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.
I recently was diagnosed by endoscopy with Erosive gastritis,Reflux esophagitis and Hiatal Hernia. Monday I will be going in for more in depth info in the followup appt.
Thinking back I started to feel uncomfortable about 1.5 years ago. I had been drinking close to a pot of coffee a day and pounds of Jelly Belly Jelly beans in the am on an empty stomach before work(brick to the head!). That is the only thing I can think of off hand that could have corroded my stomach. I did not take any NSAIDS or drink much alcohol. My overall diet was OK most times. I started t notice reflux waking me up gasping and coughing at nite here and there, but not terrible.
I broke my arm and during recovery I had perplexing other symptoms come up. Extreme dry mouth, yellow coated tongue. My throat got so sore and I could not get much down it,,. It escalated after had lost 5#.. which for me I'm pretty small 5ft 2, 115.. Got down to 108.. really worried..I was told to eat fattening dairy foods which I did but the symptoms even magnified and I suspected I had a dairy allergy. Also I was diagnosed with a Vitamin B12 and D deficiency.. maybe aggrivated by my GI troubles..?
I went in to the ENT for a scope down my nose/throat and said the only thing he saw was my inguinal tonsils were huge and inflamed. That was Feb 2013..I even ended up in the ER for throat closing up so bad I was so scared.. they took a regular X-ray and said it was OK..
In about May 2013 I had a horrible burning attack. It was so bad I'd never had anything like that before It was sore for days then subsided and seemingly went away. Then in July 2013 is when something snapped in my system and I had stomach ouchies.. It went on for over a year til today now.
I tried to journal and find things it could be I ate.. I cut dairy couple of weeks .. then gluten.. nothing seemed to help. I started taking Zantac 75 a couple of weeks then Z 150 a bit. helped a little but still not OK.
THe last 4 mos my bowl moves have been light yellow and not normal though little diarreah here and there. I also had a ultrasound to lok at organs all looked good no stones- gall bladder looked ok.etc..
So now up to today taking 2X 150 Zantac but still some moderate reflux, stomach still hurts off and on, throats a little sore.. and I am eating bland.. no coffee tea etc.
Seems like since I had my endscope it has acted up now.. was feeling better a few weeks prior..??
I DONT want to take PPIs, They gave me sample Dexilant to try but I havent. I dont want t get hooked ..so many horror stories plus I already have osteoporosis..so I am at real high risk for fracture.
I almost want to just take the PPI.. but I dont.
I'm at my wit's end folks!! HELP!! When will relief come? Any suggestions or insights?? Is it all the hernia? I dont know the kind or size but no way having a surgery that is maybe succsessful!
I have been forcing myself to eat to not lose weight and so far have been maintaining it pretty much. I really dont feel much like eating, but cant afford to lose any weight. Seems like I'm burning after taking some suppliements// could be bad? WOW bad!
Thinking back I started to feel uncomfortable about 1.5 years ago. I had been drinking close to a pot of coffee a day and pounds of Jelly Belly Jelly beans in the am on an empty stomach before work(brick to the head!). That is the only thing I can think of off hand that could have corroded my stomach. I did not take any NSAIDS or drink much alcohol. My overall diet was OK most times. I started t notice reflux waking me up gasping and coughing at nite here and there, but not terrible.
I broke my arm and during recovery I had perplexing other symptoms come up. Extreme dry mouth, yellow coated tongue. My throat got so sore and I could not get much down it,,. It escalated after had lost 5#.. which for me I'm pretty small 5ft 2, 115.. Got down to 108.. really worried..I was told to eat fattening dairy foods which I did but the symptoms even magnified and I suspected I had a dairy allergy. Also I was diagnosed with a Vitamin B12 and D deficiency.. maybe aggrivated by my GI troubles..?
I went in to the ENT for a scope down my nose/throat and said the only thing he saw was my inguinal tonsils were huge and inflamed. That was Feb 2013..I even ended up in the ER for throat closing up so bad I was so scared.. they took a regular X-ray and said it was OK..
In about May 2013 I had a horrible burning attack. It was so bad I'd never had anything like that before It was sore for days then subsided and seemingly went away. Then in July 2013 is when something snapped in my system and I had stomach ouchies.. It went on for over a year til today now.
I tried to journal and find things it could be I ate.. I cut dairy couple of weeks .. then gluten.. nothing seemed to help. I started taking Zantac 75 a couple of weeks then Z 150 a bit. helped a little but still not OK.
THe last 4 mos my bowl moves have been light yellow and not normal though little diarreah here and there. I also had a ultrasound to lok at organs all looked good no stones- gall bladder looked ok.etc..
So now up to today taking 2X 150 Zantac but still some moderate reflux, stomach still hurts off and on, throats a little sore.. and I am eating bland.. no coffee tea etc.
Seems like since I had my endscope it has acted up now.. was feeling better a few weeks prior..??
I DONT want to take PPIs, They gave me sample Dexilant to try but I havent. I dont want t get hooked ..so many horror stories plus I already have osteoporosis..so I am at real high risk for fracture.
I almost want to just take the PPI.. but I dont.
I'm at my wit's end folks!! HELP!! When will relief come? Any suggestions or insights?? Is it all the hernia? I dont know the kind or size but no way having a surgery that is maybe succsessful!
I have been forcing myself to eat to not lose weight and so far have been maintaining it pretty much. I really dont feel much like eating, but cant afford to lose any weight. Seems like I'm burning after taking some suppliements// could be bad? WOW bad!
For reference I have esophagitis (bad), gastritis (mild) and hiatal hernia. I previously took PPI's for a year and ended up with B12 deficiency. They gave me B12 shots for a month and it helped. I got symptoms again for the past year (?) or so
My GI doc told me to take the PPI's for four months to help heal the esophagus which was stage 4 esophagitis and ulcerated. I was in so much pain with certain foods. I also cut out (most) coffee and am eating small healthy portions too.
So far, I have been taking the PPI's for about a week, and it is night and day. Combined with diet, it has helped with the symptoms. However, I was also told not to eat 2-3 hours before bedtime (even so I eat a light dinner). AND sleep on a wedge or elevate the bed so you don't sleep flat.
That said, I would ask the doctor about supplementation for B12 (I do sub-lingual) and calcium since you have osteoporosis already.
Also, from what I understand the not being able to keep food down is partially GERD and partially the Hiatal Hernia. I also could not tolerate ANYTHING. This was 3 years ago, I lost 10-15 pounds in one month, the doc did no scope but did give me the PPI's for one year. My symptoms went away after awhile and I quit the PPI's. My symptoms returned about a year or so ago.
Last but not least, I noticed there was no endoscope done? The ENT one seems like it only went to the throat. I went to my ENT for sinus surgery 6 or so years ago, but none of the scopes they did beforehand were long enough to tell if I had esophagus problems. You should get the one from a Gastroenterologist that goes all the way to your stomach. It is an easy procedure (I had it done 3 weeks ago). They take pictures of the esophagus and stomach and can assess damage and then what to do next.
I hope you find relief soon! Go get an endoscope! Keep us posted. Hope you feel better soon.