Chronic Barrett's Esophagus/Hiatal Hernia symptoms -- could it be hystyeria?

  : I'm a 24-year-old male who's been suffering from reflux and asophagial irritation for over a year.  I have seen several doctors, including a GI.  All of them suspected acid reflux as the cause and prescribed drugs like axid and prilosec.  However, the medication has done nothing.
  :  I have noticed that, often times my symptoms worsen during times of stress.  Furthermore, my syptoms (symptoms) also include tension around the neck and difficulty speaking becasue of the feeling that my throat is closing.  Sometimes I can even feel tension in my fingers. I was told by a friend that this may be a associated with a type of mental hysteria.  However, I also experience the symptoms during times when I'm relaxed and not anxious.
  : This problem is starting to impact my quality of life, and I would like to know the best way to pursue a solution.  Thank you for your help.
  

[HFHSM.D.-ym]

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     Hi, I am 52 years old and have had problems for many years, I was taking 4
  packs of rolaids a day ,The only releif I got was after a dr ran a camera down
  my throat and found out I have severe asofigitas ? they told me I have to take
  prilosec ,or have an operation where they take a peice of the intestin ?or stomich ?
  and wrap it around to pinch off my acids ? or what ever it was. I was throwing up
  every thing I eat every day. until I took prilosec. but I took it about 2 years
  and read somewhere that it could cause lupas, I asked my dr and he did not know
  found out I wasw right. so he monitered my blood for ahwile and my ana? was up
  more than it should be. then he put me on prevacid which still works pretty good
  but . I remember reading or my dr telling me that the signs to watch for in lupas
  was mussle aches and joint pains which I have extreemly bad now and I feel like
  a hypocondreact  ? by allways having something wrong. I'm very reluctant to inform dr.
  I have looked up my pain and found fibermailgia to be the same .but who knows
  or if it is from the drugs. I have asked dr's for years about the choking
  feeling in the throat feeling I have like my throat is closing up. but get
  no answers.I feel like if I had my tonsils out or adnoid (adenoid)  I may be better
  I sure wish I had answers. dr's seem to only be able to help if a bone is
  sticking out where they can see it.
Dear Andrew,
Axid and Prilosec are both effective medications to treat the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. If you are not responding to these drugs, it may be that you require a higher dose of medication, a different medication., the medication is not working for you and that you may need surgical therapy or that an alternative diagnosis is causing your problem. If you have not yet had an upper GI endoscopy (you mentioned you had a GI?) you may benefit from that test. Biopsies can show signs of inflammation (reflux esophagitis), changes in the lining of the lower esophagus (Barrett's esophagus). Peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, hiatal hernia and esophageal rings can also be identified. If the endoscopy is normal, another test to confirm or rule out the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease is 24 hour ambulatory pH monitoring. In this test, the acidity of the stomach is measured and correlated to the symptoms you are having. Esophageal manometry is another test to measure the pressures along the esophagus. This can help to rule out an esophageal motility disorder such as achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm and other non-specific, abnormal motility patterns. Many physicians perform all these tests prior to considering surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease. I hope you find this information helpful.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
If you wish to be seen at our institution, please call 1-800-653-6568, our Referring Physicians' Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Muszkat, one of our experts in Gastroenterology.
HFHSM.D.-ym
*Keywords: gastroesophageal reflux disease