gerd symptoms return?

Hello Camelot...welcome to healingwell. I am sorry you are feeling so lousy!!! I am confused as to the kind of pain you are seeking help on. Are you talking upper abdominal pain? Here are some tips on making GERD pain less...I am not sure if this is what you are looking for... Avoid certain foods which trigger highly acidic digestive conditions such as citrus fruits, spicy foods and heavy dairy foods. These are harder to digest and can lead to an over production of acid in your stomach. Eating late at night is also something that should be avoided, as the instant you lay down to go to sleep, the only thing keeping digestive acids out of your esophagus is your lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which will open to allow gases produced during digestion to escape (when you burp) and if you are lying down, this ‘burp’ will likely be an acid bath. Foods to avoid are... citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. These foods are high in acids and can cause heartburn. More acid in your stomach means a greater chance of painful and debilitating heart burn. Tomatoes and cranberries should also be avoided for the same reasons. Foods that are high in fat content should also be reduced, as should dairy. These heavy foods take much longer to digest, produce more gas during digestion and require more acid to do the job. Avoid caffeine in all of its forms. This means no less coffee, tea and soda! Coffee and soda are especially acidic in nature and can lead to serious heartburn complications. Don’t overeat! More stomach real estate taken up by food means less room for digestive acids and a higher risk of reflux. I hope these are the kind of suggestions you are looking for here!!! If I haven't answered your questions, please, don't hesitate to tell me that I am way off track...LOL. Stay with us, keep posting, and lets get you feeling better. Again, welcome to healingwell!

Hi Camelotsmith,

I have found that if I have a cold followed by sinus infection or any kind of upper respiratory infection I always get the symptoms you just described.  My doctor said it was due to sinus drainage sitting in the stomach resulting in more acid being secreted.  My doctor suggested that at the first sign of sinus or respiratory symptoms to start taking the medications for GERD (in my case it is to increase the meds).  I currently take 1 protonix daily.  When I get the respiratory problems I add a zanatc (with doctors approval).  In addition to that I use a neti pot and perform a sinus rinse with salt and warm water.  This helps dry us the drainage so that less of it goes into my stomach.  So far, it seems to be working.

Marburg

camelotsmith said...
Hi,

I used to take prevacid for a long time until May when I no longer needed it. about 4 weeks ago, I came down with a viral respiratory illness. Then I got a bacterial sinus infection for which the dr gave me amoxicilan. then it went into my lungs. I finally got rid of all that around sun night- mon am. Then I started having alot of upper right abdominal pain. Sometimes it goes around to the back. I also have shortness of breath that comes and goes along with chest pain/pressure that comes and goes.

I was awakened in the the middle of last night by abdominal pain. this was followed by a stabbing pain to the right side of my head. this pattern repeated twice more. had to use a phenergan suppository. still having the abdominal pain which is always there to varying degrees. It does generally get worse within an hour or two of eating anything. chocolate has become especially painful.

I just picked up a new script for prevacid. I had an abdominal ultrasound today. I haven't heard from the dr yet but the tech said he had no concerns. All my blood work and urinalysis have come back normal.

Dr is going to do an upper endoscopy on the 29th.

Does anyone have any suggestions for pain relief? Extra strength tylenol and ibuprofen don't do any good. I can't take tylenol 3 because I am sensitive to it. My dr unfortunately is out of town until Monday. He said to go to er if pain becomes unbearable.  I tend not to go to the er though. It is 30 mins away and I don't always have access to a driver.

Camelot