Reflux/gerd symptoms

Please can some help me?? I have horrible symptoms with my reflux, I have my ph testing on the 14th April, I really would love to speak to somebody who has reflux, I'm constantly scared everyday because of these pains, keep thinking I'm having a heart attack or something wrong with my heart, I do get very anxious over this, really need reassurance please help!!!!! Xxxxxxx thankyou guys xxxxxx

Hi Kerry,reflux can definitely make you anxious especially when it just comes out of the blue.I felt exactly the same as you when it started,i though I was going to die.I can tell you once you get diagnosed and get on some medication and maybe some dietary changes it will settle down.
I take it your seeing a gastro doctor which is a good thing,he should be able to advise you as to what medication to take. In the meantime I would advise sticking to three meals aday with gaviscon after every meal,nothing inbetween. Happy to answer any questions you have. Barry

Him thankyou all for the responses, I have been diagnosed with with reflux and a hiatus hernia, I had the camera in January, been suffering from this for 3 years now.... I was on omerpzole which did work to start of with but then it's didn't, so then I was lansropole which again did work but now doesn't!! I am now on ranitidine and emosrepole, which again did work but now it doesn't :-(((....... Gaviscon doesn't even work very well now either... The surgeon said I will have the ph testing and then when he has the results he will call me in to discus having the nissen done... Because the medication isn't working for me no more, the symptoms of the reflux scares the living hell out of me... I even sometimes get reflux when I drink water!!! I can't have cows milk or nothing the only thing I find I can eat it plain bland things, I have lost 3 a 3 1/2 stone since August last year.... Can any of you tell me if this things is my reflux? Cause it really is making my anxious!
1. Fullness feeling in stomach & chest
2. Stomach pain
3. Pain under the bottom of rib on left
4. Sore neck on both sides
5. Lump feeling in throat
6. Headaches
7. Dizziness (light headed)
8. Ringing in ears
9. Pain in shoulders,back
10. Stabbing pains in chest, esp on left side
11. Bloat ness
12. Feeling very sick
13. Cough
14. Sinuses pressure
15. Pain behind eyes, like there stranding
16. Heart pulps
17. Back of my head below skull hurts sometimes
18. Tired
19. Feeling like I have flu!!!!!
20. Proper burning from inside out

I have had MRI scan done on my head all normal, I have had X-ray done on chest, all normal, full blood count ECgs and blood test for heart function again all normal, I have had my thyroid checked 3 times liver kidneys etc........... I'm just going out of my mind with this pain, it scares the hell out of me, I have found if I don't eat all of this symptoms are 10 times worse, and when I do eat it huts me when it goes done I get stomach pains really bad and then I will have heartburn, I even have the heart burn sometimes for hours I had that pain once for about 6-7 hours and nothing I could do is get rid of it, pure ginger did help a lot tho xx I soooo look forward to hear from you all again,, many thanks xxxx

Hi Kerry,sorry about all these problems your having,your suffering from a lot more than just reflux im afraid.Sorry I cannot offer any advice,hopefully someone with more experience ie. one of the moderators can help you. All the best! Barry

Yes a lot of your symptoms are related to your hiatal hernia and reflux. I have a lot of these problems when my hiatal hernia started but after a year they settled down but can fluctuate up and down. I am not sure about your head problems those, maybe its stress because of your problems below. It could be affecting your vagus nerve which is near to your stomach. The vagus nerve is a central nerve running up and down the body so maybe that's why you are getting problems above.

All you can do now is to wait for your ph/manometry test to see how that goes and if they offer you the operation then to carefully consider whether its what you want. Stomach problems and reflux are magnified 100 times when stressed so you have to really calm your nerves. How about wearing a corset, I find that helps by strapping in the stomach and lower abdomen, it compresses the pressure and alleviates the pain.

Hi Kerry,

Sorry you're having so much trouble. The PH monitor test will give you lots of answers you need to know. With all the symptoms you're describing, I'd guess that your reflux levels are fairly significant. Often LPR symptoms are caused by a sensitivity to even a small amount of reflux.

I had asthma exacerbated by reflux, and my PH monitor DeMeester scores were always either within the normal range, or just barely above. Normal is a score of 14 or less. (A normal score is what people without GERD would get--occasional reflux, but not enough to be a problem.)

It was hard to get my GI doc to believe that my reflux was the reason my asthma was so bad. Finally, with lots of pushing from my PCP, he agreed to send me to a surgeon, and three weeks later I had the surgery. It improved my asthma 100%.

Good luck with your PH monitor test. I expect your doctor will have you off all PPIs for 7 days, You can take Zantac for a few days during that week, then can take antacids up until the last day. It's not fun, but well worth the effort and discomfort. I've had 3. You'll do just fine!

