Hello all! Can you all help?

Hi

Welcome to the wonderful world of GERD. I have your exact problems except I am not diabetic. I went back to the doc and she switched me to Nexium because of major swallowing issues. I start that tomorrow because the pharmacy was out of it and had to order more. She also referred me to a GI doc to get a scope (a little scared of that).

GERD affects your whole body not only your stomach and throat.

Have you been scoped yet

I had a big problem with burning throat and not being able to swallow or things would get stuck... I also have Crohn's disease so I can realte to how hard it is to cope with more than disease.

I read somewhere that burping can cause acid reflux. Maybe hiccuping? The basic reasons is that when you burp your LES opens. (The LES, or lower esophagal sphincter, is the "valve" between the esphagus and the stomach that opens to let food in the stomach.) When it opens the chance of acid coming back up increases. Having vomit come up during your sleep time is another sign that this might be what is happening. One of the things my gastro doctor suggested was that I buy an acid reflux pillow. It's a triangular wedge that puts the upper half of your body at an incline. Makes it less likly that acid wouild come back up. I used it for several months but was able to store it in the closet once my condition stabilized.

A doctor really would have to make the acid reflux/ GERD diagnosis. It does sound possible.

Some people have complained that the acid can impact the sinuses. It does mine. For me, it manifests itself as a slightly runny nose and ear congestion that gives me severe headaches. Getting my acid reflux under control has reduced my sinus problems. I didn't have a problem coughing up mucous. That could be a different problem since you are a former smoker. On the other hand, I seem to remember reading other people complain about acid seeming to go up their throat and down into their windpipe. So it's possible. When my acid reflux was severe I also felt like I had a lump in my throat. Very uncomfortable.

You should take the choking incidents seriously. Acid reflux can irritate the esophagus to the pont that it starts to close (called strictures). You risk very serious choking. Ask to see a gastro docctor and get an endoscopic exam done. The doctor can dilate your esophagus, basically stretching it back to its original diameter.

My wife is diabetic and had acid relux / IBS in the past. She went on a reduced carb diet and she has had very few acid relux episodes in the last two years. I'm hesitant to mention this since there have been some major arguments on this board in the past about low carb diets. I am not advocating this for anyone -- just saying she started one since she was diabetic and it had other positive consequences. Her fasting blood sugar is typically in the 100-105 range if she hasn't cheated the night before. (Disclaimer: she has mild Stage 2 and takes oral medication for diabetes but no insulin.)

scoobie. you wont feel a thing but a lot of good will come of it.its called an endoscopy.

Thank you all!

I spoke with my doctor on Tuesday and she confirmed that it is indeed GERD. She also thinks that I might have LPRD. She is starting me on Prevacid (sp???). I will see her again in 30 days.

Thanks again!