Anyone have acid reflux?

[SillyMe]

I'm at my wits end waiting for results from my doctor's office. I've been dealing with these symptoms for almost 3 months now and still don't know what's wrong.

First he thought it was my gallbladder because I have a pain by my right shoulder blade. I had an ultrasound done and everything looked okay. I had been taking Prilosec at the time because I had sooo much indigestion. I stopped taking it and ended up getting worse. My throat feels constricted, like I'm choking. I feel like there is a huge lump in it constantly. I still had alot of indigestion. I went back to the doctor and he started me back on the Prilosec. He said it sounds like it may be acid reflux. I had an upper GI done last week and still waiting for the results. In the meantime the Prilosec helped somewhat with the lump in my throat feeling, but it's still there, just not as bad. It's helped with the burping, but now every time I eat I feel bloated for about 2 hours afterward. I feel like I have a balloon in my diaphragm with constant pressure. I'm just so frustrated. Oh, and my throat is sore. Sometimes it feels like it's on fire.

He wants me to have a HIDA scan done too, but I'm waiting for the UGI results first.

 

[luvmydogs]

Silly, my mother had many similar symptoms as you, but tests for gallbladder and several other things came back negative. She finally had an endoscopy, where she was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. They were able to treat it during the endoscopy (I believe), although she still had to be on Prilosec. But the lump in the throat symptom, which really bothered her, was eliminated. I believe several years later, she may have had to have it treated again, but I'm not 100% sure. Has your Dr. mentioned this condition?

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I have acid reflux and have had EXACTLY the symptoms you describe. Every one of them! Right now I am maintained pretty well on famotidine (Pepcid) over-the-counter 20 mg tabs twice a day, but when I was feeling the way you feel, a friend advised me to take Mylanta liquid (not chewables) according to the package directions and it helped A LOT, with relatively fast relief (you can take up to 12 teaspoons a day and at my worst I was taking that much). I am not a doctor, nor am I giving medical advice, but it worked for me.

Different meds work for different people--your doc should try you on something else since the Prilosec is obviously not working well.

 

[SillyMe]

PrincessKitty1 - Can you take the Mylanta with the Prilosec?

Kim- I've wondered from the beginning if it's a hiatal hernia, but he was leaning more toward my gallbladder until the throat symptoms started. I'll get my UGI results next week. He said if they persist and he doesn't find anything from the UGI, then I will need to have the Endoscopy done.

All this came on so suddenly. The pain in my back woke me up in the middle of the night one night and the symptoms have changed and gotten worse since then.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What kind of test did you have? Did you just have an endoscopy or a barium test?

I had the endoscopy without barium a few months ago as well as a colonoscopy at the same time.

For some reason the only thing that works on my reflux is Prevacid. I have taken other meds and they do not work the same on me.

Upon doing some reading I found out that my reflux may be caused by getting my gallbladder removed. Great.....

I also have allergies and will have a feeling in my throat from that. Like today, it is pretty bad.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

OK I see you posted you did not have an endoscopy. Go get that done right away!!!! It is easy & it will give you your answers hopefully...
I would not settle for anything less.

 

[eclectics]

I can sympathize. I take Nexium in the morning and a Zantac at bedtime and still sometimes that isn't enough. I never know whats going to set it off. Thankfully a bad attack doesn't happen often but it feels like I have a Volkswagen moving up and down my esophagus. Hope they figure out what you have and you feel better soon!

 

[polly p]

I have GERD (gastro esophogeal reflux disease. When I was first having problems, I had a sharp pain in my shoulder blades. Thought I was having a heart attack, and a ride to the ER. After an upper GI, an endoscopy, an abdominal CAT scan, colonoscopy, and a sonogram on my gall bladder, I was diagnosed with relux disease. I take protonix (RX) daily. When I eat something that bothers me or I eat too much or too late in the evening I take Maalox. I don't have the lump in my throat, but a co-worker has relux disease and she coughs a lot. They put a wire down her throat for a weekend adn registered how many times a day she has reflux. She will be having surgery to correct something in her throat/stomach area next month.

Hard to say what it is, but be completely honest with your MD about your symptoms. That's what I didn't do and it took a long time for diagnosis. I brushed off a lot of my symptoms as "normal".

I feel good now and I know what foods to stay away from and which ones I can't mix.

Good Luck.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

PrincessKitty1 - Can you take the Mylanta with the Prilosec?

.

I don't know, but any pharmacist should know. Hope you feel better soon! Please repost and let us know what ends up working for you.

 

[Micca]

I take Nexium and it has helped a LOT. I'm down to just a few times per month. Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I think I do, but I haven't been officially tested yet.

I've had a chronic cough for about 3 months. I went to the doctor, and she's treating me for both allergies and heartburn (Zantac). My cough has improved somewhat, but after learning about acid reflux, I think that might have been/be the problem. I am going to call the doctor for a follow up to see if she can get me a referral to investigate acid reflux.

Please tell me about the endoscopy test.

Also, do any of you elevate your bed so you sleep at a slight incline? That's supposed to help.

