Reflux Esophagitis

[Kittee]

Anyone her have or had esophagitis because of acid reflux and if so how did you get it cleared up and how long did it take to clear up.  I've had it now 3 months and been on several PPI's with not much luck.  I'm getting desperate!  Please comment if you can.

Thanks.

Kittee

[MLS]

Hi,
I was just curious, does your doctor know that you are not taking the PPI's and does he say this is okay?  I have been diagnosed with short segment barretts esophagus and one GI doc is so insistent that I take the PPI's even though they don't agree with me. He made me feel like I was from mars when I told him the PPI's just didn't agree with me and made me feel like no one has ever told him this. I tryed aciphex and prilosec. I am now weaning off the prevacid, which hasn't been too bad as far as the side effects but I just don't like the thought of being on a PPI for the rest of my life.  Ever since I was diagnosed with GERD/Barrett's esophagus last August I have been anxious about this whole thing.  I started to have intense anxiety and panic attacks.  

I have been seeing a nutritionist and she has me on supplements and I have changed my  eating habits for the better.  The new GI I have been seeing agreed that some people can't tolerate the PPI's and that I could wean myself off of them and see how it goes.  As much as I want to do this I am a little leery.  So I am curious to see if your GI doc knows you are off the meds?  How long have you been off and have you been scoped since you've been off?
Much thanks, MLS

[dthom54439]

I've been diagnosed with a Hiatal Hernia and Barret's Esophagus.  I have tried some PPI's but don't like the side effects.  I have also had some symptoms of gastritis and used carafate and DGL.  Carafate tastes better, but DGL is a natural herb - not a medicine - if your into alternative medicines.

I've eliminated some of the reflux problem's by going to an 80% alkaline (fresh fruits and vegetables) and 20% acidic diet (Meat, dairy, and fast foods) plus eliminating most fats in my diet.  This was recommended by a nutritional therapist.  You can get more information on these food groups from publications sold in any GNC store.  

Also, I believe I have a gall bladder problem (Had ultrasound 2 weeks ago that showed sludge in the gland).  Still suffer from malaise and dizziness 1-2 hours after eating a meal.

[DGO]

ojo
i think you have the right idea. i'm glad your change in diet is working for you. if the truth was known i think we bring a lot of these type problems on ourselves by the way we eat. too much, too spicey, too rich, etc. good luck.

DGO

[Ojo]

I have a reflux problem which has developed over the past 2 years.  I was given PPI's but had lots of side effects, took them for 3 weeks. Now I take nothing, except at the first sign of heartburn I take Gaviscon.
I am also on a low fat/no fat diet.  This has been the greatest help, since being on this diet my heartburn and reflux problems have eased.  
I  also found that :-  foods in tomato sauces, tomato puree,  
salad creams, vinegar -  plus foods in vinegar, chocolate, citrus fruits / fruit juices & alcohol increased the reflux.
Also you could try raising the head of your bed by about 4 or 6 inches.  A couple of thick old books will do.
Hope this will be of use to you.
Jo.

[DGO]

Yes. Your doctor can diagnos Barret's with the scope.
He should be putting you on medication such as Nexium or Prevacid if you test positive. All tomatoe products and spicey food should be avoided as well as anything that can cause reflux
especially caffeine.
                     DGO

[Kittee]

Hi Desha:

What symptoms are you having because of the esophageal ulcers?  Do you have burning and shooting pains in your chest as well?  Do you have acid reflux too? I have those symptoms but am waiting to have my scope done.  

The bacteria the doctor is checking for is H-Pylori.  It causes ulcers, gastritis and GERD.  It's not nice stuff.  If your test is positive, you will be treated with a course of antibiotics and acid reducing medication.  You may already be on one of the PPI's (Proton Pump Inhibitor) that shuts down your acid production to allow for tissue healing and to stop GERD if you have it.

How have you contributed 100% to your condition and how long have you had it.

Take care and try not to worry as it makes GERD a LOT worse as I've found out lately.

Cheer,  

Kittee

[Desha]

Hello everyone,

Yesterday I had an endoscopy done.  It was determined that I had several esophageal ulcers.  I was also diagnosed with a hiatal hernia.  The doctor took a couple of biopsies.  I asked him at the time were these ulcers cancerous.  He said no.  He said he took the biopsy to look for some type of bacteria that causes ulcers.  He said my ulcers were caused by GERD.

Here is my questions for the forum.
1.  Can these ulcers heal?  If so, how long does it take
2.  Do having these ulcers mean a cancer diagnosis?
3.  COuld the doctor tell whether or not I had Barretts disease by looking at the scope?

I realize I contributed 100% to my current condition and I am willing to change.  Is there any hope and if so, any suggestions?

[EB]

Just underwent endoscopy for diagnosis of breathing problems as well as reflux.  I have been struggling with breathing problems for about 1 year and have been diagnosed with asthma.  The Endoscope revealed esophagitis and a LES sphincter that has too large of an opening.  Anyone have both these problems?  Suggestion has been made to have surgery.  My biggest area is inability to breathe well.  Is this common with anyone else?

[BillH]

I get the skipped beats, rapid beats.. like your talking about.  I also have acid reflux.. taking nexium 40mg twice a day.  What I have found, over the last two weeks, is if I do either running or walking fast and get my heart rate up to where it's about at my 80% area and work to where I need to take some big breaths, I don't have as many of the rapid or irregular heart beats that day... So, it mus have to do with preassure building up in the chest due to the acid and the exercies helps get rid of it...

