Can GERD begin SUDDENLY??

Hi all,

I was just curious if anyone on this forum had a SUDDEN onset with their GERD.  That is how mine began on April 29th and I just feel like in the back of my mind that there has to be some underlying reason besides "well you have GERD now".  Maybe I'm just having a difficult time accepting this but I thought for sure if I would have GERD then I would've had some other episodes of heartburn in my life; however, I actually cannot even remember EVER having heartburn. I eat fairly healthy anyway but we usually have pizza one friday a month and I used to drink a couple glasses of wine every couple of months or so and now I am frightened to entertain the thought of eating those foods.

What's so odd is that I can eat chocolate without any difficulty...in fact...I'm a chocoholic.  It's dairy and red sauce that seem to bother me. Dairy is actually the worst by far even in incredibly small quantities. This NEVER was a problem for me. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Thanks and God bless!

Liz

Hi Chuck,

I had gastritis for 4 days first before the reflux began and now the gastritis is gone but the reflux remains though it did go away for 2 weeks all on its own.  Can lactose intolerance cause reflux that lasts this long? I've tried to google it but came up with no results.

Thanks,

Liz

@efit. From what I have read, things like Celiac and Lactose intolerance can cause GI issues. There are blood tests that can determine if you have a problem with them. I was talking to someone this weekend who had terrible stomach pains (to the piont the docs thought she may have Crohns) that were completely resolved by eliminating dairy. You probably have normal reflux, but you could try cutting out dairy and see if that helps.

Joy,

So you essentially developed it over night as well? Wow! This just doesn't seem right does it? I mean, how does your sphincter all of a sudden just blow out?  Jacked up this is.

TTYL,

Liz

My symptoms started pretty suddenly in February of this year. I was under a lot of job-related stress at the time. The stress eased up but my condition has not improved. At this point I have erosive esophagitis. I have been a healthy eater, and am not over-weight. I am learning to live without red sauce and ice cream. My previous breakfast of oatmeal with skim milk, ground flaxseed and frozen blueberries just doesn't sit well any more. Yogurt is easier to digest for me, I eat that most days, lean roast beef or turkey, vegetables etc etc. My first symptom was that severe chest pain, not heart burn.

kitt,

I have not officially been diagnosed b/c the gastroenterologist said that he would like to wait and see if it goes away due to the fact that it did come on so suddenly without me eating or doing anything differently.  In fact, two months ago when I had my endoscopy he sent me home telling me not to worry and that he felt like in 2 or 3 months this whole thing would all be a bad dream.  Unfortunately, here I am 2 months later and still having issues. I don't know why the LPR went completely away for over 2 weeks only to return WITHOUT the addition of any new foods. I eat a bland diet of oatmeal without milk, egg whites, almonds, chicken / fish, veggies, apples, peanut butter, and lots of water.  I drink NO other beverages aside from water and I do NOT eat processed foods...except chocolate which I do eat daily but like I said I had no pain for over 2 weeks despite eating chocolate. This is all so crazy to me. I'm too logical to understand I guess. I've taken good care of my body and exercise daily and I feel like that should've prevented my sphincter from crapping out especially when I see others eating junk and drinking alcohol till their heart's content without a problem.  I would LOVE to eat pizza again.

Thanks,

Liz

Hi Efit,

It takes a while to understand the mechanics of GERD/LPR. Unfortunately we often learn to late what the actual cause of the GERD is.

sometimes we have symptoms, but they are so mild that you think there innocuous.


I second Kitt Advice, you should start a food log. RAISE your bed.


my advice go get a second opinion from another doc.


I would avoid CHOCOLATE, almonds, peanut butter. You want to minimize fatty foods and anything that could scratch a already injured LES.


The problem with GERD is sometimes you eat something and it affects you a days later.


-Jesse

I agree, this is also my experience, but how can food cause problems so many hours after it is eaten? I thought this was a stomach issue, and food I think is out of the stomach after about 3 hours?

