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GERD with chestpain

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/18/2010 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I am new to this site. I am 53, female, and started this journey believing i was having a heart attack. Since then, i have been put on prilosec 2x a day, then when it recently became worse i tried nexium. Aside from the cost which is quite a bit even with insurance, it really did nothing for me. i am now on aciphex. it too is pricey. i am having more side effects that cause me more problems than the actual gerd does, such as: itching! and a very heavy malaise: feeling like i am walking in my sleep all day long. also a bit on the nervous tense side. like a coiled spring.

I am seeing my doctor again on Tuesday. I am going to tell him that unless he objects strenously, i want to try to control it with meals that do not trigger pain, ie: belching, burning, chest pain, and also smaller meals throughout the day.

So, what am i missing here?

I would appreciate any insights.

Thanks

Chipwoman

Posted 1/18/2010 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forums!

So am I reading your post correctly that at this point, you have not tried to alter your diet in any sort of way? I also started out just taking medicine, and when the meds didn't work I asked my doctor about altering my diet and he said, "why haven't you tried that already?" lol

Anyways, I believe my chest pains are related to my hiatal hernia, so in addition to avoiding certain foods, things that help my chest pains are standing up or otherwise straightening out my body to avoid putting pressure on my stomach and hernia, try to sit up straight or recline slightly when sitting; avoid slouching and bending over when possibile.

I'm also pretty sure that stress/anxiety makes my chest pains worse!

You can search the forums for more information on diets and GERD triggers, but right now I'm just avoiding the most common GERD triggers until I figure out exactly what foods bother me. So I'm trying to avoid things like alochol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, chocolate, mint, onions, garlic, spicy foods, anything acidic (e.g. tomatoes, citrus). Also, eating smaller meals (and eating more often if necessary) really helps a lot. Another user has found that foods with sulfites cause GERD for them. So you may have to do a bit of experimentation -- try keeping a food diary if you have a hard time narrowing down food triggers.

But it's kind of hard for me to narrow down my exact triggers, because I believe that my meds (Nexium), stress, and diet all work together so it's hard to isolate single triggers!

But good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!
Posted 1/19/2010 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chipwoman,

We're glad you've joined us here at the GERD forum.  This is a great group, and they gave me lots of support, information, and common-sense advice when I was deciding whether or not to go forward with GERD surgery.  They provided me with lots of support as I recovered as well.

I totally know how you feel.  (I think most of us here have experienced the pains you're experiencing.)  I happen to have a very reactive stomach, and it doesn't take much to get it going.  Before surgery, when the acid started pumping (even on PPI's), I would get very painful symptoms--like a lump at the breastbone, and a very burned stomach and esophagus.  I would not be able to eat more than a few spoonfuls of very mild (egg custard, my favorite) comfort food.  It took months to get myself healed and back to normal.

If you're having that much trouble, I'd hesitate to stop the PPI's...watching your diet can help, but you'll be in for a bad time, even with being careful, I suspect.

GeekGirl gave you a great list of trigger foods that you need to stay away from.  Smaller, more frequent meals may help as well.  If you're careful AND take the PPI's, you might find some relief.  However, if your LES is fairly wide open and letting acid out, (which can be made even worse by a hiatal hernia), you may still have some intermittent heartburn.

I'm glad you're going to your doctor for a recheck and conversation.  Good luck with finding an answer to your problems!  Let us know how it goes.

Take care,

Denise

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