I noticed a few people did journals. I I'd like to join in, maybe it can help somebody. Maybe somebody can help me too!
In 2005, I was experiencing terrible pain and heartburn, this went on for months. My Doc took a long time to diagnose, and I kept putting off visits due to my anxiety (silly really). Eventually after failed prescript
ions of Zantac and Gaviscon they discovered I had H.Pylori. I took the Antibiotics with Lansoprazole and in 3 weeks I was cured. Couldn't have been happier. It was from that point on that I would often feel bloated and have to swallow sometimes to keep the 'wet' burps from coming up. In the next 5 years I was symptom free, maybe got heartburn once or twice a year, I would still sometimes feel a bit bloated in the AM but it wasn't really a big deal.
Jan 2010, I started getting heartburn again. I was really worried that it was something sinister due to all the reading I had done about
what H.Pylori can lead to. My Dr, a new one and a better one this time sent me for an Endoscopy. Which I did un-sedated (I would NOT recommend) I was diagnosed with GERD, no Pylori though. The GI doc said I have mild GERD and gave me 2 months of Lansoprazole, a pamphlet about
GERD and sent me on my way. He told me to stay off the Cola (I was drinking quite a lot).
After a month or two my symptoms went away. I was watching my food intake and being more healthy about
it. For the next 3 years I was symptom free more or less. In this period I was particularly stupid with my diet. As the months went on with no symptoms I slowly began drinking diet coke again. In addition to this I often ate too fast. I work a stressful job so I would eat late, and eat unhealthy and eat fast. All big no-nos. I also started drinking a lot more than I used to and enjoying far too much Coffee. I was drinking cold brew iced coffee every day for months. I was often constipated (and still am) I try to increase my fiber intake but sometimes I get forgetful and slip into bad habits. Before my latest flare up I was particularly constipated and stressed.
This time it took me a while to notice my reflux issues. I often found a lot of drool on my pillow when I awoke. I assumed it was because I was a mouth breather and it was just one of those things. In addition to that I would wake up in the middle of the night with a really itchy throat, and I would need to blow my nose. Must be allergies or something I thought I found myself itching my throat with my tongue. Eventually I started having a sour stomach, little bit of heartburn and indigestion.
I had another endoscopy and was diagnosed with GERD again. GI said my LES looked weak, gave me another pamphlet and sent me away with 40mg Omeprazole. Since then things have not been so rosy. I have been keeping a food and symptom log. I still experience:
Indigestion and needing to swallow immediately after a meal.
Pain in between shoulder blades
4 hours after eating I will feel bloated. I will often wake up in the morning feeling bloated and will burp a little
Ear ache, itchy throat/sore throat still and a sour taste in my mouth in the morning
I went back to the GI and he did Lactose, Fructose and Bacterial Overgrowth tests. Bacterial Overgrowth came back positive and I'm now on Xifaxan too. He told me to take 20mg of famotidine and an additional 20mg of omeprazole in the evening if I experience the itchy throat. I'm still having the same symptoms. I also had an ultrasound of my abdomen which came back normal. My GI recommended I see an allergist and an ENT. I'm in the process of doing both but I'm struggling to pay all these bills right now so I have to take it somewhat slow.
What I think contributes/causes my reflux:
I worry way too much
I work in a stressful job that has long hours
My eating habits where poor (eating late, large meals plus alcohol)
I am often constipated
mouth breather (I think I swallow too much air)What I'm doing to try and fix it:
Food log, trying to stick to bland food,, I've cut out all booze, coffee/tea and coke
Wedge pillow
More fiber (I eat a lot of prunes and dates to help with that, and an apple a day)I'm not sure what else I can do. I really don't think the Omeprazole does much for me. I intend to see my GI again when I can get some money together. I'd like to switch to another PPI. In the meantime I will keep updating this. If you have read this far I'm impressed!
Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 8/30/2013 12:35:49 PM (GMT-6)