GERD & Heartburn Support Group
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is defined as chronic symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. This is commonly due to transient or permanent changes in the barrier between the esophagus and the stomach. If you are afflicted with GERD or heartburn, join the group and find support.
Hi,
I have GERD and take prescription Lansoprazole. My doctors (I have autoimmune=disorders and sleep disorders, so I have a team of doctors at George Washington University Hospital in DC.) think that my GERD causes my severe dysphagia. Anyone else have difficulty swallowing (Not just foods. Sometimes I can't swallow liquids or my own saliva, which results in panic attacks.)
I have had every test done in the hospital to figure out why I have dysphagia with no answers, so the docs fall back on GERD.
Thanks,
Gabrielle
I have GERD and take prescription Lansoprazole. My doctors (I have autoimmune=disorders and sleep disorders, so I have a team of doctors at George Washington University Hospital in DC.) think that my GERD causes my severe dysphagia. Anyone else have difficulty swallowing (Not just foods. Sometimes I can't swallow liquids or my own saliva, which results in panic attacks.)
I have had every test done in the hospital to figure out why I have dysphagia with no answers, so the docs fall back on GERD.
Thanks,
Gabrielle
Also, do you have Sjogrens disease? That can cause dryness all over.
My esophagus is normal after all the darn tests (I think 4 or 5). I do have symptoms of Sjogrens, but my lip biopsy for the disease came back negative. I take a medication to increase saliva and Restasis to keep my eyes lubricated.
I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) and Raynaud's Disease. I think that I am going to ask my ear, nose, and throat doctor to send me to a speech pathologist. They can help with swallowing disorders. GERD and Dysphagia are associated with MCTD.
Thanks! Gabrielle
In this test, I sat in front of a screen with a camera x-ray thingee pointed at my throat and it took video films of me eating different barium laced foods to see where it was getting stuck. A speech pathologist was there while it was being conducted and went over the results with me and the video of my throat x-ray thing was sent to my GI doc to review.
Also, I can't tell from your picture how old you are (and you are very pretty, btw!) but if you are in the age where estradiol levels are declining, like 35 and over, that can also cause dryness all over.
I tested negative on Sjogren's disease via a blood test (I think it was called Anti-SSA and Anti-SSB), can't remember but my rheumatoligist ordered them.
I get very dry in my skin and have horrible dry eyes and mouth when my estradiol levels are low (or when I am on a PPI, which dries me out, oh and claritin really dries out my mouth and throat, too).
When my estrogen levels are up, the dryness goes away. Well, just a thought that you may want to have your estradiol levels checked.
I appreciate the advice!
Gabrielle
What about your thyroid? Are you hypothyroid by any chance or have an autoimmune thyroiditis?
When estrogen levels decline, the thyroid wigs out (can go hyper or hypo) as there are estrogen receptors on the thyroid and vice-versa.
Test for antibodies such as TPO antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies (in addition to the TSH and Free T3 and Free T4).
From pubmed:
"The occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon in hypothyroidism without thyroiditis and its prompt disappearance with thyroid replacement therapy demonstrate that decreased thyroid function per se is a cause of this vasospastic syndrome. Raynaud's phenomenon may be an early clue to the diagnosis of hypothyroidism"
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7387277
If you are still having periods, test your estradiol levels on Day 2 or 3 of your period to see how low you are. Premenopausal females usually do not go below 100 pg/ml unless they are in ovarian decline.
Estrogen has over 400 functions in the body (receptors everywhere). When it gets low, the thyroid gets weird and a whole tumbling cascade of the endocrine system begins.
Diana Schwarzbein, M.D. (endocrinologist) has some interesting articles and videos available on menopausepower.com. You can sign up for free Menopause Minutes which are short audio tapes emailed that explain all the problems that can occur if this vital hormone is not replaced. And no, you don't want to wait until you don't have periods to start estrogen. A lot of problems have already occurred by then. She likes the estrogen patch (vivelle-dot, climara) and then adding in progesterone as needed for periods (if you are still having periods).
And estrogen lines the stomach with a mucus layer that protects it from acid. When estrogen declines, the mucus layer declines and gastritis occurs.
Here is the deal with progesterone and progestin: Too much can relax the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) and allow the acids to go up the esophagus (which is what happened to me with a birth control pill recently that was heavy in progestin). And the reason I could barely swallow and had to have my throat dilated.
Gabrielle