New to acid reflux, HELP!!!!!!!

I was diagnosed with acid reflux two years ago, but no one told me that there were more symptoms than just burning and pain. The shortness of breath, chest pain and abdominable pain, airbubble in throat, trouble swallowing, etc was explained to me by a therapist and everyone around me as anxiety disorder.  I believe that I now have anxiety do to the fact that no one explained to me what was going on with my body.  I was on prilosec for a while and then got off thing, since the pain is gone then why take it (besides the emence cost)  Now my stomach is a mess and I am back on Prilosec (for about 5 days now) and I am still a mess.  I burp abruplty, after I eat.  I get shortness of breath, which can be helped by eating and then burping like a volcano.  The antacids were fine for a while but now they make me nauseous.  I have heard of a lot of alternative medicine that may work.  If anyone knows of anything that can help even one of my symptoms I greatly appreciate it. (Even diet information) Please help me.

[kajo]

welcome to my world. ha ha ha. as far as alternative medicine, you may want to try papaya and ginger to aid digestion and quell nausea. also, dgl, a form of licorice is supposed to help decrease acid production and coat the stomach lining. i cannot tolerate the meds. i am on the last one to try, aciphex. if it does not work, my doc has suggested surgery??!!  good luck. i know how you feel, i have suffered with this for 5 years, and the symptoms are not always so cut and dry.

[Kittee]

Hi Petunia:

I too am going through hell with acid reflux with chest, abdominal & even back pain, burning esophagus upset stomach and constant burping.  I am so sick of it!  I go back and forth between 40 mg Nexium and 40 mg Losec.  I think the Nexium works better but the side effects are intolerable for me.

You may want to try Aloe Vera Juice or gel to sooth the burning in your chest and esophagus and also DGL tablets before meals which creat a mucous coating on the stomach.  This will protect from the acid.  There are many natural things you may want to try so visit your nearest health food store for some ideas.  I hope some of them work for you.  These proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, Losec and Prilosec are really hard to 'stomach' and are expensive too.

Good luck with finding something that helps.  You are definitely not alone in the world of acid reflux!

Cheers,

Kittee

[karie]

How does one not loose weight when the symptoms are so unbearable ?
I plan on looking into the meds mentioned above as well.
Let us know if Aciphex works ?
I find the side effects , and drug not working suggest more tests ?
On the spot what would prevent a 3 hour heartburn episode ? We are all different , But I am curious what helped you.

[Ojo]

Hi there, I have the same problems.
Reduce your fat intake, cut back on all tomato containing foods and sauces, chocolate, alcohol, citrus fruit & juices, vinegar and salad creams & salad dressings .
Try raising the head of your bed by upto 6 inches. (Use a couple of old books.) Don't bend over from the waist, bend your knee's.
These methods worked for me. Its a drag at meal times, but the relief is well worth it.
I  only take Gaviscon at the first sign of heartburn, and I have not had any for the past 5 days. My Doc thinks it could be a hiatus hernia. Am waiting for a baruim  meal x-ray.           The PPI's gave me loads of side effects --- but thats another story.
Hope this is of help to you.
Jo.

[Maribel]

I am also new to acid reflux :( !  My Doctor put me on Prevacid and I haven't done any test whatsoever.  I also went to a Gastroenterologist and he heard my symptoms and also game me Prevacid but didn't do any x-rays or test.  Right now I am still have a feeling of a lump in my throat and this is almost all the time not olny after I eat.  And resently I have been having upper back pain and if I press my chest down it hurts more.  It's kind of hard to explain how I feel but I am very upset of having this.  I have lost 8 pounds since I started in Prevacid which has been 2 months now.  Does anybody experience back pain too?
Thanks for any information. Is good to know there's somebody that understands.  I'm only 26 years old and this is hard to deal with.

[RosiG]

Hi all,
My husband has had his reflux problem for about 5 years now.  He's tried every medication known to Man, had an endoscopy (I'm sure he's due for a new one now).  I know everyone who suffers is different but I have not heard mention of the type of vomiting.  When my husband has to vomit it's very sudden - like NOW! - and sometimes he doesn't make it to the bathroom.  His heartbeat is true and strong, his back is strong with no problems.  He's a big strong hardy man and it's hard to watch him feverish and shaking on his morning mad dash to the bathroom every morning.  He got fed up with all the meds and their side effects (diarrhoea, dizziness, nausea) and the meds to countereffect those side effects so he gave up for a year or so and just put up with it.

Now he's back on the merry-go-round and back to and from his GP and the specialist **SIGH**, and yes again the meds - this time a new lot (a lot milder) but doing absolutely nothing for him - perhaps too mild.  Nizatidine 150mg (Tazac brand).  And yes it's expensive.  It never comes cheap does it.  We've tried elevating him of a night but to no avail (although a friend with a reflux problem swears by it so if you haven't tried it yet GO FOR IT!).  He doesn't suffer anxiety but we've found that stress does aggrivate it BAD!

Anyway, it's good to see people all over the Western world get this problem (we're in Australia - so yes we get it here too).  Hang in there, think positive, meditate, pray or go for a walk - whatever keeps you calm or gets you through the pain.  And no I don't get annoid with his nagging cough - I feel like I'm going through it with him.  I gently rub his sweat soaked back while he's being sick (if it's not too uncomfortable for him) and I clean up the mess if he misses the bathroom.

I've enjoyed reading all your comments and have printed out about a million pages for hubby to read when he gets home from work - and yes he never has a day off work no matter how bad he feels.  I think that's amazing.  You're all real troopers for going through the daily slog of the pain and misery of your suffering.

RosiG :-}