Misdiagnosed with LPR- and now I have GERD issues. Help!

I'm going to try and keep this short- back in the wintertime, I was exposed to an enormous amount of aspergillus mold spores. This caused a cascade of symptoms (mostly respiratory) that we attempted to treat with inhalers. Before long, I was constantly clearing my throat (which I was pretty sure was due to the flovent inhaler, as I had used it before, and had had the same issue with it then). I was referred to an ENT, where they discovered contact ulcers on my vocal cords they claimed was from throat-clearing due to LPR. Not wanting to jump on a PPI due to fear of having to wean, I began taking gaviscon advance (the UK version) and 3-4 Zantac a day. Now mind you- at this point I have zero digestive issues. Very rare backwash, zero heartburn, no issues eating whatsoever. A month of this and I develop a chronic sore throat. Primary doc refers me to a gastro, they do an EGD and discover mild Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Gastro insists I try the PPI. So, I start taking OTC Nexium 24hr. At this point I develop tons of burping during and after eating, but that's about it- for the first two weeks. By the third week I am having the burping, daily acid reflux, and diarrhea so I stop taking the Nexium and, while that helped the diarrhea my gastro issues are just getting worse. Painful pressure on my throat with incessant burping, acid reflux constantly and aching behind the sternum- I suppose this is legit "heartburn" which until now I have never had to deal with, ever. I take Prelief when I eat, tums as much as I can and zantac before bed so that I can sleep without waking up on fire but it only seems to be getting worse, not better and I've been off the Nexium for three weeks now.

All I want is to get my system back to the way that it was prior to being told I had LPR and taking all of these drugs for issues I did not have- but now I do. I am eating much less, I'm very limited in what I even can eat at this point so as not to trigger debilitating symptoms.

Any advice? :/

Hi Gunner-my story is very similar to yours. I never had all of these issues and didn't know what heartburn even felt like before I tried to wean off omeprazole (Prilosec). I, like you, just want my old self and life back. Why do doctors prescribe this medication without knowing anything for sure?

I am very very similar, Gunner. I had a sore throat and a little nausea. I did have some trouble here and there coughing on my water sips. I had heartburn a couple times, but nothing major.

Then he told me to take Prilosec and after less than a week on it, I got worse. Tons of burping and BLOATING, daily and now DAILY heartburn pain. (pain behind my sternum). It's taken over my life.

So I switched to Zantac and tums, but the burping continues. The heartburn is a bit better, but still there failing. More of an aching throb behind my sternum. I had gas pains for a few days (like a swift stab) in my upper left abdomen. I don't know if it's side effects from the medication or GERD.

My throat is much better. No more choking on water or soreness or pain. But the heartburn, burping and bloating is still present. This is going on 6 weeks now. I am going to get an endoscopy on Monday.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but sharing that I too got worse right after trying the PPI. I fell your pain, literally, and wish I could go back to where I was.