In Desperate Need of HELP! PLEASE read my story...

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I never had ANY symptoms or problems before this for anything. The only thing I had were the 2 acute vertigo episodes. I've followed up and they have nothing to say. If I'm currently not feeling dizzy and they do hearing tests and check for fluid in my ear, and find nothing wrong, what's there to do? The only thing they did find was something in my VNG tests which does show a slight irabalance in one of my ears, but it is not that abnormal. Again, if anything, this would cause dizziness or irabalance, symptoms I'm not feeling. The only way to cure that "irabalance" is by doing physical therapy which makes you feel dizzy. I just can't put myself through that on top of everything right now. I don't feel this has anything to do with the Vertigo.
 
My doctors wouldn't even give me clonazepam on my worst of anxiety attacks. It's an anxiety medication but can also treat spasms but there are specific medications that do this when it is gastrointestinal related, have you ever tried the anti-spasmotic you put under the tounge & let disolve, Levsin, it's faster acting. You might want to ask your doctor about it & if they can try you on a different acid pill since the one your taking seems to fail to be working.

Do you have any other reflux symptoms? Such as heartburn, indigestion, belching, upper middle abdominal pain, maybe fast acting bowels after you eat?

The lump in the throat basically means your muscles are tightening up and need to relax. I've had food feel like it gets stuck down in my esophagus & almost kill me in pain. And it did not get better until I went back on my acid medication. It was due to esophageal spasms. Maybe you need to try a different medication until you find one that actually helps & takes that problem away.

Nausea is a typical gastrointestinal symptom, can be due to reflux or irritable bowel, or gallbladder issues, etc... Have you tried Promethazine for that? That might help.

I only have 2 reflux medications that help me. The others don't work at all. On top of a prescription medication, you can try OTC Zantac 1 x day and Mylanta to see if it gives you any relief.

Another way of obvious reflux problems is through an endoscopy. Reflux can show signs of inflammation or damage to your insides if it's untreated or medications fail to help.

Eating does not at all help reflux problems, it only makes it worse. Especially acidy & hot spicy fooRAB.

Kapidex is not only for reflux issues, it's used to heal and give symptom relief of erosive esophagitis, which if you have, that's not good and you could likely count on the fact that if it exists, it's due to GERD.

I would not put myself through a PH test if the signs of reflux are obvious.
 
A CT scan can reveal why you are so congested, whether it be sinus related, your nasal turbinates, a deviated septum or such. No you should not have to get off of all your medications for this test to be accurate, especially if the congestion is that bad. I guess it may not necessarily reveal anything if it is strickly allergy related. But your better off knowing, and then you could take it from there, as far as what to do. I would figure sudden problems are probably more of an acute issue, I don't know.

If this throat problem didn't occur until you started taking medications, and well if the problem is infact a tightening in your muscles, it could possibly be a side effect from one of your medications. The one reason I warned you against nortryptyline is because a side effect of it is muscle spasms. I also hate antidepressants, I have never taken medications with such horrible side effects & well it's just my own personal opinion, if they help other people, that's great, they did not help me though, esp with my mood. I really suffered through some horrific pain taking those type of medications. But I was also on one too many medications so it did not go over well. Nortriptyline was one that caused the drug interaction I had that was so bad. It reacted with my Arabien & Buspar. I had it tested and know it for a fact. I do not think it is safe to take that type of medication while being on several others. However, my body does not absorb medications normally, it's a defect, other people may not have. I also overdosed on zoloft like 9 years ago. I have nothing good to say about antidepressants, personal opinion. Other people may very well feel different about that.

I hate Nexium. I mean hate it hate hate hate. It does not at all phase my reflux issues. Aciphex & Prevacid are the only two I've had luck with, but sometimes they don't even work. I had to stop taking Prevacid though, it causes me to get really bad spasms in my bladder, so Aciphex is my only choice. Plus my dr said it was okay to take Zantac & Mylanta with it. Which helps.

I get that tightening pain in my esophagus & neck, and it feels like food gets stuck. It's a horrible feeling, but I know it's being brought on by inflammation. If your doctor looks down in your throat and sees that it's all red, very very likely that irritation is causing your muscles to tighten, thus bringing on the feeling of a lump in your throat. It can also cause difficulty swallowing. Can even take your breath.

But still, there is a possibility that one of your medications are causing it as a side effect.
 
