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GERD, Anxiety and Esophageal Hypersensitivity

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 3/15/2013 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
drtinsac,

I can't ran away fast enough from stretta! I'm just not comfortable with creating scare tissue to try and solve a weak les or desensitize the diapham area. Yes, some have had it done but I don't believe there's too many dr's out there pushing it. I remember there was a new member here briefly whom was going to be the "first" in India to get it done. Well, we never heard from him again, so he's either really happy with the out come or very sorry (I did try to warn him).

Posted 3/15/2013 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi drtinsac, DB and others,

IMO, the Stretta and TIF procedures should be put out of your minds. They are major fails.

Earlier in this thread, I also had stated my feelings on Esophageal Hypersensitivity. It is just an excuse for MD's not being able to pinpoint the problem due to the current state of medicine. Easier to slap a name on something!

Enough said.

GM

Posted 3/15/2013 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
GM,

I completely agree on both issues!

Posted 3/15/2013 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hypersensitivity is supposed to be diagnosed by having normal levels of reflux, but having a high level of correlation with symptoms. So there is some kind of thought behind the diagnosis, but I agree. Doctors are to eager to swing around the label.
Posted 3/17/2013 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious, has anyone had any success for their gerd/LPR after being treated for hypersensitivities?
Posted 3/17/2013 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Anti-d's did not resolve my gerd/lpr issues or (would be) hypersensitivities.
Posted 3/17/2013 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Bummer, I don't think they'll help me either, but my tests indicate that I'm possibly hypersensitive. I have a high correlation rate, but a normal exposure to acid/non acid contents.

Doggbones, did your 24hr bravo capsule/Independence studies show you were in the normal range?
Posted 3/18/2013 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
I had (24 ph test) normal/acceptable acid and non-acid reflux for someone on ppi. My correlation was med/low so I got the hypersensitive label. Carafate seems to help me with the hypersensitive issue.
Posted 3/18/2013 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I take carafate also. It kinda helps. I dilute it with water before I drink it so it coats my throat as it goes down.
Posted 3/18/2013 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
I take the liquid so it coats everything and no need to dilute (I want full strength).
Posted 3/20/2013 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I believe I was mistakenly told that Ihad GERD when really my problem is ANXIETY. I initially presented at my doctor's office with severe stomach knots, nausea, gagging, and occasional vomiting as well. She immediately prescribed a PPI medication for the knots. I never had acid reflux or any acidy feeling, just a clump of tight knots that were making it hard to eat. I was losing weight.
The PPI didn't seem to do anything though I convincedmy doc that it was helping a bit - placebo effect I guess ;)
She told me I had to take the PPI for 2 months straight to get a proper benefit.
My stomach knots still didn't get any better and I was experiencing a life crisis with my employer so my doctor added a second medication - Zoloft an SSRI antidepressant that can also relieve anxiety.
Well, it has miraculously helped my stomach symptoms, to the point where I stopped taking the PPI. However, the side effects from the Zoloft have been pretty miserable (dizzy pressure in my head and grogginess) so I may not take it for much longer despite the relief it's given my stomach. Some people DO get relief without severe side effects so it is worth a try. I am now getting counselling with CBT (Cognitive behavioural Therapy) which is helping both my stomach and other symptoms of anxiety.
Posted 3/20/2013 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure what level of dosage your on for the Zoloft, but I'm currently om 10 mg of nortriptyline and I have no side effects.
Posted 3/20/2013 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
I've tried 25 mg of amitriptyline hcl and that just destroyed me. I would want to sleep for 15 hours a day and the time I was up I would just be walking around in survival mode.
Posted 3/21/2013 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
So does the nortriptyline help your symptoms? How long have you been on it?

