esophagitis

[gtseshan]

I have had acidity problems before and had been treated for Hpylori about 5 years back. I was normal, till about 2 months back. I went on vacation for a week, and was eating fried foods and coffee a lot. I came back with diarrehea and bit of abdominal pain. The diarehea went away, but I had bit of heartburn, burning sensation in the stomach and sensation of something sticking in my throat. My doctor gave me PEPCID 40mg, but did'nt help. I went to a gastroentrologist who did an endoscopy. He said there was a minor inflammation in the esophagus possibly due to GERD. Nothing else. Biopsy of the tissue was negative. He put me on PREVACID 30mg. That only worsened my problem. In additon I started having abdominal pain possibly due to ingidestion. So, I stopped it after a week. I tried Zantac 75, and it worked. Prescription strength Zantac has worked for me before. So, I said this to my gastroentrologist and he prescribed Zantac 150, twice a day.
My question is, is it ok to take Zantac continuously. Also,my doctor says that, if left untreated this would lead to Barrets esophagus. I cannot handle PREVACID or PRILOSEC either. I am 37, 160lbs, married with a kid.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hello - thanks for asking your question.  

It is definitely true that untreated GERD can lead to Barretts esophagus.  Chronic acid reflux leads to a change in the cells of the esophagus (i.e. squamous to intestinal epithelium).  The intestinal epithelium is more prone to transform to cancer.

Zantac is part of the class of drugs known as H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs), which inhibit acid secretion in the stomach.  It is safe to use over the long term - in over 13 years of use, Zantac's safety profile has been confirmed in over 220 million patients.  Headache, sometimes severe; abdominal discomfort/pain; nausea and vomiting; constipation; and diarrhea are the reported side effects that have been noted in studies.

CNS side effects were one of the rarely-noted side effects over the long term:
H2RAs can cause confusion, restlessness, somnolence, agitation, headaches, and dizziness and, with prolonged therapy, hallucinations, focal twitching, seizures, unresponsiveness, and apnea. These symptoms are reversible upon discontinuation of the drug.

Some people do not prefer taking medication indefinitely.  One option would be to consider surgical options for your reflux.  You may want to discuss this with your personal physician.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

I stress that this answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[tessa0825]

Hello, as for progressing to Barretts, I think it is a VERY LOW percentage of people that actually progress from esophagitis to Barretts, although there seems to be alot of confusion surrounding who does and who doesnt...I have Barretts but I was never diagnosed with GERD until it had progressed to Barretts..I totally ignored all my symptoms, thinking that everyone had these things happening. I only saw a GI SPec. after my family Dr. started a search and find mission because of unexplained high white blood cell counts.. Eventually I was sent to cancer Drs. and then to GI Spec...I complained about NOTHING and was completly shocked when my first EGD showed , severe erosions, strictures, lg hiatal hernia, and three active ulcers....It was about 4 months later when the ulcers were healed and the strictures dilated that he could do Biopsies confirming the Barretts diagnosis...The thing about esophagitis is that you have to stop the damage at you starting point..mine was already Barretts from our starting point, so we have to do everything we can such as taking PPIs, staying on GERD diet, using wedge pillow, and having regular EGDs and biopsies to check for progression and deal with problems as they occur....I dont know why your Dr. would scare you by telling you that you WOULD progress to Barretts because most people NEVER do...You just have to control the acid and stop the damage....Take care.....Tessa

[tessa0825]

Hello, there are many GOOD sites on the web about Barretts if you want to become more familar with them...John Hopkins has a really good site and also medicinenet.com has tons of info about Barretts as does webmd...You do know and realize that Barretts can only be diagnosed by biopsy? and then most people get a second opinion....GERD "CAN" lead to Barretts but the key word is "CAN". That is why it is important to stop the damage from progressing,and it is absolutely important to follow your Drs. orders and to take some responsibility for your diagnosis yourself....Follow the GERD diet, raise the head of the bed, take your meds, and continue surveillance through regularly scheduled EGDs......Good Luck........Tessa....check out this site....http//www.medicinenet.com/Barretts_Esophagus/pg1htm

[joi]

Ihave gerd and am at my wits end..I have the constant food sticking, food sitting in thorat feeling and constant regurgation when I burp..I can't stand this anymore it has been non stop since november..I am on nexium 2x a day and reglan w/ dinner..I had a barium swallow that showed reflux but no obstructions and am being scoped next week..basically since I'm not respondin to meds I am going to try to change my diet..what can I eat?? right now I think I'm better of not eating at all because it sits in my chest like a big lump..

