Acid Reflux? Hiatus Hernia? Advice please!!

[Siobhan87]

Hi everyone, I am 22 years old.  

I wonder if someone could please give me some advice.  Basically i've had what i've been told by various doctors is an acid reflux (GERD) since April this year, it just randomly started mid April where i kept feeling like i had trapped air in my chest and started belching constantly.  Anyway then the flare up calmed down, went on holiday to Mexico in June with my fiance and it went crazy again - got to the point where the belching was so sad I was sick once, kept having white-thick phlegm come up into my mouth all the time and tummy always bloated.  Came home, it didn't calm down, got to the point where I was too scared to eat cos of the constant belching as soon as I have swallowed (even drinking water caused this, nothing helped) and psychologically I was thinking it was getting stuck half way down, went to A&E and a really lovely doctor sat with me for an hour ruling out things i was worried it might be and assured me it sounds exactly like GERD or either a hiatus hernia or ulcer - I had an endoscopy booked for 15 July... until he then got the results of my urine dip back and told me I was pregnant!! (over the moon as been trying for over two years). So obviously couldnt have the camera down my throat after all.  So found out I was pregnant on 30th June and symptoms suddenly disappeared, felt absolutely fine, was able to eat normally again, Until last Sunday!! When BANG symptoms kicked off again.... the belching is ridiculously constant, can't stop having white phlegm come up into my mouth - seriously I sat with a flannel next to me the other day and every 30 seconds I was having to spit out this white phlegm (sorry TMI!)... got to the point again where am too scared to eat.  Went to my GP the other day he prescribed me Ranitidine once a day - as i am pregnant have to be careful what i take - did not do a single thing, problems still there, so went back to him two days later and explained everything and how miserable it is making me, and he prescribed me 20mg of omeprazole once a day for four weeks.  Started taking these 3 days ago, symptoms still there, has eased it ever so slightly but still belching after eating/drinking and bringin up white phlegm/acid.  Asked my GP on the day if he thinks its something serious, he said no not at all cos my symptoms just express something like bad acid reflux or hiatus hernia.  

Thing is, i never ever get heartburn with this and i've heard thats 1 of the most common symptoms even tho my GP says that everyone is different and just because i don't have heartburn it doesn't rule reflux out.  It is makin me SO miserable.  I have tried gavison, peptac, drinking milk,drinking water, omeprazole, ranitidine and nothing seems to be touching it!!! :( please help ? :( Like i say i am only 22 years old.  My dad has an acid reflux.

[Trish10]

Did you ever find the out what caused your acid relex. Let me know if you did and what was the cause. I have similar symptoms.
Hope you are feeling better

[selmaS]

Hi...I also have IBS, and when u r not going, that means u r filled up and u r bloated...this all puts pressure on other areas....now add in a pregnancy...which takes up space inside as well...this can all put pressure on ur esophagus giving u that feeling something is stuck there.

I felt the same thru most of my pregnancy as well.....

May I ask, with out the meds how often r u going?

Also, have u been checked for post nasal drip?

Be sure u r eating 5 to 6 small meals a day, take something like Senokot to help ur IBS and is safe for ur baby......drink plenty of water....keep saltines nearby to nibble on when needed.....

Avoid things with acids in them....dairy, especially later in the day.....these things can cause more phlegm to develop and u do not need that.

I like ginger tea, it helps with the stomach issues and also seems to open up my throat.

"selma"

[Siobhan87]

Thanks Selma.

The discomfort between my ribs is still there, has been there the whole time I have been pregnant (13.5 weeks now), and the doctor said that's caused by the acid, but the indigestion seems to have calmed down a bit.. BUT... I've still got that awful feeling of something being stuck in my throat, just around the 'adams apple' region.  Feels like a massive globule of phlegm but it is really irritating my throat.. I have still got the constant belching which won't stop.  When I wake up in the morning I'm still spending a good 10 mins trying to hack it up but that still doesn't clear it.

I went to see the Private Gastro Specialist who said that because none of the acid reflux meds (omeprazole and rannitidine) weren't working, he said to brush reflux to one side and he put down the whole thing to IBS (which I have been told I have in the past).  He said to take lactulose 3x daily to clear myself out which I have been doing but it started giving me diahorea and found myself opening my bowels about 4/5 times a day! I know he's a Gastro Specialist and we had to pay to see him, and he's one of the top Specialists down here, but how can IBS be affecting my throat and causing all of this awful white thick phlegm which wont seem to be going?!  I am still taking 1 omeprazole every day as he said to do...... but to be honest I am getting so fed up I can't even enjoy my pregnancy.

