Medication for Acid Reflux

Hi
My name is Zakai and I am 37 years old. 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.
My doctor diagnosed a sever Pharyngitis and prescribed me with penicillin for ten days and referred me to an ENT surgeon.
My throat had been playing up for over a year, therefore had turned pretty bad. My doctor had to give me another course of penicillin for another 10 days.

ENT surgeon agreed with the Doctor and asked me to see a Gastor Consultant as well, because she could see signs of Acid reflux when she examined my throat using a small Endoscope.
Gastor Consulted concluded after an endoscopy that I have severe GERD. He also suggested that I should have my tonsils removed any way.
He suggested that I may choose to go down the route of Fundolication.
I am not too sure about fundoplication, its kind of scary. Also the 24 hour PH test sound Scary the the actual surgery.

I have also had a full blood scan. Every thing else seems to be normal.
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
I am already doing all this
too much saliva
difficulty swallowing
constant pressure in my tonsils and ears (increases after eating)
feeling of suffocation
feeling nauseas after food

If feeling of suffocation is too bad, then I take 150mg Zantac. If symptoms persist I take up to 40mg of Pepcid and Gaviscon.
I was on Omeprazole  for about 6 weeks and 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. I have to under go a tonsillectomy on the 18th of June . I am really nervous about having to put up with the pain after surgery and GERD symptoms together. I  really need to have GERD settled down before then.


thanks in advance, looking forward to your reply

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Most of the PPIs work in a similar manner.  If you have tried omeprazole and Nexium already, it is unlikely that others will be effective.  That said, the other ones in the class include Protonix, Prevacid, and Aciphex.  If your doctor thinks these other medications can work, it can be prescribed and tried.

Other option would be the addition of medications that work in other ways than a PPI, such as sucralfate or Reglan, in addition to the PPI.

If the symptoms continue despite maximal medical therapy, then indeed, a surgical procedure like a fundoplication needs to be considered.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.

KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd