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I have some GERD concerns
About six months ago I was diagnosed with GERD after visiting my D.O. with stomach and throat burning. He prescibed two meds that seemed to have worked up until 2 weeks ago when the burning in my throat returned accompanied by a constant lump in my throat and difficulty swallowing solid foods. I went back to my Dr. and he felt I was having a "flare up", so he prescribed Nexium for a two week period to get it under control. Well, the burning has subsided but there is still a constant lump in my throat and I still have constant difficulty in swallowing. I would like to know if these two symtoms will also subside in time or should I seek the help of a specialist. I must admit, I am terrified to have an endoscope done. I know that stress sometimes makes the symptoms worse, but I am just beside myself in worry about this. Can anyone give me some advice? Thank you.
I'm curious to know from those who have never had heartburn, what your symptoms were?
I know exactly what you're talking about. I didn't think I had heartburn either. I went to the Dr. with chest pains, it kind of felt like my chest was bruised. I didn't have the typical "burning" symptom. Not until after they did the Upper GI did I believe it. Apparently, my pain radiates so much that it's hard to tell where it's coming from.
You mentioned you felt as though you had to have liquid in order to swallow food. I know this sounds gross but I have to drink water all day because I can feel my saliva coming back up my throat when I swallow and the water helps it go back down. I must swallow at least 100 times a minute just to keep everything down!
As far as the Prevacid goes, I go on and off depending on how severe my reflux is acting up. I have periods of time that Pepcid complete does a great job and then there's periods when I need the Prevacid. I usually take it for a few days until I get it under control. Lately, I've been feeling like I'm going to throw up from the reflux so I started again last night.
Now comes the cons of Prevacid. It has side effects. I experience some of them, but not everyone does. The first one is that I get servere stomach pains and bloating. I double over from the pain (feels like extreme gas pains). The second is that it affects my blood sugar. I am border-line hypoglycemic normally but the Prevacid makes my blood sugar plummet. My hands get shakey, I get sweaty, I can't concentrate, my stomach growls like I'm hungry, and I have to eat a lot just to get my blood sugar back up. When I first started taking Prevacid, I gained around 10 pounds from eating so much.
Since you're still new to this GERD thing, you'll eventually learn what sets you off and what helps you. You sound like you're on the right track. You're better than I am - I'll suffer before giving up my chocolate!
You mentioned you felt as though you had to have liquid in order to swallow food. I know this sounds gross but I have to drink water all day because I can feel my saliva coming back up my throat when I swallow and the water helps it go back down. I must swallow at least 100 times a minute just to keep everything down!
As far as the Prevacid goes, I go on and off depending on how severe my reflux is acting up. I have periods of time that Pepcid complete does a great job and then there's periods when I need the Prevacid. I usually take it for a few days until I get it under control. Lately, I've been feeling like I'm going to throw up from the reflux so I started again last night.
Now comes the cons of Prevacid. It has side effects. I experience some of them, but not everyone does. The first one is that I get servere stomach pains and bloating. I double over from the pain (feels like extreme gas pains). The second is that it affects my blood sugar. I am border-line hypoglycemic normally but the Prevacid makes my blood sugar plummet. My hands get shakey, I get sweaty, I can't concentrate, my stomach growls like I'm hungry, and I have to eat a lot just to get my blood sugar back up. When I first started taking Prevacid, I gained around 10 pounds from eating so much.
Since you're still new to this GERD thing, you'll eventually learn what sets you off and what helps you. You sound like you're on the right track. You're better than I am - I'll suffer before giving up my chocolate!
How long did it take for the medication to get it under control? The Dr. just switched me to the Protonix yesterday, but he also gave me Prevacid to try, in case the Protonix did not work. How long after you eat do you start feeling the pressure or uncomfortableness? Thank you so much for chatting with me. I am really having a hard time getting a grasp on believing this. Thanks
For those that have been diagnosed w/ gerd..is difficulty swallowing or feeling like you have to drink something to push it down or feeling like you have a wad of bread sitting in the bottom of your throat..are these symptoms of reflux? lately my food or liquid will come up sometimes If I belch too..I am worried because cancer causes the same symptoms though I am only 29..was scoped 4 yrs ago..do you think I need to be scoped again?
How long did it take for the medication to get it under control? The Dr. just switched me to the Protonix yesterday, but he also gave me Prevacid to try, in case the Protonix did not work. How long after you eat do you start feeling the pressure or uncomfortableness? Thank you so much for chatting with me. I am really having a hard time getting a grasp on believing this. Thanks
Hi, peoples!
I have had much experience with GERD although I have never taken Prevacid. I am on Nexium, 40mg, every morning, and have been for about 10 months. I have had GERD for 7 years, so feel free to bounce questions off of me. Everyone else here is really helpful too. I have chronic, severe GERD, and it ain't no picnic. I had no idea what it was when I first got it, but then again, I was 12 and didn't know much at all. I've been scoped once already, and it wasn't a big deal. I actually fell asleep, which I didn't really want to do. I was a bit gassy afterwards because of the air that went into my gut with the tube. It hurt a little from where they took a biopsy, but other than that, it was just a day off of school for me. They aren't worth getting stressed over. My mom was more stressed than I was.
My GERD flares up at odd times, not only after I eat. I always carry Gaviscon with me in case of a flare up, but yesterday after I took one, I could taste it on the back of my throat. They just wouldn't work last night. What tips and tricks do you guys use/follow? I try to do everthing right, but I won't give up milk. That's my one allowance I let myself have.
Don't get stressed. Over endoscopies or anything else. Stress makes it worse, and besides, it doesn't sound like you have it horribly bad. Smile, and it actually helps. Try not to become jaded and whine about why you. It doesn't help anything. I did that for a while, and peeved off everyone around me and my GERD. It ain't worth it. Yeah, I'm only 19 and some people say I have a right to be grouchy, but I don't. Why should I be? I don't see the point.
Marygold
I have had much experience with GERD although I have never taken Prevacid. I am on Nexium, 40mg, every morning, and have been for about 10 months. I have had GERD for 7 years, so feel free to bounce questions off of me. Everyone else here is really helpful too. I have chronic, severe GERD, and it ain't no picnic. I had no idea what it was when I first got it, but then again, I was 12 and didn't know much at all. I've been scoped once already, and it wasn't a big deal. I actually fell asleep, which I didn't really want to do. I was a bit gassy afterwards because of the air that went into my gut with the tube. It hurt a little from where they took a biopsy, but other than that, it was just a day off of school for me. They aren't worth getting stressed over. My mom was more stressed than I was.
My GERD flares up at odd times, not only after I eat. I always carry Gaviscon with me in case of a flare up, but yesterday after I took one, I could taste it on the back of my throat. They just wouldn't work last night. What tips and tricks do you guys use/follow? I try to do everthing right, but I won't give up milk. That's my one allowance I let myself have.
Don't get stressed. Over endoscopies or anything else. Stress makes it worse, and besides, it doesn't sound like you have it horribly bad. Smile, and it actually helps. Try not to become jaded and whine about why you. It doesn't help anything. I did that for a while, and peeved off everyone around me and my GERD. It ain't worth it. Yeah, I'm only 19 and some people say I have a right to be grouchy, but I don't. Why should I be? I don't see the point.
Marygold
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