Hi everyone and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I'm a 55 year old male in otherwise good health. I retired from business in 2005 and did renovation work for 2 years. I quit that and am currently seeking certification as a Technical Writer. I have a 5 year working history in medical laboratory technology, so medical precepts and terminology are not new to me.
My heartburn hit me in March of 2008 and was sudden onset. I've been through every test in the book including the following:
- Routine blood work
- CT colonograph
- Thyroid ultrasound
- Exercise EKG
- Echo cardiogram
- Carotid ultra-sound
- H.Pylori serology x 2
- Occult blood x 3
I have an endoscope booked for April 16/09. My symptoms include stomach burning, heart burn in the upper oesophagus with referred pain to my back, and a lump in the throat after eating certain foods and hot/cold drinks. Sometimes I get what appears to be cardiac pain but none of the other ugly symptoms associated with a full cardiac event. The family doctor tried me on the regular stuff: Prevacid, Domperidome, Zantac, Losec, and Gaviscon. These PPI drugs eliminate the immediate problem but then digestion goes wrong. I am off them now because I was getting terrible dizzy spells. I still get the odd ones but the surgeon says that happens with GERD, as a result of vagus nerve stimulation. My consult with the surgeon was typical. He's going ahead with the scope but is sure he won't find anything. I think he wants a baseline look at my tissues in case crap happens later. He also wanted me to double my Prevacid intake! Here's my thoughts on all this:
- I sometimes wonder if the contrast agent used in my CT colonograph caused a radical shift in bowel flora, causing gases to form, which are playing havoc with my LES function.
- Since we middle aged folks tend to produce lesser amounts of gastric HCL, why would you inhibit the digestion further with PPIs? Personally I think my GERD is more a form of indigestion (from reduced HCL), which overwhelms the LES' ability to stay closed. I've heard that the lump in the throat is actually caused by a malfunction in the LES. The UES is neurologically linked to the LES so when the LES fails, the UES tries to compensate and that, is the lump feeling.
- I'm finding that there are some definite food triggers. Food quantities seem to be a factor as well. My appetite is good and my weight is steady. I love to eat but can't put away the amounts I used to.
- From 2005-2007, I worked really hard, physically. Now I'm in front of a computer all day. When I was working, I was spending calories like a teenager. Now I'm sedentary in comparison. I eat and the food just stays. (I read someone's post about this and found it interesting.)
- The onset of this problem seems concurrent with reduced activity and the CT colonograph.
Now, I'm all ears and eagerly await any comments. I think that identifying the dietary triggers and perhaps taking some form of digestive aid, would help. I have been to a naturopath and he tried me on Gentian, a parietal cell stimulator and it seemed to help. His idea is that the reduced output of HCL causes the LES to become lazy. By stimulating HLC, you re-program the LES to function normally again. So, I think we're on the same page. He too, disagrees with prolonged PPI usage.
Many thanks....Lee