Yeah I too would like to know why there would be a delayed onset of reflux. Food is out of the stomach after several hours. Surely it doesn't reflux back from the intestine / colon. This whole thing is like a puzzle you have to solve for yourself b/c everyone's case is different.

Hi everyone,
I know this is an older post, but I wanted to respond with my experience and a few questions. I am 44 years old (female), a normal weight, in good health, a healthy eater and I exercise regularly, don't smoke and drink socially. Up until March of 2011, I had never had heartburn or any symptoms of GERD. (even during my 3 pregnancies.)

In March of 2011, I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme chest pain and thought I was having a heart attack. I calmed down and decided it was perhaps just a bad case of heartburn. I used to take large Lysine vitamin supplements at night and then go to bed rather quickly thereafter. That night, I remember taking the pill and drinking water and then the pill felt like it got stuck. I drank more water, felt better and went to bed. When I awoke in the middle of the night, I went out and bought Maalox liquid. That helped a bit, but I still had the pain the next day and then started getting heartburn which continued - regardless of what I ate or drank - for about a week - along with intermittent chest pains.

I went to my dr, who said I probably had GERD (based on my almost constant symptoms over the past week) and he referred me to a gastro. I was surprised as I'd never even heard of GERD and couldn't see how I could suddenly have this chronic condition - out of nowhere. The gastro also diagnosed me with gerd and she did an endoscopy, which came back normal with the exception of a bit of irritation at the GE junction. She told me to start taking a PPI (Dexilant.) I asked her if I could've damaged my esophagus with the large pill that got stuck and she said it wasn't likely, but it could have happened. Although I then switched gastros and I asked him the same question. He said it is called pill esophagitis and it can definitely happen, but usually heals on its own or with the use of ppi for a few months - in extreme cases. He said the chest pains were likely esophageal spasms caused by injury to the esoph from the pill.

Anyway, I was on the PPI for 6 months and I felt really good. My doc said I should wean off the ppi slowly. If no symptoms return, he said likely the cause of my pain/symptoms/heartburn would've been pill esophagitis and not GERD. I weaned off of the ppi in Sept, 2011 and I was fine (no symptoms whatsoever) for 10 months.

Then in July, 2012 I was eating banana bread and it felt like it got stuck in my throat, badly (a symptom I'd had when the initial problem started.) from that point on, I had heartburn, a stuck in my throat feeling and chest pains as well as pain under my right rib. I went back on the ppi from mid July to early October, 2012. I was on it for 7 weeks before I tapered off over the course of a few weeks. I was fine for about two weeks, but then my symptoms returned. My gastro said I should go back on the ppi again for a few months and then taper off again and see how I feel.

My question is: I'm not sure how or why I was symptom free for 10 months (eating and drinking everything, but still being healthy and mindful) and then the symptoms returned. I thought I was in the clear and this problem was caused by pill esophagitis and that it was behind me. Now I feel like I'll need to go on and off the ppi forever and that my body has somehow become dependent on it. I hate this feeling of dependence and not knowing if/when the problems will subside and what I can and cannot eat/drink etc. Often times, the 'safe' foods cause symptoms.

Wondering if any of you have had these GERD symptoms go into "remission" for periods of time and then return - with no real reason/cause. Thank you!

I have posted previously on this thread. I was surprised to learn that the gluten and lactose sensitivities can also develop quickly during periods of stress. Sometimes gluten allergies cause lactose allergies. These are definitely first-line issues to explore.

Singa:

You are responding to a post that is almost 12 years old. GERD can be caused by a change in eating habits, stress/anxiety or a new sensitivity to certain foods. The manometry only measures swallowing function. Start following a strict GERD-friendly diet, and keep a food diary to try and pinpoint trigger foods.

Unfortunately, the Boards are incredibly slow and you may not receive many/any responses to your post.

Sharon