I had my gallbladder out and having stomach issues now. This is what I go through - I will 2 weeks feeling ok then I have an attack where I get nausau, belching, lots of gas, and I feel like I am wearing a tight belt around my waist. It may last 3 days or it may last for 7 days then it calms down. It comes from no where. You could be sitting down and all of the sudden you get an attack. Now I have lots of anxiety because I never know when it is going to show up. I have had numerous test, pancrititus test, Hploria, liver check, and now I am going for a scope. My acid reflux medicine does not work at all. I am going through just pure depression from all this. I have two little kiRAB who need me each day. It feels like pressure and nausau in my stomach and sometimes I burp to get relief then other times the pressure just stays in my stomach.

I am scared because I think I may have cancer or something - it is fearing the unknown that makes me scared. I can't believe gerd causes this much pain - how do have a stomach after this.
 
I'm begging anyone with any knowledge about acid reflux or anything close to it for advice.

Since Noveraber 1st, I suddenly felt very nauseous while out one night with my frienRAB. Had dinner and a drink and was driving around. Came home feeling very sick, assuming I was going to throw up due to eating something bad, a stomach virus, or even suffer from a Vertigo episode. I have 2 times in my life suffered from an acute Vertigo episode. Once 5 years ago, dizziness lasted only a couple days, and once in the Summer of 08, dizziness was more severe and lasted a couple weeks, but eventually went away. Having done several tests with ENTs, they never really found anything wrong with me or gave me any answers besides, "This just happens to some people, it's unavoidable, and it might happen again. Maybe you just have sensitive inner ears." My hearing tests and things all came out fine. In my ER report, they called it "Viral labyrthitis."

ANYWAY, I did not throw up that night despite wanting to. I forced myself to somehow sleep and woke up feeling just as nauseous. This feeling of nausea stayed with me for several days until I saw my general doctor who only prescribed me Zofran for a week. It didn't help much.

Long story short, I saw several ENTs, gastros, neurologists, etc. I even saw an allergist and discovered I have high environmental allergies (despite never feeling symptoms of this) but apparently no food allergies. I tried Pepsid. Then a sample of Aciphex for a couple weeks, while being on Meclizine, which is a medication for Vertigo. I'm not quite sure why I was on that, but one of my doctors was desperate to make me feel better so said I should just try it.

I got by for a month or two like that. Didn't feel 100% but was better.

Suddenly I felt extremely nauseous again, the worst. Gave up the meclizine, as I was not feeling dizzy this entire time, never threw up, and decided it had nothing to do with my Vertigo.

Saw a gastro doc who did an endoscopy, which was normal. At that point, I was so SICK I had completely lost my appetite, was losing weight, had to have my mother force food down my throat, so something was wrong. I took Reglan for a week, still felt sick on it, but actually felt better once I came off of it - since I had to in order to do my Gastric Emptying Study, which, guess what, came out normal.

I finally saw an ENT who looked up my nostril down into my throat and claimed I had severe acid reflux, allergies, and sinus issues. I was given a strict regimen:

-Neil Med sinus rinse twice or three times a day
-Allegra, once at night
-Clonazepam, 0.5 mg, 3 times a day (he claimed this was for the stomach, while I was aware this is a medication for anxiety, which I never suffered from)
-Nexium 2x a day
-Nasacort, one spray each nostril, 2 x day
-Bland diet, no caffeine, alcohol, spicy or fried food, smoking, etc.

Luckily, after a couple days, I immediately felt like 75% better. It was a relief because I felt literally deathly ill before, bed-ridden, and unable to eat. I felt much better, but still was not 100%.

Since then I've still been on ALL these medications, which has been at least 4 months now. I have not gotten better, but kind of worse again. I'm now on Kapidex twice a day, and switched to Nasonex since it's cheaper and apparently the same thing as Nasacort.

I still go to several doctors weekly to figure out what's wrong. I've done MRIs of the brain, sonograms of the stomach, throat, you name it...all normal. "Nothing is wrong with me."

Yet I still feel perpetual nausea. Like every moment of every day. It never goes away. It doesn't matter what I eat or drink. Nothing makes a difference. There are days, weeks, that I feel fine. And then suddenly days or weeks that I feel completely nauseous again. I can not find ANY pattern to what causes the nausea.

