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How do you know if it's GERD?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 4/19/2013 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
I've been having issues for 2 months now .  My symptoms include the following, with one of them being dominat at any one time

  • nausea (most common)
  • stomach burning
  • stomach tightness
  • stomach pain after eating
  • feelign that I need to burp after eating

A few weeks ago, I did have an endoscope.  It showed a little bit of gastritis, but as my GI didn't see any other visible abnormalities, he said I just have functional dyspespia...just a problem with the way my stomach pumps the food.  Prior to the endoscope, I tried tecta (a PPI) which seemed to help with the nausea but then the other symptoms showed.  On my own, I have taken Zantac which seems to help.

What distinguishes gastritis from gerd?  Are there visible signs that a dr would look for?  The burping feleing is more recent, but it's also regular now (and if I am able to burp, the nausea eases)

 

 

Posted 4/20/2013 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
You don't want to have gerd for sure.:)
http://www.healthguideinfo.com/gerd/p40128/
You must have read this by now but just in case.

Gerd is acid reflux desease(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) and first, your endoscopy would have showed an erosion at your esophagus. Second, your doctor would have told you so.

You might have itch sore throat, dry cough because acid has burned your esophagus or sometimes even your larynx. Not only nausea. Acute heartburn, too. Meaning, burning and bone hurting like pain in your sternum area.

So it seems you don't have one. Zantac is much weaker and less side effect and no or less rebound than ppi. I strongly recommend you try going on with h2 blockers until you get better and wean it off.
Good luck!
Posted 4/21/2013 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you willcomover.  I did have an endoscopy and no issuse with my esophagus...just the inflammation in my stomach.  I get burning in my stomach after eating and burping but not the sore throat (except at night) or anything.  Thank you for clarifying.  Am sorry for all of you that suffer from it. 

Can I ask...are you saying that something like zantac is better than a ppi?  I thought there was little risk of a ppi.  I am going on vacation for a few days where will only be eating heavy restaurant food (and want to enjoy a fancy dinner on our last night) and so worry about getting this under control.

Posted 4/21/2013 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
LU - Try Pepcid or Prilosec.  Take before meals and should help with burning and dyspepsia.
Posted 4/21/2013 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Lu,
Pepcid, proilosec is same thing. All ppi.
Ppi has well known terrible side effects and rebound problem if you take it more than few weeks. Zantac is much weaker so if it works for you, you had better take zantac instead. For some people, it is too weak.

This is a link for the NPR article about the study of ppi rebound.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112564382

And this is the link to the actual study published in the journal "Gastroenterology"
http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0016-5085/PIIS0016508509005228.pdf

Proven:
1. when you even had not had the gerd at all before your ppi, you will have gerd if you once start the ppi,
2. It will take up to 8 weeks to get off all the rebouns symptoms.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15679764

This study says it might take even up to 26 weeks if you were on ppi longer.
Longer you are on it, longer it takes to get iff of it.
How ironic!

You can google ppi's side effects and you will get bunch of articles about side effects due to the magnesium, calcium, vit b12 deficiency which is caused by blocking stomach acid completely by ppi.

Have a great trip!
Posted 4/21/2013 10:08 AM (GMT 0)
Have you been tested for Helicobacter?

For gastritis the discomfort is lower down than with reflux but they can have overlapping symptoms. Gastritis can be self limiting, a response to infection or an irritant such as aspirin or NSAIDs (Ibuprofen). You may be able to help it naturally by chewing DGL before meals, trying slippery elm or marshmallow. You can get some of these in tea form, but try carefully as sometimes the teas can give more pain. Camomile tea is another one to try.

If these things don't help then you may want to look into Carafate which coats the stomach before you eat and allows healing.

PPIs are also used for gastritis to allow healing, but as Will says, the trick is getting off them again. Not everyone has rebound but you can help this by reducing the dose slowly. You can ask for a liquid form to help titrate to a lower dose, or ask for Lansoprazole which is available in half dose.

MMM
Posted 4/21/2013 10:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you both.  I didn't realize that there are reboud effects.  I was thinking of trying a PPI (which I have  a prescription if needed), only 1/day starting a few days before our trip and then ending it upon our return...so maybe one week in total.  Is rebound likely for such a short time?  I was told I can also take zantac if needed.

mudmagnetmum, I was tested for h plylori infection and it came back fine.  I was only daily celebrex for my joints and that's what we suspect is the culprit.  Having said that, we've not sure since I still felt yucky 6 weeks after stopping it.

I do sometimes take DGL licorice before 20 minutes before meals.  Hard to tell if it's helping or not unless I have my parallel self.

PS - Had a bit of pizza and cake last night and now am nauseous again.  Not sure how I will manage when going away :-(  I don't want to have to stick to plain bread and not enjoy.

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