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.
After waiting for six agonizing weeks my scope is tomorrow July 2nd. Today I feel like a basket case, I'm both relieved that it's time to do the scope and at the same time I'm afraid of them finding esophageal cancer. I've tried over the past weeks to keep myself calm and at times I've been able to but other times I've sat and planned how I'm going to tell my children that my time is up. If my symptoms had remained constant with no change over these past weeks, I might not suspect anything was really wrong, however, in the last week I'm not able to swallow any solid food any longer and the food that I do swallow hangs up on the way down and when it hits my stomach it causes mild pain, my voice is hoarse. The pain is now in my back on the left side.
So things are progressing, and it can't be just gerd any longer the way this feels. It's been eight years since I was first diagnosed with gerd, two years ago I had mild to moderate inflammation, so there's been plenty of time for something far worse since then I'm thinking. Nothing works anymore, even with Nexium 40 mg. in the morning and 40 mg. at night, I now have such bad acid at night that I take a teaspoon of Gaviscon to be able to get through the night. I've had silent reflux and have never felt the acid before, so this is also something different.
My ears are ringing and sometimes my vision seems a bit blurred, all this can't be good, I'm quietly panicked inside right now I don't know how I'm going to tell my family and I'm not ready to die, who is though? This is awful :(
So things are progressing, and it can't be just gerd any longer the way this feels. It's been eight years since I was first diagnosed with gerd, two years ago I had mild to moderate inflammation, so there's been plenty of time for something far worse since then I'm thinking. Nothing works anymore, even with Nexium 40 mg. in the morning and 40 mg. at night, I now have such bad acid at night that I take a teaspoon of Gaviscon to be able to get through the night. I've had silent reflux and have never felt the acid before, so this is also something different.
My ears are ringing and sometimes my vision seems a bit blurred, all this can't be good, I'm quietly panicked inside right now I don't know how I'm going to tell my family and I'm not ready to die, who is though? This is awful :(
I think it is pretty normal to be scared when you have those symptoms and are not sure what it means. Anyone would be.
I find propping the bed with blocks etc..useless. A 7 inch and higher wedge is way more effective unless you have the mechanical type bed. Also,,I have talked to the company in Quebec that developed the wedge and they did a ton of studies and he said for sure the angle when the bed is propped up is not effective in avoiding heartburn at night. It is too gradual.. You can buy the wedge at any Shoppers Home Health. You may need the 12 inch one. It makes a huge difference to be on the right height pillow wedge.
I agree Dexilant 60 mg is the most effective PPI out there. I have taken it ocassionally when I have ended up in a bad flare up on holidays. Can you buy it just for a month to help clear out the inflammation?
This is a challenging issue for sure.
I hope you feel better soon.
Lesley
Thanks for the advice about the wedge, I agree with you that the bed being elevated doesn't seem to be helping at all and besides, it really bothers my back in the morning on top of things. I'll have a look at Shoppers.
I hope the dexilant gives you some relief. This must be so frustrating...
If you get a wedge.. get the softer type and make sure you dont sleep on your side on them,, that can annoy your back more.