medical advise

Throat AIDS.

 

Not quite like that, but I was diagnosed with GERD last fall during a physical and followup with a gastroenterologist. Had an endoscopy done during which they found acid scarring in my lower esophagus. They also stretched, diameter-wise, a portion of my esophagus.

For years, I had problems with gastro-reflux while sleeping as well as food getting stuck partway down, forming a logjam of sorts, resulting in chest pain and the need to burp, hick-up and even vomit to get the food out. Often it was chicken, turkey, or hotdogs. Also, acidic foods and drinks such as OJ, spicy pasta sauces and salad dressings frequently created almost instant heartburn.

I was proscribed omeprazole (aka Prilosec) taken daily indefinitely. It definitely works, but the possible side effect of long term daily usage is the drug prohibiting the absorption certain nutrients such as calcium, folic acid and B12. I take it every other day.
Apparently this can be a hereditary condition. My Dad had it.

 

Cep,
Sounds to me as if you may have Barretts Syndrome. Your symptoms describe fit it perfectly. Good you are following up on it--do what they tell you to do.
Look up Barretts in merckmanual.com , best medical book out online.

 

Barry,
Isn’t swellinfo.com the best medical book out there???
We have many PHDs in hand to offer the worlds number 1 medical advise

 

Sometimes we even go fishing together...

 

So i got no advice. The ulcers and throat thing... i got nothing. But you mentioned feeling like your having a heart attack. Iv dealt with that feeling recently.

Maybe a year, year and a half ago. At work and started feeling weird. Fast heart rate. Breathing heavy. Felt like i had a irregular heart beat. Im 29 now so i was maybe 28 then. I wrote it off to having a energy drink. A week later same thing. Again after an energy drink. I stopped. No more energy drinks. No more caffeine except for the rare coffe before a surf. Got zapped with 240 volts at work maybe a month or two ago. Had chest pains which were muscle related. But it was too much of a coincidence. Got checked out. EKG showed a weird "blip". Got a echogram. A sonogram of my heart. Turns out my heart skips beats and also i have leaky valves. Nothing serious as im young and healthy. But somthing too keep an eye on as i get older. A older co worker had leaky valves since he was in his 20s. In his 60s it got to the point where he needed surgery and got the valve replaced. Any way, apparently stress and caffeine can make that skipped heart beat worse. Must of been what i was feeling a year ago.

Don't think this helps you at all. You've been diagnosed and we got two diffrent things. But figured id just throw that out there. Not sure if that heart attack feeling is normal for your condition. If it's not, it might be worth just getting the ticker looked at.

 

Its marriage women will kill you. Bass didn't you get engaged around that time?

 

Cep, what Barry and DosXX said. I had a bout with GERD in my early/mid 40's. There was a combination of stress (work related) and possibly physiological changes that brought it on (IMHO). Prior to that, I pretty much had an "Iron Gullet" and could eat/drink anything / anytime. Then, like bang, I was broke!

Typically what happens (in some cases, mine in particular) is the lower esophageal sphincter is not working properly, and is letting the stomach acid (which is needed for proper digestion to occur), to leak into the esophagus, burning this area.

The Dr prescribed Nexium (a proton pump inhibitor -> acid reduction), which I took for approximately 6 months. It gave me time to make "lifestyle" changes (physically, mentally, spiritually) and allow things to heal. I dialed back my coffee, seltzer water, acidic foods, and avoided food later at night (initially had to sleep propped up, to use gravity to keep acid down) so that it was well digested before I laid down. Also, if your belt is too tight, this can be a problem (lose some center girth ). I also made some adjustments at work to better manage the stress.

Eventually I reached the point where I did not want to be on this pill the rest of my life, and a friend who was into a lot of "natural stuff" gave me an article on GERD and the use of probiotics, which aid the digestive process. So I was able to eventually get off Nexium and manage the situation.

The spiritual component was trusting God with some of the "high pressure" things in life that were stressing me out, realizing, that, though I don't deserve it, by the mystery of His goodness and grace, He has my back, even if I were to "slip up" in these high pressure areas. I realized this one day when I randomly read in the Psalms, 'When I thought, "My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.', which was very liberating. Although I was putting forth a diligent effort, mistakes and issues were going to happen, and trusting God's provision (& safety net) through these things was necessary, otherwise I was going to internalized it and burn out, literally from inside out.