Edited to add that I had my gall bladder removed last July. I did not connect that with acid reflux until I read The Mystery Machine's post.

 

[3princesses4us]

I also have reflux or GERD and just had an endoscopy done. It was painless (I slept through it) and it was very reassuring. They were able to tell me (or DH really as I was drunk silly) right away that there were no ulcers and that it had not yet eroded my esophogus which is good as that can lead to esophogial cancer. So if you have insurance, go and get an endoscopy done for peace of mind. My doctor is keeping me on Prilosec daily and I do also take Mylanta with it if I sense a flare up coming on.
I had much the same experience as many on here. I thought I was having a heart attack in the middle of the night so DH took me to the hospital where they tested my gall bladder and then narrowed it down to reflux. I then called a gastroenterologist and set up the endoscopy. Now I'm just status quo!

 

[Tiggeroo]

She finally had an endoscopy, where she was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia.

That is what I was thinking. I had similar symptoms. They said I had IBS, which is still possible as I had some other problems. I never really had alot of indigestion though. Just tight uncomfortable feeling and choking feeling in throat. After Upper Endo they found hiatal hernia, gastritis and esophogitis. They put me on aciphex and I have almost complete relief. I also take bentyl and trazodone for intestinal spasms.

 

[Aidensmom]

My son still needs to get an upper GI done, but he has had x-rays, ultrasounds, and various lab tests, and the gastroenterologist believes he has Acid Reflux and had been treating him with Prevacid. He is doing so MUCH better than before he was treated, and is even better on this medication than the Zantac he was tried on previously. He is also on a diet which eliminates both acidic foods and minimizes processed sugars and white flour.

I hope you get all your answers soon and are feeling better.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Have tried taking certain foods out of your diet. I was getting reflux a lot. I systematically tested not eating different things to see if had a sensitivity and I foundthat anything with wheat or gluten caused the acid. As long as I stay away from those, I'm fine. Whenever I eat them...ouch!! Bananas have the same effect on me.

 

[Marseeya]

Sounds like you're getting good advice! I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus a few years ago (from GERD), and I have to be pretty careful with it, because it's a pre-cancerous condition.

Watch your diet. Don't eat things that cause heartburn, and cut out the caffeine and smoking (if you smoke). Don't go around on an empty stomach either, so eat smaller meals throughout the day. Don't overeat.

My doctor told me I could take Maalox or Tums with the Prilosec (I've been on both Nexium and Prilosec, which I believe are the same), but you should ask yours just in case.

I hope you get better soon!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Please tell me about the endoscopy test.


Edited to add that I had my gall bladder removed last July. I did not connect that with acid reflux until I read The Mystery Machine's post.

Go see an gastroenterologist and get the endoscopy, no x-ray barium baloney. They put you out, it is flipping easy.
I also had a colonoscopy done. I recommend you do both at the same time, esp. since you had gallbladder issues.
I had a sessile polyp removed from my colon (surprise!). Basically no cancer, but now I have to have one every 3 years because I am now at high risk for colon cancer.
I am 41.

I had NEVER EVER had heartburn until my gallbladder was removed. I found out it can be an issue becuase you have a constant bile drip into your intestines or something like that. Not sure really why, but it can be a "side effect".

 

[chris1gill]

I also have that lump in the throat feeling & should blade pain... for me, it's all reflux related.... I have to take 60mg of prevacid a day... The cases of reflux that have unusual symptoms, or atypical symptoms are typically the hardest treat, so require more of the PPI medicines (like prevacid or prilosec)... If you haven't been to http://www.heartburnhelp.com/ it's a bit helpful... it wasn't until I had the esophageal manometry that they diagnosed the GI problems accurately... You are seeing a gastroenterologist right?

 

[Christine]

I have acid reflux. When it is bad, I will get a dull ache in my back. I never get heartburn. Just an indigestion feeling. Before I was treated, I used to feel full after a few bites of food.

I was on prescription Prilosec for years. When Prilosec went OTC, I had to change to Nexium because the OTC version did not work for me AT ALL!!! The Nexium does a great job, but it is not a 100% cure. I still get symptoms here and there. You may need to experiment with a few different PPI drugs and dosages to find what works for you.

Oh, and it does take several weeks to "heal" any damage/irritation the reflux may have caused which is why PPIs don't work instantaneously.

 

[SillyMe]

I also have that lump in the throat feeling & should blade pain... for me, it's all reflux related.... I have to take 60mg of prevacid a day... The cases of reflux that have unusual symptoms, or atypical symptoms are typically the hardest treat, so require more of the PPI medicines (like prevacid or prilosec)... If you haven't been to http://www.heartburnhelp.com/ it's a bit helpful... it wasn't until I had the esophageal manometry that they diagnosed the GI problems accurately... You are seeing a gastroenterologist right?

My family doctor is the one who is still running the tests on me to try to figure out what is wrong. Thanks for the link.

Thanks for all your advice and opinions. The absolute worst symptom of all this is that lump in my throat. I can't stand it.