Re: reflux and problems associated with it. YUCK!

Posted By Laurie on July 09, 1999 at 09:12:33
I am a 39 year old female and have had many problems with what the DRs think is reflux. I started having this 11 years ago right after the birth of my last child. I constantly threw up during my preg.It has escalated terribly and I am not sure why. First, I had to give up things like coffee even decaf. then cola's taco's pizza anything tomato, which is hard as I love italian foods. I was put on pepcid way back then, now the pepcid does not work and I was put on prilosec and then prevacid, both made me very dizzy and very malaise feeling. I have had a scope, a barium swallowing test, a ct scan on the abdomen. It does not show a hiatel hernia, I want to know what else can cause such reflux? What am I doing wrong? It is actually ruining my life. I also have ibs, can this cause this?It seems to be worse when I am constipated too. I also get a lump in my throat around the middle of my throat inside and have had pills hung up, also much saliva, it is gross!I feel so terrible i don't travel for fear I will choke on the road. I feel as if i am going to choke or cannot breathe sometimes when I get this, and I have more bad days then good. I did buy a peak flow meter and I am breathing ok I think as I still get it up to 500 when I have this, so it must be my esophogus. I am on axid now and it helps some but not alot. ONe more thing cann a lack of acid cause such problems? Too much h2 blockers? Thank you very much I am at the end of my rope.Laurie

[Laurie__0__0]

Posted By Laurie on July 09, 1999 at 09:16:08
ps. I have thought about anxiety causeing this but it seems to just come then the anxiety comes as a reaction from the choking and reflux junk. I also went to a psycologist just because I was open  to anything to help, he thinks the anxiety is secondary too. thanks once again Laurie

[Laurie-again--to-the-Dr]

Posted By Laurie again, to the Dr. on July 15, 1999 at 13:51:58
I just had a vidio study while eating diff textures of food I was xray and vidio studied. I The radiologist said on the semi solid foods I had to swallow 5 or more times to clear in my esophogus. While I was doing this I was swallowing so much I felt i ran out of spit to swallow anymore. They said I was clearing my throat but it was not really going down the esophogus right. I am worried about this and my dr is now on vacation for over a week. I always am afraid I will choke but if it is clearing the throat part what is the chances of this? I am confused as my barium swallow was norm and so was my endo scope. I think I am adding nerves now to the soup. What should come next? Thanks so much, Laurie

[Bil__0__0]

Posted By Bill on August 25, 1999 at 21:11:15
Several years ago, I experienced occassional choking and two years ago, it became much worse.  I had an endescopy and a barium swallow done.  The barium swallow indicated an esophacal ring (a closing of the throught) in the esophagus.  The endescopy confirmed this and also confirmed Barretts esophagus in a medium range.  This was just want I didn't want to hear.  I've been on prilosec for almost two years and expect to be scoped again before year to determine if barrets is presenting itself in a pre-cancerus state.  Another thing I don't want to hear!  Anyway, during the endescopy procedure, I had a balloon put in my throught to expand the ring in the throught to a normal size.  This was great because I could not eat food of any sort with a major choking fit with the chest pains and all.  Yep, it was pretty bad for some time with choking and mucus that was filling my mouth at the same time.  One time it was so bad, I thought I was on my last breath's.  So it's been almost two years since the balloon procedure and the swallowing problems is starting to return.  YUK!  The acid reflux has increased in recent months and I just hate those times when it's 3am and I find myself flying out of bed choking because it's coming up and then it's the burning of the throught that really keeps you from falling back to sleep.  One thing that has helped me with the during the night epesodes is if I'm awake and feel it coming on or I've just been ousted out of bed with a choking spell, I take a spoonful of caugh syrup and let it gently pass down my throught.  It provides some relief for me.  I use a Wedge of a pillow that my spouse pick up from a pharmacy to elevate my upper body during sleep.  Good luck with your symptoms.  If you get anything out of what I've written, then good for you as well.  Personally, I can't stand dealing with the reflux problem, however I and many don't have much choice....  

[Charlote__0]

Posted By Charlotte on August 31, 1999 at 00:23:16
Bill, My husband had the exact same thing you describe. Get in to a Dr. right away and get another scope done carefully. My husbands esophgus ruptured and was filled with cancer cause he didn't know for 2 years that he had acid reflux. Please do something now as he almost died from this....










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