Where do I turn now?

Hello forum!

I am in a bit of a pickle. I have been taking rabeprazole 20mg twice daily for a couple of years, but I still belch and get terrible crippling throat pain and globus. So before Xmas I was prescribed Motilium on top of the PPI. The Motilium didn't help, I still got food shooting up the back of my nose and explosive belching, and 24/7 pain in the neck. I get froth in my throat and mouth a lot, and mucus in the throat. I have now developed a 24 hour metallic taste, which has lasted for 8 weeks now. My ears burn alot, especially the left one, and I am just utterly miserable.

I have had laryngoscopy X 3, gastroscopy X 2, barium X-Ray, motility test and 24 hour PH test.

I have bowed vocal chords and a weak LES, but my PH came back normal. I knew it would, as I was not symptomatic while I wore the probe.

So I went to my latest GI appointment, and he said since the meds aren't helping, I should stop them all. He took me straight off all my meds, and prescribed Amitryptiline 10mg. He said it was good for pain management, but he spent a lot of time dwelling on stress. He asked if I was stressed and I said yes, because of THIS! He pressed me further about my family, my job, insisted that since I have 3 males at home I MUST be stressed, when in fact my family are what keep me going! He seemed to have made his mind up that this is a neurosis of some kind. He said I must have an "irritable oesophagus" and that was causing problems. He would not accept that my stress comes purely from my throat pain. I feel that he is trying to categorize me under the mental health label.

How is pain management going to fix things? I am in agony, yes, but suppressing my capacity to feel the pain isn't addressing the problems. I am so upset that now I am on anti depressant medication when I don't have depression, and I am not even taking my acid management meds.

I am seeing the ENT at the end of the month, and he is trying his best to discharge me too.

Where do I turn now?

I feel helpless.

Dear Zeldagoblin (and Candybia),

I am so sorry that you are suffering and finding no help in the medical profession. You are not alone in being told that your symptoms are not real. It happens all the time.

I don't know how possible it is, but have you looked at a second opinion?

I suffered for many years with asthma/lung symptoms caused by reflux. The GI doc, however, sent me away, telling me that it couldn't be caused by reflux. (my PH monitor didn't show high reflux numbers) That said, my PCP and asthma docs were sure my reflux was the culprit.

It took years of suffering before the GI doc finally suggested that, although I could continue on meds (that weren't working) I could go to a surgeon to discuss a possible surgical repair of my LES.

It was a constant struggle. I think it happens more than you would ever imagine.
Don't give up.
Good luck finding an answer!
Denise

I am at the top of resenting physicians that take one look at your meds, see the mental health ones and the stigma pops right up - "this lady is anxious and depressed"  She doesn't need a specialist she needs a psychiatrist. 

I understand exactly where you are coming from but don't stop advocating for yourself.  Get another opinion and forget to mention you have anxiety/depression.  After all you are there to see about your GERD not your anxiety/depression. 

I know that does not sound like good advice but I recently went through this very issues and left the Drs. office feeling like I wasted his time as well a mine and a larger chunk of money.

I do feel at times the discrimination. ... of talking about mental health issues

Ok, off my soap box and back to you..............we are here  for you.

The above is jmho

Kindly,

Kitt