Just found this site, very interesting. Amazing how many miserable people there are like me! And some a lot worse! Things I have found helpful; walking, as much as you can, no matter what the weather. It helps with digestion and is calming to be outside in fresh air and natural surroundings, even if it is just a residential area. Also took a yoga class, which seems to help; it just calms everything down, you can learn it then do it at home. Even when the symptoms are bothersome, being able to relax and ease some of the tension that comes from the stress is helpful. Do what you have to do to make yourself as comfortable as possible. If that means laying in bed and reading or watching TV to get your mind off things and rest, then do it. Don't stop looking for answers. Make the most of the good times when you have them. Good luck.

Sure you are.  What's in an age???  I'm 43! and I'm still young.  Take care and I will too.  (P.S. I'm back on the Aciphex as of yesterday...but if I remember right, I "liked" the Prevacid better.  Actually, I hate all medications, but... and if worse comes to worse, I'll wean myself off the coffee, too.  Thanks again.)

Hi Again. I am grateful for this forum as well. It is very imformative and it does help to share with others. I was only drinking 2 cups of coffee a day too. I now drink tea instead. I am not sure that a small amount of coffee like that would be something that you absolutely would have to give up. I gave it up mostly because I wanted to make sure that I had done everything that I could to relieve my symptoms. Now I am used to the tea and I must confess that I will OCCASIONALLY have a cup of decaf if I am at someone's home or out to dinner. It sounds like you may need to see a GI because they do know more about these kinds of problems than a regular Doc. I am glad you like my "name". I was "Prilobabe" but I lost my password so I decided to pick a new name while I was at it. Besides, at 38 I am hardly a "babe". :-) I hope the new meds do provide you with some relief. Take care.

This is just the best forum I have ever found!!  I am sort of isolated where I live and don't have alot of friends I can talk to about my concerns or specialists nearby.  I have to drive around 70 miles for my testing and to see any specialists.  Of course the weather here is always iffy and I've missed several appts. because of snow storms.  Do you know how much good it does me to receive correspondence from others who aren't afraid to mention faith and God?  MANY times I have found myself trying to handle illness and anxiety with prayer alone.  It certainly helps to have faith, but sometimes I decide it's out of my hands and I need to see a doctor.  My doctor in town is not a GI, only a family practioner.  He refers me to specialists if I ask...and so far he is not suggesting that I have the endoscopy done...He wants to try me again on the medication...this time Aciphex.  I have a confession to make.  I have one vice...coffee.  I only have 1-2 cups in the morning.  Why is it that the one thing I really look forward to each day is bad for me?  Right now I'm trying an acid reducing product for food and coffee.  It's called Coffee Tamer and you sprinkle it in or on your coffee/food.  
   And what a great nickname you have!  Thanks again for your help.  Hope to "speak" with you again.

Hi. I totally understand your desperation and frustration. I waited almost a year before I actually went to the doctor for my symptoms. I tried to handle it "naturally" and with prayer. I know what you mean about God...I wonder why some get healed and some don't. The good thing was after praying I did find a wonderful and careing Doc so that was nice! It sounds like you may have GERD. I was always clearing my throat and such altho it never really affected my breathing. Is your Doc a GI? You may need an endoscopy to find out if it is indeed GERD. I think that I was on prevacid for several weeks before it actually helped. I also changed my diet and gave up coffee (which I still miss!). If you do get an endoscopy, it is an easy test. I didn't feel or remember a thing. I hope that you find out what you have and that you find relief soon. Remember, God loves you and everyone else. Whether He heals us or not, well His ways are not our ways. I might ad, I myself ending up being on Prilosec for 2 years. I recently stopped taking it and now I use something called DGL. I have not had an attack in over 2 weeks now. If you do have GERD, DGL may help you too. Read some of the posts from Feb. by Concerned Lady to learn more about natural remedies for GERD.Best wishes to you and God bless!

