Acid reflux

[mdsherer]

Hello,

     I'm a male, 43, 180 lbs and have had some crazy issues which the dr tells me is caused from acid reflux.  I do have thyroid disease but am told that there is no relation between the two problems.  I've been to the ER three tiems since June feeling like I was having a heart attack but all three times they found nothing with my heart. I get these crazy sensations in my chest.  Sometimes it radiates in my arms, sharp stabbing pains in the sides of my rib cage or pain in my shoulders.  When this happens it is really hard to concentrate at work or keep up with my 7 year old heathen.  I've been off several days for this as well as a couple of overnight stays in the hospital.  They've put me on four different medicines for acid reflux but so far none have worked.  Most of them made me sick or caused my BP to go up.  I've felt better since I stopped taking the meds for acid reflux and have been taking a natural remedy.  I have good and bad days but man do I feel like crap pretty regular.  I've completely changed my diet and it has done nothing.  Stopped using smokeless tobacco and pretty much living of of fruit smoothies, applesauce and salads.  I had a scope down my stomach and they didn't find any hard evidence of acid reflux yet they are treating me for it.  All they found is some inflamation in the stomach lining.  I've fired my dr cause she doesn't listen to me.  Get me in an out like cattle.  I see a different doctor next week.  Basically at this point I have given up hope that this can be resolved.  Do any of my symptoms sound familiar to anyone???

MDS

[selmaS]

  Hi....I am so sorry u still do not have answers....I know u have some cardiac issues ....mayb u need to get a 2nd opinion from a diff cardio Dr?

I wish I could give u more info...one thing I can  tell u that the journal is a great idea, it does work, I used it several times...first for my daughter who was having  issues of hives and we were trying to figure it out with out her having to under go all the needles...and it did work we figured out it was red food dye.

So keep up with the journal and keep us posted on how u r doing.

[mdsherer]

It's been over a month since I posted.  I've had endoscopy and a colonoscopy which were both negative.  Heart cath which found a 30% blockage in one of my coronary arteries but I passed two stress tests so they don't think the heart is an issue (major lifestyle changes though).

Basically they say they have done about everything they can and not sure what to do next.  I have lots of chest pain every day, feel very bloated after meals, nauseas often, pain in both shoulders, ringing ears, some dizziness and I'm pretty damn fed up with all the blank looks from the doctors.  

No red meat since June 2013, quit using skoal  since September of 2013, nothing but water to drink, sleep in a recliner to avoid acid reflux, don't eat after 7:30pm, no sweets or spicy stuff.  Not sure what else is left.

I have started to keep a log of what and when I eat and how I feel but probably just wasting time.  All I can say is this really ***** and I've lost faith in medicine..........

[Sheilathatsme]

Have your gallbladder checked for stones. If your pain is on the right side of your abdomen under your right breast with pain the radiates through your back and into your shoulder the chances are good that you have Gallstones and may need to have your gallbladder removed.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the GERD forum.

Well first I would ask if u r eating enuff.....and if they tested u to see if ur acids are high or low as u would feel the same, but since none of the meds helped it makes me wonder if u have low acids.

Do keep in mind smoothies are not always the best way to go since ur GI tract creates acids to break down foods....u may want to try eating 6 small meals a day to help with using up acids ....eating less can make u feel worse.

Plus depending on what u put in ur smoothies that may be an issue for u too...certain fruits are acidic....

Look to ur salad dressings too....

Have u had the PH test yet?...if not ask about it since the last testing didn't show evidence of reflux.

The symptoms u are mentioning can be reflux or an irritated vagus nerve...

Look to ur family's medical history and it ready for the Dr and tell him/her all that is going on....and do keep us posted.