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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 4/12/2010 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'm new here...my first post!

I'll start from the beginning, I'm a healthy 26 yo female.

In Nov. I started having a pain on the right side of my throat ( where the top my larnyx is ) only when swallowing saliva. With occassional pain/fullness in right ear. I had this for 3 months and no docs. could figure out what it was. RIGHT, when that stopped, I started noticing when I lay down, I have what I would describe as a gurgling/bubbeling sensation and sound coming up my esophagus/throat. And food feels like its traveling slowley down my esophagus. It doesnt get stuck but when I drink water it makes it go right down. Its random foods, once I felt I could trace a grain of rice all the way down. The past three days I've been having consistant dull pain on both sides of my sternum. If I pick up my babies or stretch, turning the right way It almost feels like needles are poking. ALSO, Ive notices a few times if I drink something REALLY cold, I feel like 2 little 'spasms' right below my rib cage.

Ive been to several doctors, including 3 ENT docs. Ive gotten an ultrasound of the neck and a CT scan. Both come up with nothing. The last doc said it sounds like symptoms of GERD and Ive been taking Nexium for a little over a month. I do have occassional reflux but can all of that REALLY be symptoms? My GP has referd me to a GI doctor, which I do plan on going but with 4 months of medical bills from all of the other doctors, I can't afford to yet.

Do these symptoms resemble GERD? Has anyone had any of this? I drive myself NUTS daily trying to figure this out. And my mind (and google) goes to the most horrible places.

Any help please!? sad

Posted 4/12/2010 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Richmond,
Welcome to Healing Well!
Yes, the symptoms you're describing have been linked GERD. Of course I'm not a doctor, so I can't tell you what's going on with you, but if you search through posts here, you 'll find others who have written similar posts.

You can have GERD without actual "heartburn symptoms"--it's called "silent GERD". The esophagus symptoms you''re describing sound like GERD related symptoms.

You DEFINITELY need to see a GI doctor. Try not to worry. Even people who have Barrett's Esophagus (pre-cancerous) can manage fine and it can be treated with medication only.

Try to relax and not worry too much. Many here have experienced what you're experiencing. The more you stress, the more symptoms you'll have. It's hard to do, but you'll be rewarded by feeling better.

Be sure to make an appointment with a GI doctor soon. It generally takes weeks or months to get an initial appointment, so even if you're not ready to go yet, you should line up the appointment. Hopefully your primary care physician can recommend a fine GI doctor who will listen openly to your symptoms.

You're in the right place. I'm sure that others will be by soon to share their experiences and support. Good luck in your search for an answer. You will get to the bottom of it. Hang in there!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 4/12/2010 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like Silent Gerd to me, too.
I understand the medical bills piling up, too.
Many doctors are willing to work with you on billing.

Joy
Posted 4/13/2010 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
That you guys so much for your fast responses! It's comforting knowing that I'm not the only one with these symptoms! Do you know what it is about GERD that makes your food feel like its traveling slow?

 I agree that the stress about all of this IS making things worse! And the internet can be your worst nightmare sometimes. After hours and hours of google, Ive pretty much convinced myself I have a serious disease or cancer!

I forgot to mention that when I bend over, I feel a real heaviness in my chest!

Posted 4/13/2010 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
A hiatial hernia can make you feel your food and give you the heavy feeling.

Have you propped your head of your bed up yet? It can help.

Joy
Posted 4/13/2010 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi richmond,
my first piece of advise to you is: STOP searching the Internet IMMEDIATELY!!!! It is full of horror stories that only a small fraction of the population experiences.

Your symptoms are pretty much the perfect description of silent GERD or IBS. If you do not have gas, bloating, flatulence, constipation/diarrhea, I would say it is GERD (of course, I am no doctor).

You will need to see a good GI and they will most likely do an edoscopy or barium swallow. This is all good. If you do get a positive diagnosis for GERD, your next step is to understand why you have it. Too many doctors jump to prescribing PPIs or surgery and then you wind up in a viscous cycle of taking more PPIs (eventually they stop working). Try to find a GI that will investigate the source of your GERD (do you have a history of antibiotic use? Are you going through a stressful time? Do you have gas/bloating? Do you feel like vomiting/nausea? How is your diet?). I have listed several reasons for GERD in my thread "A Story of Recovery." Most of those causes are completely healable using natural remedies (I listed some of them in my posts to others).

In the meantime, as mentioned above, sleep with a propped pillow. Eat simple meals (steamed veggies, soups, replace cow with goat milk, no white rice or white sugar, etc). Take a digestion enzyme (I like Digest Gold by Enzymatics) with every meal. Try Aloe Vera to heal your throat, Valerian to relax, and/or ginger tea to settle your stomach (depending on your symptoms and what you feel will work). My mom used active charcoal tablets for a month to absorb excess acidity at night.

Most importantly, relax! I know tons of people who have gotten rid of their GERD - many of them did it naturally.

I wish you the best of luck and let us know how it goes!!!
Posted 4/13/2010 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Richmond-
Welcome to our little world! Please don't just prop your pillow....this causes more pressure on the LES. You have to incline the whole bed by raising the head of it. I also agree that you have the very familiar symptoms a lot of us have or have had. Sure sounds like GERD.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 4/13/2010 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all soo much! Last night I was able to prop my bed about 2.5 inches. Do you think thats enough?

