GERD and heartburn for years, PPIs not hellping much

I've been suffering from GERD and acid indigestion for years and getting really fed up. It started in 2007 when I was having occasional severe stomach pains, the biopsy confirmed gastritis (the stomach and esophagus looked fine on endoscopy but the microscopic findings showed chronic inflammation).

It sort of went away and didn't do anything about it. Then four years ago I started having hunger pains, sour taste in mouth, one day I ate some spicy stuff and the heartburn wouldn't go away for 2 months, so they put me on PPIs - 20mg omeprazole daily. Needless to say they don't really work very well to control my symptoms (I've tried various different ones and also 40mg a day). Some days I feel better some worse, but I can honestly say I haven't eaten a meal without having issues in over 3 years.

Had another endoscopy three years ago which showed esophagitis with one erosion and the stomach was fine (however they didn't take any biopsies). Which is weird since I was on PPIs for six months when it was done and only took a two week break in meds. Either the inflammation came back very quickly or the PPIs weren't doing much to heal me. Since then had a 24h PH study which was... negative for some reason, no H Pylori three times I was tested and also gallstones showed up on an ultrasound. I'm not really sure what to do now.

Getting really stressed and anxious because it's been going on for so long and the GP just keeps telling me to take my PPIs (which don't really do much for me) and watch what I eat that's the only thing he can do for me doesn't really want to send me for another scope or more tests, which sucks as I want to get my life back.

Any advice?

Hello robokot welcome to our forum. While we aren't doctors--reading your comment makes me want to say "see another doctor" for another opinion. Please get copies of all your test results and notes and take them to a new doctor. Even make an appointment to see a surgeon to see what he thinks. It doesn't mean you have to arrange surgery but learn from a different perspective.

Do you have the bed raised. Have you stopped eating acid stuff like tomatoes, spices, garlic, peppers, chocolate, vinegars, citrus. Beer, alcohol, carbonated beverages etc. this sure helps.

Others will be here shortly with suggestions that helped them. We want you to feel better as this is an awful illness that affects so many of us. We wish you the best. Kindly. Pat

Pat Fill said...
Hello robokot welcome to our forum. While we aren't doctors--reading your comment makes me want to say "see another doctor" for another opinion. Please get copies of all your test results and notes and take them to a new doctor. Even make an appointment to see a surgeon to see what he thinks. It doesn't mean you have to arrange surgery but learn from a different perspective.

Do you have the bed raised. Have you stopped eating acid stuff like tomatoes, spices, garlic, peppers, chocolate, vinegars, citrus. Beer, alcohol, carbonated beverages etc. this sure helps.

Others will be here shortly with suggestions that helped them. We want you to feel better as this is an awful illness that affects so many of us. We wish you the best. Kindly. Pat

Thanks for the advice. I don't eat any of the stuff mentioned above, what gets to me is that even when I'm on a strict diet of foods I get symptoms and it makes me depressed. I also tried going without certain types of foods - like avoiding dairy, grains etc.. but I can observe no correlation.

Sometimes I get so fed up I would end up drinking a coke or eating chocolate to make myself feel better and strangely enough, my stomach also feels better. But it's not always like that, and I can feel bad after eating stuff I've considered rather safe and vice versa.

I definitely know that strong spices, garlic and fried foods always trigger me so I haven't had any for years.
It's really rather puzzling, as I'm not overweight and also generally try to lead a healthy life.