Is this perhaps GERD? My GP is Casting a Wide Net.

[TwinkieFan]

I've struggled with heartburn for years (36 year old male) and am overweight.  Former GP suggested I go on Prilosec OTC, once daily, and for the past 3-4 years I've been heartburn free.

Recently, I've started to experience some symptoms which have driven me to my doctor again as a precaution:  chest tightness, heavy feeling in center of chest, occasional flushed face, lump in throat when swallowing, sinus and ear fullness, occasional hoarseness or cough, slight fatigue.  Doctor ran an ECG baseline which was normal, but my BP was quite high in the office.  He put me on a BP medication and told me to double my dose of Prilosec OTC to 2 pills daily 30 minutes before my evening meal.  He also is testing for diabetes and thyroid and isn't ruling out anxiety/stress as a trigger for all of this.  Seems to be casting a pretty wide net for a first visit, but I guess I should be thankful that he's not just automatically throwing Xanax at me.  :)

Does this sound like it could be related to having reflux, mostly of the "silent" type where there is no heartburn sensation?  I do wake up in the mornings a few days per week with that sour stomach acid taste in my mouth, which I have dismissed for years due to not having the burning sensation that I always associated with reflux before going on Prilosec.

Any insight into the world of GERD is appreciated.  I don't doubt that it could be related to reflux as my father and grandfather have struggled with esophagus pain and GERD as long as I can remember and there's no history of heart disease prior to age 80 in either side of my family.  Both side, however, have reflux, thyroid, blood pressure and diabetes history.

[selmaS]

...I know what u mean when mine is in a flare...I feel like I have to eat in order to feel better.
...ur right about the stress factor...it can and will cause acid to form.

I also have Hashimoto's thyroiditis so I know we can interwoven conditions....and I am not sure of the connections.

I have added weight gain the past 9 months and would like to lose some of it, but not sure how to until I get some of my other issues under control.

U may want to check out the weight loss forum here on MedHelp.

Please update us on ur progress, and join us in building a sharing and support based community here on the GERD forum.

"selma"

[TwinkieFan]

The doc took a couple vials of blood and is checking thyroid, but I'm not sure if he's running a full panel or just the standard TSH levels, which may or may not be useful.  Pretty sure he's not checking gall bladder, but I do know that exactly one year ago when I had right-side abdominal pain (and still do, periodically if I don't watch my diet for a few weeks) that was checked along with the rest of my lower digestive tract.  =)

I'm convinced that anxiety/stress is the root for most of what seems wrong with me, but we'll see...diabetes and thyroid are definitely on the table currently and I'm being tested for both.  I sure seem to be able to see some correlation between eating and the symptoms (as in, they get better right after eating and slowly worsen until the next time I eat something).

[selmaS]

HI
      ...may I ask, have u had ur Gall Bladder and ur thyroid checked?

I have had GERD and IBS for yrs.....on  and off meds like prilosec over the yrs also.The sensation of heartburn is lost on me.....I do not get that often, but I also do not know how much my other conditions play a part in my GERD dx.

Check with ur dr to see what testing he/she has done to see what is causing ur GERD....IMHO I feel there is a root to everything.

Someone else may offer there opinion...

"selma"