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Just Diagnosed with Gerd and Scared

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 3/30/2012 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am new to this board. I will make my story quick. For the last 2 months I was having a real tightness in my throat combined with Asthma which I have had in the past. I didnt think much of it. Over the next few weeks I noticed that I would wake up with a feeling of a lump in my throat. Mind you I never had GERD symptoms in my life before. After a couple weeks of this I got concerned and went to an ENT. He looked down my throat with laryngoscope and noticed i had some damage from GERD. He then put me on Prilosec. At first I was relieved of this diagnosis until I realized that I was still not cured yet. This happedned about 2 weeks ago. Ever since this issue started a couple months ago I noticed symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, tight throat, weight loss and just an overall sense of fatigue. Its making me crazy. I use to work out three times a week minimum now none. This combined with the fact I do have some anxiety issues spiraled me to the point where I went to the ER two nights ago. I literally felt like my world was coming to an end. Mind you I had an appt scheduled with a GI specialist for a week later but I just couldn't wait i felt horrible i thought something bigger was wrong. Overall I was really concerned with all my symptoms. I went to the hospital and got the battery of tests, bloodwork, chest,neck,upper abdomen CT, XRay etc and they all came back perfect(White blood cells fine, CT negative). The nurses were amazed at my health and asked if I was an athlete even though I am not which is laughable considering how I felt. After getting this glowing review at the hospital I am relieved on one hand but once again I still dont feel like myself. I have been on prilosec 20 twice a day per md's orders for a little over a week. I noticed many of you are going through or have went through the same thing as me. I feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. My family thinks I am crazy and this is just in my head. They refuse to believe GERD and Asthma combined can cause this. My next steps are I have an appt with a GI specialist next week Tues. I just wanted to post this and let others know how bad this GERD can be. I am hoping my medication works at some point....

Thanks to all for listening!

Paul
Posted 3/30/2012 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul


Welcome.

I understand what you are going through.  2 months ago, I started having the symptoms of lump in throat when I swallowed, hoarseness , voice starts to strain when I talk for a while etc.  Went to my doctor who couldn't see anything but sent me to an ENT who did the same scope of my upper esophagus, throat, nasal etc and told me that it was irritiation from reflux, put me on a PPI and told me it should help and then sent me for a barium swallow.

It's been 2 weeks now and I still don't notice much of a change in my throat symptoms, so I'm not worried that they won't improve at all.

I have a followup appointment with my ENT once the intial 6 weeks of the PPI are done.

Posted 3/30/2012 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Cylon. What medication did he put you on and how often? Its really concerning when you go on the meds and they dont help. Our healthcare system is built on waiting weeks to talk to a specialist and then he puts you on a med and you are back to on your own again. Hope you get better.

Paul
Posted 3/30/2012 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Paul,

Many on here report anxiety as a side affect of PPI use. Also, it sounds like you have atypical reflux (sore throat and asthma), which are pretty difficult to treat. I have atypical reflux too, and havent had a ton of success treating it. I hope that you find some resolution soon!

- Chuck
Posted 3/30/2012 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Chuck. I appreciate it. Ive read that same thing about reflux/asthma. From what I read you need to beat both before either will go away. Thats a tough proposition considering asthma can be so hard to eliminate... So when you take your asthma meds do they seem to help at all? Mine used to when I just had asthma but now with reflux too the benefits are minimal at best...
Posted 3/30/2012 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
@Paul


Hi Paul

I'm on Dexilant 60mg. I was pretty relieved when the ENT told me that the meds should help, and now 2 weeks later I feel a bit depressed about the whole thing and not much improvement yet.  I've cut out nearly all the trigger foods I've heard can make it worse (wine, spicy food, fried, tomatoes, acidic food etc). Not sure what else I can do while I wait for the next appt.

 

Posted 3/31/2012 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul. While I do not have asthma, I did have sore throat and lump feeling from my reflux starting in December. My ENT told me it could take up to 3 months for my throat to recover. I has been 4 months and although I still feel the lump sometimes, the really sore throat, unable to swallow feeling is gone. I did honey at the beginning, sometimes eating it right off the spoon. I would put honey in my Camomille tea every night and avoid all hard foods like chips that would make my throat feel worse. My ENT also told me avoid rice because it seems to stick in your throat more at the beginning. I also drink a little aloe vera juice that I get in my local grocery store and that has helped too. Just be careful with the aloe vera juice since I've read it can cause diarrhea. I only take about 3 ounces a day. I am not on any meds right now since I have acid/non-acid reflux and the usual PPIs do not work for that.
Posted 3/31/2012 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Also my GI told me the lump feeling in my throat is definitely GERD related and is the esophagus trying to close itself off from the acid since the LES is weak. He said it does not interfer with breathing or normal everyday eating since it is a muscle spasm and if I just relax and not panic it usually passes after a while.
Posted 3/31/2012 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Lildred,

Thanks that is good information. So when you were diagnosed did you change your diet significantly to help your symptoms? If you slip up eating do your symptoms come back? I am noticing if I slip up just a little bit i regress. I am already a fairly thin person so its hard to keep weight on eating a Gerd only diet. It appears I have no choice. I am looking forward to my GI appt. This has been quite the experience. Glad to hear youi were able to get yours under control.
Posted 3/31/2012 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
hang in. many of us in your shoes. take the meds watch what you eat. dont be afraid to get another opinion. lpr is depressing and life long for most of us. bland foods are best. i eat black beans, rice, non fat cheese, plain bagels, bananas. and yes every time in the last 4 yrs i stray from my diet i pay dearly. be careful.
Posted 3/31/2012 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Joe,

So if you stick to your diet do you have any real symptoms of LPR. Do you feel pretty back to normal when your eating healthy?

Paul
Posted 4/1/2012 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul. Actually, while the lump in my throat has gotten better, I am scheduled to meet with surgeons next month. My symptoms cannot be cured by diet or PPIs because they tell me I have non-acid reflux also which is only curable through surgery. Anyway, with that being said, I do notice that diet has definitely helped. Just like you said, one slip up and I get the heartburn pain or lump in my throat. But I have kept a journal of what foods make it worse. For example, fried foods are supposed to be bad but foods fried lightly in Olive Oil don't bother me but other fried foods do. I notice eating carbs with meals seems to help, like a baked potato or bread with my main meal. I have stopped altogether coffees and soda. I only drink Diet Decaf Green Tea. I am getting a second opinion from another GI even though the first one I went to is considered a God where I live in this type of problem.

As for the fatigue, while I don't have asthma or any other medical problems, I notice that the all day feeling of heartburn, lump, sore throat, etc. wear on me and that alone makes me tired sometimes. Instead of hard workouts, on those days, I just try to walk a little on my threadmill.

Good luck with your ENT. I hope the meds work for you but hang in there. I've been told that it can take a while for the symptoms to go away. I've had all the usual tests if you have any questions, endoscopy, barium swallow, 24 hour Ph, Manometry, gastric emptying.
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