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Pain from Heartburn

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Posted 9/5/2013 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all! What do you think my options are?

I take nexium 40mg twice daily. I incline my bed and I used a bed wedge. I also eliminate canned foods, bottled foods, only drink water, eat nothing acidic.

I take about 10-20 tums daily. I also take carafate.

I'm 27 years old and I'm in great shape (6-pack and all)

I was scoped and a gaping Lower Esophageal Sphincter was found. I had no barrets or dysplasia. I had a small hernia and esophagitis.

I have tried Dexilant and lanzoprozale.

Here are my problems:

Heartburn prevents me from sleeping. This affects my life because I'm a store manager for a high volume / high sales store / fortune 500 company.

Heartburn puts me in a horrible mood. The pain makes me hate everyone.

I worry a lot about cancer.

What should I do? Pain killers? Sleeping pills? SSRI's? Surgery? My doc is VERY hesitant about surgery for some reason.

Thank you all for your help.

Stephen

Edited title...paint to pain

Post Edited By Moderator (dencha) : 9/5/2013 5:12:58 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/5/2013 6:27 AM (GMT 0)
I had the same problem with my LES. I had the surgery about 4 years ago and I've had no heartburn since.

If your doctor is hesitating about you getting the surgery then find yourself another doctor. Taking all of that medicine is like throwing a teaspoon of water on a blazing inferno. The LES will not correct itself and the medication is not helping you anymore.

Before leaving him ask him exactly why he won't let you have the surgery. If he has a legit excuse like it could hurt you or that you seem okay. Tell him you're not okay and if he won't help you then you'll find someone else to help you.
Posted 9/5/2013 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Joy 100%

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/6/2013 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
I would get a second opinion and find myself a reputable bariatric surgeon as they always operate on the stomach areas not a general surgeon unless they have done a few hundred of these operations. Ask about how they repair the hernia , should be with biological mesh as stitches don't always hold . As you have a non functioning les, the only way is surgery, it cannot repair or close by itself. Hope you get it sorted soon.
Posted 9/6/2013 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried Zantac, I was on 30 mg of lansoprasole and was having heartburn so my dictir prescribed me 300 mg of ranitidine to be taken once a day at night with 15 mg of lansoprasole in the morning . I feel much better now but it is temporary while I wait for my hospital barium swallow and then hopefully an operation.
Posted 9/6/2013 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I have tried zantac. It doesnt work. I read online that anti depression meds can help with pain from heartburn. Is this true?
Posted 9/6/2013 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
I asked my doctor about surgery. He said he wants to delay it as long as pissible because the nissen "breaks down after 10 or 15 years." And because of my age, I would not be a happy camper in my 40s with a broken down nissen. What are your thoughts?
Posted 9/7/2013 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
You can get it fixed again.
I had gerd in my forties it's not that bad. ;)
Posted 9/7/2013 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
After surgery, I had bad heartburn and I needed: Protonix, Prilosec, Zantac and I still went through 2 family sized tums a month. After being on that for a few years, my friend put me gave me a dare, and that was to stop all anti-acids and drink 2oz aloe vera juice daily. I prefer it from Market America, as I can get it flavored so it doesn't taste horrific, like it does alone. After 3 months, I noticed I didn't want or need the anti-acids. I now just seldomly get acid reflux and a bottle of family size tums lasts me now 6 months. I feel better, and swear by aloe vera juice now. Plus, I take three less medications! I did this under doctor supervision.
Posted 9/7/2013 7:12 AM (GMT 0)
Don't want to be morbid but live life for today and not for 15 to 20 years later, you never know what happens... Really you want to be in pain for 15 to 20 years, there are people much younger than you who have had the operation. Long term acid exposure to the esophagus can lead to other problems like barretts. Anyway at the end of your day, it's your body, your pain and your suffering so you have to weigh up the consequences, if its done properly and you take care of your diet , there is no reason why it shouldn't last..
Posted 9/9/2013 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Have you gone through the PH study/Bravo, Mamotry test,  Barium Swallow, Gastric Emptying Study? It sounds like you should go through the tests if you have not already.
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