Is this acid reflux?

[jns1022]

I've been having stomach issues for roughly the last 8 months.  In October to November I had 3, what I now am sure were not, gallbladder attacks.  It was the most intense pain I'd ever experienced.  The pain was from my breastbone down to about my belly button with right side tenderness and some back pain.  An ultrasound did reveal one gallstone but it was small.  Anyway, I had my GB removed in December.

Now, 2 months later, I'm still having the same symptoms I had been having all along, plus a few new one.  No more attacks of severe pain but I feel worse than I did before.  I went back to the doctor at the end of January and was diagnosed, based on symptoms alone, with a hiatal hernia and acid reflux.  I took Carafate 4 times a day for 3 weeks as well as Prilosec for 2 weeks.  After no improvement in the 2 weeks I was prescribed Nexium which I've been taking for almost a month now.  Still nothing has changed.  In fact, my symptoms seem worse than ever.

Some of my current symptoms include:
-abdomen is tender to the touch from my breastbone to my bellybutton as well as on the right side
-frequent burping
-hiccup more than usual (often a hiccup followed immediately by a burp, it's strange)
-chest discomfort around sternum area a slight burning sensation
-sometimes a tightness and aching all the way up to my throat
-slight feeling of nausea in the morning
-getting full quickly and uneasy stomach if I do eat a bigger meal

Do these symptoms sound like reflux?  Anyone else experienced the same symptoms?  Why would I not have seen some improvement after being on PPIs for almost six weeks?  This is really starting to worry me and is all I can think about because I'm almost always experiencing discomfort from this.  I do have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in 9 more days which feels like years from now.  My fear is that something is seriously wrong or that I'm going to have to deal with this for the rest of my life.  

[selmaS]

Well my father went almost a yr from GB surgery until they dx the H.Pylori...and then another 6 months b4 he got the probiotics....so it was a long road bcuz they did not find the problem to begin with.

I have a hiatal hernia and had surgery in May, I had a major flare of reflux after surgery from the drugs/meds.....so it can take a while....so do try to relax as stress can make this feel worse.

"selma"

[jns1022]

Thanks for responding.  No, I haven't had any tests done.  I had went back to the surgeon who removed my GB and he just said that he was "sure" that I had a hiatal hernia and reflux.  Don't know why I wouldn't be showing improvement if that were the case.  This is freaking me out so badly and I'm driving myself crazy thinking about it.  In the back of my mind, even though I know it's irrational, I keep thinking something is seriously wrong.  I just want answers and I'm tired of waiting.  My reason for posting on here was in hopes that maybe someone has been through a similar situation and could help ease my concerns while I wait for my appointment.

[selmaS]

Hi...did u have ur PH checked and were u looked at for H.Pylori?....Sometimes after a surgery gerd can get worse....this can be a result of the meds and drugs used during surgery.


My dad had this same issue after his GB was removed....after several months his drs finally found the H. Pylori and it took several rounds of antibiotics to get rid of it, but he still felt bad, and the drs gave him probiotics which finally helped him.

Good luck
"selma"