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Has anyone had GERD/GERD symptoms for decades?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 2/16/2015 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
As I approach my decade of having GERD (still a few years away), I feel like a veteran. As a relatively young GERD sufferer (31 yrs old), it still boggles my mind how it could be expected that I will live a normal lifespan, which by default would include about 60+ years of GERD.

Anyone out there with decades of reflux and symptoms? Did you know of anyone ahead of you on the curve, and did that help you cope? Were you ever pessimistic about reaching the age that you are now due to GERD issues?
Posted 2/18/2015 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Is there an echo in here?
Posted 2/18/2015 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
Okay, ARM...no echoes!

I took PPIs for nearly 20 years before my surgery. During that time, my symptoms gradually increased until my lungs became so affected that I had no choice but try surgery.

I don't think it's a bit uncommon to deal with GERD for several decades, unfortunately.

Sorry you continue to struggle. Hope things improve for you!

Hang in there,
Denise
Posted 2/18/2015 9:30 AM (GMT 0)
I have continuous Heartburn. It seemed to have diminished. However, I am on the last day of the H PAC for h-pylori. I have very bad constipation and hemorrhoids. I have been using Preparation H and Metamucil. Today I used a corticoid suppository, that the doctor had prescribed several months ago. Tonight after taking the Metamucil, my heartburn was so severe (pain in chest), I took two TUMS. This relieved the Heartburn, but will it affect the H PAC therapy? I am so worried about bacteria and everything that I cannot even sleep well, though I am so tired, I fall asleep various times during the day. Can anyone give me advise?
Posted 2/18/2015 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
acidrefluxman:

I've suffered from GERD all of my adult life, and I'm 53. It's not unusual for a person to struggle with GERD for many years. I was on multiple PPIs and suffered from recurrent asthma and bronchitis prior to my NF surgery. Interestingly enough, it was my pulmonary doctor that suggested that I see a surgeon about the NF because he felt that the asthma was a direct result of my GERD. I had the surgery in April of 2014 and haven't looked back since.
Posted 2/19/2015 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
I'm currently 36 and have suffered from GERD since I was about 16. I took over the counter remedies for years. Now I take omeprazole and have no symptoms. If I wean off the heartburn comes back with a vengeance. I'm trying to avoid surgery if possible.
Posted 2/19/2015 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I'm past 70 and had GERD before some of the newer treatments were invented. Way back, there was nothing but Tums. Then there was Zantac, which was fine for a long time.

I took PPIs for many years and lived happily with non-acid reflux. Then, 10 years ago, I figured out the refluxing/heaving was being triggered by specific food sensitivities and got rid of that with the help of my allergist. My LES was still bad, but I was happy enough, until I was in an accident and HAD to have surgery.
Posted 2/19/2015 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
ARM and others:

I have had the same thoughts. I approached my decade with this issue recently and although I have figured a few things out and things have improved for me, it scares me to think that I will have to deal with this the rest of my life. What keeps me going is the hope that they invent a drug or other treatment (minus surgery because I am trying avoid that) that will help tighten the LES or help keep it from opening up when it should not. I have to hope that there will be better options for all of us in the future so that we do not have to live on restricted diets, on medications and other lifestyle modifications that impact our quality of life. As for now, I try and stay in the present and take each day as it comes. Some days I feel pretty good other days I have issues for no reason. I don't understand it, I think I have accepted that sometimes things do not make sense with GERD.
Posted 2/19/2015 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I did not even know that there was a surgery for GERD.. I have suffered the symptoms since my early 20's. It seems to come and go. Now with the H PAC Therapy for h-pylori, it is again at its worse. What is NF surgery and what does LES stand for? I am not familiar with any of these terms. I know that I have a hiatus hernia. Liquid come up into my mouth when least expected. Only a few weeks ago, I had to give up tea, primarily because of this. I seemed to always happen when I was laying down and relaxed But the pain in the chest is the worst thing as it feels like I am having a heart attach. But Tums helps, so I know it isn't a heart attach.
Posted 2/20/2015 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Manny, what is PPI? Also what is Barret? I know the antibiotics that I took for the h-pylori has made the symptoms that I had from GERD very bad. I have burning in the stomach and esophagus also pain in the chest. It is terrible. I also am constipated from the treatment, which is making everything even worse. I have pain in the stomach. I am using yoghurt and bran to help with the constipation so it is relieving the pain in the stomach, but the burning in the esophagus is terrible. I took some Ranitidine. It is helping a bit.
Posted 2/22/2015 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Manny, I had to use Prevacid while on the antibiotics. I was on Losec at one point, a long time ago, but I stopped everything and only used Tums or Ranitidine when at my worst. Those seemed to help, plus I take apple cider vinegar every day.
Thank you for the explanations. I am very unfamiliar with different acronyms and terminology. You are very kind.
Posted 2/22/2015 10:57 AM (GMT 0)

