Doc says its Gerd but Idk

[craznes]

Does anyone else experience the feeling that you wake up and have not been breathing or maybe couldn't cause of gerd, I have really bad episodes and it causes a lot of problems to the point where it almost feels like i could die in my sleep, and I have had 2 sleep studies and gerd tests but nobody can tell me for sure.

[Ratnakar Kini]

Hi,
The symptoms you have mentioned are  vague and are not specific for GERD. But one point that makes me think in lines of GERD is the improvement you see with antacids.
Now that the possibility of GERD is still there, I suggest that you have a 24 hours pH monitoring done which is the confirmatory test for GERD.
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The information provided is for patients’ education only and is not a medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for complete evaluation of your health problem.

- Ratnakar Kini M.D

[craznes]

Thank u again, Yeah i am scheduled for that test on the 9th.  I do know that sleep apnea and gerd are somewhat related cause I guess 1 can cause the other and vise verse.  Yes the antacids do help but only the severity of how bad my episodes are, I mean it feels like I have no air in my lungs when I wake and It takes time for them to feel like they are functioning normally and which makes me feel normal, cause I wake with real bad sleep headaches like I have got zero sleep and not to mention the migraines I get later in the day from it.  I was wondering if maybe the antacids are helping with the acid but maybe stomach enzymes or food is actually coming up.  IDK cause I never wake up coughing or choking but I just feel like I have no air and now it is giving me chest pain when I wake from it.

[craznes]

First I wanna thank you for responding.  I have had 2 sleep studies but I can't sleep well enough to have an episode during those studies.  I have had an endoscopy, i think thats what it is called but my doc said it wasn't conclusive or something.  They did say I have a small ulcer on stomach.  I had the barium test where I had to drink that nasty stuff while they took xrays.  They told me I didn't have any signs of gerd.  Ok first off I have never woke up choking on acid or having to run to the bathroom to puke up acid, it has never happened.  I will say that since I have been taknig antacids that my episodes are not to bad, but I still do have them and I have been on 3 different pills.  aciphex, prilosec, and now im on prevacid.  Also when I have an episode, I wake up with my heart beating very slow but very hard, plus my left hand and arm are asleep or it just feels weird.  The worst thing is wakeing up with the worst sleep headaches, I mean I wake up feeling like I have not slept at all and I am just so out of it, it feels like I am in a dream but I know I am awake.  It makes me feel so out of it I feel like I am floating and I will just sit and stare at the wall or constantly zone out & I feel that way all day.  Anything else you need just tell me cause I have been going through this since may of 08.

[Ratnakar Kini]

Hi,
Can you tell me the various tests that have been done to rule out the diseases that you have mentioned?
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The information provided is for patients’ education only and is not a medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for complete evaluation of your health problem.

- Ratnakar Kini M.D