I guess I'm a late comer with this comment, but I just discovered this forum and like what I see.  I'm suffering many strange symptoms and so far doctors don't know what is wrong.  I've been tested for airborne allergies, am scheduled for an asthma test this week, and was recently "treated" for GERD.  This, I should say was experimental because my family doctor(with no tests) decided to put me on Prevacid to "see" if my symptoms were GERD.  Symptoms were: DRY throat mainly in the evening and during the night (this started about 4 months ago), then, if I can remember right, I developed chest pain, throat tightness, swallowing discomfort, what felt like spasms of my esophagus, and coughing.  I was on the Prevacid for 3-4 weeks (15 mg. once a day) and really didn't feel any better.  So, when I told him this, he told me to discontinue the med.  I also had requested to see an allergist at the time because I had a haunting suspicion for awhile now that, I either had allergies or asthma because of the breathing problems/chest discomfort I had experienced for a few years now.  The airborne allergy tests were negative, so, grasping at straws, I started suspecting food allergies.......See, I'm at a point of desperation.  I spend every waking moment researching all these possibilites, all the while hoping it's not cancer!  The last two nights I have had the burning sensation all the way up into my throat and alot of chest discomfort...I've also noticed a metallic taste in my mouth now, and I'm still coughing.  I don't know how well I'm doing at putting all my trust in God...I'm very prayerful, but when fear takes over, I feel like I'm falling apart and start to doubt that my prayers are being heard.  I'm so ashamed.  I'm really not that strong.  But, they say God won't give you more than you can handle.  I've been "tested" again and again in my life and He always has pulled me through in the past.  I fear that maybe "this time" He isn't going to.  But, through it all, I do keep praying and that is how I'm surviving.  I, too, just want to be well, and pray God will send me someone to help me....to all of you in the forum, Thanks.  I think alot of you ARE here for me, and maybe God's hand is in this.    As an afterthought, I wonder if I should ask to go back on the Prevacid and have my dose increased.  Do you think I didn't give it a long enough try?  How long before all the symptoms stop?  I hope someone reads this and can offer help/hope.  God Bless.

Hi Everyone!
What a good topic! I have to admitt that I don't pray that much about my own health problems that often anymore. I just figure that for whatever reason, I have this problem. I too believe that Jesus is the great physician but I figure we live in a fallen world and things happen that we just don't understand. I cope by sharing with friends who will encourage me. This forum has helped as well. I see that my own problems are minor compared to others. I guess it really helps to think about other people and not dwell on myself. I am also really watching what I eat and I have been walking a lot. If I have no control over my pain, I can at least control what I eat and how active I am. I also have to say that although I have only been taking it for 5 days, I find DGL to be very helpful. It tastes awful but I am hoping that it will work. I took it when I felt a stomach attack coming on and I avoided 2 attacks altogether and one of them was not as bad as usual. I have been off prilosec for 2 weeks now. I am hoping to stay off of it for good because my insurance no longer pays for it and I don't like the side effects. I wish everyone the best and God Bless. OH, and by the way, when I come to this sight a VERY annoying advertisement for Nexium keeps coming up! I had a hard time closing it as the little X took forver to load. The nerve, huh? :-0

My Family's telling me that it's all in my head and nothing is wrong with you!I've taken all the test and most meds since I've had gerd for 13 years now and everthing has come back negative.If you want another option or another answer to your question go to www.zoloft.com and take there self tests.I found some comfort that it might be all in my head.
So with that, God bless and find comfort that one day all the pain will go away!
I wish and pray everyone well!

you all are very brave in coping. i myself am not as brave because i cant find the problem. i know it is not gerd. god bless you all!

Have you tried aroma therapy?  It's fairly new where I am, but it's really centuries old.

Praying is good. After all, He is the Great Physician. I do have Reflux, Barret's Esophagus, and Celiacs Disease, but it does'nt seem like a burden. I don't think I am as bad off as some. It does give me comfort knowing that some day I will be in a place where there is no pain or sickness.

Your ways of coping are very good ones (in my opinion).
Very smart.