[gtseshan]

I am at my wits end too. I just cannot get rid of this "food stuck in my throat" problem. It is very bad till about noon. Once I have lunch, it starts getting better and its almost gone by evening. It starts all over again once I wake up. I do not have much of a heartburn, but its more of a stomach burn and overall discomfort in the mid - lower abdomen. Somebody, in a different thread had suggested taking anti-depressant since it had helped. My gastroentrologist prescribed it too, but I tossed it out, lest I get addicted to anti-dpressants.

[joi]

does it feel like the food just sits at the bottom of your throat after you eat? do you feel like certain foods like bread stick going down? does your food come back up when you burp../this lump is the worst thing I've had to live w/ the last 3 months I can't stand it anymore

[beccabond]

You might want to reconsider taking the anti-depressant your gastroenterologist prescribed for you.  I don't have GERD, but my gastroenterologist found gastritis after I had an upper endoscopy done.  He prescribed me prescription Zantac and advised me to change my diet.  I did both of these things, but I was getting worse instead of better.  Three weeks ago he prescribed an anti-depressant, Doxepin, which he said was to help me sleep.  The though of taking an anti-depressant made me nervous.  I didn't feel depressed (other than I was tired of being sick), and I didn't want to get hooked on something since I've never taken an anti-depressant before.  I started taking the Doxepin, though, and the next day I immediately felt better.  I got a great nights sleep (because it does make you very sleepy), and I was able to eat again.

[Leewa]

Well...maybe some of you can help me.
I am 31 years old (actually on March 28th i'll be 31) I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis when i was 12. I've been symptom free since 1996, still on Asacol. Last December after almost choking on a steak i was diagnosed with an ulcer in my esphogus due to reflux and was put on Aciphex. Well...things got worse from there. After 3 weeks i would be running to the bathroom, nausea beyond believe (was prescribed Tigan). Thought it was a virus or my colitis. Had a Sigmoidascope and i'm clean...so we switch from Aciphex to Nexium and Levbid...well a week later I'm in the emergancy room with Heart palpitations and dizziness. So my doctor says stop the Levbid (and I decide to stop the Nexium...i was HEALTHIER on nothing!!) it's been 2 days and my body just doens't feel right...I had blood work done in the ER showed nothing. Today at lunch...dizzy, nausea...and took a Tigan and it went away. I have a appointment with another Dr tomorrow because I am convinced there is something wrong with me...or is it the meds...anyone ever feel like this?
It's been 2 months and i've lost 18 pounds.

[ashpie3]

do you have reflux or food sticking in your throat?

[Leewa]

I was diagnosed with reflux. I've had food stuck in my esophagus once to the point that i needed to be taken to the ER. But the endoscopy showed an ulcer from the reflux. (Oddly enough my Dr. was shocked that I NEVER had heartburn...) I would occassionally have a hard time getting some foods down (usually rice)

-leewa

[Zig]

For over 5 years I have had problems with acid reflex. As a matter of fact I remember as a child swallowing acid and chewed food that had found its way back up my throat. I have GERD, acid reflex, irritable bowel syndrome, and a hypo-thyrod. To live with this I work out, eat bland foods (not that it really helps)and have tried most of the medications to help with the acid reflex. For the past 3 years, my doctor has gone down the list of anti acids. For three months (average) the medication works, then I am tasting the acid in my mouth agian. At this time nothing works to get ride of the problem, only help with the pain. But over the past two months things have been worst. Now on top of the common pain that I have learned to live with, I become sick when I eat, including "lossing my lunch".
So I did what anyone would do when they are concerned with thier heath, I went to my doctor. I was given a very new drug that would help me with my acid reflex and irritable bowel syndrome. The medication worked pretty good, but I still become sick.