That is my story. I would try the Nexium/Prilosec, or whatever the medicine men prescribe, and look to make some lifestyle and dietary changes. Identify and manage any stressful areas in your life, and make the feasible and appropriate adjustments. Hopefully in time you will heal.

I hope this helps and that you get better soon.

The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.

 

Had the exact same thing, and procedure. Doc called it a stricture caused by scarring in the pipes... a bad case of "acid reflux" I guess. Ballooned it out, prescribed Nexium, and I've been fine ever since. I don't think I could push anymore lifestyle changes... and maybe my relationship with God ain't what it should be. So... I'm stuck on the pill for life. Every time I run out and go a few days without it I start feeling the symptoms again. Until that procedure, I had no idea the people felt good after they ate. I thought heartburn was a normal feeling... "everybody feels like this... it's not a problem." I got to the point where I was eating at least a roll of Rollaids a day... at least. Then the choking on food started happening and my wife sent me to the doctor.

 

LB, when it first hit me, in the middle of the night, I thought it was a heart attack, it was intense pain in my chest, even though I knew it wasn't. I could not sleep, and all I knew was to try to "walk it off". So there I was, at 2am, walking around my block several time, with my dog, and I tried to sleep upright in the lazy boy. This was a Saturday, so I was sleepless by Monday when I saw a doctor. My wife had given me an H2 blocker, which helped some. It wasn't until the Nexium started to work that I started to feel better.

I don't take anything now, about 16 years later, but I do watch what and when I eat, and cannot go above 3 cups o' joe, else I will start to feel it starting.

So I realize I am very fortunate that in my case it is managable, but this is not always the case. Thank goodness for effective meds.

And regarding the "relationship with God" thing, with me, it always a work in progress...

 

My doctor told me if it wasn't for wives, he'd have to shut it down.

I'm seriously wondering if anyone has tried CBD yet to alleviate digestive issues. A puff of good weed helps me in the am, but I'd like a more long lasting therapy, without the lung burn. I've heard it can quell the gut inflammation. I already do greek yogurt in the am for probiotics, it helps. And only 2 cups of coffee per day, other wise it's problematic. But I eat rich foods and it gives me trouble at night with heartburn and acid reflux in the am

Here is an emergency thing I do when the heartburn is really bad at night - 1 half teaspoon of baking soda in a half cup of water, stir good so it dissolves totally. Drink it! Then make sure you give out a good belch within a couple minutes. Don't lay back down till you do. It's old school but it works temporarily if you are in pain. Not recommended for two days in a row, as it is a bit harsh.

 

Protonix is a great choice.
It sounds like Barrett’s Esophagus— good you caught it now to stop the GERD as it can develop into esophageal cancer if unchecked.
Examine your lifestyle choices and make changes that improve your food, your sleep, your stress level— it may or may not be a factor, but it doesnt hurt to make better choices (Mom says)

GERD can make life miserable, nothing to write off either. Find a doc you trust and seems good at his or her profession, and do what doc says to do...

 

Concern: We have not heard from Cep since his original post.
Cep....talk to us!

 

He’s alive, posted about it elsewhere. Check your messages btw.

 

Tried signing up and in--will not recognize my given password. So, once it starts that crap, I am done. I did everything correct, and still it refuses me entry and wants me to go through all the password garbage. Phuck 'em. Done. No more.

 

Uh oh, looks like Barry is off his meds and getting agitated again.

 

Don’t worry I got you covered.

 

I hope all is well Cep.
This all sounds too familiar to me. I was diagnosed with a duodenal ulcer which caused the same symptoms as you described.
The first time it happened it scared the world out of me thinking it was a heart attack. It happened while I was asleep which is usually on my stomach. I sat up,
tried to regulate my breathing which was very shallow and my chest and upper back felt like it was in a vice. It scared the hell into me.
I was diagnosed. The doc put me on Nexium and told me to change my diet. It helped. I completely cut out carbonated anything’s, eased up considerably on dairy and chocolate stuffs, greasy stuffs and eventually chucked the nexiums because I didn’t want to rely on a drugs to make myself well. I get that with the ganja.
Eventually, they became less frequent and now it’s not an issue. Thank dog!
Try the diet thing when they get you fixed up.
Hopefully this helps you some brother.