Is it Gerd or something else...

[kela712]

Ever since I had the FLU in March and ate so much citrus fruits and candies , I have been suffering with GERD again.
As it was under control before and I was just fine.
So now I do get frequent sore throat and this is only the last month  from heartburn I think.. as I also suffer from Rhinitis and hayfever.
My doctor suspects I have GERD.
I also notice that when I am stressed it gets worse and when I do exercise..which is a bummer as I love to keep active. SO I cant do situps as that upsets my stomach too.
I have only taken TUms and refuse to go on medications ....so is Maalox or Pepto bismal good?
I need something like the Barium meal and am desperate to ask my Doctor for it.

[bororo]

Hi Kela712,
Have you tried sulcrafate?It works by coating the lining of the stomach.That could replace Barium.You could also take lots and lots of Maalox

[boron]

It is necessary that you think about all issus you've listed one by one. With appopriate trials and tests, you may exclude/confirm most of them.

So:
1. LACTOSE INTOLERANCE. You say that dairy bloates you. Have a lactose-free diet trial, it's easy. Exclude anything containing lactose for 2-3 days: all dairy, and also read labels on some salad dressings, cans...even beer contain lactose, but OK, mainly dairy. If this will help, it's probably you are lactose intolerant, solution is...no more lactose.
2. H. PYLORI. Morning sore throat sounds like from acid comes up during the night. Acid is from GERD and this is often from H. pylori, so...breath test.

3. MILK ALLERGY differ from lactose intolerance, and result in specific food allergy symptoms: swelling of lips or face, itchy skin/rash/hives..usually in minutes, but in delayed type in several hours after the dairy meal. If no skin/lips symptoms, it's not likely an allergy. But itchy throat and skin is also from hay fever...all this can be find out only by allergy testing (skin test).

There are additional tests available..., but just start with 1st one above, make it correctly, and see what happens.

[kela712]

Hi,

lol..okay I now I am addicted to barium, but it honestly works!  I am more scared to go on meds as I know they just mask the problem and there are side effects.
I will try maybe Pepto bismal, but isnt it only good for diarrhea? as I dont have that.
I will go to the clinic and ask for a breath test, I do suffer from irritable bowel too as that also causes lots  of gas and burping.  Since I did some Yoga the other day, it made it worse.  GO figure! lol.
Lately I do get a sore throat in the mornings, but it doesnt feel like its burning, I do think that IBS sometimes triggers my heartburn if I am bloated.  I think your right though about the delayed allergy..and Im assuming its dairy.  Every time I drink milk or eat dairy I seem to get more bloated and tired, but I dont get the allergy right away..its more like a day or two.  This is my guess only.  Perhaps I should also get allergy tested.
My throat does feel itchy, my eyes are burning or red, and sneezing..but its occassional.   Sometimes I get some nasal drip.
SO its like a big mystery why I get these symptoms .. I know a lot stems from stress too.. so Hayfever, IBS, heartburn?  maybe if I am lactose intolerant, this also triggers IBS?

thanks again for your time I appreciate this.

[boron]

Don't turn in barium addict. :)) Until not get tested, try green or black tea, or maybe Pepto Bismol - it may color your tongue and also stool black, just a warning.
There may be more things here. OK, ask for breath test. Blood tests for H. pylori, when made in doctor's office, are less reliable than ones done in laboratory. But still, have a breath test, to be sure. Doctor may object this, but if you're burping, this speaks for bacteria. Also bloating. Tell this to doctor.

Runny nose, sore throat...is it burning throat or itchy throat - it's important difference. It may be delayed type of allergy, but alergy occurs only after particular foods - is this the case?

[kela712]

Hi,

Yes your right about the irritable bowel which I do have..seems to accompany my hearburn too and even when Im constipated and am straining sometimes.. it causes heartburn.
I will try the breath test, Im surprised that my doctor never ordered one for me.
I dont really have pain in the stomach, but I do always burp and get flatulence.  But I know emotional stress and the flu has done this.  I only seem to  control it IF I really dont do too much physical activity and avoid stress.  WHen I drink something cold, like milk or yogurt, I can feel it down iin my throat like its cooling my esophogas...I have to say that for some strange reason the barium is the only thing that seems to help me.  IT somehow coats my stomach,  I just wish I knew if there was anything else like it on the market.
Im almost tempted to go again for another xray just to get the barium, which I hate exposing myself radiation.  
I also woke up this morning with a runny nose and sore throat again, so not sure if its allergies or the heartburn.. its very frustrating to be living in this state.  My energy level is not the same.  
Anyways thanks again for your advice.. its nice to have someone to talk to regarding this.  

[boron]

In small percent, blood test may be false negative. I think breath test is more reliable.

Main symptoms of gastritis (GERD) are gastric burning pain, HEARTBURN, BURPING, nausea, bloating and easy satiety. If infection in the stomach, pain is worse after eating; in duodenal infection, pain is worse on empty stomach and at night. Pain is not always present though.

I don't know, if you think, that it come from the stomach, I would still recommend breath test.

Being irritated by exercise resembles irritable bowel though.  

[kela712]

Thanks for the advice, I have taken a test twice for Hpylori and it was a blood test.  IT was negative.  IS the breath test any different?

[boron]

First, you need BREATH test for Helycobacter pylori. It's an easy non-invasive test, just ask for it. If positive you'll get antibiotics, don't refuse them, even if you get some nasty nausea as a side effect. Treatment takes 2 weeks, and it usually eradicates H. pylori and improve symptoms a lot.