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GERD - #5 as of 6-15-13

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/4/2013 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Happy 4th of July.

Just came back from the cardiologist. All is normal. Nothing wrong with the heart. Now I can rest a bit easier and know that this acid reflex is causing the chest pains/discomforts and nothing more.
Posted 7/5/2013 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all. I'm new to the forums and I just want to share my experiences and learn more about what the heck is going on with me. I was on a ppi for 2 years. Doctor prescribed it to me upon complaints of chest pains and mild reflux and I didn't think anything of it. Took the pills. Did no research. All was fine until my reflux started getting bad while I was on it. So he upped my dose to 2 20mg pills a day. This was rabeprazole. I started slowly going down hill over the next 6 months and was so bad I could hardly walk, I was constantly stuttering and could do nothing more than want to sleep. I work a labour job and was dying every night I worked but I kept on. Using a cane for walking I had everyone worried. Including myself. I was getting severely depressed, thinking I was dying. Doctors were testin me for aids, multiple sclerosis, and many other nervous system diseases. I ended up on many pain killers including t3, gabapentin, toredol on a daily basis just to get through life. Ultimately the doctors told me there was nothing wrong with me so it must be anxiety to which he prescribed Effexor. I am not crazy, depressed or anxious although now I believe this has caused me some depression. So I looked up the rabeprazole and found that some rare side effects involve all of what I was going through. So I just stopped all my medication because I figured that anything was better than what I was going through. Within 3 days I was walking better. My stuttering stopped and I could feel my legs again. It was a miracle but then the "rebound" got me. And man was that horrible. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. It was the same lifestyle but because of a different cause. Now I'm on ranitidine 150mg before bed and it helps but I still get the feeling of food getting caught in my chest which causes severe pain. I just had a Barrett's swallow done and we will see as the next day the doctor wanted to make an appointment to see me which shocked me considering I was told 1 week for the results. Now I'm worried what this pill or well the stopping of it may have done to me. I feel that I ruined myself and now my life will never be normal again. I find out Wednesday what my results are and I'm worried, and back to being depressed about it. Thanks for listening.
Posted 7/6/2013 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
mini,

don't know where everyone is?  we had a very talkative group here, but lately not too many posts.  There are so many people that have had trouble taking PPI's.  They can share their experiences with you.  I my self have been dealing with stomach issues for 6 months now, first gastritis, then they say IBS. had colonoscopy and ERD, inflamed stomach lining.

Still no better.  I never went on PPI's because I found this site in time.

But zantac never helped me either.   I had a ct scan on Tuesday and have to wait until Monday for the Da----- results.!....I am worried too because I have lost so much weight and look awful.  I am up most of the night with either stomach pain and lower back pain or both!   I know the anxiety feeling as I almost called 911 this morning I felt so horrible.  You get to the point that you don't know what to take?????

My Dr. told me if the ct scan is clear, then it is nerves!    Oh , ok, then what??    Now that I am so weak and feel horrible everyday........

Let me know what they do for you,I know where you are coming from.

 

Posted 7/6/2013 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Gail, I am sorry to hear that you are still struggling. I have been doing better in terms of energy so I am getting more involved at work after taking it easy during my most difficult period. I have been off ppi for two months now. Still getting sore throat and slight upper chest discomfort after most meals but they are manageable and I do have some good stretches where I feel almost normal.

If they don't find anything with the ct scan, I think you should try ppis or antianxiety meds just to see how it nelps or hurts. I don't think you have much cnoice at this point.
Posted 7/6/2013 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
chris, glad you are doing better. yes, I am at a loss right now/
stressing about the results. I know it is making things worse.
I cannot help but think there is something going on for all this weight loss......like getting no nutrients?......I will keep you posted.
Posted 7/6/2013 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Ya, stressing isn't gonna help. Easier said than done. So, hang in there.
Posted 7/6/2013 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have been off ppis for about 5 weeks now. I do not take any medication except for occasional Zantac and herbal medicine( wen to see a naturopath). I still feel burning in my chest/ tummy after meals but considering that I am not taking any medication, I think I have come a long way after quitting ppis.

