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GERD/Hiatal Hernia/Heart?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 8/18/2015 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I have just joined this site although over the years I have googled my problems, I have followed the chats so I decided to join in.

I have had GERD/Hiatal Hernia for over 30 years - had 2 surgeries for this however now that I am over 50 the symptoms seem to be getting worse. I was on Nexium for 20+ years and now switched to Dexilant although I read that you should not be on these drugs for long periods my doctors do not seem to want to switch me off them. I ended up in the Emergency Room last month thinking that I was having a heart attack and they did some tests and said that it was related to my GERD so booked an appointment with a Gastroenterologist who did an endoscopy and said that he didn't feel that I even had GERD? Really? I do have a Hiatal Hernia however they tell me that this shouldn't cause any symptoms! I get pains in my chest regularly, sometimes pain in my back and back of my head, I have also had sinus troubles for years too which they tell me are all related. My frustrations have turned to depression and I see that many on this forum seem to have the same troubles so thought I would share in a chat.

Has anybody found any answers that maybe I haven't explored? Would love to know!
Posted 8/18/2015 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kimmy,

Welcome to the forum.

Proton Pump Inhibitors were originally designed to be used for only a few weeks. The fact that you've been on them for so long does concern me some. But first I have some questions for you:

1. The 2 surgeries you referenced in your original post, what were they? If you don't mind.

2. Have you had any other diagnosis other than GERD and a hiatal hernia?

3. Have you ever had a period or periods where you stop taking Nexium or Dexilant? If so, what were the results?

4. What were the results of your last endoscopy? Were any biopsies taken? Did the GI make any observations about your esophagus or your hiatal hernia?

Sorry to hear you are going through this, it sounds like you've been dealing with this for a very long time.

 

Posted 8/18/2015 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the reply! It is great to discuss this with people who actually are living with it and listen! The 2 surgeries were first a gallbladder removal and then hiatal hernia repair - these were done over 20 years ago. Have never had any other diagnosis and the fact that they even want to take away the GERD diagnosis now kind of freaks me out - if I haven't been living with that all these years then what have I been living with???? I don't think that I have ever been off those, if I was it wasn't for long. They did a biopsy on the last endoscopy and all he said was that I was fine other than I had a small hiatal hernia which shouldn't be giving me any symptoms. I go to my regular GP in September so I want to be armed with as many questions/concerns as possible.

Recently I cut out all Soda's and everything with Aspartame in it hoping this would help and it hasn't - in fact I might be worse!
Posted 8/18/2015 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
You're welcome.

Well, I'm glad you cut out all sodas. Sodas have zero nutritional value and only cause distress to your digestive system.  If I drank a soda today I would probably end up in urgent care.   I would also recommend cutting out MSG in all forms, so if you go out to eat make sure you ask the server if they use MSG in their foods or sauces.   Cutting out aspartame, chocolate, all alcohol, and caffeine, fatty foods, and spicy foods is also a good idea.

The problem with being on PPIs for so long is that stomach acid kills off a lot of bad bacteria, it also digests some of your food, and as we age we also produce less stomach acid. So I'm not surprised that your doctor says you no longer have GERD, that's probably because you're not really producing that much acid anymore. Though I am not a doctor and am just taking an educated guess based on what you've told me.

I think in your case you might need to radically change what you eat. What foods do you eat on a regular basis? Secondly, do you eat any organic foods?

Another question:  what was your last meal before you went to the ER?

 

Posted 8/18/2015 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi kimmy... when you got your endoscope done, did he show you any pictures? Did he say you had any esophageal erosion? There probably shouldn't have been that much if you were on those PPIs, but sometimes they just don't work after awhile. I was on them but still had the severe heartburn episodes that feels like a heart attack and the erosion. Since you had that ER episode, I am surprised they de-diagnosed you with GERD. If you stop the PPIs, do the GERD symptoms come back? If so, then you would still have the disease. Sometimes it is worth a 2nd opinion. It also might be worth having a 24hr ph test done - since they cut the PPIs off and then test you. That will give you a Demeester score which would confirm GERD or not. As peabs mentioned, PPIs are really not meant to be taken for years. Many newer studies (besides FDA warnings) have shown that. I would seek the other test and possibly a new GI dr. Good luck
Posted 8/18/2015 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
I love this site! You guys are great! Just talking to other people who have experienced this makes me feel like I am not crazy! He did not show me any pictures of the endoscopy just sent a note to my GP - this is probably way different for me with Doctors then you guys because I am in Canada, but still it is worth discussing to me. I will definitely mention that to my Doctor in September when I visit her. We had felt that the Nexium was no longer working and thus why I was changed to the Dexilant about a year ago and then referred to another Specialist where they did Upper GI series where it showed the Hiatal hernia and the Endoscopy where they did a biopsy but that is when he said that he felt that I didn't really have GERD - which is when I began to think I was just crazy and became depressed!

I have been reading crazy things about being on PPI's for 30 years so looking for some other answers/ways around this.
Posted 8/18/2015 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
kimmysnores,
You may want to ask your doctor about the possibility of a malfunctioning LES (lower esophageal sphincter); the flap of muscle that keeps acid in the stomach).

If that is the case, acid reflux has free reign to back up into your esophagus and do its damage. That's where the Laprascopic Nissen Fundoplication surgery comes into play and you will find many success stories on this forum from people who've had this surgery when all other lifestyle changes have failed.

Best of luck!
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