[selmaS]

I had a similar issue with my pregnancy...it did take some time to calm down...the more upset u r the longer the flare up may last.

I used dry saltines to chew on to help keep it calm.

I also had it with water ...and I know how uncomfortable it is.....

Have u elevated the head of ur bed?.....tried eating more meals per day, but smaller meals?.....tried not eating at least 3 to 4 hrs prior to lying down?


I used to get up at night  and eat an apple... that always seemed to help.....in fact, I drink 6 to 8 ozs of apple cider everyday and it does seem to help me...that is in addition to taking a H2 blocker....

I pray u feel better soon

"selma"

[Siobhan87]

Thanks Selma.

I'm just getting so fed up.  I mean I can't seem to eat anything, even something tiny, without getting this horrible discomfort in my upper abdo (just between my ribcage and going up into the middle of my chest).  Think it is bad indigestion but it's really getting me down.  I bought some gavison double action tablets which seem to be the only thing which ease it a bit.  

I wake up in the morning, obviously having ate or drank nothing throughout the night, and spend about 15 mins spitting up white acid and phlegm! And my stomach area, jus below my left rib, makes the most awful gurgling noises.  Where the hell is all this acid coming from? I've been taking ranitidine twice daily and they aren't helping whatsoever!

Getting fed up, miserable and worried.  Want to be able to eat a proper meal.  Went to see a different GP on Friday who assured me it's a bad acid reflux and has flared up cos of pregnancy/hormones etc, and that the pain/discomfort in between my ribs is caused by the acid, but seriously when is it gonna calm down? I can't take much more of this... not forgetting to mention the severe belching and man burps I keep having after drinking even water!!!!

[selmaS]

Hi ...pineapple is very acidic...u will want to stay away from it too.

I will still say I think ur pregnancy is affecting u...u might have a hiatal hernia and just r in a flare...When I was pregnant I had a flare my first month or so...it did calm down, but u may still be consuming something in addition to the pineapple juice that may be affecting u.

I am so sorry u r having so much discomfort.
praying that this other dr can be of help to u...please post an update

"selma"

[Siobhan87]

Thanks Selma.  Well unfortunately it hasn't got any better. I've been back to my GP at least three more times since that last post, and he put me on Ranitidine twice a day as well as Omeprazole once a day - no change at all..... Really cannot explain it much over words but the discomfort in my upper abdo - my solur plexus region, is SO uncomfortable especially after I eat anything! It feels like so much pressure is being applied. I can't even drink water without excessive belching.  It is driving me insane and making me so miserable.  I'm only 9.5 weeks pregnant so I really don't see how the baby would be causing this flare up, it's been nearly 3.5 weeks now since this flare up appeared and it's really affecting my lifestyle.
I haven't touched fizzy drinks, or chocolate.... I've been having things like soup, porridge, pineapple juice.... I've tried bicarbonate of soda in warm water which released alot of gas and belching but doesn't resolve the problem..... I really am at my wits end :(

My dad has paid for me to go private and my consultation is next Wedneday.  

[selmaS]

Hi..Congratulations on ur pregnancy....

The pregnancy is most likely the cause of ur flare...and what and how u eat may be helpful.
Try eating 5 to 6 little meals a day....keep dry crackers nearby to help with ne nasuea or hunger pangs.

U may have a hiatal hernia and the developing fetus is taking up room and pushing on  it causing these issues. Elevate the head of ur bed..avoid eating late at night, especially dairy, but do not lie down for 3 to 4 hrs after u eat.

I have a hiatal hernia and when I was pregnant my reflux flared pretty bad as well...if u try some of the suggestions I made it should help..as well as diet modifications too.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=236

BTW- After I had DD it took a while but I did get better and was able to go yrs without meds...until I had surgery for other issues and the drugs caused yet another flare.

Good luck and do keep us posted on ur progress with the reflux and ur pregnancy : )

"selma"

[Siobhan87]

Also forgot to mention i have got a lot of discomfot under my ribcage in my stomach region especially after i have eaten.  Only way i can explain it is that it feels like my stomach has been kicked.  Also my stomach region keeps makin the most ridiculously loud wishy-washy noises!!! Also under my ribcage just to the left.