Nerve Damage due to GERD? I need some help. Im desperate!

I have experienced the same symptoms in the past five years, and I came to the conclusion that the acid coming back up in the esophagus somehow irritate the vagus nerve, which is located very close to the esophagus. Apart from heartburn this is actually the most annoying of all symptoms I have been experiencing, as it not only affects my back (my muscles become very tense when that happen and sometimes I can barely stand on my feet), but also my mood and my thinking.

As a solution, I recently read on the web that some doctors prescribed a mild dose of Elavil to treat this sort of nerve inflammation caused by GERD. I haven't talked to my doctor about it yet though, so I invite other users to correct me if I'm wrong.

I wish I had answers too for my thing. I was diagnosed with some general reflux. But it is not burning me. Sometimes I am lying trying to relax and suddenly I get a stretching sensation beside the heart but the barium swallow never even found any hernia. I don't know what to do because I am very sensitive to these sensations and the suddenly scare the crap out of me and it extremely disturbing. What is the fix for this... Is that new esophageal LES electrical stimulus things implanted they are talking about in another thread going to stop this? It's not acid its just these sudden pains on the left side of the esophagus.... Funny could the barium have missed a paraesophageal hiatus hernia? This is getting to the point of desperation also.

Good morning. I am on my way to an acupuncture appointment. My mother said this guy will cure me. I found it hard to buy but then I did some research on this and there is apparently scientific evidence that acupuncture does help in people with gerd. Especially those who are hypersensitive like I am. I have looked this up and the studies are listed at NCBI website. Why hasn't any one mentioned this to me yet other than my own mom? Why hasn't any of these idiot doctors in north america referred me to acupuncture if there is real evidence like this? Especially before goino their "last resort measures".

Verutas 44: my doctor said the barium which I had is more accurate for detecting HH - because a scope can miss it. (Apparently the barium can miss the sliding one in the morning when the LES is rested and strong. but not the paraesophageal one). Anyways, doc said I don't need the scope and to look at other forms of therapy - biofeedback, etc. I am going to my acupuncture appointment and will update of results. If it can help even 20 percent and maybe meditation with another 20 percent then perhaps invasive measures can be avoided. But right now I do not want to risk weakening that LES even more from a scope being manipulated in there. Why should I expose my self to the dangers of a possible slip of the finger until I have ruled out all therapies? These idiots in this darn country are quick to have people go to tests, scopes, swallow liquids (that gave me lots of trouble), when I should have been referred to acupuncture first.

While modern medicine has respectable science (for the few that actually accurately know what they are doing and don't just go through the motions) that is only to be used as a last resort. And the fact that it has not evidences the clear flaws in its haphazardly approach to the human condition.

Post Edited (7Stringer) : 1/22/2014 7:14:44 AM (GMT-7)

Thanks. Have you by the way tried the various maneuvers people reccomend (or is it not a hernia? - if its not for you then I would not go for surgery. Why don't you change your diet? Certain gluten, dairy, coffee etc are triggers. You need to go bland for a while - fish and vegetables...non acidic fruits, walnuts (chewed well), basically the naturopathic protocol - I can speak from a bit of experience because that cured me for a while - but I was weak and was basically a darn fool as went back to the all you can load msg indian buffets after thinking I was cured. Went back to the absinthe, mixed in anti depressants, poor rest hours (stomach needs rest for self-repair membranes to be before midnight). Unless food is your life... It definetly was my life and again after I recovered somewhat with the naturopath protocol because I was weak. But my issue is that stupid gym burping thing and nobody can answer that darn question of what is the issue in the gym. But if you get surgery I would not think I would have free reign if I were you on diet. You need to be careful after that so nothing loosens. And careful for the long term. You and I have to come to grips with the reality that we can no longer get enjoyment from eating.

Anyways for acupuncture session I had: Had needles only in my left arm as a trial basis. I definetly reccomend it., but I do not reccomend what I did after that as a test - I did a test just to see if it worked and went a bit hard at taco bell after, went hard on the hot sauce and sour cream and processed dairy on both the fried supreme and the 7 layer burrito. No issues. But I did take a genestra brand enzyme. Then had a starbucks cafe latte. Later in the day a bit of burping. But overall I think it worked. But the therapist I had was quite amazing and said what I have created from stress and anxiety can be undone all by my own will.

I don't think acupuncture is like the alternative approaches you listed, it is more scientific. But who knows.

Anyways, I do not reccomend the food test I did after but maybe try a latte or a bit of spice or whatever to see if it works but not as hard as I did in case it might not work for others. But I do reccomened trying this becauuse this affects channels and nerves, etc. While he had the needles in I felt some stomach sensations.

Also, I have on other days noticed a bit of relief from vitamin b12, and niacimide (I think b3), and then the next day will do a b complex with minerals such as selenium, copper, potassium, chromium (as per another opinion), and go back to the b12, or whatever just mixing it up. But I am wondering if someone can chime in on that to make sure I am not mixing it wrong.