Hello Everyone! I am glad that I found a forum because I feel confused and I'm hoping to find answers.
My GERD Timeline:
170lbs, And been under a lot of stress with full time University and 2 kids.
-Had burning acid reflux while pregnant with second child (Child is now 13 months old). I would get acid reflux with everything I ate or drank. It burned up my esophagus.
-Gone after birth of child
- about
a month ago, I noticed it seemed like I was giving an extra gulp occationally to get food past just under adams apple. Felt pressure and lump there.
-Had some regurgitation but not acidic like when I was pregnant. Just like a couple burps of food after I ate certain things.
-Went to the doctor after a couple of days of this. They prescribed Aciphex (ppi). I've been on it for 4 weeks now. If I drink coffee, it really acts up.
- I notice after a day of eating badly (coffee etc), I will have a day where it seems like occational small bits of food are sticking to my throat. Not for long, but it sometimes takes an extra gulp or drinking some fluids. Also, I got a peice of raspberry going down really slow (ate it without water) and felt it slow down right by my wind pipe. This gave me such bad anxiety...to the point of overlooking everything I ate "did that get unusally stuck? Or is that how it normally goes down".
-I have the whole lump and pressure feeling where my upper sphincter would be (between colar bones). And lots of burping helps. When I bend over sometimes, food wants to come back up.
-No sore throat, voice issues, weight loss (yet), sometimes throat feels tight.
Some questions I am hoping people might know the answer to:
1. Why all of a sudden do both of my sphincters relax after eating and food comes up? Does something cause them to? Why is it still happening with PPI?
2. Why am I having troubles swallowing? Could I have already caused esphagitis or Barretts in such a short time?
3. Is it normal for symptoms to come on so sudden? LIke all of a sudden I have all of these issues, seemed fine a month ago.
4. What causes excess pressure or gas in my throat? It feels like it's trapped at my upper sphincter? Could the reflux cause a spasm of some sort and that's what I'm feeling?
5. Sometimes if I eat a small piece of food it seems to go down like honey (slowly) and require extra gulps. Is this a gerd symptom? Or could I have Achalasia?
I go for a Dr appointment for a Barium Swallow in the near future but these questions keep running through my head. I feel quite anxious especially after the berry incident. Any help is appreciated
Thanks Everyone!