Do I have GERD?
- I've been told I have a bad case of acid reflux by a doctor, but I've since been told it might be barrett's disease. My symptoms are severe. I've had about 3 'episodes' a year for the last 3 years. My episodes are horrible. Basically, I am taken down for anywhere from 5-15 days at a time. And I mean taken down. I'll start vomiting, but not normal vomiting. I'll vomit in the morning and it's bile - very acidy. Normally when I vomit when sick, there is a relief immediately after for a little while at least. With this, the vomiting doesn't relieve at all. I vomit once and then I'm in pain for the next 8 hours. When an episode comes on, I'll vomit every two hours or so for the first few days. I can't sleep or even hold water down. Then I'll get to a point where I'll feel a little better in the afternoon and think it's going away but I'll wake up in the middle of the night and it will start again. It's horrible. My throat gets raw and I can't stop the vomiting. I can't sleep.
- —sutimom
What led to my diagnosis
- Have had heartburn off and on for over 30 years - nothing that Rolaids didn't help - till I developed a dry cough last December. In January, just before going in for a routine colonoscopy, I had 2 episodes of difficulty swallowing. Doc performed an EGD the same day as colonoscopy - no, he didn't use the same tubes ;-). Diagnosis came back as Barretts Esophagus caused by GERD. Am now on Prilosec 2x/day, but cough still persists along with raspy phlemy throat. Was put on Kapidex for 3 weeks which took care of cough but not raspy throat. Am now back on Prilosec (cough is back - very annoying for both of us - I'm coughing again as I write this) and awaiting word from doc about possible medicine change. Have elevated the head of the bed (it's a nightly battle to not slide off the foot of the bed!), eliminated all possible triggers, never smoked, am losing weight, have increased exercise, don't drink anything except water - nothing seems to help - yet.
- —Guest Marti
GERD
- I was treated for GERD with nexium for one year with no relief. I had 2 Endoscopies and one colonscopy and nothing helped. Then one day I had bleeding in my bladder and doctors figured I have a cyst in my overies and I was diagonsed with Endometrosis. Once they fixed my endometrosis my GERD went away.
- —Guest GERD Symptoms
how I knew I had GERD
- I was away on a holiday and after a big fatty breakfast suddenly I experienced severe heart burn and acid coming into my throat. I bought some antacids, which relieve it for a short time, but not for long. Following a whole week of oesophageal reflux making for a miserable holiday I visited my GP who ordered an endoscopy. This revealed a hiatus hernia, which is still giving problems today, so I am extremely careful with my diet.
- —Guest snow-bear-9
Symptoms that led to my GERD diagnosis
- I knew I had a problem when I was hoarse and almost lost my voice for a little over a month! I had difficulty swallowing and had an upset stomach after ANYTHING I ate! I'm still working on the maintenance of my GERD...I'm down to possibly giving up coffee which I love! I wonder if I can still enjoy either a cup of organic coffee or decaf?
- —Guest Ava
Pressure
- I went to my doctor when I had chest pressure that would not go away. She dx'd gerd & put me on Prilosec. I took it for 2 weeks and symptoms disappeared, so I went off it. Almost 3 mos later, symptoms reappeared & I took Prilosec for 2 weeks again and went off it. About a week after going off the med, I woke during the night with a racing heart, thinking I was having a heart attack. I was rushed to the hospital, had a workup and admitted for 24 hours for monitoring. They came up with nothing (even doing bloodwork), but put me on Protonix and chalked it up to gerd. I was also having the chest pressure while they monitored me. After this, my doctor sent me for an upper endoscopy, which showed nothing. I then saw a cardiologist who put me on a halter monitor for 10 days and ordered a stress echo, which both showed nothing. After I was on the Protonix twice a day for a month, I lowered it to once a day and have been fine since. I'm also being more careful with my diet.
