Persistent Esophogitis

[madlamo]

I have been having problems with gerd and gastritis! I recently had an endoscopy and the results showed that I have very mild esophogitis and normal stiomach although the biopsies showed minimal gastritis! This started two months ago. I was first put on omeprazole 20mg twice a day because I started off with nausea! It helped but then came back with a vengeance. My doc then put me on Protonix 40 mg twice a day. The problem is I have not been able to eat anything and have been on a liquid diet for almost 2 months now! I am losing weight cause I can't eat and I am already small enough. I am worried because nothing seems to help!  I get this regurgitation feeling in my throat after I eat anything and sometimes I get this really sharp pain between my shoulder blades and it hurts! Most the time I have a feeling like I have a piece of food stuck in my throat which is painful,sometimes. Sometimes it feels like I am swallowing knives! I don't know what to do, I am soooooo frustrated and I cry all the time! It is interfering with my life, work,home my husband everything!  I don't get it the egd showed only minimal swelling very minimal my gi said! So is it possible to have all these symptoms and y won't they subside!  I am taking so many herbs also,   I am living off of Ensure and protein shakes x2 months now!!! Does anybody have any info to help me! I would greatly appreciate it!!!

[madlamo]

hi yeah  I don't know why I am on such a strong dose! But my symptoms not gettn any better!!! I don't have any of those symptoms I can swallow fine and no hoarseness of laryngitis! It's the regurgitation, constant that I have sometimes it feels like I am swallowing knives! Then the pain in my back between my shoulder blades only everyonce in a while!! I just want to be able to eat again. I am going to go to a holistic doctor this week! Iam scared what if it is something else but I know the egd, bloodtests,and biopsies all show nothing! I just want my life back! Did u ever experience the regurgitation it is painful! thanks

[Chocklit]

madlamo, why are you on such a strong dose if you only have mild gastritis?

I suffered from GERD and took Losec (omeprazole) 10 mg daily for 10 years.  My main symptoms were coughing, hoarseness, and a constant sinus drip. I also had digestive upsets and cycled from diarrhea to constipation, but did not connect these symptoms with the medication (I thought they were caused by stress).  Although two endoscopes and a barium X-ray showed no serious problems, I was told that I was in danger of developing Barrett's Esophagus and possibly even cancer of the esophagus. I was told I could safely take Losec indefinitely, and the only alternative was surgery to tighten the stomach sphincter.
Despite the daily medication, I continued to have the hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.

Three years ago, after I lost my voice completely, an ENT specialist switched me to Nexium, a stronger drug than Losec, but things did not improve.   Then I went to a naturopath, who pointed out that these "proton pump inhibitors" are really just powerful antacids.  Your stomach has a natural balance of acid and bile, and destroying all the acid causes too much bile, which can be just as bad as too much acid.  He started me on a regime of drinking 3 quarts of water a day, with 1/4 teaspoon uniodized sea salt in each quart of water.  He told me to drink two glasses of water one-half hour before each meal. It took six months  before I got up the courage to stop taking the Nexium!  I have been off all  medication for  two years now, and my hoarseness, stomach upsets and elimination problems are all gone.  A nice side effect of the hydration is youthful looking skin and no more swollen ankles at night!