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Thought I had GERD diagnosis but now includes IBS as cause

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/13/2012 8:20 PM (GMT 0)

I had my first symptoms in December 2011 with lump in throat, trouble swallowing, heartburn.  After having all the tests:  barium swallow, endoscopy, 24 h PH, manogramy and gastric emptying my GI referred me to a surgeon.  The surgeon told me that based on my mild symptoms 5 months later, April 2012, that I was a 2 on a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being the worst GERD symptoms and not to have surgery at this time.  He told me to keep taking TUMS (Prilosec and other PPIS/H2 did not work)  TUMS was the only thing I was taking.

I then went for a 2nd opinion to a GI doctor who determined that he believes my symptoms:  mild heartburn an hour or so after eating, bloating, gas, lump in throat - are caused by IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) which in turn is causing my acid reflux.  He explained to me that IBS doesn't always involve diarrhea.  IBS can go up in the form of acid reflux which I have.

He prescribed hyoscyamine.  He said to try it for 10 days and see what happens.

It has only been 48 hours and I have substantial relief already.  The lump in my throat feeling that I would get daily is gone.  My heartburn seems to have eased up and I only had a mild episode.  The metalic taste in my mouth is also gone.  I also had a Rum drink last night and no effects from that which sometimes leaves me with heartburn or the lump feeling.  I also have not had 1 TUMS in the past 2 days.  Prior I would take anywhere from 3- 6 per day.

I will follow up with him this week but I just wanted to post my story and see if anyone else has this connection between IBS and acid reflux or has taken this mediction.  Dry mouth is one of the side effects but it's not too bad as long as I remember to drink enough water throughout the day.

Robyn

Posted 5/13/2012 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
That's interesting. Some people say potato juice (raw) helps their acid reflux and I've read about other people finding relief through chilli peppers (of all things!) - they are both from the same plant family the drug Hyoscyamine is derived from (solanaceae). Hope you continue on the up!

MMM
Posted 5/13/2012 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info. I've never been a fan of chilli peppers but I will try the potato juice. Just amazes me how the first doctor told me nothing to be done but surgery and a second opinion doctor who asked extensive questions was able to make the correlation between GERD and IBS.
Posted 5/13/2012 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi lilred,

I was also diagnosed with IBS a couple of years ago. However, I never really accepted that diagnosis. I think he diagnosed this because I had several runs to the urgent care because of stomach ache. I never really developed diarrhea or stomach cramps. Most of time it was small or a false alarm.

For me the upper symptoms have always been throat clearing, bloating before and after I eat, burping after and before I eat, and bitter taste when I wake up in the mornings. After doing my own research I figure that my issue was stemming from my intestines and pushing back up or the IBS.

I am not sure if I tried that medication hen I had insurance. I will have to look up my medical records.

I am happy for you though.
Posted 5/13/2012 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Nickles, for the info. When you say "stemming from your intestines" is that the same as IBS or did you end up with a different diagnosis? I'm 48 and never had stomach problems my entire life so this is all new to me. Your symptoms seem pretty close to what I had the last month or two. I always blamed my gas/burping on drinking too much soda, never imagined this. So any info is greatly appreciated.

Robyn
Posted 5/13/2012 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Well they say IBS is normally an issue in the bowel or intestines right?

My condition is a little odder. I personally think, but do share some ground with others here like that stupid throat clearing I despise and burping after every meal. Geez WHY? confused

My past gastroentorologist diagnosed me with IBS/GERD. However, like I said, I never accepted the IBS diagnosis, why? Well, because I never had the other symptoms of IBS. Looking back and putting everything together with my current Naturopathic Dr., I feel "maybe" something like IBS, SIBO, parasites, bacteria or in my intestines is pushing everything back, making me feel bloated, burping, and sore throat. I don't know. One thing though, I did notice when I had my endoscopy they did see my valve slightly open. Meaning, it could be structural. I have no idea, but the trip is this.

I took a product called paragone last year in 2011 and it helped me for like 2 months. I had never felt this good in 6 years of suffering, but then my symptoms came back because I started eating junk like chips, cookies, fried foods. I only did this because I had lost 20 pounds in 3 months. I am on the product again to see if it helps again, but I am not being strict with the diet because I cannot lose weight again.

I also replied because this is the second time I hear another Gastro say that IBS can possibly be pushing or causing GERD/Heartburn.'

I did have h pylori for the longest, but I think I eradicated it for good. I thought maybe this causing my symptoms, but is gone. I tested twice and it no longer shows positive with a stool/breath test.

The only thing I recommend is research, ask questions, and know that everyone is different. What may work for me may not work you. There will be ppl who discount one remedy while other will live by it. Keep an open mind and know everyones body is different. I keep an open mind, or at least I try. I tried one way and it did not work for ME, but now I will try another way.

Before I forget, did your Dr. check for H pylori?

I would also stay away from soda and sugar personally. I do this already. I started doing years before I even had symptoms. Sugar and soda are not good. I do not like going to the dentist, so I keep sugar to a real minimum like less than 10 grams a day from food that has natural occuring sugar.

I think the avg person eats maybe more than 100 a day? IDK.