@Mini, have you considered natural/homeopathic treatments? They do provide some relief to me. Naturopath also recommended to take the aloe vera 80 stomach formula along with the herbal medicine. Just ordered it online. Let's see how that goes. I am willing to give anything a shot now.
Give it a shot?

@Gail, I think you should check out 1- 800- homeopathy. I ordered their acidity medicine( I was willing to try anything under the sun). it works. Try looking through their online catalog- they have lots of stuff for anxiety and digestion- and it's all natural. I hope this helps.

@Chris- thanks for keeping us posted. Do you ever feel "heat" or burning in the tummy? I feel like it will never go away!

Recently, I was recommended a very strict diet by the naturopath doctor- no wheat, no sugar, no oil,no tea- no nothing (KILL ME). I a having a HARD time following that. Just had a big sugary dessert. I keep getting sugar cravings. Dunno what's wrong and I can't quit tea FOR THE LIFE OF ME.

I hope you all find my suggestions useful. Thanks for listening.

:-)
Posted 7/6/2013 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
hi this,
good to hear from you again. I will check out the website. I also started gluten free last week and also dairy, and it is hard. I started papaya enzyme today, chewable after meals. look it up, good for so many things, read the reviews on amazon. we also got fresh, they say 1 cup per day will help lower back pain also. I am willing to try anything about now, to get rid of what ever is doing all the damage to me.
Posted 7/8/2013 8:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gail, I'm sorry to hear that your are still struggling. Are you on any meds right now. I know that when I was on Pepcid 4x a day, I felt awful and out of it. I had the worst side effects from PPIs and H2 Blockers. I know that when I was told my CT scans were clear, I still felt depressed because I was not feeling well and in pain most of the time. You may want to get tested for food allergies because I know my back pain was caused by a certain food. When I eliminated it, I didn't have the pain. My system also can't take dairy very well. It causes my stomach to churn and gurgle. Don't worry so much about the weight loss. Trust me once you start eating normally, the weight will come back.
Haven't been on this forum in a long while as I'm doing much better. I started taking manuka honey 3x a day beginning of June and since then my stomach pain gradually became less and less painful to the point where I haven't experienced anymore pain. I haven't taken meds for about 3 weeks now. I get occasional heartburn...nothing like it was before. My appetite has definitely increased where I actually gained 3 pounds since June. Im still careful to avoid acidic foods and I don't drink anything with caffeine.
It took me 7 months to get to this point where I actually feel like my old self again.
Hang in there. Your stomach is slowly healing.
Posted 7/8/2013 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
nat

So glad to hear from you.....I am not not on any meds now.  Just Tylenol for pain and tums now and then.  . 

I should have the results today from the scan taken almost a WEEK ago!

the waiting has been brutal.  Like you, if it is clear, I know I will be feeling depressed and still thinking they missed something.   I know stress can do some awful things to us, but this is really ridiculous!....

How much honey do you take per dose?  I may order some too.

THe papaya enzyme seems to be helping a tad, just started it over the weekend.  It has seemed to help me release the gas in my system?

I also started the gluten and dairy free thing.  Very expensive. Kozy Snack pudding makes one that is both gluten and dairy free, the chocolate is delicious!.......I am giving this 2 more weeks to see if I feel the difference.

The town I live in has very limited testing aval., unless the doc can test me for it........are you eating a normal diet now or sticking to dairy free, gluten free?......so glad you are better and have actally gained a few pounds, how wonderful!..........I may as well be a guy, as I have no chest left!!!!......

please let me know about the honey so I can get some.  I will try anything to help this get better.

Hugs.

Posted 7/8/2013 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Gail, I was desperate to try anything too. The drugs I was taking was definitely making me feel worse. Even Carafate after a few weeks made me nauseous and constipated. I was taking meds for my stomach and constipation. i was miserable. I started taking raw Manuka honey Wedderspoon 16+ that I bought at Whole Foods for $37. i take 1 tsp 3x day on an empty stomach 1/2 hr before you eat. I put it on a small piece of bread or take it by itself and swallow it down. Don't mix the honey in anything, it won't work. The first few days I took it, it made my stomach ache really bad, but after a week or so I noticed great improvement. The burning feeling was gone and hasn't returned! I know this honey doesn't work for everyone, but I'm sure glad it worked for me. My family thinks I'm crazy when I tell them about the honey. Even when I get heartburn I try to use the honey first before I reach for the anti acid and it usually does the trick. I also no longer have constipation issues.
My diet is back to normal eating. I even have to watch my calorie intake as I'm gaining weight too quickly.
Give the honey a try. I have to warn you, it doesn't taste very good and has a strong smell. Keep me posted. I try to check the forum to see how everyone is doing.
Posted 7/8/2013 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
thanks nat....

