Readers Respond: What symptoms led you to your GERD diagnosis?

Responses: 27

When did you first suspect you were suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)? What symptoms prompted you to go to your doctor about it? Share your experiences with others.

Can't sleep

It's 3 o'clock in the morning right now and I just woke up because of heartburn. This doesn't happen very often and I don't really get normal heartburn that often during the day, so when it happened at night for the first time I freaked out. I'm 18 and 20 lbs overweight so I know that losing some weight will help me out, but I'm a very picky eater so the two things that I've noticed to give me heartburn is pizza and lemon. Usually I wake up once a week in the middle of a deep sleep because of acidic heartburn suddenly bursting up my throat and it feels like I'm choking as I rapidly swallow to try to keep it down. And the rapid swallowing is so natural that I can't stop myself from doing it and it feels like I can't breathe. Tonight was something a little different though, and its never happened before, I woke up to something more like vomit than pure acid, it was kind of sickly sweet and it didn't burn as much as usual but the really strange part is that is came out of my nose too.

—Guest Just woke up

Pressure & light-headedness

My concern started with a heart-scare. I have had chronic high blood pressure since my teens, but several months back I experienced a hypertensive crisis. I also had a strong knot right at the sphincter, and waves of faintness/dizziness. In the last year I have also had several severe reflux incidents - usually when I am in a deep sleep. In one instance, I partially inhaled, and it took my lungs a long time to recover. I am going to try the diets recommended here, but other dietary changes I made before did not seem to help. My Dr. tried me on Nexium, and the symptoms pretty much disappeared, but the prescription was not renewed as my Dr. felt that my body would likely adjust acid to compensate.

—Guest ken

Just getting diagnosis is hard!

My boyfriend has been to at least 10 doctors, had two ER visits and one overnight admittance, and has been diagnosed with everything from sleep apnea with obstruction, to acute bronchitis, to LPRD (laryngopharyngeal reflux disease), to acute sinusitis, and even cough, which has a diagnostic code! (786.2) They all prescribed Advair -- this week's doctor upped the dose to 500/50. Advair makes everything worse -- he gets hoarse, can't swallow, has attacks where he can't breathe. So he took himself off of it and is getting better. He is now taking 40 mg of Nexium twice a day, Flonase twice a day, and 81 mg of aspirin to thin the blood. We still don't have a diagnosis -- latest doctor says he's too sick to have a sleep test, which is what the Cleveland Clinic doctor we saw ordered. I have put him on a GERD diet thanks to this wonderful Web site, and that seems to be helping the most. Of course, the bed is raised and we don't eat 3 hours before bedtime. He also quit drinking.

—Guest lrawls16

GERD or something else?

I have never had symptoms of GERD. I had to have my tonsils out and ever since I have a constant low grade sore throat that my ENT PA swears is acid reflux and put me on Prilosec. Don't notice any difference. She says my healing is going great but the irritation is from GERD. Why did I not have symptoms before? It only seems sensitive on the right side of my throat. I'm in my 40's have always loved caffeine, tomatoes and wine but never had issues until the tonsils came out. Was this a trigger? Anyone with similar symptoms?

—Guest Wendy

Vomiting

I was diagnosed a month ago with severe esophagitis and GERD. I am 33 years old and reasonably healthy. I do however drink alcohol and my favorite food is pizza. I had taken famotadine and ppi's and nothing is helping. I am strictly following the GERD diet but some days I throw up 20-30 times. I have to leave work and come home and lay in bed propped up. I have lost about 20 pounds in one month. It is miserable and embarrassing to always be throwing up wherever I go. My doc looks at me like I'm crazy and just keeps prescribing more medicine - which upsets my stomach. I had a barium swallow and x-rays and blood tests but have never had the endoscopy. Do you all recommend this?

—Guest gwednesday

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