I have started diet change but eat fairly healthy anyway. I gave up my glass of wine at night but with two small kids, I can't seem to kick my one cup of coffee!

 I first started feeling reflux when I was pregnant with my now 9 month old. Maybe it just stuck with me. OR its my glass of wine?! I do have nausea almost half of my day. And have noticed that I have formed a gag reflex that is brought on by NOTHING! I take Nexium but sometimes think it makes things worse than it does better.

Can I ask what propping the bed does?

THanks again everyone. You have really put my mind at ease!

Posted 4/13/2010 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Richmond-
That's a start, but you may have to a bit higher. It helps keep the stomach acid and such down using gravity.

take care,
Bill
Posted 4/13/2010 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
Try a low acid coffee if you must have it.

Joy
Posted 4/13/2010 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Richmond,
I'm so glad you've joined us! This is a great forum. Members here helped me when I needed it the most, and I'm trying to pay it forward and help others as well. You'll get lots of help from these caring and knowledgeable members.

There are bed raisers that you can put under the legs at the head of your bed. You'll want to raise the bed about 7 inches or so.

I'm not a doctor, but I can tell you that my first heartburn also occurred when I was pregnant. It must have to do with the pressure that is put on your stomach and diaphragm when pregnant. Do you think we could have gotten a small hiatus hernia as a result of that pressure? I don't know. Just a thought.

Hope you feel better soon!
Denise
Posted 4/14/2010 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
WOW, I never heard of low acid coffee. I'm going to have to look for it! I only drink about a half a cup a day but I'm sure it doesn't help! I HAVE already noticed a difference in the burning/pain in my chest just with my bed being raised that small bit! Thank you! =)

dencha- It never even crossed my mind that, that could have happend but it would make sence! When I was late in my preg I felt alot of pressure right under my rib cage! When I have the time/money to get the endoscopy I will. I'm wondering if in the mean time they will give me a barrium swallow since I wont have to be out of commission the rest of that day!

Posted 4/14/2010 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I had the swallow first, next the EGD, then the Bravo, then the stomach emptying, and at last the motility.

When you have the barium swallow be sure to take a laxative when you get home. It will clear you faster.

Joy
Posted 4/15/2010 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
The barium swallow is the first step. It's the least invasive, and they can find out quite a bit with it. If you google "GERD triggers" you can find all the things you should avoid. Some may surprise you. The barium swallow is very easy, and there isn't much prep for it.
Take care!
Denise
Posted 4/26/2010 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
You all have been so helpful! Thank you so very much!

I recently went in to see my GP because I couldnt stand the pain in my chest any longer. He seems to think its muscular and has referd me to a physical Therapist. I'm not quite sure I agree but I will give it a shot to see if that brings me any relief.

Have any of you had chest/back pain( inbetween shoulder blades) with reflux? The back pain may be unrelated as I had started feeling that before anything else. But the pain on the side of my sternum is very bother some. If I move a certian way it feel slike jolts of needles are poking me. But at times can still feel a dull ache. I have noticed this morning as I was drinking my coffee, I do feel acid in there. Maybe I need to try a little harder with my diet change and see if that brings me any relief?

Thank you for all of your help! smilewinkgrin

Posted 4/27/2010 6:51 AM (GMT 0)
richmond-
I have had reflux pain in several places. I've had it in my chest( middle and both sides), neck, shoulder, right along my spine between my shoulder blades, and below the middle of my ribs.
Have tried anything besides Nexium? Aciphex and Prevacid worked best for me. Nexium didn't help me atall.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 4/27/2010 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bill!

 Is your pain constant? Mine feels like its there more often than not but there are times when I'm not paying attention that I realize I havn't felt it. I have considerd trying something other than nexium. I actually started on Prilosec OTC and honestly think that helped more than the nexium. I was starting to feel like the Nexium was making things worse but I'm sure thats in my head. Isn't Prevacid OTC as well?

THank you so much!

 

Posted 4/27/2010 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Richmond - I'm a new member also and after reading your post I can relate. I too had what felt like a lump in my throat that felt like it popped out occassionally and a sore area over my voice box on the left side. Took several doctors with no answer to my problem until I went to ENT doc who put a tube down my throat and diagnosed reflux. My story has been a journey over last 9 months to doctors and tests (Endoscopy) and meds and I continue on this journey today. I was originally put on Prilosec to supposedly heal my throat and that started me down road I'm on today. Before taking Prilosec I never felt any heartburn symptoms other than sore throat. After taking Prilosec for a couple of weeks the horrible heartburn began and to date I'm still battling it! Switched from Prilosec to Zantac with good results up until last week and now I feel like I'm back to square one with fullness and lump back in throat along with sore throat. Decided to quit taking Zantac as I felt no better on it than off it. Now dealing with acid rebound. Back to GI doctor on Thursday but I'm not expecting a miracle. Hope you get it figured out and under control. I'm going to do my best to stay away from PPI's as long term effects scare me and my try with Prilosec was not a good one.
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