Injury to lining of Esophagus

Debra,
I wonder if Valirium (sp?) Root would help you? It's what valium comes from. It's milder and can be taken off and on. It's an herb.

Stree probably caused the hot esophagus.

Joy - Another comment on the B12 - my daughter just called me who's been a vegetarian for years and has now added some fish to her diet - she said her B12 came back real high too, around 1500 because she was also taking B12 sublingual for a long time, so guess that's what happens when you take a supplement like that.

Debra

Hi friends - I've suffered a set back - don't know how back yet, I'm feeling fairly inflamed right now but not as bad as yesterday and day before. I blame this one on my Zomig for Migraines. It gets the blame because the same thing happened to me last month when I had to take Zomig. I thought it was the orally disintegrating tablet that did it, so I switched out to just tablets. Now I learn it doesn't matter. I took the tablet Wednesday night and woke up with a side affect of warm sensation in my esophagus and tightness and swelling in my throat and it feels swollen when I swallow. I had to take another tablet on Thursday evening and not more than 30 minutes later, the same side affect intensified which left me very sick all day Friday. My throat got very sore and my voice very tight. I could not speak the rest of the afternoon and night. I am speaking softly this morning and only a few words. The only thing different here was the Zomig I took. My set back in July happened right after I took the Zomig as well. I called AstraZeneca and they said a person can develop a side affect at anytime even after using it for many years as I have. The side affect I've experienced is a listed side affect for Zomig. I contacted the pharmacy and they said there is no drug interaction with Aciphex and Zomig or Zomig and Famotidine. This didn't start until after my Aciphex dosage was increased, perhaps it has something to do with that. I've learned it doesn't matter if it is rapid dissolve or tablet, it is the chemical reaction in my body that caused my tissues and esophagus to behave like this. Super mysterious! So now what do I do for a migraine? If I get a migraine and it is not controlled, I vomit and that is not acceptable for me right now. If I vomit, I'll end up on an IV in the hospital. Imitrex didn't work very well for me in the past years, guess I'll have to try Imitrex again. My OB Dr phoned in a higher dosage of my Estrogen cream to ward off the migraines, maybe that will help. Maybe I should go on the Lexapro which does increase Serotonin and is also used to treat migraines. Maybe that's what I need.

So has anyone here with an inflamed Esophagus like most of us here been affected by a drug like this? Has a drug reaction made your condition worse? I'm just curious.

I see my primary doctor early next week and I'll ask her about these things. I've already emailed her my whole experience.

I hope I can pull through from this setback. My barium swallow test is Thursday and I'd hate to go in there with an inflamed esophagus.

If you know something about drugs affecting our condition like this let me know.

Thanks,

Debra

Joy - I read the site below about how serotonin causes headaches and how Lexapro is prescribed for migraines. This is the medicine my Doctor wants me to take. Zomig increases Serotonin and so does Lexapro, now I'm tempted to fill the prescription and start taking. I will look at the other drugs you mentioned, I've never heard of them - I will sit down with my lunch and review them. Could you look at the site link below - let me know what you think.
http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/articles/511/headache-medication-guide

Thanks,

Debra

Hi Joy - You just bounced in and I've been studying all the triptan drugs and I learned like Zomig, they can cause "pain, tightness, pressure, or heaviness in the chest, throat or jaw and difficulty swallowing and hoarseness! I had all these symptoms both in July and the last 2 days. I am very hoarse right now and can barely speak. I was speaking softly but speaking a lot better early in the week before I took the Zomig. Now I've set back.

I don't think nasal spray would work because it is the same chemical. The orally disintegrating gave me side affect and now the tablet. So now I believe the method of delivery does not matter. Now I don't know what to take for next migraine? I have suffered with these for 30 years although they are decreasing. I am hoping my increased Estrogen/Test transdermal cream will help but still don't know what to take when the next one hits. I see my Doctor on Tuesday morning. I am in a pickle!!

Thanks,Debra

Hi Denise - I'm glad you were able to get away for vacation and I hope it was enjoyable and relaxing. I'm having the Barium Swallow test done this Thursday the 9th. I rescheduled it from last week since the Surgeon was on vacation and no one would give me results. The Surgeon is back on the 15th so I thought I'd go in on the 9th and the results would be back in his office when he returns so he can give them to me.