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

Zig

[Zig]

For over 5 years I have had problems with acid reflex. As a matter of fact I remember as a child swallowing acid and chewed food that had found its way back up my throat. I have GERD, acid reflex, irritable bowel syndrome, and a hypo-thyrod. To live with this I work out, eat bland foods (not that it really helps)and have tried most of the medications to help with the acid reflex. For the past 3 years, my doctor has gone down the list of anti acids. For three months (average) the medication works, then I am tasting the acid in my mouth agian. At this time nothing works to get ride of the problem, only help with the pain. But over the past two months things have been worst. Now on top of the common pain that I have learned to live with, I become sick when I eat, including "lossing my lunch".
So I did what anyone would do when they are concerned with thier heath, I went to my doctor. I was given a very new drug that would help me with my acid reflex and irritable bowel syndrome. The medication worked pretty good, but I still become sick.

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

Zig

[Zig]

For over 5 years I have had problems with acid reflex. As a matter of fact I remember as a child swallowing acid and chewed food that had found its way back up my throat. I have GERD, acid reflex, irritable bowel syndrome, and a hypo-thyrod. To live with this I work out, eat bland foods (not that it really helps)and have tried most of the medications to help with the acid reflex. For the past 3 years, my doctor has gone down the list of anti acids. For three months (average) the medication works, then I am tasting the acid in my mouth agian. At this time nothing works to get ride of the problem, only help with the pain. But over the past two months things have been worst. Now on top of the common pain that I have learned to live with, I become sick when I eat, including "lossing my lunch".
So I did what anyone would do when they are concerned with thier heath, I went to my doctor. I was given a very new drug that would help me with my acid reflex and irritable bowel syndrome. The medication worked pretty good, but I still become sick.

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

Zig

[Zig]

For over 5 years I have had problems with acid reflex. As a matter of fact I remember as a child swallowing acid and chewed food that had found its way back up my throat. I have GERD, acid reflex, irritable bowel syndrome, and a hypo-thyrod. To live with this I work out, eat bland foods (not that it really helps)and have tried most of the medications to help with the acid reflex. For the past 3 years, my doctor has gone down the list of anti acids. For three months (average) the medication works, then I am tasting the acid in my mouth agian. At this time nothing works to get ride of the problem, only help with the pain. But over the past two months things have been worst. Now on top of the common pain that I have learned to live with, I become sick when I eat, including "lossing my lunch".
So I did what anyone would do when they are concerned with thier heath, I went to my doctor. I was given a very new drug that would help me with my acid reflex and irritable bowel syndrome. The medication worked pretty good, but I still become sick.

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

Zig

[Zig]

For over 5 years I have had problems with acid reflex. As a matter of fact I remember as a child swallowing acid and chewed food that had found its way back up my throat. I have GERD, acid reflex, irritable bowel syndrome, and a hypo-thyrod. To live with this I work out, eat bland foods (not that it really helps)and have tried most of the medications to help with the acid reflex. For the past 3 years, my doctor has gone down the list of anti acids. For three months (average) the medication works, then I am tasting the acid in my mouth agian. At this time nothing works to get ride of the problem, only help with the pain. But over the past two months things have been worst. Now on top of the common pain that I have learned to live with, I become sick when I eat, including "lossing my lunch".
So I did what anyone would do when they are concerned with thier heath, I went to my doctor. I was given a very new drug that would help me with my acid reflex and irritable bowel syndrome. The medication worked pretty good, but I still become sick.

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

Zig

[Zig]

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

Zig

[Zig]

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

Zig

[Zig]

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

[Zig]

I am a 24 year old who has massive chest pains (to the point I can not move or breathe and or shortness of breath), swollen throat (even though my hypo-thyrod is under control), sore throat, uncontrollable coughing and choking, at times burning in my stomache, constant taste of acid in my mouth, and now being nauseous or throwing up the food I am able to get down. And I am having problems with doctors saying, "well you're too young...." or "this problem seems to be common now a days...." Ok, I don't care what my age is, something is not normal and if it is common then fix me....please someone help!

[krisg]

Rule out heart problems with an EKG, stress test , blood work, etc.  Then rule out more with blood tests and other tests with a gastro. doc.  Keep going to specialists because they seem alittle more interested in helping people.  Just my opinion.