Posted 3/16/2013 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry this is a bit lengthy but I need to write this about my current situation.
I have been suffering from reflux for 3 years and I have been on a prescription of Omeprazole at 20mg per day, this was increased to 40mg per day and now I am on 80mg per day. I also have problems with my digestion and often bouts of diarrhoea and I know that my digestion is not working how it should. My intestine is noisy when I eat or drink and I know it is not happy with the current situation! I am a 49 year old female in good health and not overweight. I don’t smoke and eat healthily.
3 years ago I was suffering from retching in the morning, sour taste in my mouth, lump at the back of the throat and general feeling of acidity in my stomach. I was referred for an endoscopy and it showed an ulcer on my oesophagus and a small sliding hiatus hernia. I was then referred to Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge, UK. Basically I was told that it was stress that was causing my problems and that I was not a good candidate for surgery and told to stay on the Omeprazole. I have followed all the usual advice for GERD but it does not seem to make much difference.
I then attended 6 monthly visits to the hospital for updates on my situation and each time I told them that I was having the same problems and there was no improvement. I have also been taking other medications, domperidone, ranitidine and Gaviscon on prescription as when required.
about 6 months ago I was told by a doctor at Addenbrookes in Cambridge, UK I would have to stay on the Omeprazole and that they would sign me off. I felt that I was being fobbed off and I didn’t want to rely on medication for the rest of my life. I was sure that the medication was also effecting my digestion by lowering the acid too much so that the digestion is not working correctly. I have done extensive research on my condition and I know that Omeprazole reduces acid in the stomach but does not prevent the reflux. Since November of 2012 I managed to persuade my doctor to prescribe a strong probiotic called VSL3 which contains 20 billion good bacteria and this has definitely helped with my digestion. A friend of mine has IBS and recommended it and I am so glad she did.
Following the last visit to the hospital I went to see my lovely GP telling him of my ongoing problem with the reflux, how it was affecting my life and how disappointed I was with the way I felt my situation was being dealt with. He wrote to the Primary Care Trust regarding surgery and to my surprise they approved the Nissen Fundoplication surgery.
I was then booked in for the 24th April 2013 at Addenbrookes. Yesterday on 15th March they carried out another endoscopy and said that they could not see a hiatus hernia and that I had Gastritis. This was not the consultant that is doing the operation and he made it sound as if I did not need the operation. Can a hiatus hernia fix itself? I didn’t know that it could? I still have the reflux so I don’t see that the only problem that they could see was the Gastritis would prevent me having the operation. I know that the NF will not stop Gastritis but I know from my research that it can make the reflux worse.
I am just at my wits end with this and would really appreciate anyone’s comments. I so want to have the NF with the hope that I will not have to take medication for the rest of my life. I have read many of posts on this website regarding GERD and Gastritis and they have been really helpful. I suppose I am gathering evidence in case the consultant changes his mind, I am just so fed up with it all and feeling rubbish.
Thanks in advance
Jane (UK)
PS
Some useful links for information on the condiitions, I found are listed below:
http://www.westonaprice.org/digestive-disorders/acid-reflux-a-red-flag
http://www.vrp.com/digestive-health/eliminating-the-surprising-culprit-behind-stomach-concerns
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Gastritis
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/gastritis/page14_em.htm#.UUQn_Ckhufg.mailto
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease/print.html
http://www.womenfitness.net/heartburn.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/heartburn.aspx