One more story of unexplainable for me nightmare

Hello GERD sufferers. I am new to this forum and unfortunately won’t share anything new. I will try to introduce my GERD story shortly. I am 40 years old female, recently diagnosed with “mild” form of acid reflux. I am pretty fit (120lb, 5.03 – I was 130lb, but lost 10lb for 3 months). Never been overweight, exercising a lot and a lot far from junk food. My GERD story started in the beginning of September with horrible severe nausea and chills, no fever. No pain anywhere no complains of anything. I had tests done on pretty much every single part of my body, along with wonderful test blood results (lipids 36, HDL65, LDL 90, total chol 157, blood sugar 88). I have done ultrasounds on my liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, blood test on pancreas enzymes, kidney and bladder, ovaries, no vitamin deficiency, no helicobacter pillory, normal TSH, no diarrhea, no constipation, no hernia (at least I do not see mention in the report). Everything came back normal. My doctor decided that I struggle some stomach issue and without knowing exactly what, she decided to put me on Nexium for 2 weeks. Nausea didn’t go away. She increased the dosage from 20 to 60mg for 10 more days. Still nausea. Finally she recommended that I have to go true upper EGD. I took an appointment and upper EGD has been done on Dec. 3. According to the GI doctor, I have mild acid reflux, and mild esophagus inflammation (no ulcers, no gastritis, no HPillory, no celiac allergy, no cancer). She prescribed me Zantac 20mg evenings and bad time. But what was my surprise, when in additional to the nausea I already developed horrible chest pain, difficulty swelling and the full set of all GERD symptoms. I am not sure if I got this from the medication, or it was result of this long time staying nauseas. Another very strange think for me the nausea come and go like some sort of pattern – I feel so far so good in the morning and by noon. Than after that nausea starts coming around 3:30pm – 4:00pm o’clock. At the time when I go back home from work it is horrible. I can’t have dinner because I feel nauseas and full (even I ate at 12:00), but my stomach is flat, I am not bloated. I just feel full. This stays on me pretty much the whole night (just horrible, I can’t sleep of nausea). In the morning everything is gone. Most of you follow some diet, try different thinks. But I am not sure what to change and what to stop, since I already eat healthy anyway. Forgot to mention I do never use birth control pills and do not have habit to use any kind of pain killers (maybe 2-3 times per year ibuprofen). Here is my typical food intake:   B: half avocado+1 green banana (no coffee) L: Salad + couple pieces (big 1-2inches) of boiled chicken breast (I use olive oil and apple vinegar for flavoring, no cheese, no croutons). D (6:00pm) (if I eat) vegetarian soup or same like lunch.   Drink 2liters of water or herbal tea per day usually. Go to bad: 11:00pm   Two days ago I bought DGL licorice chewable. So I am planning to use it at least 2 months and see.   I feel miserable and hopeless. I do not know why I experience this entire nightmare. How I deserve it? I can’t exercise because of the nausea. I have energy, but feel if I jump I am going to vomit. Most of you find some relief from the medications. I do not. Not sure if I have to ask the doctor for another one, since two of them didn’t work for me. Heeeelp….   Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Thanks Andy1986.   I am not sure what the difference between reflux and GERD is. I read a lot in the web, but still are the same for me. Is it possible to have reflux with no damage on the LES? Is the damage on the LES can be seen during upper EGD? Andy1986, I may try this too (the bland foods). Not sure if it is from salad. Because when I eat meat only (I tried one day with meat only, one day with fruits only, one day on toast bred only, I tried everything ), nausea came at the same time again. I am ready to try every single advice in the world. I do not have logical explanation why this happened to my. I started suspect my exercising regimen.   But you are right for the raw vegetables and fruits. I read about the alkaline diet. But this is not definitely for me. I try it for a week and feel even more miserable. Those fruits and vegetables brought a lot burping and bloating for me. Also do not have logical explanation why, since everywhere everybody talks how healthy are they. And how we have to give up meat. I am confused big time. When I eat mostly meat, no burping, no bloating. When I turned to this alkaline diet I couldn’t close my mouth all day long of nasty burping.   Forgot to mention in my first post, that the GI doctor do not recommended me any diet. Can you believe it? That is ridiculous. Good that I found this forum and started reading what you guys experienced and I put my own restrictions. Also I make my own yogurt at home, but even if everywhere everybody said it is almost God food, I feel worse with it. Probably the sour taste affects me somehow.   For the esophagus pain I found relief with chewing gum. Try also apple sider vinegar, but again affects me pretty bad (probably because the inflammanted esophagus). I found good relief when I take soda bicarbonate in glass of water. But not sure how frequently I can drink it. Also take acidophilus probiotic 3 X 1 (100million).