- —twinmommie06
Manager
- About 3 months ago,began taking Fosamax on the 3rd week.I developed a chronic gastric problem " frequent heartburns " at the abdomen area before and after meals,followed by "Chest Tightness" and throat burns especially in the morning.Can not sleep flat now.Got to eat small meal each time, Acid taste from the throat 1 to 2 hours after meal.After I change my medicine from Ranidine to Omeprazole.It did not help much. Now, I am taking Controloc 40mg, it really relieve the heartburns only during day time.I find it very difficult to sleep at night and in the morning,againI am experiencing Chest Tightness and Throat burns sensation.Doctor said that I have GERD problem. I hope to do Endoscopy soon, because I am worry there some complications.
- —Guest Francis Toh
Trouble Swallowing
- I was diagnosed with GERD many years ago. My difficulty was that occasionally, food would not go down because of my hiatal hernia. I had an esophageal dialation procedure. (The area that narrowed was stretched.) Also I took anti-acids. Then, I could swallow easily--for about two weeks. I had several of these procedures. After a few years of the anti acids, I had trouble digesting my food and my stomach hurt, and I felt bad in general. I decided to quit the procedures and the anti-acids. For a while, I had occasional swallowing problems. I simply forced a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and the food slid right down. The body finally adjusted itself. Now, I might have a swallowing occurence twice a year. I have no acid reflux--I do mostly eat an akaline diet. I am 79 years old. I am mostly healthy and happy. Conie
- —Conie17
bloating and regurgitating
- It doesn't take very much food to really feel stuffed. (A 5 oz hamburger is fine, but I am stuffed if I also add the french fries.) If I eat too much, it starts to come back up, but I never have pain, just the bad taste and a bit of a cough. I simply cannot eat the quantity of food that comes in a typical restaurant meal these days, have to split it with another person.
- —Guest Jean
gerd symptoms
- I have stopped eating fat fried food, for years, and also eat 3 hours before bedtime, but dec. brought flu and lots of advil. Just couldnt get better, even with the new generation ppi's, I had gallstones, had my gallbladder removed 2 weeks ago, reflux is better but not gone. TIme will tell.
- —Guest shotzy54
Gerd
- I had a constant cough & scratchy throat. My throat always felt sore and scratchy. I was waking up in the middle of the night(sometimes more than once) coughing, regurgitating, and vomiting. It was awful!!! When I ate and swallowed, the food would immediately come back up. I felt like food was stuck in the middle of my chest constantly. Foods like spaghetti, chicken, beef, lettuce. So many different foods that could be considered hard to digest. You wouldn't think spaghetti noodles, but yes. So, finally, I saw a Gastroenterologist who performed an upper endo on me. Sure enough, I had a small hernia, and he performed an esophageal dilatation on me. Immediate relief! He also prescribed Aciphex. That's my wonder drug!! It's worked great for me. I hope this helps someone out there.
- —slbward
Ms.
- Lost voice for about 5-6 weeks in Nov, coughing like crazy then ENT told me the problem. Happened again in March, trying to change diet which is hard living in the deep south.
- —Guest Carol
paula
- Does anyone have info on laryngopharyngeal reflux (PR)? My symptoms were chronic sinistis.
- —paulaindayton
What led me to my LPR(gerd) Diagnosis?
- All summer long, I had a hacking cough with mucous.As I have allergies, my allergist treated me with medicine for asthma, allergies, etc. In October of this past year, I lost my voice completely and couldn't swallow. I had to stay silent for 6 days. Therefore I was treated with an antibiotic and put on Prevasid. An ENT exam and GI scope determined that I had LPR and small hietal hernia. It is 7 months now. Still on Prevacid. Diet has improved -used about.com foods to avoid. The ENT doctor will try to reduce the Prevacid in a few months as it's connected with hip fractures for women when used long term. But for short term treatment it's great for esphageal healing. By the way, I was fortunate not to have an esophagus damage due to my refluxing (regurgitation from the stomach acid's content)
- —missmushymushy
Burping
- When you bend down and kind of burp and some stuff comes up is that one of the symptoms of GERD? Yuk, one more thing to add to my roster of ailments.
- —djtcopd