Something to keep in mind.. maybe.

Bill

[BeBe]

I'm almost sure the rapid heart beat and skipped beats are from acid reflux----but try to get a doctor to believe it.  I have tried for years!  I guess my next step is surgery.  No medicines work.  I still don't know what is making me gain soooo much weight?  Good luck Kittee!

[Kittee]

Hi DGO:

Nausea and diarrhea are my beefs with Nexium.  It works well for reflux and gastritis but I can't tolerate those symptoms.  I'm back on Losec again and I can tolerate it better but it doesn't stop the reflux and burning as well.   I tolerated Nexium well for the first week or so then came the side effects.  I went of it for a week then tried it again but had same symptoms.  So yo don't have any side effects at all do you?

Is your Barrettes Esophagus from acid reflux?  Are you male or female and how old are you?  What kinds of food do you stay away from?

I'm 42 and female and want to avoid problems like Barretts if at all possible.  This acid reflux stuff sure stinks!

Take care DGO

Kittee

[BeBe]

I have acid reflux--bad!!!  Does anyone have a heart beat change when you have reflux?  Sometimes I can feel the pain in stomach, then a burning in stomach and chest and my heart either skips beats or races.  Anyone have these symptoms?  Also was on nexium, did not work, now on new drug starting with an a.

Thanks

[Kittee]

Hi Bebe:

I often have a racing heart and skipped beats - have had all kinds of tests for it.  Wonder if it's related to the reflux?

Kittee

[DGO]

kittee,
I am 60, male, and mostly pretty healthy.
When my insurance company switched me from Prevacid to Nexium I
thought I was having side effects for the first several days. A little discomfort in my stomach. It didn't last so I'm not sure what it was. Other than that, no problems.
Barrett's is from acid reflux and can be a pre-cancerous condition. I have been avoiding tomatoe products and anything spicey. I also have limited my caffeine to two cups of coffee first thing in the morning. Too much caffeine can trigger the reflux and the spicey stuff can damage the esophagus further.
I can even sleep on my stomach now!! Ocassionaly I will chew a couple of Gaviscon tablets before bed if I think that I had eaten something too late. I don't want to take any chances.
Hope you can find something that helps you. I know that the reflux is no fun and can be dangerous.
                                        DGO

[DGO]

kittee,
I,ve seen a couple of your comments about side effects from Nexium. What kind of problems have you been having with it?
I've been on it for about three weeks and haven't had any trouble. After reading some of the other comments about reflux I guess I don't have it nearly as bad as some although I was diagnosed with Barret's esophagus and have been very careful about what I eat.
                  DGO

[toy drive]

Do you know what the ph numbers were. what % of reflux? How many ?

[emmy]

I have the reflux cough-mine is all day. Esophagitis may play a role, because every time I eat I start coughing. Late in the day I have a violent cough that brings up goo (from my chest, I think). I also have a feeling of a very raw nerve in my throat on the right side. Does this ring bells for anyone else?

I am on Aciphex 80 mg. a day. I have had headaches and stomach pain since the dosage was upped to 80 a day. Has anyone else experienced this?

I had the 24 hour ph test and it showed "moderately severe" reflux, whatever that means. I have lost 25 lbs. Surgery is being considered, but I wonder if it really stops the cough. I am a 54 yr. old woman, otherwise healthy, who has had this for 6 months, since an attack of severe viral gastroenteritis.

[toy drive]

Kittie

   I really only have the type of cough that is like clearing the throat.I do get some heartburn. I mainly get the short of breath.I never had upper Gi.I get much worse in the morning and after i eat. I hope everything works out for you . Good Luck.

[Kittee]

The burning in my esophagus will sometimes get worse when I cough or go out in the cold.  It must be frustrating not being able to run when you are a runner.  I do most of my coughing in the morning, how about you toy drive? Or do you cough a lot throughout the day?  

Do you have any probles with your stomach as well because of the reflux or is it all in the esophagus?  My doctor thinks I have gastritis in my stomach because of the reflux.

Also, do you have any side effects from Nexium?  I can't tolerate the nausea so I'm going back to Losec for a while.

I'm really not doing very well with all this stuff.  I go tomorrow for an upper GI and I'm apprehensive about that so I'll be glad when it's over and I know what I have for sure.

Take care Toy Drive.

[toy drive]

Yes I read the same thing about nexium. I get bad, bad burning when I try to run or walk fast. But 7 mnths and only 50% better. It started as a cough- went to every type of Dr finally found out about reflux. There is a surgery that can fix it if you have tried evrything else. I just had a 24 ph test done and that came back not to good.I am a runner and have not been able to run since July of 2001 . I go and bad burning and short of breath all the time.This is really bad. I hope your doing better than me.

[Kittee]

Hi Toydrive:

Thanks for responding.  So you've had esophagitis for 7 months.  Nexium is supposed to clear it in 4 - 8 weeks.  I've been on Nexium for 6 weeks and no better really.  Do you have burning in your esophagus?  I do.  What kind of surgery are you having?

[toy drive]

yes i have had i now for 7 mnths still very bad. had endoscopy in oct showed it put on nexuim now for 14 weeks double dose for 7 weeks just had 24 hr ph will be getting surgery . My main sypmton has been short of breath and cough. Good luck