Acid reflux?

[Ragmop]

Anyone have it?

DS was taking Previcid and now Nexium(2 years now) and needs to go see a gastroentologist. What sort of tests would that Dr. do?

 

[floridafam]

Is he going to have the scope? I had a bronchoscopy about a year ago. Was having a lot of heartburn that wouldn't go away and we have a history of colon cancer in the family.

The test was simple and painless. They put you out for the procedure.

Is your son going in for a consultation to talk about what tests they may want him to have? Or is he actually going in for the test?

My test was normal. I changed my diet a little and reduced my stress level.

One more thing. My DS's asthma Dr. said that a lot of children have acid reflux and it asperates (sp?) into their lungs and makes their asthma worse or causes breathing difficulties. Does your son have asthma?

 

[Divamomto3]

Originally posted by floridafam
Is he going to have the scope? I had a bronchoscopy about a year ago. Was having a lot of heartburn that wouldn't go away and we have a history of colon cancer in the family.

The test was simple and painless. They put you out for the procedure.

Is your son going in for a consultation to talk about what tests they may want him to have? Or is he actually going in for the test?

My test was normal. I changed my diet a little and reduced my stress level.

One more thing. My DS's asthma Dr. said that a lot of children have acid reflux and it asperates (sp?) into their lungs and makes their asthma worse or causes breathing difficulties. Does your son have asthma?

I think you had an endoscopy, not a bronchoscopy. A bronchoscopy is when they put a scope down into your trachea and lungs to look for lung cancer, TB, or embedded foreign objects in your lungs. And endoscopy is when they put a scope down your esophagus and look into your esophagus for erosions caused by acid reflux and then into your stomach to look for ulcers or lesions. A colonoscopy is when they put a scope into your colon via your rectum to look for colon cancer, polyps, or abnormalities.

I'm a nurse...believe me, we humans have far too many orifices that can be scoped!

 

[DemonLlama]

DH takes Prevacid and DD (8) takes a liquid form. She's not thrilled at inheriting this from her dad!

Neither has had to undergo the scope, though, so I can't hlep you there.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

Is it possible for diet soda to cause acid reflux?

Sometimes if I have been drinking a lot of diet soda I have a problem with acid reflux... just wondering if it could be the soda or if I have to look for another cause of the reflux in my diet.

Thanks!

 

[Ragmop]

My son has been getting his meds from a "Quick Care" outpatient type facility. They say that they can no longer give him this prescription and he needs to see the Gastroentologist. Just planning the first visit. thanks

 

[floridafam]

Well, I lost my last response. I'll try again.

Oops. I didn't mean to say bronchoscopy. They were doing several of those that day, also. I have had endoscopy on my esophagus and I have had a few colonoscopies.

They really are very simple. My upper endoscopy was a peice of cake.

I only had the upper endoscopy because of the acid reflux AND a family history of colon cancer. My Dr. favors doing the endoscopy of the esophagus if you have acid reflux AND the family cancer history. My test was normal, I changed my diet and reduced my stress level.

In my Dad's case, it didn't have anything to do with his diet. The "flap" in his esophagus was no longer working and the acid reflux created scar tissue in his esophagus that made it very difficult to swallow the smallest peice of food.

He had it stretched a few times but that only provided temporary relief. The Dr. finally went in surgically and created a new "flap" and he has had ZERO problems since. The change was immediate and really shocking.

I'm sure they will be able to give you some answers about what's going on. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Christine]

I have acid reflux. I was having all sorts of nausea and feelings of fullness (no heartburn). My gastroenterologist would not prescribe Prilosec/Nexium without first doing the endoscope. No need to be on the drugs until you can prove that you have acid reflux. The scope procedure was quick, painless, and not a big deal. It did identify that my lower esophageal sphincter was "loose" and "floppy" and that my esophagus was mildly inflamed. I was put on Prilosec which worked great for years. Then it went over the counter. Can we say "nightmare". Of course my insurance won't let me get the Prilosec now. So I used the new Prilosec OTC. Did not work AT ALL even though the dosage is the same. The delivery system is not. Then I got a prescription for generic Prilosec (omeprazole). This did work; however, it caused me to a get a severe dry mouth. I guess there was something in the fillers that was different. Now I am on Nexium. It does work, but I don't think it does as good a job as the original Prilosec. But the drugs are virtually identical.

I do agree with the health care advice you received. If your DS is going to remain on these drugs indefinitely, you really do need a proper diagnosis.

