Why are symptoms so bad with normal endoscopy?

GERD is completely new to me. Last Dec. I got a bad sore throat (which then evolved into ear pain, chest congestion, coughing) that antibiotics would fix and then would come back when I stopped. Finally after a 3 week round of Bactram at the end of January I seemed to kick it.

But I continued to have a slightly sore throat and some ear pain and popping. And then the nausea started. I kept returning to the ENT and he said nothing was wrong. Soon it evolved into burning in my throat and my stomach.

I've been on various PPIs now off and on for a month - I can't seem to get up to a high enough dose to help. They give me terrible screaming headaches, make me feel jittery, dry mouth, constipation, tremor. Protonix was the worst. Nexium was bad. Prevacid was okay on 15 mg 2x a day (and did nothing for reflux) but at 30 mg 2x a day I'm having the same side effects as the Protonix. I've always been sensitive to meds.

I have always taken probiotics.

I've been on a very strict acid free diet for almost 3 weeks based on the induction phase in the book Dropping Acid. I had an endoscopy 5 days ago. All it showed was "mild non specific lamina propria vascular congestion. I assume that's mild gastritis? I am miserable. My voice is hoarse. A friend told me I've been coughing and clearing my throat for months. The burning is terrible. I tried to go off the Dropping Acid induction phase of the diet yesterday and had a terrible relapse.

How come the acid free diet is barely working? What happens if I can't tolerate a high enough PPI? Should I just keep trying new ones? Does it take awhile to heal? All I can seem to tolerate is whole grain toast, grilled fish, avocados, and zucchini. You can't live on that. And I'm going on vacation next week - food used to be my life. I'm a foodie, love dining out with friends.

Thanks for any advice you can give. I never knew what GERD was until 5 weeks ago. I can't imagine living a life like this! How you people survive this is beyond me!

Stress can certainly cause or make your symptoms seem worse. I think you are looking for a quick fix with the PPIs and the diet modification. Both of these will take time before you see improvement. Also, are you taking the PPIs properly? Take the pill in the morning and then wait about 45 minutes and then you have to eat.

hi remy, i had a lot of stress in my life for several years...and then i started getting sick. i thought i had the flue then the burning sensations started and the pain in my stomach was killing me!!! it lasted for a couple of weeks before i got to the doctor. he started me on ppi's 40mgs in am before eating...it took a full 3 weeks before i got relief! thank god the pharmacist told me that or i would have gone crazy. i tried really hard to be positive and did everything you are suppose to do per posts and that book! i had to juice all my food because i couldn't digest my food. i really thought i was going to die in this pain. anyway...little by little with a lot of patience at about 3 mo i was able to get OFF the ppi's and very slowly i got back to feeling about 90% better...sometimes feel 100% well. there is life after GERDS...but follow everything you've been told to do...and you will feel your system adjusting! hang in there...patience, patience!!