I have never been thoroughly diagnosed with GERD, but my symptoms are all very obvious in my opinion. It all started in 2008, I ate something containing adobe peppers (never had previous problems eating anything hot) and immediately had the worst heartburn ever. I thought I was having a heart attack. For a while my bloating and back pains kept me from being able to walk very far because I could not deal with the pain. I completely changed my diet over the years and lost a lot of weight, which I believe really helped the problem. Apple Cider Vinegar was a real help also.
So fast forward to now, my symptoms only really show up if I eat any foods that will trigger it (i.e. fried foods, most pasteurized foods, greasy, spicy, etc). My upper abdomen will become so bloated, I gain a few pounds, I have trouble breathing and anxiety attacks while laying down to sleep (if able to sleep laying down at all) and I will have burning and some reflux, loose bowel (sometimes mucus-y), and never enough comes out to give me real relief. I feel SO sick and miserable, not even wanting to walk around because of the pain associated with my swollen upper abdomen, and sometimes I even throw up acid. I know it all sounds gross, but it's a real bother.
And now, for the past few months, I have noticed when my menstrual cycle comes the symptoms show up the week before and they last for a week or more. My last cycle, I thought I was going to die! I get so weak and sometimes dizzy.
I've been to the doctor and he says it sounds like I have some type of gastro regurgitation or something and that when my period comes it makes my stomach produce more acid and hold it in. When I suffer this swollen and bloated abdomen, I feel and breathe like I weigh a ton!!! Does anyone else suffer anything similar? I've started taking Pantoprazonale(sp) and he wants me to take it for 3 months to see if my symptoms clear up. But right now on week 3 or 4, I'm already miserable! It's day one of my cycle....blah.
