GERD/ Acid Reflux.. Irritating Sensation

Experts,

Lately I have been suffering from what appears to be GERD for more than a month now..The symptoms were primarily breathlessness and acid (or some weird tasting liquid) regurgitating back into my mouth. It was worse the first week before consultin the doc. I consulted my physician the next week he put me on a prescription of a drug (containing rabeprazole 20 mg) for 2 weeks.Also asked me to stay away from fatty/spicy foods. It receded a bit for about a week while I was still on prescription. It started bothering me on-and-off. When the breathlessness started giving me a bad time, I consulted my physician again and asked me to get a detailed medical test. Tests were fine. My lungs and chest were fine. So were my ECG, Blood levels and everything. I followed it with up another physician too. Both of them asked me to stop taking the drugs and check on my diet and asserted that the breathlessness is a result of the acid reflux and can be receded considerably by checking on my diet. Last two weeks hv been fine with no food-regurgitation back into the mouth. I have been checking up on my diet avoiding fatty/spicy foods.. Eating a fiber diet, fish, fruits like apple, bananas, leafy vegs.
Yesterday I had sme chicken and it was kind of spicy and being a chicken lover and out of temptation I had a plate of it. It wasn't fried but mashed up with onions.. I woke up with a weird taste in mouth today morning..An hour after breakfast I have this feeling like something is stuck in my chest (heavy feeling), slight bloating (more like a feeling that I am about to belch but can't and the air? is stuck). No regurgitation
The breathlessness is way too irritating and it lasts hardly an hour and normal throughout the day.

I am 24 years. Have been diagnosed with slightly high cholesterol levels when I was 23 years. I've been overweight 180lbs. Currently 155. I was able bring it down to normal levels without taking any meds and by controlling my diet. Apart from a few allergies as a kid, I have been healthy. Used to go out walking every evening. Haven't been going lately due to work. I stopped drinking about an year back. Have had only beer in the last year. I don't smoke. Never have. Noone in my family has ever had such a condition. The max condition anyone has ever had was high cholesterol that hardly ever progressed to a heart condition.

I would like to know if GERD is curable? Atleast if it's controllable to the extent of conditions like diabetes.. Do I have to try naturopathy..I've been told it helps..I am plannin to do my masters in 2 years n ill hve to leave my country or tht.. Is it possible to cure/control my condition in 2 years..I'm an South Asian and my diet normally involves two or spicy dishes..I can avoid spicy dishes but there are times when I can't..Is there a diet (plan) I can follow? My social life ***** because of my food restriction..Its not like I hate drinking but I stopped it out of fear for my health..Would I ever be able to eat like other do? I love non-veg. But I am forced to switch to vegan diet just because of this..To add to all that, I read smewhere that GERD can progress to cancer!! How long does it take to progress to cancer?

I would like to hear your views.

Sorry for the long post!

[selmaS]

  Hi...looking at ur diet also includes bevs...so soda, coffee, tea, alcohol all can affect ur GERD symptoms, PLUS, u have to address ur lifestyle as well....u mentioned u r overweight....I know losing weight is not easy, but it may help considerably with ur GERD symptoms.

U also will want to avoid tight clothes, laying down 3 to 4 hrs after eating...elevate the head of ur bed to use gravitiy to help keep acids down where they belong....there r many things u can do, besides avoid fatty and spicy foods...and once u have the GERD under control u may be able to eat a dish with taking an OTC GERD med b4 u eat to help control the acids....

Was this  a GI Dr u went to or a PCP?

DO u know, if u have a hiatal hernia?

[nimqus]

Thanks for your input.

But I forgot to include that I have not been taking any beverages that would trigger GERD (coffee, tea or alcohol). Been almost a year since I stopped alcohol. As far as I remember I've had only ONE beer in the last 12 months. And that was months back. Same goes to coffee.
I believe I've lost my weight enough. My clothes hardly fit me now. Waistline has decreased considerably.
I make it a point to avoid all spicy and fatty foods. I am on a veg and fish diet lately. Two days back, I had some chicken and that didn't go well. Recovering. I lay down only after 3-4 after dinner. Sleeping in an elevated position is hard.

I went to a physician. More of a family doc.

Nope. I don't know.

[selmaS]

  U really need to see a GI dr for these issues a family Dr is not the best qualified IMHO to help...

  U also will want to know the  root cause of ur GERD...such as a hiatal herina or what ever....and a GI is the one that will do the proper testing.

[nimqus]

I did. 2 days back. Put me on a PPI prescription.

Asked me not to go to bed for at least 2.5 hours after dinner. And NOT to drink water before going to bed.

[selmaS]

  Good for u! Keep in mind it can take up to 2 weeks b4 u feel the effects of the PPI's. ...be patient and follow the Drs suggestions for diet and lifestyle.

Keep us posted on how u do.

[nimqus]

Symptoms are getting better. It has improved over the past few days. I have completed a week's course of meds. Haven't got rid of the symptoms completely. I guess it takes time, like you said. For the most part, I feel good.
Had sme fish (fried?with sauce..Had to). And boom..took me 2 hours to get over it..

[selmaS]

  U have to avoid those fried foods, or u will feel those symptoms hit u again and again,..to the point the meds may not help....do try to eat healthier, and avoid the fried, fatty foods, and spicy things so u can feel better

[nimqus]

I'll keep that in mind.

Thanks. :)

[shell921]

I was having some digestive difficulties - on-going for months - they were : belching, bloating, heartburn, sensitivity at the waist, intestinal gas, hiccups, difficulty in swallowing capsules, overall fatigue, full feeling at base of throat, pain or burning in upper chest, pressure in the chest, pain in the left side of chest.

So I read on-line about hiatal hernia and I tried the self-massage technique described here and felt immediately better.
I had to do it more than once over a period of time and I had a masseuse do it to me 3 times in 3 months. I also did the water in the stomach technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX0zKB2_ ... re=related

As of 90 days ago, I also stopped eating chocolate, stopped drinking coffee, alcohol and sparkling water began taking natural papaya enzyme with meals and chewable calcium after meals.
The calcium helps the LES valve to close. I now eat a much smaller meal at dinner than ever before and I do not eat after 5:30 or 6:00. I go to bed
at 9:30 or so and it's best not to have eaten anything within 3 hours of bedtime. For the last few weeks I have felt "normal" again. Oh I did take Prilosec
for about 8 weeks but was able to taper off that using Pepcid. If you want more info on that, let me know.

[nimqus]

So, Its been almost 20 days now. I've gotten off d meds and everything has been fine till the last week. This week hasn't been great coz I've had some bad spells since I had some cauliflower in tomato sauce for dinner last friday. From the next day on upto today, d symptoms just keep coming on-and-off. I feel relieved for an hour after having food. It goes from worse (heavy, air-stuck feeling, with occasional breathlessness). Sleep has been fine.
I am hoping I could get back to normal by the end of this week.
The past 20 days have been good. I have switched to a more vegan diet with raw vegs. I can't do away with a non-veg dish. So I have a piece of fish or two thrice a week, but with a lot of vegs and fruits (mostly bananas, pineapples & mangoes). I was leading a normal life until the day I had the cauliflower dish. It was so unexpected.

Is there any way I could gain weight on a vegan-gerd diet? I've not been eating any meat lately, that has reflected considerably on my diet.

[nimqus]

Hey, Thanks for that link.
Kindly go through my last post.


Will check that that out too.

[selmaS]

  Well now that u know ur diet is working for u unless u have tomato, try to take an OTC med like pepcid b4 or after u eat it and keep eating tomato to a minimum so u r not taking the meds again, it may help u eat this on occasion.