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Posted 1/18/2012 9:43 AM (GMT 0)

Hi all fellow sufferers! I've been reading threads for couple weeks now and just register myself to join in the discussions.

For about 8yrs now I've been suffering with acid reflux occasionally. During my first diagnosis my doc gave me nexium which was too harsh on me and i had to stop it due to side effects intolerance. I substituted tums and worked well for me for over 6yrs. But more than a month ago reflux has been consistently part of my everyday life and is severe compared to previous attacks and didnt respond to tums. I was prescribed 150mgx2 of zantac everyday by my primary doc and just recently getting relief of stomach acid after 3wks of use.

my questions:

1. does anybody here experience reflux from time to time even with the use of ppi or h2-blocker?  I do, and it is not food related but activity related.

2. anybody get shakeness and/or whole body weakness, and fatigue during an attack? (my acid refluxed at midday today and 5hrs after I am still shaky and weak and so exhausted and not feeling myself)

3. for those who have the sensation of something stuck on throat, how soon did the feeling go away while taking meds?

Thanks to you all and may you find this day better than yesterday!

Posted 1/18/2012 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi libra --

Welcome to the forum, but sorry to hear of your difficulties!

I'm intolerant of all PPIs (cause massive headaches), and after a year of using H2s, formed a tolerance for blockers. Yes, it is possible to get reflux with the use of these meds. They can stop most of the acid component in reflux, but don't stop the reflux itself. Depending upon the individual, the various PPIs can have varying degrees of effectiveness, as well. These medications do nothing to alter the physiological reason why reflux happens in the first place.

I haven't experienced the shakiness you describe, but I don't doubt the connection. If you have erosions, your body could respond to what it thinks is a threat by a couple of different responses which could be very uncomfortable.

The sensation you have of something stuck in your throat is known as "globus sensation". I had this for six months in 2010, constantly. A two-week course of omeprazole stopped the spasming, and I haven't had a return of the condition since. However, I still experience a strong dysphagia in my throat which is borderline, and makes it somewhat difficult to swallow, but not the actual knotting muscle.

Best wishes.

-Bruce
Posted 1/19/2012 8:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Libra,

I second Bruce's welcome to the forum. I hope you can find some answers here :)

Yes, I am on 40mg Nexium (a PPI) per day and if I overeat OR eat a trigger food (Ie, pizza) I will get heartburn. It is a magic pill for some; alas, not for me.

Yes, the pain of the heartburn can be quite taxing on my body as well as my mind. I agree with Bruce's theory that an erosion could be causing a strange body response, however my scope didn't show anything abnormal, so even if it's "just" heartburn, I think it could be pretty hard on you both mentally and physically.

I developed the sensation of something sticking in my throat while being on PPI's, actually. It is very rare for me (maybe one episodes every few months).

Has your doctor suggested any lifestyle changes to help your symptoms? For most of us, it's the lifestyle changes that really make a difference. For example:

-avoiding trigger foods (spicy and/or fatty foods, chocolate, tomatoes, citrus fruits, wine, alcohol, coffee, etc - these are most common)
-raising the head of your bed 6-10" to abate nighttime reflux
-not laying down for 3-5 hours after eating
-eating smaller portions over the course of the day instead of 3 big meals

I hope you're doing well.
Ashley
Posted 1/19/2012 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Bruce and Ashley,

Thank you very much for your replies! It is in this forum that I get vindicated from the sometimes GERD unrelated symptoms that constantly torture me other than the typical gerd symptoms. Most posts I read were from people with more discomforts than I, and through their daily struggles, I find comfort that I am not alone! We draw strength from each other, especially from the likes of you Bruce and Ashley who willingly share your insights on situations you can relate to.

Going back to the thread, I am trying to figure out as well if the shakiness and weakness that go with the attacks of reflux was actually due to my body's defense mechanism to control the urge to vomit. And, is exacerbated by my anxiety, hence the heightened physical manifestation. Add to it my sensitivity to the side effects of zantac and you wouldn't paint a pretty picture of me right now!

I try my best to think happy thoughts, but there are times when this illness just wears me down mentally and physically.

It is from this forum that I learned the need for lifestyle changes, not from my doc: i.e; avoidance of trigger foods and drinks, food portioning, raised head at bedtime and not sleeping in full stomach. I eat very little at dinnertime, and I dont go to bed until i felt that food has gone down already, that is about 3-4 hrs after my meal.

Thanks again, Bruce and Ashley, so glad that I found this site!

Libra

 

Posted 1/20/2012 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
1. does anybody here experience reflux from time to time even with the use of ppi or h2-blocker? I do, and it is not food related but activity related.
I take nexium 40 , 1 per day and yes.. sometimes I still get reflux (but nothign compared as when I wasn't taking it)
Sometimes I get a non acidic reflux which is annoying but at least not as painful as it originally was.

2. anybody get shakeness and/or whole body weakness, and fatigue during an attack? (my acid refluxed at midday today and 5hrs after I am still shaky and weak and so exhausted and not feeling myself)
Sorry to hear you felt that way!
My fatigue came from not sleeping. Thank god is getting better by sleeping on a elevated bed and not eating (3 hours) or drinking (2 hours) before going to bed.
I did use to get hart palpitations and short of breath, specially after eating (but they are gone now)

3. for those who have the sensation of something stuck on throat, how soon did the feeling go away while taking meds?
about 2 weeks in my case. Its like at first the nexium was really not working but eventually it 'kicked'in slowly but it did. And that feeling is gone now :)
Posted 1/21/2012 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ChrisJ,

Thank you for your reply! Im realizing now that we have GERD symptoms that can be typical for most sufferers, and we also have unique responses to medications.

Zantac gave me relief in the 4th week of use. The acid is kept where it should be, and I can tell it significantly reduced my stomach acid production. In as much as I am glad zantac helped me with initial problem, it causes me a lot of discomforts too, proving my intolerance to its side effects. The side effects include fatigue, shakiness, weakness, burning feeling and at times low grade fever. I have a stand alone anxiety, and for some people anxiety can be one of side effects of PPI's and H2's. Tomorrow I will try to cut my dosage to 75mg/2x a day and see if it would help.  

I'll see a GI doc within next week. Will post about the visit.

Glad that you are feeling better now!

Posted 1/21/2012 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Libra,

We're glad you found us, too :)

Yes, please keep us updated on what your GI says! I hope he can give you some answers, or maybe you can try another PPI? Maybe the side effects would be better.

Let us know!

Take care,
Ashley
Posted 1/21/2012 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all-

Ashley/Bruce- Thank you for welcoming new members, it's great to see members actively participating. That's what I love about this site.

Anyhow, yes I have had the shaky weak feelings a lot when I had reflux. I am not sure if it is from the vegus nerve being irritated, the meds, or just our body's reaction to reflux. the vegus nerve does control some heart functions as well and lots of people report having PVCs and such with reflux.

I remember well the sleepless nights and how bad I felt after a couple days of this. Without rest our bodies can't heal. It's a vicious cycle.

Take care,
Bill
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