wow, didn't like hearing that it gave you a tummy ache at first, just what I don't need......but I am willing to give it a try....I did the read the reviews on line about it too.  lots of people have been helped with it...

I have the constipation issue also, so that would be great if it helped as well.   I am still waiting for the results of scan, just called dr. should know this afternoon.......grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Posted 7/8/2013 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
@thistooshallpass - yes, I do get the burning from time to time. It usually happens about 2 hours after I eat.
If I am sitting down, I tend to get it more.

@gail, hang in there. The best thing we can do other than not stressing, is to eat food that is good for us.

@natitc, hi nat, long time no talk. My problem is that whenever I start to feel better, I kind of eat things that I shouldn't. I was on a trip few days ago and the only option I had was a mom and pop burrito shop. It was good but super greasy and had lots of tomatoes. Not good. Then, I ate some brownies (also not good as chocolate is acidic.) Can you tell me what you eat typically and what foods you try to avoid?
Posted 7/8/2013 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Chris: Nowadays luckily I can eat a larger variety of foods. I do eat burritos with avocado. sour cream, the works but NO salsa or hot sauce! I have Mexican at least twice a week and no bad reactions. I eat chocolate (candy, cakes, cookies) but in moderation. I doesn't seem to bother my system. I pretty much much eat anything. I've been actually dining out a lot more since being able to eat normally. I no longer get stomach pains after I eat or if I eat too much. The only foods that I avoid are anything with tomatoes, spicy, soda, coffee, tea, fruit juices, and certain fruits. I eat dairy in moderation. If I eat too much I get bloated and stomach starts to churn.
Posted 7/9/2013 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
quick note, ct scan came back with a issue with my pancreas.
the scan was not clear as to what it may be, but I am scared to death. I have to have more blood work this am and feel so weak, don't know if I can get through it. my friend is taking me.
Also have to have another ultrasound done to determine what is next. I was so hoping they would find nothing. Please pray for me that it is not going to be a long drawn out thing.
Posted 7/10/2013 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Gail, please try not to worry, I know it's hard but stressing makes things worse. When I had my ct scan, they found a ovarian cyst & I had to go back and get an ultra sound to get a closer look. It turned out to be fluid filled and eventually burst. I was worried to death! You have to focus on getting healthy...right now getting enough food and nutrients to feed your body so you don't feel weak. Keep us posted.
Posted 7/11/2013 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear that the ct scan did not offer closure but more tests. I went through the same thing (found some spots on the liver during ultrasound and i thought I had liver cancer) and it was like hell on earth so Gail, I know how you are feeling. I was scared to death myself.

I'll pray that whatever they say during the CT scan will turn out to be nothing just like with me. Keep us posted, okay?
Posted 7/15/2013 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Gail, how are doing? You are in my thoughts.
Posted 7/16/2013 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
Chris,

It all seems to be a down hill battle right now.  There is not a forum for pancreas issues and or cancer it so no where to post??? for help.

The dr also ran some test about 1 week ago, evidently they were not good results, he called and told me to cancel the ultrasound, and schedule a biopsy.   He finally called me in some pain meds so I can sleep. So now I am waiting to have this darn biopsy and of course scared to death of what it will say.   I find  myself getting really down mentally and sad.

Still don't know how this so called IBS problem has turned into something so awful!.......I have been so healthy all my life, for this to happen now is such a hard thing to accept.    My weight has not improved either, so I cannot help but think the worst.   

Thank you for thinking of me.

Posted 7/16/2013 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Gail, again I am so sorry that you have to go through all this. And I can understand if you want to stop posting for a while. It might be good to just take the focus away from all of this.

There are many pancreas issues that don't have to be cancer. Please don't lose hope.
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