Alcie said...
I'm past 70 and had GERD before some of the newer treatments were invented. Way back, there was nothing but Tums. Then there was Zantac, which was fine for a long time.

I took PPIs for many years and lived happily with non-acid reflux. Then, 10 years ago, I figured out the refluxing/heaving was being triggered by specific food sensitivities and got rid of that with the help of my allergist. My LES was still bad, but I was happy enough, until I was in an accident and HAD to have surgery.

Hi Alcie

How did you go about finding your food intolerances? I suspect I have some, and I have found some problem foods through trial and error but it has taken years before I realised, I'd like to figure it all out properly once and for all.

What happens when you eat foods you're intolerant to? Do you get instant heartburn or is it more of a gradual build up? How long do you have to eliminate the food for before you see an improvement in your symptoms?
Posted 2/27/2015 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
I am 75 and was first diagnosed as having a possible hiatal Hernia in 1967. There was no disease called GERD or reflux in those days. They also didn't have any of the modern tests--just an upper GI. Furthermore thay didn't have PPI's nor laproscopic surgery. If the hernia was bad enough, they had to remove ribs, spread the remaining ribs apart and then move the heart, lungs and other "innerds" in order to get at the hiatus. At the time, I read about the surgery in a book entitled "Intern" by Dr. X. I knew that because of the extreme nature of the surgery, it would have to be a last resort. So they prescribed Donatol and Tums.

After a few months on the Donatol, I deployed to Vietnam and just learned to live with the symptoms. Because of the deployment, I was away from many of the foods that triggered the attacks and most of the symptoms went away. When I would return to "civilzation" I went right back to the old diet and I would have heartburn again. I knew what foods triggered it and for about forty years I would either eat them or not--depending if I was willing to face a night of reflux. Finally in 2012, I had a major lung abscess and required a long treatment of strong antibiotics to cure it. During the course of treatment, I told the Doctor about the many times I would wake up coughing up reflux and we determined that the abscess was probably cause by inhalation of reflux.
The Doctor then referred me to the Surgeon who ordered all the tests and told me about the modern laproscopic surgery. I had no idea..........

I had my surgery 13 March of 2013 and was recovered enough within four weeks to begin playing tennis again on a daily basis. By July of that year, I was back playing in tennis tournaments. To date there is nothing that I cannot eat and I haven't had to use PPI's or antiacids since the date of the operation.

As with all my replys, I don't visit this site on a regular basis anymore. I would be happy to answer any questions or offer encouragement if you want to E-mail me at the address in my HealingWell profile
Posted 2/28/2015 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Retired Seabee. I too have a hiatal Hernia that was diagnosed years ago. Rather thank have surgery, I have just been living with the condition. Sometimes it is OK and sometimes not so OK. I have been having a great deal of reflux lately. The doctor did blood tests and found that I had H-Pylori and put me on antibiotics. called H Pac. It is triple antibiotics twice a day. Since then, the heartburn has been worse than ever. I don't know what to do. I have not only been suffering with that, but I also have been having constipation problems. I feel awful! I see the doctor on Monday. I don't even know where to begin. Thank you for sharing your amazing story.
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