GERD or asthma/food allergies??

[needabreak]

I'm desperate and worrying myself to death.  I wrote a comment under the "Share how you cope..." title on 2/21/2002, please read.   Basically, I'm beside myself looking for answers and FEAR is my greatest enemy.  For 3-4 months now I suffer from chest pain, choking sensations, feels like there's a lump in the base of my throat, coughing, sore/raw feeling in my esophagus/throat, tenderness/pain in between my ribs next to my breastbone, breathing difficulties, etc.   I was treated for GERD with Prevacid for 3 weeks or so with no real improvement, so the doctor told me to stop taking it and told me to go see an allergist (which I had asked about).  I was taking 15 mg once a day.  Do you think I didn't give it a long enough try or wasn't taking a high enough dose?  I never really had the stomach pain that some have with GERD, or the burning in my esophagus...that it, until 2 nights ago.  But, I do have a raw, irritated feeling constantly in my chest/esophagus, noticable when I breathe, too.  I'm scared.  Please help.  When I think about it, maybe the chest pain accompanied by anxiety for the last several years(I too had a few trips to the ER) had something to do with GERD.  I don't know.

[sturge]

needabreak, about two years ago I was diagnosed with GERD.  I had reflux into my throat so my throat would burn all the time.  Soon before I was diagnosed (by doing a barium swallow and endoscopy) I had went to my family dr about a feeling like something was stuck in my throat.  I used to always have reflux in my throat and it constantly bothered me so my dr prescribed Nexium for me.  I have been taking it for probably around a year and a half now.  While on it I can eat anything and not get any indigestion or heart burn or reflux in my throat.  However, occasionally I would still get the feeling of something in my throat at the base of it.  Well, it would usually go away and I would forget about it.  However, about three weeks ago this feeling came back and for the last few weeks I have also had chest pains associated with it. The feeling in my throat is like someone is pushing in on the base of my throat under my adam's apple.  It is really painful but it is a very uncomfortable feeling and kind of makes it hard to breathe, especially when you start thinking about how you are choking and can't breathe.  That just makes it worse.  I am trying to relax more now and it may be helping me some.  My gastro dr just keeps telling me that it's probably the feeling from some acid and basically told me to just keep taking my medicine and if I need to take a zantac also.  I think that some of this may be caused by stress.  The last month has been very stressful and I have been worrying alot about money.  I do know that when I first wake up in the morning I don't feel as bad as I do at the end of the day so that also leads me to believe that stress and worrying just makes it worse.  So for now I am going to stay on medicine and try relaxing and maybe start exercising again to help relieve stress.  I don't know if all of this helped you any but I would tell you that if you are having acid problems the nexium worked great for me and also about the throat feeling YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  It is starting to take a toll on me and really get on my nerves.  I am going to try to make myself forget about and just maybe it will make me feel better.

[karie]

Are you taking anything now for your symptoms ?
Have you had the Ph test and or the Esohageal Manometry ? This is a helpful test.
Do you have stomach aches or pain effected by eating or an empty stomach ?

[needabreak]

No, I'm not on any medications at the time, but am thinking of asking my doctor to put me back on the Prevacid...maybe I need a higher dose than 15 mg. once a day...maybe that is why I didn't see any real improvement after taking it for 3 weeks.  The allergy doctor thinks I'm using the Rhinocort he prescribed a few weeks ago.  I tried that too but stopped because I thought it was giving me a sore throat.  Maybe I don't really understand what it is exactly that he is trying to accomplish for me with it.  I do have post nasal drip and occasional sinus headaches, but didn't think this had any effect on what was wrong with me as far as the GERD symptoms go (assuming it is GERD).  I haven't had any tests done now...I think the doctor who put me on Prevacid thought that if it helped, good, and he wouldn't have to put me through the tests.  I admit it sounded like a good idea at the time, but I feel awful now and if that is the only way to get the help I need, I'd have to go through it.  I'm really uneasy about the idea of them putting a scope down my throat.  More anxiety.  Great.  I appreciate any and all comments/advice.

[toy drive]

I think you should get a 24hr ph test done> If you have low les pressure the meds will not work. I have been going through this since july of 2001 short of breath, coughing all the time,pain etc. I was on nexium for 16 weeks only help 20%> Iha d24 ph done i showed i had bad reflux and weak muscle. I just had surgery it was the only thing that would help. good luck but ask about 24ph

[needabreak]

I'm beginning to get some of these things that are happening to me sorted out...I think.   Toydrive, I don't know why my family doctor is not considering these tests yet.  If I don't feel better soon, I will ask for them. Thanks.
   AND, this is for all who want to read it, but to "sturge", I really feel that we are sharing MUCH the same thing.  (Gee, it's awfully nice of you to be sick like me!)  Seriously though, I reread your comments of Mar. 4 and wanted to get in touch with you again.  Because I have gone through some traumatic experiences in my life involving my loved ones and myself, I have developed an anxiety disorder, but am really trying to get well on that account too.    Stress and I don't mix and I am a BIG worrier.  I think that this is what has led to my problem with GERD/reflux.  When I think of all the times I had chest pain, difficulty breathing, choking sensations, and thought that I was having heart attacks and certainly would die, I bet now that it was reflux after all.  I wonder if we will ever get well again, don't you?  Does anyone else out there wonder, too?  How do such crummy things happen to such nice people?   I find that sharing these things and our feelings is helping me to an extent.    Somewhere in this forum I thought I read that using Xanax with your Nexium, Prevacid, etc. would help you get well.  Did anyone else see this?  I have Xanax but only use a half tablet when I can't sleep or am feeling particularly anxious about something.   "Sturge", please keep in touch with me if you would about your situation and progress.  I am trying to relax about this whole thing, but it is scary.  I feel for you who developed this at an early age...prayer helps, hang in there and keep sharing!

[Saikee]

I was diagnosed with GERD about a year and a half ago. at first i was on losec for a few months. then i soon went on taking medicines on a "as needed" basis. nowadays i'm using nexium, but i think i like losec a little better. i'll have to ask my doctor though, just in case.

Its funny that you mention about the "worry" all this has brought you. This is where I can relate to you a lot. One afternoon, I had a pretty bad gerd attack, and i thought i was having a heart attack. i seriously thought i was gonna die! after rushing to the ER, the doctors told me I was perfectly fine, except that i may have had heartburn. and after that i saw a GI and everything else followed. I think I'm managing my gerd well enough. I hardly ever have heartburn anymore, but as of late I've been having some persistent sore throat.

I know what you mean about the paranoia. that's exactly how I felt after getting that bad attack. its strange how suddenly my whole life changed after that incident. can u believe that after that attack i suddenly got a huge fear of flying and riding planes, out of the blue! its really weird... but like my gerd, i am deadling with this anxiety as well.