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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 4/11/2006 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone!

 

This is my first posting ever and I would just like to say that I have been reading all of your messages and am very comforted by the fact there are people with the EXACT same problems as me.

 

I am a newbie to this site and GERD. I am 24, and have had two minor stomach issues in the past, but was stricken with serious GERD on April 5, 2006. The worst part: I am completing my MA overseas, in Scotland. I have no supports.

 

My lifestyle has not been great as of late. I am perfect weight, and eat relatively well, but I think the eating after 10PM, school stress, coffee for lunch, spicy foods and sit-ups caught up with me.

 

I went to two doctors here in Edinburgh, b/c I didn't want to take any medication, but both recommended...wait for it...PPIs. I know this is a sensitive topic, but I'm giving it a go. I was in a huge amount of pain on the 5th and 6th, so both docs said I should start with the Big Guns.

 

Anyway...I have been on them for six days and am feeling much better. Although I did have a slight relapse tonight after dinner. I am planning a major lifestyle shift...so my only concern now is getting off the PPIs. I'm really scared!

 

Hope to get to know you all better soon!

 

ABCD

 

Posted 4/12/2006 11:14 AM (GMT 0)
scool  PS...do any of you know whether an endoscopy shows whether surgery may be a viable option (state of the LES)? Or does it just show damage?

 

I have only had GERD for a month and am already considering surgery! Take THAT LES!

 

Alex

Posted 4/12/2006 12:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hi and welcome!

I'm a 27 yr old GERD sufferer and live in the UK also. 

You can be assured that you will get lots of support on here and I will be happy to give my e-mail address. I know what studying away from home is like.

The endoscopy will show if there are any problems.I think surgery is a very last option and in my experience, you have to have suffered for years like a friend of mine in his 40s. He had a weak LES. Even then, the surgery is not always successful.

You do need to focus on your diet and try to be stress-free as much as possible. This will be a start anyway. I am a newly qualified teacher and have had lots of time off work due to GERD.I believe my degree course and stress/diet caused the problem.

I am weaning myself off PPI's at present. So far, so good!

Good luck

Posted 4/13/2006 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
I would just be careful with the PPI's. I think they are good to get you healed up, but if you stay on them long term your body will learn to need them. In my case they seemed to make me feel worse after taking them for a long time. When I first started feeling the GERD if I would have changed my diet a lot of my current problems probably would have never happened.
Posted 4/13/2006 9:12 AM (GMT 0)
Ya...from what I have gathered, it seems that the sooner you get off the PPIs and hit the source (diet, surgery, etc) the better. I have heard of people weaning themselves off PPIs by, say, taking them every second day (with H2s), but does anyone know if slowly reducing the dosage works? I have capsules that can be opened and the dosage decreased (by pouring some out).

 

Alex

Posted 4/13/2006 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
I started on a 20mg tablet and now take only half of that a day. This seems to be the correct dosage for me. Any more or less and I feel bad. Skipping days though isn't good, I think a steady and consistent decrease is better on the body.

Posted 4/24/2006 8:50 AM (GMT 0)
Update!

 

I have now been taking PPIs for three weeks and am not entirely satisfied with the results (like most of us on this site). My esophagal pain is gone, it did help with this, but I am still experiencing GERD symptoms on a daily basis. The most common are dry, sore-ish throat in the morning, chest aches, minor burning after certain foods and feelings of fullness after eating very little.

 

I'm freaking out because I'm young and new to all of this, and NOT willing to put up with this for years, let alone a lifetime. I'm already thinking about surgery and other procedures.

 

The stretta procedure sounds intriguing.

 

http://heartburn.about.com/cs/articles/a/stretta.htm

Does anyone know about this? Has anyone had it done?!?

 

Alex

Posted 5/28/2006 5:23 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Artful,

One of two things may be happening:

1. Your PPI is not working well enough. Some people need to switch to something more effective. In my case it was from Prilosec to Protonix.

2. Your diet has not changed enough and it's still hurting your gastro tract. I got off everything but water, fruit, whole graons, vegetables, chicken and fish for a while. This really helped me. Your tummy has to rest.

Please check with your doc, something isn't right.

Posted 5/28/2006 10:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Artful. My name is Lee from the UK. You may be away from home, but you have my support whilst here in our country. Drop me a line. My email address is available to you. I have recently posted a message. I hope you heal well. Lee

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