GERD/Functional Dyspepsia

Hi all,

My freshman year of high school I was diagnosed with GERD and now I am a sophomore in college. Since my diagnosis, I have tried every type of acid reducing medicine, have had two endoscopies, and have tried low dosages of anti-depressants to numb the nerves in my stomach. Currently, I am on 20 mg of Elavil at night, and take Prevacid when I wake up in the morning and before dinner. My stomach issues have always been bad but this year they have gotten to the point where I can't function. My usual symptoms are racing heart, burning stomach, nausea, gagging feeling in the back of my throat, and the feeling of liquid washing into the back of my throat. I have decided to give up gluten to see if that helps at all and have started acupuncture and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). I exercise everyday and eat a balanced diet. At this point I'm just really at a loss of what to do anymore. If anyone has similar symptoms or has gone through a similar experience I would love to know how you dealt with it.

http://www.inspire.com/CAGU/journal/ppi-warning-gastroparesis-delayed-gastric-emptying-proton-pump-inhibitor/

sburne97. Glad you stopped by our forum. I'm sorry that you are feeling so bad. Have a suggestion for you,-- consider not exercising for a while-- try for a month-- as exercise has an effect on the diaphragm and valve that will allow the reflux to rise up even more. This might allow some healing to occur in your stomach and throat and lessen the nausea.

You mention a balanced diet. I suggest that you stop acid foods like tomato foods in pasta, pizza, Mexican spicy foods and avoid carbonated beverages, soda, beer,-- again to facilitate healing. This will help nausea. Be gentle on yourself. You may already be doing this with your food choices. Our doctor said to eat like you should have been eating before the illness started. Make a lifestyle change regarding food-- it's worth it.

Also, don't go to bed with food in your tum. Plan to stop eating 3 hours before bed time and sleep in a bed that has its head raised up on blocks. This will help keep any reflux and stomach contents in the stomach and not up in the throat area.

Did your doctor give you an eating plan to follow and did he give you specific medication times such as take the PPI 30-40 minutes before breakfast so that the acid pumps are stopped before food enters.

There are several books on GERD and LPR available that suggest alternatives (we got from public library, probably university library has them too).
Please see your doctor for help. we found it very helpful to keep a diary of foods eaten and how you felt with times written down. Show this to the doctor. You will learn 'triggers' that will tell you what to avoid and the doctor may see patterns.

Good luck with your classes. Be kind to you and wish that you lessen the stress that this illnes brings. Pat