Acid reflux, gerd sufferers, help!!!

[chip 'n dale rule]

I am at my wit's end! For the last two months I have had a horrible dry cough, tightness in my chest that makes it hard to breath or get a full deep breath, burning in my chest, and now a sore throat. I've been to a pulmonologist that was less than helpful and said it would go away. He didn't take anything I said seriously AT ALL. After my second visit he said it might be acid reflux and put me on Prilosec. He said to come see him in a month or so if it didn't help. No thanks! The Prilosec hasn't made a noticible improvement in any of my symptoms. I do have an appointment with a gastroenterologist tomorrow. I'm worried that I'll get the brush off again. I could handle the burning but the effect it is having on my breathing is putting me over the edge. I use to Zumba, which I loved, but the last time I tried it felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest and I couldn't catch my breath. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Acid reflux with cough??? I would love to hear what helped! TIA!

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

My son had the same sort of symptoms and they put him on Nexium. It didn't help and he had an endoscopy. The endoscopy showed bile in his stomach which is a sign of an ulcer, gall bladder issues or an h. pylori infection. I don't know if this is what is going on with you. The gastroenterologist should be able to help.

 

[Tozzie]

I am at my wit's end! For the last two months I have had a horrible dry cough, tightness in my chest that makes it hard to breath or get a full deep breath, burning in my chest, and now a sore throat. I've been to a pulmonologist that was less than helpful and said it would go away. He didn't take anything I said seriously AT ALL. After my second visit he said it might be acid reflux and put me on Prilosec. He said to come see him in a month or so if it didn't help. No thanks! The Prilosec hasn't made a noticible improvement in any of my symptoms. I do have an appointment with a gastroenterologist tomorrow. I'm worried that I'll get the brush off again. I could handle the burning but the effect it is having on my breathing is putting me over the edge. I use to Zumba, which I loved, but the last time I tried it felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest and I couldn't catch my breath. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Acid reflux with cough??? I would love to hear what helped! TIA!

I suffered horribly from GERD for many many years, and all the symptoms you descibe except the chest pain (I had a pressure in my chest not pain) I experienced, Prilosec didn't do a darned thing for me, I took prevacid, 30 mg 2 x a day for years, and that is what worked for me. Then last year the medicine stopped working, all the various one stopped working, I then had the surgery to fix the reflux. There are a lot of symptoms different people experience with the disease, there are also several medications and work at varying degrees for different people, so it may be a while if you are actually diagnosed with gerd to find the right medicine. i also used a lot of liquid antacid, that worked for acute symptoms

Good Luck

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I take Nexium and watch what I eat. Have you altered your diet to help your symptoms?

For example, I have trigger foods and I have foods I have to give up. Recently have to give up wine...(waahh).

Cookies, coffee, soda, high stress and constipation make it worse as well.

With my dh he cannot eat herbs or tomatoes.

Have you tried Zantac? That is what I take along with the Nexium if it is acting up.

 

[mrsv98]

I have had reflux for a while but in the last year or two developed a cough to go with it. My doc added famotidine and that really helped. You can use both together and for me it did the trick. You might give it a try until you can see the specialist next week.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I have noticed that not all acid reflux meds work for all GERD sufferers. Some medications that people swear by do absolutely nothing for my symptoms. My gastro put me on a new one last week called Dexilant and I noticed a difference immediately.
It may require some trial and error of medications to see what, if any, medications work for you should it turn out to be GERD.

 

[Robinrs]

I've had it for years. I've been on and off many meds, some worked for awhile, some never worked.

I had an endoscopy a month ago and discovered I have a hiatal hernia. I can completely stop the symptoms by not eating 3 hours before lying down. Also, creamy substances eaten just at that 3 hour time calms down the acid, also. They have to be non dairy, though, because dairy foods and acidic foods are my trigger.

Try as many non medicinal things to to calm it as you can. The less chemicals the better!

 

[Janepod]

I suffered for years and a bland diet and medication were no help. Finally I had an endoscopy and the doctor determined I had damaged my esophageal valve with the years of reflux, and had to have it surgically repaired. That was 8 years ago and I haven't had an episode since. Changed my life.

 

[happily single]

I agree that not all meds work for all people. I take olempozole (spelling?). I found that the 20 mg pills didn't work, but the 20.6 mg pills did. Who would have thought that the .6 would make such a difference

 

[LuLuO]

I started with these symptoms a little over a week ago. I thought I was having heart problems. It was awful. I went to the ER.

My primary put me on Prilosec twice a day for four weeks and then told me to go off of it to see how it goes. If it comes back he said he'd run some more tests.

There is a history of hiatal hernia in my family and my primary told me to stay away from acidic foods and to not eat a lot within a couple hours of exercising or bedtime.

 

[SandrA9810]

My aunt had the tightness in her chest too, earlier this year. It was from the acid reflux. She's taken Nexium for years now, and nothing else works for her.

