GERD & problems with diarrea X5+ years

[knightyme]

I have been diagnosed with GERD and was given the option of taking medication to keep it under control or have surgery to fix it (that might only be temperary).  I chose the meds.  I have been taking Aciphex for over 2 years now.  Over the past few months this 24 hr medication has started to not last as long as it is supposed to.  I now have to occassionally supplement it with OTC Zantac.  Has anyone undergone the surgery to fix GERD and what have been the results?

I also seem to have a problem with (sometimes severly painful) diarrea.  Lots of the times I have to go to the bathroom 5 or 6 times per day and it is usually worse after eating something fatty or leafy.  At times it is as if my food is just running straight through me.  I have a bowel movement with almost every trip to the restroom even if I did not really even notice that I needed to do so at the time I went to urinate.  Today is one of the really bad days.  Even after I just drink something I am having to run to the restroom.  I usually tend to get very cold after these episodes and cannot seem to get warm.  Any clues as to what might be causing this and what I should do about it?  

I am going to a new Gastroenteroligist tomorrow afternoon in hopes of finding a cure or at lease a cause.  This has been going on now for about 11 years off and on.  I seem to do good for a while and then have a bad episode again.  I also have pain (constant, mostly dull) in my left back just at the bottom of my rib cage.  Any ideas?

[knightyme]

I have been to the doctor and he is pretty sure that i have IBS (irretible bowel syndrome) however he is not ruling out crohns.  He has started me on 10 mg of Bentyl which i am supposed to take before each meal and before bedtime.  I am starting it today.  If things get better then great.....but if they don't or if this causes things to worsen then i will have to undergo a colonoscopy and more testing to find the root of the problem.  As for my GERD it is somewhat under control now with the Aciphex so i am gonna try the new drug regimen and get the Cpap machine that has been prescribed for my sleep apnea and hope for the best.  Perhaps all i really need is to get a good nights rest to allow my body to begin to heal on its own.  Wish me luck!

[Shebah]

You sound alot like me. I have been diagnosed with IBD. The doctors are not sure if I have crohn's or colitis tho. The pain in the back under the ribcages seems real familiar tho. Since I your symptoms and a few more that I think are connected to my hormones, I am also trying to get my adrenal glands tested. They are located in the back on the top of the kidneys.