A-Typical Acid Reflux

[cariffica]

So, after having months of stomach pain associated with eating, and negative gall bladder tests, my doctors did a PH test.  It showed over 50 incidences of acid reflux in the 20 hours.  Although I didn't have any feeling of acid in my throat, it did correlate to my main symptoms of pain, nausea and cough.  I started taking Zegerid 40/1100.  Then I became sick with bronchitis and needed to take an antibiotic and had to stop taking the Zegerid for about a week.  Upon continuing the Zegerid I have had increasing typical acid reflux symptoms, to the point of waking me up at night.  So I called my doc and started taking another Zegerid during the day, and taking Gaviscon before bed... this really hasn't helped.  I notice that when I sit for a long period I get a build up of gas in my stomach/intestines, resulting in passing gas.  Also, it seems like no matter what position my head is in (sitting, standing, laying, slightly elevated...) I have acid in my throat up to my vocal chords and beyond.  I think I am aspirating as my coughing has increased as it is hard to breathe... I cough to catch my breath, however, this can often lead to a burning acid coming into my throat, which hurts quite a bit.

Any ideas.  

I have followed through with life style changes, although I haven't lost a lot of weight, only about 25 pounds over the last 2 years... most of which was lost during a bout being on a liquid diet.  I don't eat before bed, I don't consume caffeine or peppermint, or garlic/spicy foods (because that's a guaranteed pain), I have elevated my head for sleep, I exercise regularly, I take my meds.

I am just wondering what else I can do.  

Most PPI that I have used in the past have either not worked or only worked for a short period.  

It's kind of getting to the point where I am thinking of just doing a liquid only diet (mostly jello)... because I am getting sick of this.

Also, I have IBS (loose stools mostly), which is a constant.

[cariffica]

I should check on that... I am pretty sure I have been tested.  My most recent endoscopy and colonoscopy (2008)  were all negative for everything they tested for.  I will have to see if they tested for that.

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to teh GERD forum.

Were u tested for bacteria like H.Pylori???

It is possible that could be ur issue...please see ur GI dr and ask if u were checked for this.

Please keep us posted on ur progress

"selma"