endoscopy ater a year of worry part 3

[Ratters]

So I started to feel like my life was running back to me... a little bit anyways.

I saw the specialist and he said that half the battle is finding the right drug and I only had one more to try before I ran out of options. He said that he thought that I had a weak lower esophageal sphincter and that would explain the problems I was having.He said that I would have been dead months ago if it was anything serious and that he wanted to have a look at me with the camera to make sure there was no barretts or any nasties anywhere else.
He mentioned the coffee too and thought it was great that I had done that. I had also started to sleep in a slighty raised position which had helped me.

I went for my proceedure on tuesday of this week.the process was so simple and I remember nothing, just drifting off to sleep.Guess what ??? No cancer.. of course not. Just a widely patent les....damn valve. All those symptoms caused by a weak valve. I could have it fixed but the effects are shortlived and I want to keep it up my sleeve in case  it gets so bad again.

I am now virtually symptom free. I get the odd twang and I am cautious about what I eat. I can swallow everything now... I have reduced my pills to one a day. I have no scarring or damaged tissue. No barretts. It just took a long long time to heal.I have my life back.

In retrospect the most contributing factor was worry... I drove myself mad with worry. Stop it this instant... the only way you will beat this and live with it is to be a pain in your doctors ***... try every drug you can.... stop with the caffeine...get your sneakers on and get out there... clear your mind and be truthful with yourself. If you are overweight.. that is going to make things worse. BE HONEST, BE BRAVE AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT... GO FOR THE SCOPE...DO IT... MAKE THE FIRST STEP TODAY.Most importantly allow yourself time to heal, it took nearly a year before my esophagus calmed down...look on the internet and it talks about weeks... that is bull, imagine having a cut and reopening it every day... it would never heal.Only ten percent of people who have gerd have barrets and 0.5% will get some sort of cancer. All the odds are in your favour. If you are new to this site and worrying... you would be better off signing off right now and going for a walk to clear your mind then get a plan of attack together. Tick off the ppi's one by one until you find something that makes life easier.Keep a food diary...take charge of this.

My gosh this is a really big essay of a post. I hope it has helped. There is light at the end of the tunnel. You have to be honest wth yourself and be brave.Think of the smallest baby in hospital at the moment who has no control... if you are old enough to be on here you are adult enough to be in control of your own life and health......get down to the doctors no... that's an order. The only reason I have my life back after a year is throught persistence... don't be lauged at or shrugged off... demand the help !!!
Lisa
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[Ratters]

Thanks Selma,

I just remember how I felt when I first visited the site over a year ago. It's such an awful condition to live with...lot's of people just don't understand how bad it can be.... even some of my friends said to me "oh well everyone gets heartburn every now and again" Arrrghhh, if only it was just heartburn. Thanks for your post. xxxxxxxxx

[selmaS]

Well Lisa thank u for sharing ur experience with us and yes that was quite a bit if info....much of what we tell people here all the time....much of the info is posted in out Health Pages, but to hear a first hand account is inspiring.

Thanks again and I pray u stay healthy

"selma"