How long have you struggled with gerd/lpr?

I was first diagnosed with a possible Hiatal Hernia and duodenitis in 1967. There were few tests or treatment in those days.....I was given an upper GI with a barium swallow and then they treated it with Donatol and antacids. I rationalized that I would just have to live with it forever. Due to the fact that Laproscopic surgery hadn't been invented and the other surgical proceedures were really "invasive", I managed to live with it until 2103--46 years. In 2013, I was chatting with a Gastroenterologist about a scheduled colonoscopy and mentioned the problem and he informed me about the laproscopic surgery. They did all the tests and I had the surgery within a month or two. It changed my life.

Constantinra, we have a lot in common regarding the span of years. My first heartburn experience was 7 yrs ago, but it didn't occur to me that it was a problem at that time coz i was still in college. Then it disappeared for years. about 3 yrs ago I had a lot burping, bloating and lump in my throat, but still, I ignored it, although I experienced it almost everyday. I didnt take any medication, i thought it was normal.
But last April, it really interfered with my life, my mood, my thinking and everything. Til i had xray and sputum test coz I thought the cough and shortness of breath is related to asthma or respiratory. I then found out from my doctor that it is GERD. I didnt have endoscopy or any test for gerd. Last april was my first time to take gerd prescriptions, and I knew GERD really is my problem because when I avoid the triggers, i wouldnt have any problem. If i take the medicine, it relieves me.

With just 2weeks of taking ppi, i wasnt dealing with long term use and its rebound effect. I stopped at two weeks. I cant say I am already healed, but good thing is, I learned a lot especially about nutrition and diet, which really made everything a lot easier--to do and to accept.

My doctor prescripted me of pantoprazole once a day, and antihistamine. She also gave me lozenges for throat soothing. Actually it was just for a week, but the time I stopped the meds, my symptoms began to occur again. So i decided to take them for another week.

So, as of today, it was one week since I stopped taking meds, but continuing my diet. Everything came out fine. I dont get shortness of breath anymore which is my MAIN problem. Other symptoms come and go, but i can tolerate them, plus the fact that I strived to control my anxiety.

Anyway, i havent asked you guys how old are you? Mind if I ask?

Im 26 female. My relatives told me it's so early for me to have gerd.

Post Edited (angelcat) : 5/24/2014 12:44:29 AM (GMT-6)

Yes, alcohol really is a trigger for gerd or heartburn, and so as tomato based food and spicy foods, which I guess Indian cuisine has, don't they?

Asthma runs in my family, so I really thought it is lung related, where I almost think of serious illnesses like cancer-- a result of my never ending anxiety last few weeks.

Thank God I finally control the thinking! Haha!

I'm happy for you, constantin! I hope you continue that improvement! Me too, My anxiety happens to appear and disappear! But I am trying to get along with it.
What other symptoms do you have that is related to anxiety besides worrying?

about ten years or so...I was borderline GERD and started taking meloxicam for severe arthritis.

Because of that I had to take a ppi twenty minutes before and then eat and then take the meloxicam. Meloxicam really works for me. Have been cutting down on it as it is hard on the stomach. A couple of years ago, I was very sick and belching a lot and it turned out I had a slight amount of Barrett's

I am overweight but not super heavy and the one thing about me that is really bad for GERD is that I drink coffee.