Hang in there,
Denise

I have some of them symptoms but I also have fibromyalgia to. I have to clear my throat a lot and I also have white thick saliva. it drives me crzy I get burning to sometimes I am freaked out to so I know how u feel. if u ever need to talk ill listen but I would be checked for other things. I hope u feel better soon.

Keep calm you will get through this. Ask you Dr. to prescribe Carafate along with Zantac. It's always worse at night. Prop yourself up until symptoms die down. Drink lots of water during the day and use ginger chews a lot.

Can any of you email me please?? So I can talk to you without keep checking on here!!! I'm from oxford uk and it's in my profile.

Post edited to remove email address.

I deleted the email address. It sets you up to get spammed in your email. Instead, put your email in your profile. You can get to your profile by clicking on your name next to your post. Then you can select "Edit My Profile", and add your email address, so that members can access it.

Once you add your email address, the little envelope to the left of your post will become a live link and people can click it to send you an email just by clicking on the envelope icon. That is a much safer way to provide your email address, as only members are allowed to access it. PS... Just noticed you already have a Live link for your email. No need to do anything!

Post Edited By Moderator (dencha) : 3/27/2014 6:36:11 AM (GMT-6)

Hello Kerry, If I try to make changes to my email preferences that will send me into another acid attack. Stress plays a big part of how fast you will heal. So I'll just answer you here. I went through my ordeal for nearly 7 months and lost 20 lbs. I was very thin. I am sorry. You appear to have several things going on and that can be very stressful because you don't know which one to take care of first. Take little steps. Get the testing done. Ask you Dr. about Carafate. Be very strict about your eating habits. I have learned that after you start feeling better you tend to go back to your old ways. Can't do that. Bland diet from now on. Small meals often and no eating after 5:00 P.M. Maybe an apple (red delicious least acidy)
Ginger chews from the health store. Lots of walking. Carry water with you always. Chew sugarless gum. The chewing elicits saliva and neutralizes the stomach acid. Pump Prohibitors did not work for me but Zantac and Carafate did. You must stay on the medication faithfully even if you think it isn't working. Atleast 3 to 4 weeks, then you should be able to wean yourself off the meds slowly. Another 4 weeks.
Remember small steps.

Kerry, I can relate to you. I have many of the same issues. I have had LPR for around four years but the last six months have been almost unbearable. It started with the acid vapors, throat clearing, more throat pain than usual, throat tightness increasing, then lead to chronic shortness of breath (feels like I am being suffocated all the time), stiff neck (feels like I can't hold my head up sometimes), and then constant dizziness/spacey feeling. I also feel like I have the flu all the time. I have been through all the pre-op testing and I am a candidate for Linx or Nissen. I am very scared of the Nissen so I am probably going to opt for the Linx. I hate to go the surgery route but I am clueless as to what else I can do at this point. I am the bread winner for my family and I am barely able to function. Every day going to work is extremely difficult...I am not sure how much longer I can keep it up. I have tried all kinds of diets and supplements with no success. I too struggle every day to try and stay positive and to try and tell myself that this to shall pass. If you are seriously considering surgery you should look at the Linx procedure. It is much less invasive than the Nissen and results are showing to be just as good. The other nice thing about it is that it gives you options in the future to try other things as it's removable.

Kerry, I haven't read all of the replies, but may I just add my 2 cents: lactose (the sugar in milk products)! I have finally figured out most of my multiple food issues, but in terms of heartburn: lactose! I had terrible heartburn from dairy, and some (facial) skin breakouts too (and had had small blemishes on my face as a teenager) but did not figure it out until I was 52. I had terrible chronic heartburn and kept Pepto Bismal tablets everywhere. I had issues with the acid suppressing meds (they made me depressed, drowsy, anxious, or downright panicky during the night [Zantac]), so was thrilled when I discovered what I needed to stop the heartburn! Either chew the Lactaid product tablets (dairy relief type products [some are more effective than others -went back to the expensive Lactaid tablets as they are always effective]) - found in the allergy section near the Pepto Bismal) with first bite of dairy, buy lactose-free milk (though you can consume yoghurt as it is tolerated w/ no probs as are aged cheeses like Parmesan, Romano), or my last solution (a bit pricey but I'm free from having to remember to buy or remember to take the tablets) is a daily capsule Probiotic made by RenewLife (Ultimate Flora, 15 bil.live cultures from 10 different probiotic strains) which has totally fixed my problem digesting lactose (also keeps away the UTIs!). No more need to keep Pepto Bismal tablets everywhere, no more heartburn, and no more adult pimples. Wish more doctors were aware of the connection. Hope this the cause and its remedy will fix your discomfort! Best wishes.