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Just diagnosed today. Please give me assurance...

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 3/20/2007 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
That this will get better. I'm 27, male and also have IBS. I've never had any symptoms of acid reflux prior to yesterday. All of a sudden, however, I am completely miserable. I went to a clinic today, was diagnosed, and was prescribed Protonix. Hopefully that will help soon.

What I'm most curious about is, how painful can GERD be? I'm having pains in my chest/midsection anywhere from 1-2 mins to every fifteen minutes, pretty much non-stop for the last 2 days. The pain "builds," within a 5 to 10 second range and then goes away. On a scale from 1 to 10, one being poked with a nerfball and ten being stabbed, the pain I'm experiencing is a 9.8. I was only able to get perhaps 2 hours of sleep last night, between pains. I work and go to school full time, and can't imagine functioning with the pain that I'm experiencing. Hopefully someone out there can give me some assurance. Thanks.

Posted 3/20/2007 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
CruJones,

The protonix should help quite a bit but it will anywhere from 2 to 4 days. Hang in there and let us know how it goes.

Tummytuck
Posted 3/21/2007 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, the medicine should help if it's acid reflux. In the meantime you can take Maalox and stuff like that to help you get through. In fact, even after the protonix takes effect I think you can still take the Maalox as needed. I'm not familiar with Protonix so ask your pharmacist first.

You can also raise the head of your bed six inches or a foot, and that should help the acid from getting up into your esophagus.

It seems unusual to me that acid reflux would come on so suddenly, though. How was it diagnosed? If you don't get better pretty soon, it may be necessary for them to stick the camera down your throat. It's painless and is a really great diagnostic instrument.
Posted 3/22/2007 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure either person came out and stated it specifically, so I will: yes, the pain can be REALLY bad. The pain seems to start around the breast bone and just spread. I feel sore all over my chest, shoulders, etc. I'm absolutely miserable when it's really bad.

I don't have IBS, so I can't comment to the interaction. However, I had really bad acid reflux over a year ago. It's a mild annoyance now when I forget to watch what I eat. Yes, it can get better. I don't say it will -- obviously it depneds on your situation. I agree with the others. You should see your regular doctor and consider a gastro doctor who might decide to scope you.

Good luck.
Posted 3/22/2007 6:30 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, assurance is nice. We all could use it at times. This crap comes and goes as far as I am concerned. Good luck.
Posted 3/23/2007 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I never really had what I'd call a lot of pain from reflux, but there were occasions that I did. If you compared it to getting hit by a bus or something it's not that bad, but it's certainly bad enough. Finding the proper medicine that works for you is important...it'll keep you from being in really, really bad pain.

But yeah, it can get better. Sometimes it seems to get better for a while on its own for no apparent reason. Conversely, it can get worse in much the same way.

I just started being treated for anxiety/panic disorder and my GERD symptoms have decreased to almost nothing. For now, at least.

GERD isn't a comfortable disease but it's nothing you can't manage. There are far worse things to have. You'll be fine...just have patience.
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