 

[browneyes]

My SO has it. He had a panendoscopy last year to stretch his espophagus. The dr (his gastrointerologist) put him on Prevacid after the surgery. As long as he takes his Prevacid, he's fine.

 

[Chuck-PA]

I have severe acid reflux called Barretts Esophaegus (the precancer stage)

Earlier someone posted about questioning if diet soda causes reflux.

The caffeine in soda can cause acid reflux. Also, chocolate, citrus fruits, mints, tomatoes, anything with caffeine.

I am on several meds for my reflux, protonix, reglan, gas x, and levison.

I was on nexium for several years but it was giving me severe diarrhea as a side effect so my gastro took me off of it. He said for some people after being on it awhile they can develop side effects.

 

[Mickeyfaniam]

I started having acid reflux a year and half ago. I was put on protonix....after several months of not any getting better I had an endoscopy done which showed small hiatal hernia and gastritis.
I stayed on protonix, reduced stress level, stopped eating fried foods and chocolate and Now a year later I feel much better.

 

[Kermit]

I have acid reflux. I get it because I have schleroderma, which causes a variety of problems with the esophogus.

For now, I control it by diet. I know what types of foods trigger acid, and I just don't eat them. I'm also careful to stay upright after I eat, not let my stomach get too empty, etc. Acid reflux drugs mess with your hormones, and I'm just not willing to take a chance with that at this point in my life. I'm pregnant, and while many doctors say that the drugs are probably safe during pregnance, I don't want to be the guinea pig.

 

[Desnik]

Wow I am very interested in this topic.
My DS who is only 14mo has this. He had an upper GI to diagnose the reflux. He was put on zantac, now he is on prilosec, the perscribed generic one mentioned above. He has to go see a gastrointerologist.

I was wondering if you all who have this , did you just develop this or have it all your life? For those with children who have this, were they born with it? Anyone here know about this condition in infants? My DS has been struggling with this since birth. He hasn't gained weight in 2 months!! He has been up and down with his weight. He is starting to refuse food and we think it's because he is associating food with the pain from the acid reflux. I am so stressed and worried about this.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I have it. I actually have it combined with IBS, fun fun.

I take Zelnorm and Protonix (sp?) every day. I drink diet soda every day, but it has not ever triggered acid reflux. Since I started on the medication, I haven't had any pains at all, actually.

 

[Ragmop]

Esmerelda, what types of tests did your Dr. do?

 

[Kristi1357]

I have had acid reflux for years - started on meds like Tagmet in jr. high even. I have had about 20 endoscopies over the years, no big deal, really. I have been on Prevacid for many years now and it works great for me. I was told to avoid soda years ago, cut it out totally and it made no difference for me though. So, now I drink diet coke like crazy again!

My condition is also very different in that I had a TE fistula repair at birth. I also am diagnosed with barretts esophagus as well as achalasia also.

Going to a gastro to get a firm diagnosis sounds like the right direction to be headed in!

 

[dizneenut]

My DH has it. Took Prilosec for years and now that it is OTC he is on Nexium. It is working great.

 

[OhMari]

Originally posted by Kermit
Acid reflux drugs mess with your hormones, and I'm just not willing to take a chance with that at this point in my life. I'm pregnant, and while many doctors say that the drugs are probably safe during pregnance, I don't want to be the guinea pig.

I'm on Nexium and I didn't read that this medicine messes with my hormones. I do though get cramping and diarrhea (Can you say that).

 

[Piglet]

I can answer some questions - my 7 yo DD has reflux and severe esophagal erosion. She had it since she was born. She now takes Prilosec once a day and Pepcid once per day. The meds give her headaches and with this combination they seem to happen less. She has had a barium swallow (upper GI) and endoscope (a couple) and ph probe (put tube down through nose into stomach to measure ph in stomach for 24 hours). She sees a GI at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. Until her doctors finally got her on the right amount of meds she needed to control the reflux, she was miserable and in a lot of pain. Now that the meds are at the right amounts, she is like an entirely different child.

Anyone with questions, feel free to PM me. We have been batteling with reflux for quite a while.

Melinda

 

[always quiet]

DH has it. It is a permanent side effect of medical treatment for another illness. This other treatment sped up his body's metabolism and left this in it's wake. We didn't know he had it til his initial treatment stopped in 2000 and instead of having his red count go up, it continued to drop. The endoscopy showed the acid had eaten holes in his esphagaeus!! He has been on treatment since. Nothing like doctors "not" fixing one problem but creating another!!