Can anyone relate to any of this please?.

[need2behealthy]

Hi everyone

I am a middle-aged male with a long history of GERD, Gastritis and IBS along with GAD (which I understand can be associated with GERD), and Panic Disorder. Anyway, I've been dealing with the GERD since I was a teenager. I have a lot of other things wrong with me but thats for another post :) .

I've also had a number of colonoscopies and endoscopies over the years and polyps are always found and removed. The last time I had a colonoscopy I was told that I had Diverticulosis. Then, about a week ago I had an endoscopy and the report said that...


1) The nasopharynx was normal.
2) There was an LA Grade A mucosal break less than 5mm but not extending between the tops of two mucosal folds.
3) Reflux esophagitis was found in the lower third of the esophagus
4) A small hiatus hernia was found.
5) GERD.
6) Diffuse moderate inflammation characterized by erythema was found in the gastric body and the gastric antrum.
7) Diffuse moderately erythematous mucosa was found in the second part of the duodenum.
* Acute gastritis.

3-4 biopsies were taken for testing and histology. I was told to have another endoscopy in 2 months (I usually only have one every year or so).

My symptoms over the years (which have gotten progressively worse) are...

1) Abdomen feels sore (like I've been punched in the stomach) after doing housework or bending over (especially vaccuming) for long periods of time.
2) Leaning with my belly against something even slightly makes it feel like my stomach is coming up through my throat and makes it difficult to breath.
3) Mild esophageal spasms that are not painful and not triggered by eating or drinking anything (I get these from time to time).
4) Mild to moderate pain at times in my chest and around my collarbone (just kind of achey).
5) Lots of acid reflux, heartburn, "waterbrash", I drink a LOT of milk each day (lowfat) and take TUMS to put out the "fire".
6) Throat feels tight, constricted, lump in throat feeling, clicking sensation, swallowing a lot at times, etc.

Do any (or all) of these symptoms sound familiar to anyone here?. What do the initial test results/findings mean?. I've lived with many of these conditions/symptoms most of my life. A few have been getting progressively worse over the years. A few have just recently been discovered as a result of my recent endoscopy. I have been under TONS of stress for over a year now and have faced a number of crises in my life (a few nearly caused me to have a nervous breakdown). Could that have caused some of this?.

Thanks so much for your input!.

[kevieb]

needtobehealthy----I also am dealing with a number of medical problems---and i have had severe GERD for almost 22 years---I'm pretty sure I developed a hiatal hernia when i was pregnant with my twins---but it was not verified until several years back---when I asked for copies of my medical records after one of my endoscopies.  the doc just never bothered to tell me I had the hiatal hernia.

I have had gastritis a couple of times--not really sure what caused it.  i still wake up occasionally and get a stabbing pain in my gut with my first deep breath--but I have adrenal insufficiency, whcih can sometimes be a cause of that --or it could be caused by some of the medications I take----it has not been a major problem.

I also have had GAD and anxiety attacks---I did relatively well while I was raising most of my kids, but we moved a little over 5 years ago and the anxiety and depression have been a pretty constant companion for me---however, i have never felt like anxiety has made my reflux worse.

I just turned 50, when I was 34, our local surgeon tried to tell me I needed to have surgery for reflux, but for some reason I didn't want to do it.  He told me that as young as I was, and as bad as my symptoms were, it was just a matter of time before I would have to have it done.

I have had to have my esophagus dilated 4 times, 3 times I have had a shotsky's ring.  I have also developed a condition called eosinophilic esophagitis---my GI tells me they didn't even know about this condition 10 years ago---but I knew about it 9 years ago because I had a baby born with a hiatal hernia and was on a support group---and someone in the group had a child with it,   My baby had to have a fundoplication just shortly before she turned 10 months old because her reflux was so severe.

I have had to go on a swallowed steroid just recently for the EE----high dose prevacid, 30 mgs 2x a day, was not helping.  Hopefully the steroid will ghelp to get my esophagus as healthy as possible, and then i will be planning on having a fundo done myself.

What type of medication are you taking for your GERD?

a number of your symptoms sound familiar--but I'm not sure what you mean about the "clicking"  If you are taking tums to put the fire out--I hope it is not the only medication you are taking---with symptoms like you have you really should be on a PPI.

If it makes you feel any better, I DID have a nervous breakdown 24 years ago----started shortly before I had my 3rd child----then 2 years later I had twins---3 children 2 and under---and i felt like I was more on top of things than I had ever been---but it has been a battle that comes and goes----i  once even resorted to ECT---but only got through 3 treatments---the drive was too far and my husband couldn't take me.

I went on to have 9 children of my own and two stepkids---and for the most part, I've survived it.  I feel like I am doing the worst I have for an extended period of time, and my reflux has gotten so bad and I have developed the EE---I also have central hypothyroidism and chronic pain.

I'm working on trying to get better, but at least the reflux I know I can fix with surgery if we can get my esophagus in good enough condition---so hopefully that will give one less medication to take.

Give us a little more info about meds and such--it will help us to try and help you a little better.

good luck--been where you are---and still there!

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the GERD forum.

Patience....this is a support forum, where people come and go in spurts so u r not being ignored, just that there r times when people r not on the forum.

I had out of town company and was not on this weekend, I apologize if u felt dejected or let down.

As for all u have going on, I am not a medical professional but will share what I do know from my own experience.

I have a hiatal hernia with reflux, IBS and  quite a few other medical issues....I like u have had polyps removed during a colonoscopy and I know we have to go back every so many yrs for them to monitor us, I also was told I had diverticulitis and it is in my family history as well so I was not surprised to hear that.

I am not sure what u r looking for in way of a reply, I do nave some of the same issues, but stress levels and other things can factor in...such as u did not mention if  u were on meds RX'd by a Dr, only tums, and u did not mention if u modified ur diet and lifestyle which is a must with this, we must avoid the triggers be it food, bevs, or stress,

[need2behealthy]

Since I've just described a number of the symptoms that, as a GERD sufferer myself, I know most people with GERD have, I must say that I'm a little shocked that there have been (few or no) replies to my post in what is otherwise a very active forum.

The psychological affect of posting something like this and getting no replies is a powerful one because now I feel even more scared and alone and since I also suffer from GAD and Panic Disorder, that feeling is greatly amplified. I don't say this to complain...I'm just really puzzled. From having done some reading, I don't think my symptoms are all that "far out" so I guess I expected to have at least a few replies (like I usually do) when I woke up this morning.

Again, not complaining...just a bit taken aback by it.

[need2behealthy]

Sorry for sounding dejected, but surely I'm not the only one on earth with any of these symptoms. I've spent some time reading and many (if not all) of these symptoms are supposed to be related to various gastro disorders (particularly GERD) and yet not a single reply?.