 

Posted 5/14/2012 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Lilred - I have similar symptoms and I am curious as to what your 24 hr ph and endoscopy showed? Did they indicate acid reflux? Did the endoscopy show a hiatal hernia, and if so, of what size?
Posted 5/14/2012 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Drtinsac,

My 24 hr ph showed I have both acid and non-acid reflux episodes. It also showed nighttime reflux episodes. My Demeester score was 14.9 which my GI said is nothing to worry about. I was surprised by the nighttime reflux because I never wake up during the night with any problems, just a sore throat sometimes or muscus in my throat that goes away after my first cup of hot tea/honey.

My endoscopy did not show a hiatal hernia, it showed a stomach polyp (nothing to be concerned with I was told). My scope was normal except for very mild changes suggestive of acid reflux.

The biopsies came back negative for Hpylori.

My manometry test did show that I have a weak LES muscle but the doctor said I definitely shouldn't even consider surgery at my stage.  He believes if we get the IBS under control, the acid reflux should clear up.


This is day 3 on the meds for IBS treatment and no lump in my throat or heartburn today. The doctor told me to give it 10 days on the meds but so far so good. I am taking Hyoscyamine ER 12 hour tablet release.

I am still however staying on the acid reflux diet and not having soda, coffee, fried food and not eating 3 hours before bedtime.


I talk to my doctor again this Thursday, so I'll let you know what he says but at this point he seems to have found the diagnosis that works for me: the IBS is causing my acid reflux.

Robyn

Post Edited (Lilred08) : 5/14/2012 1:17:47 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/14/2012 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Nickles,

Thanks so much for being so candid. I too did not have the usual IBS symptoms. I never have that "have to run to the bathroom feeling" after eating but I did get the other things you mention, gas, bloating. My doctor I see now said that IBS can be upper area and not lower which he said explains the strange symptoms I get. His main criteria for diagnosing this was that I get heartburn 1 to 2 hours after I eat. He said if it was classic acid reflux, he felt I would get heartburn 10 to 15 minutes after I eat and hence we started on the IBS road.

I will definitely live by your advice to keep an open mind and try things. For someone like myself who's biggest ailment has been Vertigo 10 years ago for a few months, I am not used to having medical problems. But I guess as all my doctors keep telling me, it comes as we get older (I'm 48). But I'm not going down the old-age path without kicking and screaming for sure! I have another Vegas trip planned in October so it's my goal to be healthy or healthier at least by then.

Robyn

I was doing Atkins diet before all this happened so I have always regulated my sugar, carb intake so I am used to that. The hardest thing was giving up soda and coffee.
Posted 5/14/2012 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply Lilred. about the sour taste, for you, was this something that occurred only after eating, or was it around all day?

Thanks so much for sharing your experience here. I am also seeing a surgeon for consultation but I think if there's a chance IBS treatment would help, I'd give that a 7-10 day trial before deciding to go under the knife..
Posted 5/14/2012 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
The sour taste almost like I was sucking on a penny, would last throughout the day. I didn't have it every day but when I did that's what it was like. It was quite frequent though - 4 -5 days a week.
When it would happen, I would try mouthwash, gum to just get rid of it but it still lasted for hours.

Just a little of my background, I was first diagnosed in December 2011 with a sore throat, couldn't swallow. My regular doctor treated it like a sinus infection. It didn't clear up so I went to the ENT who first diagnosed acid reflux with a barium swallow.

Next was the GI who did all the rest of the tests.

I've only been dealing with this for 6 months. Never had heartburn or anything before this.

When I went to the surgeon, at that time I was on TUMS because the PPIs did not work for me. The TUMS worked but only for a few hours at a time. I was taking 6 - 9 TUMS a day.

The surgeon told me since I didn't have: trouble swallowing, Barrett's, regurgitation or a hernia and TUMS provided relief to stick with the TUMS.

I decided to go for a second opinion because even though TUMS are ok to take, I wanted to see if someone else could figure out why I had acid reflux. That's how I got into the IBS conversation with the doctor I go to now.

Hope that helps with your journey too. No matter the surgeon told me, my doctor told me to get a second surgical opinion (which I don't need now, but I am still seeing another surgeon on Thursday to see how he interprets the tests). Feel free to email me if you need anything. I know this site has certainly been a great help to me.

Robyn
Posted 5/19/2012 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Bump for Leebie
Posted 5/19/2012 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
thanks heaps MM! :-) appreciated.

I was diagnosed with IBS in 2006 but am now having tests for IBD because I have had frank bleeding, weight loss and anaemia.. 2 my gastroscopy has come back as chronic gastritis.. I have no symptoms other than nausea but I'm not sure if the nausea is from the IBS/IBD or the pain killers I'm on (panadeine forte and/or endone).. Thanks for the interesting thread and it's certainly got me thinking :-)

edited because I had to kill a slight ant invasion on my keyboard (welcome to the tropics lol) and accidentally hit enter...
Posted 5/19/2012 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
You're welcome. Yes, always worth exploring side effects as a cause too. Codeine can certainly also cause nausea. Perhaps you could talk to your PCP/GP about having a couple of days break from the codeine just to see if that is the cause - if you're not able to manage without it then you may need a different painkiller or another medication to counteract the side effects :-/

Hope you get sorted soon,

MMM
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