Extreme stomach reflux problems

[BuckledShoe]

Hi, my name is Lisa and I have serious stomach/digestive problems.  I had a compulsive exercise/eating disorder for about 3 years and it has caused severe digestive problems.  I am constantly getting some kind of reflux coming up from my stomach (not sure if it is all acid) all the time, when I eat, when I don't eat, and even when my stomach is empty.  It comes all the way up to my throat and causes a burning in my ears and nose.  It doesn't always cause heartburn, but sometimes I feel heartburn.  I had a huge problem with consuming way too much sugar and recently have changed my diet to all natural foods like fruits and veggies, but the reflux(sometimes acid) is still constantly coming up.  I had 2 upper endoscopies done and they found bile in my stomach, inflammation in my stomach, and the start of Barret's esophagus.  I also had a gallbladder scan done and my galbladder is inflammed and doesn't contract right(no gallstones though).  I also have gastroparesis, am taking relgan, but that hasn't stopped the reflux from coming up.
    My question is: what exactly could be coming up from my stomach all the time, no matter what I do or eat?  And what should I do/take/change to try and stop this reflux from coming up all the time?  Are there any other tests I could do to see what the problem really is?  Would permanent diet change stop this?  I take nexium right now, it stops the acid, but still other fluids are refluxing up into my throat constantly.  This is very painful and I need help.  Thank you

-Elisa

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Stomach acid or bile acid can be coming up continually if not appropriately treated.  

Diet changes can help, as well as medications like PPIs (i.e. Protonix or Prilosec).  If the Nexium isn't helping, you can try another PPI.

To help with bile acid reflux, medications like sucralfate can be helpful.  

However, if the symptoms continue despite medications, surgical therapies may need to be considered.  A 24-hr pH study can be done to quantify the severity of the reflux.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

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.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[Renee31]

I am haing acid reflux. My dad has it really bad too. I just started taking pepcid ac everyday. Donuts kill me, soda sometimes hurts or fried foods.
I am having an issue and I wonder if it's from the acid reflux? I am gagging very easy and even throwing up the acid in my stomach about 2-3 times a week. It is really scaring me!
Has anyone had this problem.
OBTW, I'm not pregnant, my tubes are tied:)
Thanks!

[WikiHealth girl]

Many find that probiotics can really help with the symptoms of GERD and other forms of digestive distress. Acidophilus and probiotics help to restore the PH in the digestive tract which increases its overall function and acidity.

Generally, taking a combination of pharmaceutical medications as well natural remedies such as probiotics can help treat reflux issues. However, it is important to introduce natural remedies so the body does not become dependent and (often, ultimately, immune) to the pharma drugs.

See this article on WikiHealth for more information : http://www.wikihealth.com/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease

[Hannah hypochondriac]

I too supposedly suffer from reflux, but I never seem to have the so-called acid coming up from the stomach into my throat causing a bitter taste. My main complaint stops low in the middle of my chest with tightness with dull ache in the area of the back in line with the chest tightness, not to mention belching within an hour to three hours after eating, which doesn't really relieve anything. Am on Nexium and do make sure I drink nothing but water as they say that helps to keep the acid at bay in the stomach. Totally avoid coffee, chocolate, fried fatty foods, cannot tolerate anything spicy such as tomato based things. Had a bad spell two weeks ago of tomato based vegetable soup causing a horrible burning all the way down my chest and back. Eating smaller frequent meals is usually recommended for relief from reflux as well as not lying down for at least 3 hours after a meal. Has anyone else had the problem with tomato based foods causing that problem for them? Thanks.

[yoshi]

yes,tomato is one of the forbidden food ,besides spicy,greasy food,dairy products,chocolate,soda,caffeine.
You need to baby your stomach,use your common sense,if it is difficult to digest or irritable to your stomach lining,you need to cut back eating them.
water is neutral,fruits are mostly acidic,pasta and raw veggies are hard to digest,too much meat is also hard to digest.
white bread ,water,rice,plain potato ,fish are easy on the stomach.

[bismark]

Can anyone help me?  Ihave acid reflux and take Protonix.I still have episodes of acid reflux, i sleep in my recliner a lot, tried a wedge, lifting the bed but this is so unkind to my wife.

my acid reflux is complicated with cronic non-stop belching. this can go on for over an hour. sometimes the belching is so severe it's hard to get my breath. the episodes of belching doesn't have any routine of time. what i'm saying is it is not attached necessarily to mealtime, this can come on me in the middle of the day or night. the severe belching continues untill i throw up.  it always begins with pain in my upper torso.  i'm 60 years old, eat too many sweets, drink way too many diet cokes, out of shape but not a smoker or drinker. this is amazing since in my younger years worked out at gym. i'm a mouth breather while sleeping and i know that this draws air into my stomach, but the amount of gas/air that comes off my stomach/intestines is truley unbelievable.  bloating comes along with this, i have two different sizes of pants due to the bloating.

i read that some readers feel that we actually bring air into our systerm through the rapid belching and am really getting the air out that just entered the stomach, i got to say i believe this could be adding to the episodes.
\any heip would be so appreciated.

[yoshi]

I chew gum during the day,the same old gum which has lost its flavor is fine with me,I keep it around so during the day,I just pick it up and keep chewing.
The motion of chewing is good exercise for your mounth and esophagus and the saliva it produces contain bicarbonate which neutralise your stomach acid .
The symptoms of too much acid and too little acid are often similar and can be confusing,as we get older,our stomach produces less stomach acid.
If you experience full ness soon after you eat and you feel like a bulge in your stomach,you have too little acid and sipping cranberry juice,pineapple juice will help raise the acid level and you could find instant relief.
If you have too much acid,you will feel the discomfort 2 hours after you ate,thats why they suggest you take PPI tablet an hour before you eat.
experiment with it and see which one is your problem,also take note what food irritates you.
BTW,I recall an article which said certain exercise is called jarring exercise and make the LES loose,so does aging,medication .
also there is another LES if we can call it such,between the stomach and the duodenum,if there is not enough acid to digest food,it wont open to let the food pass from stomach to intestine.makes sense,if food is not well digested,why pass it along?
diet soda is a lot of gas and caffeine and sweets does no one anygood,try chewing gum.

[veryveryworried1234]

Hello..Lisa i was just wondering did you ever find out what that white foamy stuff is that keeps coming up in your mouth and throat..as i have the same thing..i have it so bad that it leaves my tongue white..i can see it bubbling up from my neck right into my mouth..even when i dont eat as well also i have extreme burning in my stomack on and off...and it feels swollen as well on the left side..what did your doctor tell you about your problems as it sounds alot like mine..thanks kind regards

[karat1]

be very carefull if you are offered a nissen fundoplacation, get the most experienced surgeon avaliable, as there are a lot of dodgy surgeons that dont know how to put the correct tension on the stomach wrap, they use the same tension on every one, these are the surgeons you stay well away from. ask them how mutch tension they use on the wrap if they give you a figure there no good. because every body is different.