Update & Starting to feel better

Hi all,

I have to be honest....I'm really scared about posting this because I'm worried I will jinx myself. I think I might be on the road to recovery after 6-7 months of what I thought was Gerd/LPR. However, I don't think typing some words will set me back but I can't help but be superstitious. I was on here a lot and ANY hopeful news made me get through the day, so I am paying it forward here so-to-speak.

I do not really know what has got me on the road to recovery because I've been trying a few different things, so I'll list them here and if they help just one person, then that would make me very happy. Please note that I am not entirely out of the woods yet, but I am feeling better...so much so that I started allowing myself one cup of coffee in the morning. I still watch what I eat, and still have take a Zantac now and again (mostly because I'm scared that something I'm about to eat will cause an issue), but I'm noticing at the end of the day that "hey...I didn't have any reflux today!".

Just a brief history of symptoms, etc.. Was on ABX for over a year to treat lyme disease but had no problems the entire year until February. Had a bad cold and then throat clearing that wouldn't go away. Goggled symptoms and thought it might be reflux related so started taking Prilosec OTC. Everything got MUCH worse...developed lump in the throat and then got what I felt was acid reflux. Everything went downhill from there. Got off the PPI's after about 3 or so weeks...lump went away almost overnight but still had the reflux feeling in my chest. Never any burning really (well....every now and then but hardly ever), but mostly a funny feeling in my chest that felt like reflux. Also started having asthma like symptoms and had to start using a breathing thing am and pm. Stopped using this a few weeks ago.

So back and forth to GI doc, had endoscopy in May...everything normal. In the meantime, I went off all my ABX and also my 30mg of Cymbalta that I'd been taking for a year (no problems while taking it) thinking that it might be causing my symptoms. I was off everything...no relief.

Went out of town a couple of times and had complete relief of symptoms....so I'm thinking..okay...this is definitely anxiety related. So, a few weeks ago, I went back on 20MG of Cymbalta and my anxiety felt better. I still get it, but much much better. That brings me to current.

Now, I'm still dealing with IBS like issues...bloating and feeling full of air at times. I don't have diarrhea or anything but actually more the other way. So, I started eating the original brand of Fiber One (1/2 cup every morning with a banana) and bowels movements have been very regular since.

Anyhow,

- Got ahold of some VSL #3 probiotics. I took a package in the am and one in the pm. Did this for about 10 days or so.
- After the VSL, I started taking Renew Life 80 billion critical care probiotics - 2 pills in the evening and I think 1 in the morning. Felt majorly bloated so cut back to one 80 billion at night and Florastor in the morning in-case this is a yeast overgrowth thing.
- Went back on 20 mg Cymbalta
- Started taking magnesium (Mag Ox 2 pills at dinner) with calcium/mag liquid supplement after dinner and two MezoTrace mineral supplements in the morning (I know nothing about these but I thought maybe I have a mineral difficiency so started taking them.
- Started adding back gluten into my diet (only Fiber One in the morning to be bowels regulated) which seems to be working along with the magesium supplements.
- Started taking Digest Platinum (NOW brand) before lunch and dinner.
- Restarted my Vitamin D - I take 5000 iu a day because I always seem to run low on my tests
- Taking 2 fish pills daily (NOW brand).

I think that this is about it...like I said, I don't know what has worked but I keep making small adjustments. I honestly think that I should have never started the Prilosec because I think that my throat clearing may have been a persistent issue after my bad cold...I don't know. I keep thinking that maybe the Prilosec really messed up the balance in my gut...or...the year I spent on ABX messed with my balance....or, my anxiety brought on the issue (although I was on Cymbalta when this all started)...I just don't know.

Like I said, I'm still working all this out and still am having some issues, but things do seem to be getting better. I do feel like maybe I have Dyspepsia or something and maybe I was just going through a flare...who knows... I wish I knew so that I could make sure I avoid it... I was at the end of my rope just four months ago, but things are looking up!

So...don't give up....try different things. I believe that we have a very fine balance in our tummies and for some of us, when we get an imbalance, lots of things can go haywire, but maybe a little tweaking here and there can get us back on track.

Oh Carrie, I'm so happy. I hope this is it for you!!!!!!!!!!

XOXO, Ash

Incognito:

I'm glad you posted on my post because I was actually thinking about you the other day with your ear ringing... I don't know if you recall, but I was having terrible ear ringing too. I posted about this in the lyme forum because I think it has something to do with my lyme disease because my nervous system seems to be affected by it. Anyhow, after going on the 20mg of Cymbalta, the ear ringing got MUCH better. I can only hear it now if I really sit and think about it. Before going on the Cymbalta, it was getting pretty bad and was driving me crazy too, so I feel for you. You might want to try this if you can. Cymbalta is used a lot for conditions other than anxiety and depression. I think somehow it affects the nerves and maybe this might help you....

I have been having to take 9 Advil a day for the last 7 9 days because of inflammation in a root canal that I had done a year ago and today, it has been causing me horrible heartburn...ugh. I only have to take one or two more days, so I pray that this goes away. I think I may have jinxed myself saying I was feeling better. :(