Acid Reflux?

[kasia]

I got pregnant in June 03,I miscarried in August.During the pregnancy I developed bad case of sour taste in the back of my throat. Knowing to be pregnant I did not think of it much. It went away after 3 days.No heartburn no regutation.2 months later I developed the same taste.Around day four I went to see my Dr.He told me this could be Acid reflux and said to take Pepcid, no help with that, aciphex prevacid no help. Next step was GI doctor. The GI doctor gave me Nexium which helped.No more sour taste in the back of my throat for now.He ordered upper GI, small gastriries,ultrasound and 24h acid test all normal. He told me since the taste it’s gone to take the nexium for a while. While on nexium I started experiencing bloating and chest pain.I felt like I was not digesting my food at all.I even felt the food sitting in my stomach all the time.Than it happened again this terrible taste totally different than before hit me with extra strength including esophagus pain.It was so bad that I could not function.I came back to the doctor and he told me to start taking the Remeron which will help with GI track and stress. He said this could be hormonal after miscarriage. I stopped taking nexium and felt better with my stomach but not the taste and pain.It was there 24/7.After taking Remeron I felt better the sour taste went away, but my esophagus and throat was in bad shape.I had to have something constantly in my mouth to not feel it.Also I developed orange tongue in which case the GI doctor did not know what it was from.Anyway the psychologist suggested that I went and do acupuncture.  I started doing that. I had to take off from work because my stress was so high that I was unable to function.  The acupuncturist gave me some Chinese herbs and told me to take digestive enzymes.I was amazed with the results. But when my anxiety is high it seems my symptoms are getting worse.I stopped taking the herbs but I Think I still need them.I feel I’m becoming neurotic.During the time of me not taking the herbs I started burping and reggurating, also I started to brush my tongue and my throat with toothpaste.Couple days ago I started experiencing salty kind of smelly bad taste in the back of my throat.Now m I having this reaction to salt in the toothpaste and my throat being irritated or this is the acid coming up and leaving this after taste.I started taking the herbs again I hope they help.My doctor is taking me off the Remeron.When I call the doctor he told me this salty taste salty taste could be the withdrawal symptom. Anyway do you think
my whole ordeal started with the nexium and this was my side effect?How do I take care of the salty taste in the back of my throat?I stopped brushing but it’s not going away.it’s there all the time except in the morning, while eating and sleeping Do you think stress could intensify the symptoms?  Finally I was told by the doctor that the sour taste was probably some kind of infection.
Any help will be very appreciated.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You note that you had a negative upper GI series, ultrasound and 24-hr pH study.  If the 24-hr pH study is negative, it is unlikely that the symptoms are due to reflux - since this is the most comprehensive test to evaluate this.  

To answer your questions:
1) It is possible but unlikely that the symptoms may be related to the Nexium.  I am not familiar that Nexium can cause this specific side effect.  

2) You would have to determine the cause of the salty taste in the back of the throat.  With the negative pH study, I would consider other causes - such as post-nasal drip.  I would suggest an ENT referral and sinus CT scan to see if post-nasal drip is causing your symptoms.

3) Stress may intensify the symptoms.  However, before attributing it to that, I would suggest a simple blood count and coagulation studies to make sure there is not an underlying blood disorder.

4) It is true that an infection can cause the sour taste.  Specifically post-nasal drip from sinusitis can cause this.  A sinus CT scan and possible antibiotics should be considered.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

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.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[yoshi]

if you think your food is not being digested and sit in your stomach,and the enzyme tablets help,it is possible that all that medication shut down too much  of your acid  producing capacity and you have a hard time digesting your food.
it takes stomach acid to digest your food.
also some of these medication either cause constipation or diarhea (diarrhea).
are you constipated??

[kasia]

No I 'm not constipated.  I'm taking prenatals vitamins that have iron in it and I'm still doing fine.  As I said before I'm going off Remereon.  The next week it's my last week of taking the medication.  I have experienced loose bowel for couple of days.  Actually I was told by the Dr. that loose bowel can be the withdrawal of this medication.
I still have this salty taste but it seems it's subsidizing.
I just want to be my self, because for past 3 months I fee like a stress bomb.

[yoshi]

i just did a search on remereon and i found this thread-it quoted from rx list of discoloration of tongue.see if it makes sense to you,it sounds like remereon causes mental problem.why are you on it??
http://forum.ditonline.com/popup.html

[smoofer]

Last September, I had the same thing - a very sour taste in the back of my throat.  About a month before, I had really bad sinus drainage but cleared up.  A couple weeks later, I started having this foul taste in the back of my throat.  It felt like some kind of abcess (abscess) or something around my lower tonsil area.  I went to my MD and he said that it was "strep".  I questioned him because I did not have a fever or even a sore throat.  He changed it to "throat infection" (didn't bother doing a culture!) and gave me Zithromax - 5day perscription.  It seemed to clear up the bad taste.  About a month later, I got Rhinatitus (nasal infection) and was give Tequin for that.  About a month after that, my throat glands swelled up - no sore throat, but a few ulcers on tonsils.  Two months later, I still have some swelling, along with some ulcers on tonsils.  The ENT 4 weeks ago said it may have been "Cat Scratch Fever" and put me on Biaxin for 2 weeks.  I'm going back today, I think it is tonsilitus or something.......are you having any other throat symptoms?  I agree with the MD to go see a Ear Nose Throat specialist.  Reading on tonsilitus....they can get severe enough to bleed....that would produce the salty taste in your mouth.  Definitely see an ENT.