Does this sound like I have GERD?

I'm trying to get to the bottom of why I've had a cough (usually dry) for so long (various degrees for many months). I've read that sometimes a persistent cough could be a symptom of GERD. I don't smoke and am not overweight and I'm pretty active. Sometimes (once a week or so) I get a sharp pain in my chest that lasts about 5-10 minutes. Burping and moving around usually helps this go away quickly. Also, lately I've had an embarrassing problem when i drink liquids. Sometimes when drinking a glass of milk with a snack at night I will find that when I swallow it doesn't seem to go down all the way. Within a minute or two I kinda chock a bit and spit up (more like cough up) the milk I just tried to swallow. This also happens with diet sodas and even water sometimes. This doesn't happen every time but often enough that I try to sit up straight when drinking. Other times I sometimes get coughing so hard that I almost throw up. I don't often have actual heart burn feelings. But I've read that this is sometimes the case. Anyway, this sounds like I'm a complete wreck but I stay very active but would sure like to get to the bottom of this. I was thinking of simply trying Prilosec OTC for a couple weeks and see if that makes any difference. Ideas and thoughts? Thank you very much for your input on if you think this is GERD.

As Joy suggested, I would try the prilosec, and I would look into seeing your doctor. What ever the cause of your issues, it does sound like you need to see the Doctor for a diagnosis for peace of mind...

Sandi

Thanks everyone for your input. I've gotten Prilosec and started it a couple days ago. I'll give it a few weeks and see if it helps. I'll post back results.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I've been using Prilosec OTC now for 3 weeks so I thought I'd post an update. The cough is greatly reduced. If it was a 10 before, it is maybe a 2 or 3 now. I've read that it can take several months to go away completely since the nerves that cause the pesky cough are literally burned and must heal. Have others had it take so long to go away? Also, I've had no other of the mentioned symptoms during this time as well. So anyway, it seems to of made a big difference (although a bit slow to really be noticeable).

Assuming it gets even better over the next few weeks, the next question is do I stay using Prilosec? Is that what others do and is it safe? Is it something that is meant to just stay on? Also, since I had this cough for sooooo long and it is now noticeably started going away wile using Prilosec, does this prove that it is/was GERD or LPR?