Severe pain...more than GERD?

[amyv555]

About a year ago, my husband (age 25) awoke with severe chest pain that has been a recurrent event.  He underwent an EGD and an emptying study, which showed mild gastroparesis.  He has been on 30mg prevacid daily and OTC Zantac.  However, as time progresses, he seems to be getting worse.

His episodes have become more frequent (2-3 month) and are no longer necessarily at night.  He has severe pain which leaves him literally rolling on the floor crying and this pain will last over 12 hours.  He takes every heartburn related medication there is, but it provides no relief.  He also belches as well as vomits.

My husband is a non-smoker, non drinker.  He he not overweight at all.  We have assessed his diet, and find no relation to the food he eats.  We have called his GI doc several times for help with pain relief, but they just tell him "take tums." Duh, like he hasn't tried that.  My husband is now a broken man who lives in fear of this unbearable pain and he has missed many days of work related to this.  My question is this:  does this truly sound like GERD?  Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, what methods of pain relief have you found successful?  Please help my family; my husband is not a person to complain or whine, and seeing him like this tears me apart.  

[selmaS]

Well, be advised he will need time to get better after that long with this ....my poor father went along time too....and it was his GB the whole time.

It is a shame how we r made to suffer bcuz the drs do not listen to us.

I am so glad he finally has the proper dx and I pray his surgery and recovery go well.

Godspeed
"selma"

[amyv555]

Thanks for your reply.  He had previously been worked up for gallbladder.  His ultrasound showed stones, but his GI doc's response was that it wasn't significant enough to cause the pain.  Well, last night we had enough and brought him to the ER.  They worked him up, and sure enough, he needs his gallbladder removed.  The emergency room doctor was livid the GI doctor didn't remove it 6 months ago when he was worked up.  I feel like my husband was ignored- they assumed it was GERD and refused to think outside the box.  I'm just relieved to know he will have the surgery next week and hopefully his 1 year long suffering will be over.  

[selmaS]

Hi Amy,

There r several other tests u may want to ask ur DH's GI dr........a look at the Gall Bladder may be in order.....and u may want to have  a PH test done to see if indeed it isi too much acid as opposed to too little acid, which will feel the same.

H.Pylori is something else u deff want to rule out.

Depending on the meds ur DH is on, they can stop working or not work at all....if he is on PPI's see if switching to a H2 inhibitor works....PPI's stopped working for me and H2I work great......everyone is different, so if a med is not working , try something else.

Good Luck to ur DH

"selma"