Yes Alex the nausea is worst of everything!!! I have horrible pain in the chest right now, I can’t even breathe from it. But is still acceptable. But nausea I can’t find word to describe. Even brings me something like a panic and makes me to think it may not be acid reflux….. I drink ginger tea, but seems like doesn’t help much, also bought aloe vera juice. Same – no relief. Even worse because of the citric acid in there, worsen my chest pain and end up with a lot of burping. When I used to take Nexium, I take it 1 hour prior the meal. But nausea didn’t go away. Those things are supposed to help symptoms! This Zantac same – no relief. Monday I am going to call the doctor, but I am not sure if she will suggests anything else, because the zantac is prescribed for a month, I tooke it 14 days so far…..

Hi Vicgy

You might want to be tested for delayed gastric emptying. GERD and nausea are symptoms of delayed gastric emptying.. and in worse cases vomiting. Delayed gastric emptying is when food sets in your stomach too long and is not being broken down quickly enough. When this happens, It can push food and what little acid remains in your stomach back up the esophagus.

Be careful with H2-blockers and PPIs. I developed delayed gastric from taking a PPI. They can slow motility.

Greeting guys. I didn’t show up long time, because everything is still the same by me. I saw the GI doctor last week and finally I saw my official diagnose – GERD and small hiatal hernia. Per your advice I requested from her Carafate for the esophagus pain. One week later, I still do not feel any relief.   Carafate has been prescribed twice daily by 10mg. I read about the interaction with the other medication and decided to take it first dose at 4am, the other one at 5pm. In additional to that she changed Zantec (twice daily by now) with Prilosec once in the morning (at 6am, 2 hours later after Carafate – hopefully is ok) .   Again per your advice I asked for the gastric delay test. I got the results today, but can’t interpret them:   Thesolid phase test meal consisted of the radioisotope cooked with 118 mlegg substitute, served with 2 slices of white bread, 30 g jam, and 120ml of water. Time%Retention Normal Maximum 1hour 82 90 2hour 45 60 4hour 14 10 Retentionof greater than 90% at 4 hours is considered abnormal. IMPRESSION:Borderline abnormal gastric emptying study with 14% retentionat 4 hours. Dr.wanted you to know the gastric emptying test showed borderline increased delayin emptying. She wants you to continue eating 5-6 frequent small meals daily.     She didn’t not recommend medications at the moment.   Just like conclusion: so far I am still nauseas and not sure where the nausea come from – from the delay gastric empty, from GERD or from the hernia, or everything together. At least I started exercising again. Not like I use to exercise, but little by little. Also I asked her can I continue take my supplements that I stop taking in September (vitamin D, evening primrose oil and magnesium). I read that since my stomach acid is low from the antacids medications, I might not absorb vitamins. But she said, that I can continue taking them. I am afraid that she just answers me without thinking and I might waist my money for vitamins.   The other concern thing is I am not hungry at all anymore. She didn’t mention any diet. So I started reading in the web for 5-6 frequent meals per day, but it so so hard for me. In the morning at 6:30am I just eat 4-5oz homemade yogurt and can’t eat by 5pm. I understand for the raw vegetables and fruits. I do not eat them at all. I eat mostly mashed potatoes, chicken, fish, veggie soups; milk…Even the water is too much for me. According to this doctor everything is so mild for me, but I feel really crappie.   Can you guys suggest anything again please? Should I see any other doctor, should I force myself to eat, or just have to wait for miracle when my appetite comes back?     I asked for enzymes and probiotics. She said she doesn’t recommend any.   I take on my one: licorice tablets (3 times per day by 3) I use to take Slippery Elm powder, but stop for now, when she prescribed me Carafate. I also take acidophilus: 3 times per day by 2 with the food.   Do you guys thing that I have to buy any enzymes? Can you advice which ones, please? They are so many on the market and so expensive, so I am not sure what should I buy.   Help again. I am really appreciated.