It's also important to get regular check ups while on the medicine because it cause other damage. So far, so good for her.

 

[Jennasis]

I'm dealing with the tightness and pain in my chest (right sided just behind the breast) and occasional ache/pain behind my right shoulder blade. Sometimes I get a burning/scraping sensation when I swallow (same right side and even if I just swallow saliva). I also have a lot of gas/burping issues and it wioll often bring food back up. Doc put me on omeprazole one time a day and while things have improves, I am still having issues. I think I will be back in his office at the 30 day mark. I'm wondering if it;s something much worse than reflux...or maybe gall bladder related. I'm a worrier and it's freaking me out.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I had the same symptoms and the same frustrations with the doctors two years ago. After several frustrating months with medicines (and doctors), I decided to try drastic diet changes. If you are interested, check out the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (google SCD diet) or the GAPS diet. They are major lifestyle changes, but they work. Not only has my reflux drastically improved to the point where I have no symptoms when I am sticking with the diet, but it has also helped other issues I was struggling with like sinus infections, eczema, and anxiety. It took several months for me to be desperate enough to try the diets, but I am so glad I did.

Be careful with the PPI's. It's very difficult to come off of them because they cause a rebound effect. I learned this the hard way.

It's funny to me that doctors rarely look at our diets as a cause of health problems, but for me, changing the way I eat has changed my life. It's not easy, but it's worth it.

Best wishes to you. I hope you find relief and some support!

 

[marcyinPA]

I was diagnosed with reflux about 8 years ago- when I had this lump in my throat that would not go away. I went to my PCP, who ran all kinds of tests, including the one for h. pylori (bacteria). She put me on Aciphex, which worked almost immediately. I weaned off of it, and a year later, my lump came back. She sent me to a gastro. I had a barium swallow and an endoscopy. The swallow showed reflux, the endoscopy showed that I had an esophogeal errosion.

I have been off and on different meds for years. Currently, I just take an over the counter once a day and it has been working. BUT- I need to watch my triggers: coffee, red wine, spicy and acidic foods.

I never had any of the other classic symptoms- no burning in the chest, no mouth full of acid at night, etc. Just a sore throat.

I hope you get answers at the gastro. You should- they are the ones to go to for reflux/gerd

 

[stevenpensacola]

I take one Nexium at night at bedtime.

Several years back woke up one night with chest pain...which did not seem to get better...could not get to sleep...woke my wife...should we go to ER...as they say all heart attack victims question if they're having a heart attack...so then you mix in the stress/anxiety of IF you're having a heart attack...

long story short...went to ER...checked ticker, did stress test, and the other gamut of heart checks...all OK.

Was then checked by a very good gastro doc...did the scope, found some reflux issues, subscribed Nexium...have been good to go since then.

I had gotten where I was consuming a number of rolaids/tums during the day...which should have been a tip off...another bad side effect of this...had a kidney stone, possibly from all the calcium in the rolaids/tums.

Since that time, I've radically changed what and how much I eat...and have added daily exercise and have lost over 50 lbs since August. Amazing how eating right and being fit can cure a lot of your ills.

 

[Ponygirl]

I take one Nexium at night at bedtime.


Since that time, I've radically changed what and how much I eat...and have added daily exercise and have lost over 50 lbs since August. Amazing how eating right and being fit can cure a lot of your ills.

Maintaining a healthy weight, exercise and eating well will help a lot. Also, try elevating the head of your bed by 3-4 inches. This helps acid from creeping up while you sleep. Just use a couple of books or a brick on each side and try it for a week or two. If it doesn't help, they are easily removed.

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[DebIreland]

Ask your doctor to do a liver blood test - this will show your liver enzyme levels. The reason I mention it is because tightness in the chest and indigestion can be symptoms of liver disease including gallbladder disease, hepatitis and worse. I don't want to frighten you but I know that those symptoms are often overlooked when it comes to liver issues and a simple blood test will set you on the right track if your liver is the problem.

 

[swandiverpatt]

Count me in. For years, I'd have a very severe heartburn attack once or twice a year. It would present right behind my breastbone and hurt in the back as well. Always took a trip to the ER in case it was heart-related.

I finally went to a gastro doctor last year. She did a scope and found out I had a hiatal hernia, an ulcer (which surprised me), and some esophageal damage. I went on Nexium and it has been amazing.

Now, my primary doctor wants to wean me off of the Nexium, which I really don't want to do. I know that Nexium leaches calcium out, but he said it can also disrupt platelet development. Yikes!

I haven't really found a trigger food beyond almond milk, unfortunately, I realized that this past weekend.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I have it bad, I have trouble swallowing now from acid damage to my throat. Zantac helps a lot prilosec doesn't do anything, everyone is different. It runs in my family and what works for me doesn't work for a family member. I hope the gastro is helpful. I never had traditional heartburn symptoms so mine was missed for years. I had chest discomfort, coughing etc.