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Anyone in their 20's or 30's with this condition?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 8/30/2011 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I was just curious how many of you were in your 20's or 30's? How many years have you been suffering with GERD? Which PPI are you on and how long have you been taking it? Did your doctor discuss any long term negative effects of the PPI's or what the outlook is for you at this point?

Thanks,
Liz
Posted 8/30/2011 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Age 22, GERD started 3 years ago. It was subtle at first but before I knew it I had terrible symptoms all day every day, regardless of what I ate.

I've tried omeprazole (off-brand and zegerid), esomeprazole (nexium), rabeprazole (aciphex), sometimes in combination with H2 blockers like ranitidine (zantac) or famotidine (pepcid). Medicine was completely useless for me. I discontinued abruptly a couple months ago to have some tests done and instead of getting the acid rebound many speak of, my symptoms actually improved a little bit.

Five days ago I got a Nissen fundoplication and I am now chugging along down the long road of recovery. Hopefully this will be the solution I've been looking for. I'm remaining optimistic, cause what else can you do at my age?
Posted 8/30/2011 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Liz,

I had terrible tasting burps in my teens, vomiting in the night in my thirties, and typical heartburn in my forties.  I'm certain now it was gerd from the beginning. 

Balancing a healthy esophagus with healthy bones can be difficult. 

I hope you get some good feedback from this site. I'm sorry I don't have further information, but you can be certain there are other young adults with gerd out there.

   

Posted 8/30/2011 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Liz!

Heya, sweet pea. I am 26. This all started about 5 months ago for me. I am now on Nexium 40mg/day, and it is working very well for me at the moment. I have also lost some weight and continue to do so with smaller portions and daily exercise - I only throw this in there because my GERD will flare up at the drop of a hat, but for the past week it's been acting like Polonius in 'Hamlet' hiding behind the tapestry... I can't see it/feel it, but I suspect it's there. I haven't had a single symptom for a solid 7 days now and this hasn't happened since I started having this trouble. This is also the third time I've been on regimented Nexium, same time a day, every day, at least an hour before eating. I don't know what I'm doing right! LOL.

My doctor hasn't said a word about long-term PPI usage, but he never told me any tips/suggestions about GERD either, besides "here's a pill, take it". I have read several posts on HealingWell about increased fracture risks and stomach polyps.

Best of luck,
Ash
Posted 8/30/2011 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
I wonder if the stomach polyps are a result of PPIs or if they are more common in people who have the types of problems that bring them to use PPIs.  I was only on PPIs for 3 1/2 months (and never ever before) when I had an EGD scope and I'm told they removed 9 "normal fundic polyps".

I do believe there is cause and effect witht the fractures however.

Leslie

Posted 8/30/2011 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Efit -

I am 35. But there are also many of our fellow sufferers in their 20's, and I do believe even teens may suffer similar problems.

Good question, about what to expect from life. ie, the things and changes you need to endure from here on in. Let's hope for your sake that you can indeed find a way to cope with the problem. That your body might find a way to heal. My story is that I have recently given up the fight! Lol - not like that! But have opted for the surgery as my problems are really mechanical. ie, I have a large hernia and an almost noexistant LES valve. So no matter how much or little acid is in my tummy, it's not going to stop the reflux! Infact, I have 9 days to go before the procedure!
Anxious, but lookking forward to it!
Have you had an endoscopy done by a trusted gastroenterologist?
You must. Go for tests. Find out what is in fact wrong with you. And then take it from there. Best advice I can give you.

Good luck buddy
Darryl
Posted 8/30/2011 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Darryl,

Yes I have had an endoscopy...well two in fact if you count the one where they placed the BRAVO pH monitor onto my esophagus. The doctor says I do NOT have a hernia. I had "grade A reflux esophagitis" that was apparent on the first one but the second one showed that the inflammation of the esophagus had healed which is good I suppose. He said you can't really visualize the LES on endoscopy. I wonder if that is true. The pH test DID reveal reflux by the way. The first two days I had none but the third one I did for a couple of hours. I just cannot believe this whole situation occurred overnight for me and has stuck around ever since. At times, it's just too much for me. good luck on the surgery. I really would like to know long, long, long term outcomes for the fundo. If this gets bad enough, I guess I'll have to go for it but I just don't want to have it fail and get re-done and fail, etc, etc.

Good luck,
Liz
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