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.
This was my question:
I have acid reflux and gastritis. I was diagnosed two months ago in the ER and finally saw a gastroenterologist yesterday. The first thing he asked is if I have lost weight and yes I have lost 23 pounds. I lost the weight because I stopped eating from the gastritis pain and because of my anxiety (I can not hold food down when I get nervous). He said the weight loss was concerning even though I told him that I knew why I lost the weight. Since the pain from gastritis has gone for the most part and my anxiety has reduced, I can now eat normally and have stopped the weight loss. Then he pressed on my abdomen and I was fine until he pressed hard right under my breastbone and I said ouch! and he said that my having pain there was concerning. So, he said because of these signs I need to have an endoscopy. That is fine, I expected that because of the gerd/gastritis I would need an endoscopy. But the way he was acting about the weight loss and the pain when my upper abdomen is pressed, I am now worried that he thinks I have stomach cancer. I know you can not diagnose me from the computer, but these are my questions:
1--My gastritis has healed to where I don't feel pain and I have been taking supplements for two months to the point I was able to wean myself from 300mgs. of Zantac a day to half of a 75mg pill per day.
2--I have been controlling the acid reflux through diet and the supplements. When I asked the doctor what I should be eating, he said whatever doesn't cause symptoms. Does that sound like the diet that should be recommended for gerd/gastritis?
3--Is it possible to have pain under the breast bone, when the breast bone is pressed, 2 months after being diagnosed in the ER after gastritis or could acid reflux cause a tenderness there at the lower esophagus?
4--Could these symptoms just be symptoms of acid reflux and or gastritis?
5--If I was losing weight and had no appetite, but am now gaining/maintaining weight and my appetite is back and I can eat a lot of foods that were triggers before, does this sound like the sort of weight loss associated with stomach cancer?
Thank you for any help.
(DO YOU NOTICE I DIDN"T EVEN BOTHER TELLING HIM THAT I STOPPED ZANTAC COMPLETELY WITH SUPPLEMENTS, BECAUSE I'M LEARNING THAT WOULD JUST BE A WASTE OF TIME)
HIS ANSWER:
1)That is good. I agree with that. But I don't see a question there.
2)yes, everyone is different. In some milk triggers it. In others, spicy food. It's all about triggers.
3)absolutely, it could be an ulcer
4)absolutely.
5)no, absolutely not. Weight loss would continue with cancer.
MY RESPONSE:
... I'm sorry on my first question I meant to ask, "If I still have remnants of gastritis or esophagitis damage or whatever might be causing the pain pressure, would taking 75 mgs of Zantac be enough to prevent further damage?" I want to take as little medicine as possible.
HIS RESPONSE:
I think you should be on prilosec actually. Stay on it until the scope
I have acid reflux and gastritis. I was diagnosed two months ago in the ER and finally saw a gastroenterologist yesterday. The first thing he asked is if I have lost weight and yes I have lost 23 pounds. I lost the weight because I stopped eating from the gastritis pain and because of my anxiety (I can not hold food down when I get nervous). He said the weight loss was concerning even though I told him that I knew why I lost the weight. Since the pain from gastritis has gone for the most part and my anxiety has reduced, I can now eat normally and have stopped the weight loss. Then he pressed on my abdomen and I was fine until he pressed hard right under my breastbone and I said ouch! and he said that my having pain there was concerning. So, he said because of these signs I need to have an endoscopy. That is fine, I expected that because of the gerd/gastritis I would need an endoscopy. But the way he was acting about the weight loss and the pain when my upper abdomen is pressed, I am now worried that he thinks I have stomach cancer. I know you can not diagnose me from the computer, but these are my questions:
1--My gastritis has healed to where I don't feel pain and I have been taking supplements for two months to the point I was able to wean myself from 300mgs. of Zantac a day to half of a 75mg pill per day.
2--I have been controlling the acid reflux through diet and the supplements. When I asked the doctor what I should be eating, he said whatever doesn't cause symptoms. Does that sound like the diet that should be recommended for gerd/gastritis?
3--Is it possible to have pain under the breast bone, when the breast bone is pressed, 2 months after being diagnosed in the ER after gastritis or could acid reflux cause a tenderness there at the lower esophagus?
4--Could these symptoms just be symptoms of acid reflux and or gastritis?
5--If I was losing weight and had no appetite, but am now gaining/maintaining weight and my appetite is back and I can eat a lot of foods that were triggers before, does this sound like the sort of weight loss associated with stomach cancer?
Thank you for any help.
(DO YOU NOTICE I DIDN"T EVEN BOTHER TELLING HIM THAT I STOPPED ZANTAC COMPLETELY WITH SUPPLEMENTS, BECAUSE I'M LEARNING THAT WOULD JUST BE A WASTE OF TIME)
HIS ANSWER:
1)That is good. I agree with that. But I don't see a question there.
2)yes, everyone is different. In some milk triggers it. In others, spicy food. It's all about triggers.
3)absolutely, it could be an ulcer
4)absolutely.
5)no, absolutely not. Weight loss would continue with cancer.
MY RESPONSE:
... I'm sorry on my first question I meant to ask, "If I still have remnants of gastritis or esophagitis damage or whatever might be causing the pain pressure, would taking 75 mgs of Zantac be enough to prevent further damage?" I want to take as little medicine as possible.
HIS RESPONSE:
I think you should be on prilosec actually. Stay on it until the scope
"No problem.
I think you should be on prilosec actually. Stay on it until the scope "
It is sort of ambiguous--at first I thought he meant 'no problem' that I didn't ask the question properly the first time, but rereading it, I think he means no problem about the Zantac.
I hated it. It's the pill that gave me heartburn. It's the pill that caused pressure in my chest. It's the pill that made my voice hoarse. And when it made me nauseated and I called the doctor, he doubled the dose. So, for me, prilosec won't ever cut it. although it wasn't as bad as protonix.