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Is this a symptom of GERD?

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Posted 1/13/2006 5:34 PM (GMT 0)

Hello ladies and gents,

I'm new to the board and have a question regarding a particular symptom I am exibiting. I was diagnosed with GERD roughly four years ago after a month long, painful, irritating symptom. I was having episodes where it felt like my esophagus was constantly kneading and contracting at the base of my neck. You can get sort of the same sensation by pushing your finger into the little hollow area at the base of your neck. I was also experiencing sensations similar to having swallowed too much food at once and having it move really SLOWLY down the esophagus - terribly painful. Once in awhile, I also experienced pain behind the breastbone. After I had my endoscopy, I was told I had GERD and was prescribed Nexium. I didn't get a chance to take the medication because the symptoms mysteriously disappeared and have not returned...that is until a week ago.

A week ago I started having the episodes of kneading and contracting at the base of my neck again and sometimes have a feeling of something in there...not a feeling of something stuck, just something there. It's kind of like the feeling you get when you swallow after having vomitted...some little chunks left over or something, LOL. Sorry to be so gross but that's what it feels like. I am also having mild pain in my chest area.

I guess my question is this? Does this sound like a GERD symptom? I am not having any other typical symptoms such as burning (I was however having bouts of burning at night prior to this onset of symptoms). I saw my DR yesterday and he says it sounds more like a motility problem but wanted to rule out GERD before starting motility meds and so he has me on 20mg of Pariet per day. I just took the first dose about an hour ago so I will wait and see I guess. Although the kneading/contracting sensation is gone, I still have the feeling of chunkies.

I hope it is just a GERD related thing and that it too will pass and not come back for a few years.

Cheers,
Sherry

Post Edited (Purely-Canadian) : 1/13/2006 10:55:19 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/14/2006 8:27 AM (GMT 0)
Is your doc a family practice/general med physician or a GI specialist?  I only ask b/c it is usually best to go with the latter if you are experiencing GERD and/or motility issues.

Many GERD sufferers report the feeling of something being stuck in their throat.  For me, it's more of an issue of feeling sometimes like I can't swallow b/c the throat is frozen.  People attribute it to the throat seizing up in response to acid.

If the Pariet doesn't work, consider requesting an esophageal manometry test before being placed on motility meds.  Motility drug choices are limited and some carry nasty side effects.  During the manometry test, your nose and throat are numbed while a device is placed down your throat.  You are asked to swallow water per instruction.  It's a good indicator of exactly what's going on w/your throat and esophagus.

Hope the Pariet does the trick!

Laura

Posted 1/15/2006 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Just an update on my situation

My esophageal contractions have stopped, thank goodness. However, once the contractions stopped I began having intense chest pain that would come and go throughout the day. It felt as though someone had kicked me in the chest and the pain was pretty bad at times. The pain subsided briefly when eating but returned shortly after.

I am on day three of my medication and, although I had a rough morning with the chest pains, I am happy to report that they have (or at least I hope they have) subsided. My chest just feels bruised now, but no pain. I have put myself on a soft/liquid diet for the next few days to see if it helps things along. I seriously think I have esophagitis caused from the night GERD I had been experiencing for over a month prior to the onset of the esophageal contractions. The meds seem to be working and the only side effects I have are headache and diarrhea. I will gladly take those over the pain/GERD any day!
Posted 6/3/2007 9:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi
I am a long term sufferer of GERD. It started in the year 2000 and the episode lasted 18 MONTHS! It was set off by a virus I was suffering from. I had symptoms of various descriptions (headache, aching glands, sore throat) etc. Blood tests were negative which the doctor ordered as he thought I was suffering from glandular fever. The end result was 18 months worth of advanced acid reflux, confirmed by barium swallow. I was prescribed Zoton which didnt work so I was sent off to have a camera put down which revealed a hiatus hernia. The flap at the top of my stomach opens up due to the hernia, letting out the acid which spills into my oesophagus, causing pain, difficulty swallowing, sore throat.

After a few months of this I had had enough, I was suffering from roaring sore throat (not relived by Penicillin V) and in the end I was offered manometry tests. This involved a thin tube down my throat for 24 hours which was distressing, which measured levels of acid after eating meals. I entered eating times onto a chart and the tube was connected to a small computer worn outside the body on my hip.

Once this was done I had the awful test somebody mentioned above, where they put a THICKER tube down your throat and makes you constantly gag. Then when thats in place they tip small amounts of water down and monitor your swallowing mechanism.

The whole thing turned out to be a waste of time for me because what the doctor failed to tell me was I needed to stop the Pariet tablets at least 6 days prior to taking the test!

They concluded that my problem is probably my hernia but because of the inconclusive test results they said they would not operate on the hernia because they couldnt be sure that my reflux was as a result of the hernia or not, and its a big operation.
Posted 6/6/2007 2:33 PM (GMT 0)

Purely-Canadian said...
Just an update on my situation

My esophageal contractions have stopped, thank goodness. However, once the contractions stopped I began having intense chest pain that would come and go throughout the day. It felt as though someone had kicked me in the chest and the pain was pretty bad at times. The pain subsided briefly when eating but returned shortly after.

I am on day three of my medication and, although I had a rough morning with the chest pains, I am happy to report that they have (or at least I hope they have) subsided. My chest just feels bruised now, but no pain.

It's weird how they seem to cycle isn't it?

I will have a few days of spasms, a few days of chest pains and a few days with nothing other than a swollen/tickly throat.

This week it's spasms eyes

Posted 6/15/2007 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to HW, hope im in the right spot.

I was wondring if anyone here has found the reason for thier heartburn issues?

 

I have been for a while now stopping certain foods

to see if it is a food issue or something else.

 

I have found so far that "sugar" plain or foods high in sugar, high fructose corn syrup,brown surgar, ect.

These foods for me as well as of course "candy"

sets my heartburn n acid reflux ablaze.

 

Any thoughts on this issue?

 

Maddy

Posted 6/24/2007 7:54 PM (GMT 0)

The only reason I find so far for my GERD is fibromyalgia.

 I don't get help from John Sarno's books because I do not have anxiety or stress and was not sexually abused as a child,etc

I can eat sugar with no problem, but chocolate no way. Sometimes I have very painful chest pains, mostly the pain is where your esophagus connect to the stomach and other times it travels along the esophagus, starting from the top.

Drinking Aloe Vera helps cool down a burning throat or get rid of that acid taste.

Hey,Purely-Canadian

 Did you get to see GI specialist? All I had was baruim X-ray. I find pariet stops working after couple of months, but ranitidine works and costs less.

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