Hi all,
I am reposting my first post below. I am sorry but I actually posted this as a reply to a thread on PPI and anxiety. I just learned yesterday that when you're new you should begin with a new post. Again, my apologies.
This was first posted on November 2.
Hi everyone. I am new here. I was just diagnosed with GERD. I have maintenance for my asthma - Seretide spray (had asthma when I was toddler and resurfaced when i was in the 40's), i have allergic rhinitis and sinusitis (have Avamys spray). I am allergic to crabs, squid, shrimps.
I had few episodes of stomach upset and acid reflux before but those were easily relieved by Kremil S or Gaviscon. Last July, I was rushed to the ER due to allergic rxn to squid. After that, I was very choosy already with what I eat and at sometimes get panicky eating outside because I wouldnt really know if it has shrimp paste or anything that would make me allergic to.
One night, I just noticed my voice got hoarser and hoarser until i almost lost it. It was relieved by just taking Bioflu and hot calamansi juice (its a kind of lemon; i am from the Philippines).
Everything was okay, although i noticed that there were times that i feel my throat got constricted and will just take antihistamine. Then i noticed it got severe, i would still take antihistamine since my sinuses were acting up also. Went for consult since one time with a GP, i was so edgy then after missing lunch and attributed it to sinus infection. The doctor put me on Zithromax 500 mg for 5 days.
On the 8th day after Zithromax, after taking breakfast with coffee and had my usual Claricort, i felt my throat constricting again. I rushed to the ER and was informed that everything is okay, that i am just so anxious about it and this could be nasal drip and GERD. I was anxious the whole day. I even went to the mall with my husband but went instead to visit a clinic at the mall and still was told okay. The doctor however referred me to see an EENT which i never did.
When i went to see our company doctor, she put me on Nexium and Claritin. My throat still felt dry and constricted but all doctors told me i dont have any wheezing sound and my breathing is normal. All doctors advised me to just relax. I think this is better said than done.. Only those with GERD can understand what I am going through. At this time, i have not experienced any upset stomach, just dry throat and palate and the stomach upset only happened whenl i had camote (sweet potato in the Philippines; a root crop) as subtitute for rice. That is when I had two very restless nights.
Last Tuesday night October 29, i went again to the ER because I had this feeling of wanting to burp but cant and this feeling of something being stuck in my throat and the doctor told me its GERD and bilateral maxillary sinusitis - i had Waters x-ray. She changed Nexium to Pantoloc plus Gaviscon chewable every after meals and prescribed Augmentin 625mg 3X a day for 7 weeks and Nasathera 3X a day..She also gave me Xanor to calm me down. My ECG at the ER was fine. By the way, i am overweight and hypertensive. I have been taking Twynsta 80/10 for more than a year now. I have Grade 1 diastolic dysfunction also. I slept well that night.. No epigastric pain.
Wednesday morning was great.. by midafternoon i had again that feeling of something being stuck in my mouth. I had a very restless night, i cant really describe how my stomach was acting and was not being able to sleep well inspite of the Xanor.
On October 31st I went to see a gastroenterologist. She changed Pantoloc to Dexilant. She prescribed Xanor again, 250mcg at bedtime for insomnia or as needed for anxiety. I was able to sleep Thursday night but had to be up early because we are going home to the province for All Souls Day.
When I got here yesterday, the symptoms were up again, i had to take Xanor 250mcg at 4pm to keep me calm as i was also finishing reports. Regurgitation is back and I think i was only able to sleep for 2-3 hours only. My stomach is still acting weird and my mouth/saliva is so sour/acidic. I was able to sleep another 2 hours this morning - its November 2 here already and its 2:25Pm now.
Most of my friends cannot understand- they think I am just over acting to a lot of things that is why my stomach acid is also over acting. My boss even told me that it is purely psychological. My sister can relate to what im feeling because she had gallstones before. she underwent surgery to remove her gallbladder about 4 years ago but still experience GERD. My mother has gallstones but because of her age, the doctor didnt advised to have her gallbladder removed. My other brother had his gallbladder removed also a few years earlier than my sister's procedure.
What makes me panic is the feeling the my throat is closing. I had the same feeling when i had an allergic attack. I lost weight already since the allergic attack and because of this GERD i also dont feel like eating. My gastroenterologist told me that GERD suppresses appetite also. but i think its more of the PPI's fault plus being anxious and all.
This is a very lengthy post i know. I just want to write down everything that i experienced. By the way, with Nexium, i also experienced tingling of the upper lip and feeling of body malaise and dry mouth and dry palate and anxiety attacks.
I am scheduled for an endoscopy on the 15th by the way. Maybe i will even have this moved earlier so that based on the results proper medication can be given.
Thank you all. I really appreciate this site. I wonder if there are other Filipinos here too.