Several things have happened which were not good. My former GI Dr refused to refill my prescription that he put me on and the Surgeon's office refused to refill them because the tests are not done, that left my primary DR refilling them which she didn't have to do but did. I guess that stress was too much for me because a migraine hit the next day. I took my regular Zomig, this time a tablet hoping I would not experience the same side affect that I did in July but unfortunately I had the same side affect from my Zomig on 8-3 and 8-4. I've used this medicine for over 5 years and it has always been an effective drug for me. My migraines are serotonin caused and only triptans knock them out. I developed the horrible side affect of the esophageal spasms, a side affect well documented on several studies. On the Zomig website they described it as chest and throat tightness, throat pain, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing. This side affect caused me intense pain and my voice was reduced to a whisper for about 3 days. Luckily I'm speaking softly again to my family. My tissues are still recovering from this incident. I've emailed my primary DR about this and see her tomorrow. I don't know what to do for the next migraine. My primary DR wants me on another drug (on top of everything else). She wants me on Lexapro to help me with the depression and anxiety I am suffering right now and she said Lexapro is used "off label" to prevent serotonin headaches because this drug raises serotonin. Something has happened to my system. My body is metabolizing medicine differently. I can't stop thinking that it is all the acid reducing medicines I am on.

Yesterday, we had a Naturopathic Nurse in our class and she said I'm on a lot of medication. I take 3 pills a day. Aciphex each AM and PM and Famotidine 40 MG before lunch. She said these drugs have changed how my body is assimilating medicine and how it is digesting food and absorbing nutrients. She wants me to see a Naturopathic Doctor and get an opinion. So I've emailed this Dr and I'm waiting for a response.

I do agree I'm taking a lot of medication. I hate all these drugs. Do you think I should consult with this Naturophathic Dr? Do you think I should taper off the medication?

If I taper off, I'm afraid of the consequences and I wonder how to do it. I was thinking I could take the 40 mg Famotidine in the AM and skip the Aciphex and don't take anything for lunch but take the Aciphex in the PM. I could take my Gaviscon Tabs after each meal as I've been doing. Should I not do anything like that right now? I certainly won't try this or even consider to try it until after my Barium Swallow test and after I talk to the Naturopathic Doctor.

Please share your wisdom and thoughts and I'm glad you are back.

Thank you,

Debra

Hi Denise - Right now I don't have a GI Doctor. My former GI Doctor who transferred me over to the Surgeon has relinquished his responsibilities of me and does not want to refill my prescriptions nor answer any of my questions. He doesn't return my calls nor responds to my faxes. He is done with me. He said he's done everything he can to make me better and that I'm beyond his capabilities. The Surgeon appears to only be on one track and that is to do surgery and wants all 6 tests done before makes that determination and before he makes any changes on medicine. So, I'm without guidance special GI guidance and only have my Primary Doc at this time. I appreciate your thoughts on getting another opinion - I'll mull that over. So, you don't think the 3 pills a day that I'm doing is out of the normal......I'm scared to alter my medication, worried that I'll have acid rebound from the drug...keep in mind I never experienced heartburn before the injury.

I do a lot of reading and research, just my personality. I've read the study in Gastroenteroloy 2009, how healthy volunteers were on PPIs for 8 weeks, then suddenly went off, most experienced acid rebound for about a week until their body could adjust.....this is very scary! I certainly would never just go off, of course that's what they want you to do for the PH/Bravo test - just go off!! Frightening!! I can only hope the Gaviscon Tablet foamy barrier would keep the acid down.

After experiencing side affect with Zomig from my orally disintegrating tablet (the kind that dissolves under tongue) and the same effect from the pill you swallow, I'm thinking the injectible would give me the same effect. I'm going to ask my Doctor if the delivery of the medicine matters. I'm thinking I've developed an adverse reaction to the chemical no matter how it gets into my body. I must control the migraine because if I don't, I'll vomit and I can't do that....vomiting would put me on a feeding tube.

Thanks,

Debra

Hi Debra,

Sorry you're having so many problems with headaches. I would just say this: the less you take of anything other than PPI's the better. That said, Tylenol is the most gentle of all the pain medications. I have an extremely reactive stomach, and I can take Tylenol without any trouble. I'm not sure about the PM part, but I would guess that they would choose something that was also easy on the stomach.

Your PPI dosage is just fine. Yes, there is rebound when stopping PPIs. It's a well known issue. That's one of the reasons I know that my wrap is working well. When I went off them for my tests (to see if my wrap was intact) I didn't have any heartburn at all. While my stomach was working overtime to make all that extra acid, it was kept in my stomach and didn't bother me a bit.

Because you didn't feel heartburn before this problem doesn't mean you weren't getting it. There is a version called "Silent GERD", and you can have it without knowing it. Since the beginning I have suspected that your problem was made worse by reflux. Hopefully the tests will give you the answers you need.

Good luck!

Hope you get some rest!
Denise

Hi Debra,

How did you do last night? Hope the Tylenol PM worked and was well tolerated.

Once you have a burned esophagus and probably gastritis flaring up, then the medication, while helping, doesn't solve all the problems. As you well know, healing takes time.

I have no doubt that these tests will challenge your throat, but they are a necessary evil. You have to get to the bottom of what is interfering with your healing. These tests will give your doctor lots of critical information.

