Help

[zak516]

Hi Everyone

I hope there is some one out there who can help me. I have suddenly came up with GERD. I have very rarely felt acid coming up in to my chest. One night I woke up with difficulty in breathing and severe gagging.
After few days of running around one doctor diagnosed a sever Pharyngitis and prescribed me with penicillin for ten days and referred me to an ENT surgeon.

ENT surgeon agreed with the Doctor and asked me to see a Gastor Consultant.
Cutting the long story short after an endoscopy I have been diagnosed with GERD and also need to remove my tonsils in two weeks time.
My symptoms after taking 6 weeks of Omeprazole and now 4 weeks of Nexium are:

> feeling of suffocation
> pressure in my ears and tonsils
> feeling sick after food (I don't physically get sick)
I have now been taking Nexium for 4 weeks but its not really helping get rid of these symptoms.
Some time i take Zantac 150mg, If things get really rough.

Can some one please advise on what else can I do to relieve my  symptoms.
I am really nervous about having my Tonsils removed and putting up with GERD symptoms at the same time.
I really need this settled before my tonsillectomy

[LivingInHope]

I know my sister had nausea with a GERD medication before.  I take ranitidine 150 mg twice a day myself.  Omeprazole gave me a lousy headache.  You might also try small frequent meals.  In case you are gum chewing, that can stimulate saliva production.  I think maybe the doctor would have to be feeling your throat from the outside and having you swallow to detect thyroid nodules.  My dad recently had an ultrasound since his throat has been bothering him and they found multiple nodules on his thyroid.
Hopefully getting your tonsils out will help with a number of symptoms for you.

[zak516]

Thanks for replying SurgiMenopause. My ENT surgeon used a little endoscope to go into my throat and checked it carefully, I have also had a full blood scan. He didn't say any thing about nodules.
Already gave up smoking 2 years ago.
Don't really drink tea or coffee.
Don't drink alcohol.
Bought a new bed to incline when sleeping.
Eat at least 4 hours before bed and go for a 2 KM walk :-)

I am already doing all this its just my symptoms are now

too much saliva
difficulty swallowing
constant pressure in my tonsils and ears (increases after eating)
feeling of suffocation
feeling nauseas after food

I was on Omeprazole  for about 6 weeks and then switched to Nexium 4 weeks ago.
I feel Nexium is not doing enough to relieve my symptoms.
Just wondering what should be the next PPI I can try.

[LivingInHope]

Did the ENT check your thyroid for nodules?  You will want to avoid spicy foods, dairy, citrus and tomoato, bananas, coffee, cigarettes (if you drink coffee or smoke).  Raise the head of your bed so your head is up by 45 degrees as laying flat makes GERD symptoms worse.  Also, you should avoid eating 2-3 hours before you go to bed, as that can worsen GERD symptoms.  
Anything that seems to make your throat feel more sore is a tip off that it is not a good thing for your GERD.  Hope your surgery goes well.