New Member - Frustrated with results

Hi all! I posted an introduction in the New Members thread. I'm happy to have found this website.

I had my endoscopy last week and it went well. The doc passed a dialator through, hoping that this would ease my symptoms. I think he was expecting to find a stricture but didn't see any. While I'm delighted that there was no damage to my esophagus, I feel like I've hit a brick wall. I was told to wait for a few weeks and if my symptoms persist, he will do a stomach emptying test. He thinks that it's a functional problem with my esophagus/stomach, which is possible since I have IBS. Meanwhile, I'm still suffering from constant reflux and sore throat.

Something I've been discussing with my husband is the fact that the dr seemed to focus on the dysphagia, which I sometimes experience, rather than the refulx and sore throat, which is almost constant. Maybe this is because of the IBS.

How long do you have to suffer from heartburn before esophageal damage is visible?

So now I'm just waiting to see if there is any improvement, although there isn't so far. I guess that's all I can do.  

Acid reflux can normally be removed from the body with some simple home remedies. I know first hand that this can happen. I had acid reflux for many years and I tried every prescription drugs with no relief. I am a truck driver who's diet consisted of anything I could get my hands on . The life of a trucker is hard on the body and our diet consist of fast foods and foods with no nutritional value. If you find yourself eating out a lot , you are probably eating acidic foods. The key to getting rid of the acid reflux is finding a balance in your body . The first thing I did was to colon cleanse for three months . The second thing I did was to make a list of all the foods that caused me pain ( red sauces, alcohol , spicy foods..... ) . Today, I am not bothered by acid reflux and I can enjoy everything that I want to eat . If you want some relief , find your local GNC store and get some apple cider vinegar . Apple cider vinegar at GNC is not the same as the junk vinegar found in the grocery store . The vinegar at GNC is organic and is still with its mother. The process at which they make this vinegar has ash in it and is very,very healthy for you . Once you take this vinegar you will feel the relief right away . One last thing, you need to be careful when taking synthetic drugs. I am sure you have noticed that every time you get a prescription filled, their is a list of side effects . These side effects may affect you later in life. The biggest of these is fibromyalgia . In my eyes this is an over accumulation of chemicals in your body . Do it the natural way. If you don't , you will be sorry . Think to yourself , how long have you been going to the doctors and still no relief .

Greeneyes,

You may want to schedule a followup with an ENT (ear/nose/throat) doctor.

I have had two upper GI scopes, both of which came back with absolutely no indication of reflux. My specialist even told me that there was no reason whatsoever for me to continue taking the Nexium my PCP had prescribed.

A throat scope by my ENT, however, told a very different story. Damage to my larynx is entirely consistent with LPR (reflux into the throat) as are all my other symptoms. The GI scope doesn't begin looking around until the camera gets past your larynx, so the GI doctor saw no problems - not surprising since I've never had any of the "typical" GERD symptoms such as heartburn. My shortness of breath and a bit of a sore and swollen throat were always my biggest complaints, similar to what you describe.

I was very glad I decided to get another opinion and encourage others to do the same.

percycat