GERD? Laryngopharyngeal reflux?

[TrustGod]

My symptoms may have started in Feb 05, with a bad taste in mouth that lasted about a week following a round of zithromax.  That was it. Then at the end of April, the bad taste returned, along with a choking feeling during the night. I visited my PCP, she prescribed Protonix. I took it for 2 weeks - no change.  She told me to try Prilosec. I took the over-the-counter for 2 days, had a slice of pizza, and had the WORST heartburn. I stopped the Prilosec, and took Zantac for a couple days - nothing. Then I stopped taking everything and for the next few days felt pretty good.  I saw a naturopath, changed my diet completely, elevated my bed, lost weight, etc. About a week later, the sore throat started, along with a cough, and the choking sensation again.  I saw an ENT, and he looked through my nose and down my throat. Said it was the worst case of acid reflux he'd ever seen - my throat was "fiery red"  He put me back on Protonix. Took it for 1 week, no change, had a small salad with a little bit of tomatoes and onions, and heartburn again. I stopped again - the heartburn stopped.  But the sore throat and cough continued.  I returned to the ENT - he wanted to do a 24 hour probe and said he would schedule one, but he never called me.  A week later I started on Prevacid - and felt GREAT for 3 days. The 4th day, heartburn pain right in the middle of my chest all day long.   Called my PCP, she said she'd get me in to see a gastroenterologist ASAP.  Saw him 2 days later, and stopped all meds.  He said that he wanted to do an endoscopy and said I probably wasn't taking ENOUGH medication.  This made no sense to me as the ONLY time I had heartburn was when I was on the PPI's.  We scheduled the endoscopy for yesterday. Last weekend, my sis in law convinces me to take her Zantac - 150 mgs. I take it for two days - I feel awesome again.  I tell the doctor I think this is it and want to postpone the endoscopy. He feels I should still have it done, but I'm questioning why? I haven't had acid reflux that long, although off and on over the past years, I've had minor sore throats that would last a few hours - maybe about 2x a month.  And now, after 4 days on 300 mgs of Zantac, the sore throat and cough are starting up again.  

Can you help advise me? Why do I only get heartburn when on the PPI's? Should I have the scope? I'm TERRIFIED of having it - scared of something going wrong.  Sorry this was so long, I hope you can help me understand why the symptoms are happening the way they are. One last thing - when all this started in April I weighed 158 (I'm 5'8") My weight is now 145. I'm not overweight and I don't wear tight clothes. I've given up all spicy and fried food, chocolate, soda, don't drink coffee or alcohol or smoke, I've cut out dairy and wheat - and increased my daily intake of fruit and veggies. The only meds I take is 5 mgs of Paxil a day for anxiety. Oh - my gallbladder was removed 10 years ago and I'm 43, female.

[wassupwassabi]

My grandma has suffered some loss of awareness/memory since she had a barrett's treatment procedure done.  It's the anesthesia that has the effect on your brain and makes you disoriented and they say sometimes especially in older people it can take months to get it out of your system :(

[Kidd1]

Dear Dr.Pho,

My husband has an acid reflux (GERD).  Is GERD the same as pylori? He had an endoscopy procedure done. During the procedure he was sedated.  After the procedure, he is so forgetful.  Even months after month, he is still forgetful.  Could the endoscopy procedure has an effect on his memory?  It has been a year and it is time for him to re-visit with the gastroenterologist.  I am afraid that the Dr. will recommend to perform the endoscopy again.  Should my husband perform it again?  If he does it again, I'm afraid that he will have a greater memory lost (forget where he put his key, wallet,...).

Thanks!
Kidd1

[queen audia]

thanks. i have read that digestive enzymes is not advisable if you have an ulcer. Can you give me one example of digestive enzymes that you are taking. Do you also have gerd ....before?

[queen audia]

How's the result of your endoscopy. I hope you are okey now.

[chattykathy]

Hello everyone; let me tell you what has been going on with me and see if anyone else has had this problem.  I am so frustrated wtih this and we have no insurance till oct 15th, because of my husbands new job.  It started 3-4 months ago with me just haveing trouble swallowing, or getting choaked.  I recently started coughing at night and early morning.  I get so choaked that I can't get any air and then I do get alittle freaked out.  I do have a inhaler but does'nt seem to help that much.  My family has had to call 911 a couple of times. went to er and then a pulmanory dr and then to an emt and he said it was gurd put me on Protonix have been on that for 3 days and tonight I had a really bad attack and I felt real sick like I needed to throw up but if I did I would choak to death.  It is the scariest feeling I have ever had in my life. I am trying to watch what I eat and drink, and I know it has just been 3 days.  He also put me on a steriod to reduce the swelling in my voice box and throat.  he did the scope where he went through my noise and in to my voice box.  I have also lost some of my voice.  I am raspy and sometimes cant talk at all.  Very hard for me.  If anyone has anything that can help please send me an
post.  Sorry this is so long.  kathy

[fruitaholic]

Did you try taking digestive enzymes with your meals?  Since it seems digesting fat is a problem for you (which makes sense since you had a gall bladder operation) digestive enzymes might do the trick.