You will have many emotional ups and downs. Living with a chronic illness can be a roller coaster of emotions. There are several ways you can help even out the ups and downs:

Maintain normal daily activities as best you can.

Stay connected with friends and family. Don't shut yourself away from the world. Sometimes, joining a  a support group is the best answer.......I am glad you found us ! 

Keep posting with us,

Kitt


 


 
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