I tried 25mg Elavil (amitriptyline) for a good 5 weeks. The first 5 days or so I was tired, but I got used to it. Just recently I tried 12.5 of the Elavil, felt some tiredness but also felt jittery/nervous. I guess I responded better to the higher dose, though neither dose seemed to affect any of my symptoms.
Posted 3/21/2013 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on it just over a week and haven't noticed anything yet. My doctor said it takes 3 to 4 weeks for it to start working in most people.The nice thing is that I don't get any side effects from it.
Posted 3/22/2013 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Doggbones how long did you take the Elavil for? after two or three weeks I didn't feel wiped out in the AM and it did help me. I have a serious cough from this and when I get anxious it sounds like I am dying.
Posted 3/22/2013 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Doggbones how long did you take the Elavil for? after two or three weeks I didn't feel wiped out in the AM and it did help me. I have a serious cough from this and when I get anxious it sounds like I am dying.
Posted 1/1/2015 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
these posts are about a year old now - have any of you seen your symptoms dissipate? I have constant chest pain and have taken heavy PPIs for 3 months now. Motility and Endoscopy were negative. I have not done the pH test people talk about here but I do not believe what I have is reflux as I had reflux before and have Barretts. There is no burning or difficult swallowing, it's literally just pain.

I can't imagine going through life like this as I"m miserable. Does it get better with time? I have not tried anti-Ds yet and my doctor is resistant to doing anything like that so far.
Posted 1/1/2015 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't had much improvement, unfortunately. I still have a sensitive throat and burning tongue.
Posted 1/1/2015 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
mbrad

I'm still around and can honestly say my heartburn problems are pretty much non-existent at the moment. I get it on occasion every so often during the day but it doesn't persist. But it has just been replaced with problems with my stomach and bowels, burning, pain and nausea.

I have been on an anti-depressent for hypersensitivity, Amitriptyline, for about 6 months and it has definitely improved my pain levels. I have ramped up to taking 100mg a day and think it is now causing more problems than its solved though. I am going back to the dr tomorrow and asking to ween down to a small 10mg dose, which is standard for pain treatment. I have problems with constipation and inflammation in my bowels which I can only hope are a result of this drug, as I never had them before. Hopefully when I bring the dosage down they resolve. It will be tricky though, because it affects sleep and my body has adapted to the dose to the point it barely effects my tiredness, so I worry I will have problems sleeping when I come down.

I'd definitely say its worth a shot trying them, after a couple of weeks at low dosage I noticed the difference. But I wouldn't advise to go as high as I have done.

On top of all this I have addressed the anxiety issues I was dealing with as well which also really helped me feel better physically and mentally.

Post Edited (Andy1986) : 1/1/2015 3:57:34 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/2/2015 8:54 AM (GMT 0)
These posts really worry me. During my impedance my symptoms highly improved, so I was diagnosed with hypersensitivity despite 9 reflux episodes at night and 2 Peptest samples saying LPR. Hypersensitivity sounds like a hoax-diagnosis to me, and I cannot see anything but surgery curing me. I'm just miserable... even a cup of water makes the throat lump and foul taste begin, and that's just the light symptoms.
Posted 1/2/2015 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies.

This is what is so weird for me. I don't have a feeling of burning, difficulty swallowing, etc. that you would typically have with GERD and have not had that since taking PPIs before my first endoscopy. I just have chest pain. It seems to vary somewhat based on what I eat but it's not an acute thing (i.e., like I eat something and instantly I'm in extreme pain). I would think that burning and difficulty swallowing would be actual reflux and not hypersensitivity - but I'm no expert.

I've stopped drinking alcohol completely and I used to do smokeless tobacco on an off-and-on basis and have stopped that completely as well. Lately I've even given up caffeine completely. However, it doesn't seem to make much difference with the pain. I think my past bad habits caused the hypersensitivity but it's still weird. Carafate doesn't help much and that makes my doctor think it's something else, but I've been evaluated and my heart is fine. It's definitely an esophageal thing.
Posted 1/3/2015 5:58 AM (GMT 0)
I've been about the same for a year. Maybe a little better, but I think I'm dealing with the anxiety from it a lot better. Both the TIF/Nissen made things worse for me and now I'm just on zantacs 3 times a day with 1800 mg of gabapentin. I've been able to run and lift, which improves my mood, but I still have that annoying breathing issue. I find myself being able to sleep flatter and flatter on my back though. I like that.
Posted 1/3/2015 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Looking back at these threads... So many memories just from this forum haha
Posted 9/21/2015 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
TheSiXness how are you these days? I believe are symptoms are somewhat similar and I was wondering if you have found anything that seems to help. Please let me know.
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