They stop the PPI's so they can get a good read on how much reflux you're having. The receptors measure how much acid is coming up. Even if you had rebound, if you had a working LES it wouldn't matter...you wouldn't get a high score on the PH test. If your LES is not working properly, the test will tell that. Since most all doctors require stopping PPIs, so it must be necessary. Believe me, you're not alone in fearing the effects of stopping the medication.

Hang in there, and be brave. You can do this!
We're here to help you through.
(((Gentle Hugs)))
Denise

Hi Debra,
That sounds like a good plan. I'm sure your anxiety is very high right now. You've been through a lot, and you don't know which is the right course of action. I suggest you follow your doctor's recommendations. Patience, my friend. All of this will get better. Try to keep busy with things you enjoy. That will help you relax.
Take care, and have a good day!
Denise

Hi Denise - Thank you so much for checking in on me. You don't know how much this means to me that across the miles and these cyber waves, you and others are thinking about me and willing to guide me through this process.

Yes, I had my barium swallow test this morning. My daughter was with me for every second - she wore a protective vest. I managed to swallow the thick liquid, then the thin liquid while lying down and sipping through a straw. I saw some of the liquid going down on the screen. The radiologist told my daughter and I and everything looked good, no ulcers no erosion and that I've obviously been doing a lot of healing. There a very small hernia but he said nothing out of the ordinary and that most people have one that size - he said it didn't look like anything warranting surgery. I have been speaking again this week, very softly and low but speaking. For this migraine that hit me the past few days and I'm hoping it won't reappear this evening, I've been trying Maxalt. I had to take Maxalt Tuesday afternoon. With Maxalt, I did not have the side affect but it needs a pill about every 12 hours as opposed to Zomig which took care of my migraine for 24 hours, so usually 1 pill every day for the 3-4 day cycle. I started two Zanax a day since Tuesday. I don't want to become addicted but I believe I need it to break the cycle of spasms in my throat. The tightness and muscle spasms I feel are perhaps "not sure" being somewhat relieved by the Zanax. The Radiology Dept is mailing me a CD and report of the results which I should have in a few days. I'm so grateful the Radiologist didn't see anything bad, at least that is what he said and I hope his position remains the same.

I saw a Naturopathic Doctor yesterday evening. She was very gentle and compassionate and made me feel very relaxed. Her special interests are in chronic or unique cases. She had another patient that burned her lining and sinuses by inhaling warm steam with oregano oil from a netty pot. The lady lost her voice for a month, so very similar to what happened to me except I also had vomited the lemon juice. I will work with the Naturopathic Doctor and my primary doctor and try to use both perspectives so I can get better. I really don't want to go down the path of more tests and surgery if I really don't need it. If I continue to improve with no more set backs and I keep speaking then I don't believe I'll do the other tests, especially if the barium swallow results in writing appear to be normal.

My throat is still somewhat tight but not like it was on "Horrible Tuesday". I have cold wrap around my neck right now and I'll take a Zanax before bed tonight.

That's my report for today and I hope to let you know that I'm still doing better and still talking next time I post.

Thanks again for checking on me.

Your friend,

Debra

Hello Denise and all the wonderful people on this board. It has been over 2 months since I posted. I've been quiet while observing my recovery and didn't want to post until I knew my recovery was for real! Yes! I have truly recovered 100% I've been off the Aciphex completely now for over a month. I haven't used Gaviscon or any kind of heartburn medication for 2 months. I'm now speaking with a normal voice and eating all the foods I used to eat before the injury. I've had pizza and salsa and today I ate chocolate! I'll soon be teaching classes and will have Mexican food for my birthday this weekend!

It was the Lexapro and Xanax that helped me round the corner in my healing. To everyone's surprise including myself, I developed a post traumatic stress disorder in my throat well after the lining of my esophagus and larynx healed. My serotonin levels dropped way too low resulting in painful throat spasms and heat sensations in my chest. My primary Doctor figured it out and wanted me to try the Lexapro after my Barium swallow came back negative. Of course, all of you helped me here, together with healing meditation, yoga, massages and polarity sessions which included blind walking to disrupt old neuropaths and create new paths. Of course all my treatments with slippery elm and marshmallow tea helped me heal together with my bland creamy foods and juicing. I must have drank enough carrot juice to give me all the Vitamin A I need for the next year.

So, I hope others here have learned a few tips from my experience and recognize that trauma and injury can cause our chemicals to become out of balance, resulting in sensations like burning and tightness, even inability to speak or hoarseness. The chemicals in our mind can cause our body to spasm outside of our control. So, I am very grateful that my LES valve is normal and tight and that I have healed. I am still on the Lexapro and will likely stay on it for several months.

My story ends on a very good note. I have learned a lot from this whole ordeal and if anyone has any questions or if I can help in any way, I am here and will be glad to help.

I hope you stay well Denise and wish everyone here rest from their discomforts and full recovery.

Hugs,

Debra

Kindheart,

can you thoroughly list your diet. This might be helpful to other members trying to solve the GERD Issues.

What is in your bland creamy foods.

thanks