I don't drink, smoke, have coffee, eat tomatoes or spicy food, stopped sushi, chinese, chocolate, eat less processed and salty fooRAB now. But I've always been a healthy eater and never smoked or drank heavily anyway. I used to jog often, but now can barely get through the day functioning like a normal human being to even make it to the gym for a walk.

I can NOT be on this high dose of medication for this long and still feel sick. This is not normal. There is something wrong and the fact that no one can find it and no medication works literally depresses me to death. I cry every single day cause I don't feel well enough just to go hang out with my frienRAB and be normal.

At this point, if I don't feel just plain nauseous (that feeling like you have to throw up, but I never do), I just have a feeling of a lump in my throat or difficulty swallowing. There is something definitely in the throat area. My stomach never hurts and I don't feel heartburn.

I know this was the longest post ever, but I'm so desperate for help. Please, I beg someone to give me any advice they can. Share your knowledge. Suggest whatever.

I can't live like this. I'm only 29, about to turn 30, and have spent the last 6 months of my 20s feeling like I'm 80 and suffering from cancer. I'm extremely depressed and cry constantly and can't live a normal life.

Anyone?????






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TO ALL FUNDOPLICATION PATIENTS - IS anyone able to burp? I have been unable to burp since I had the procedure last Feb. 2009. I am very concerned that if I cannot burp, that I will not be able to vomit if I get sick. Please let me know asap as I want to talk to my dr. about it at my 6/29 appointment.


Also Hello to Desperate - Don't let anyone talk you into a Nissen Fundoplication unless you have spoken to several patients that had the same symptoms as you have and know that this procedure helped. It is a very serious surgery.

I have suffered for 15 years with a bad taste (no doctor knows why) and per the doctors' suggestions have gone through all the medicatins that you have taken plus more, have had my gall bladder removed and had a fundoplication this past Feb. 2009. Nothing has helped my problem and now I have complications as a result of the fundoplication - lump in my throat and losing weight - I am 6 foot tall and am now 150 lbs. I am at the end of my rope and think I may be dying. Doctors (primary dr., ENT, and fundoplication dr. all just order tests and tell me nothing is wrong). I am going again to the fundo dr. next week.

People like us should be allowed to go to a good research doctor and have a staff of doctors determine what is wrong. It would certainly be cheaper for the insurance companies, and we may even get well!!! That would be a miracle!!!
 
Neveragain, thanks for all your input.

I don't have any other symptoms besides nausea, and it is chronic. It doesn't get better or worse no matter what I eat or drink. At first I was really ill, but got better once I was put on Nexium, Allegra, Clonazepam, and the sinus spray. So in actuality, I don't know if all these things corabined were making me sick, or just one of them. Once on all these medications, I did feel much better but at best I still feel a perpetual "lump in my throat" feeling. Not an actual lump, but just like if I swallow it's more difficult and I constantly feel something there. I've done a neck MRI and it came out normal.

I've tried Nexium, Prevacid, Aciphex, and Kapidex. I don't think at this point I should keep trying other meRAB to see which one works for me. My doctors all say that they're all basically all the same and if anything Nexium is the best, so if that doesn't work the others won't really either.

I don't know why I was given Clonazepam because the doctor who prescribed it is one of those weird ones who doesn't feel the need to explain himself or what he prescribes. All I know is that when I tried to taper off of it just after a few days, the nausea immediately came back. So what does that mean?

I did an endoscopy and it came out normal. The doc said that still doesn't mean I don't have acid reflux.

I guess the best way to find out if I have reflux is to get off all the medications for it and see if I get worse. I'm scared to do that. There's nothing worse than feeling nauseous all the time, losing your appetite, and not being able to get out of bed.

I never tried or was told to try Promethazine. It's Phenergan right? I asked about it and I recall my doctor brushing it off.
 
I agree that the Nissen Fundoplication is a very serious step. It does not have a 100% success rate and it is invasive with your body. The success rate really does depend on your symptoms in the first place.

JackieN, it is good you are going back to your doctor.

You asked about belching. I've had belching since I woke from surgery. My surgeon says it is air coming back up that didn't make it through the wrap. I I still feel it is air making it up. There is no way I can vomit though. One of my side effects is that I have incidents of nausea and heaving. I can feel the mechanics of my body trying to vomit, but nothing comes through. Pre-surgery I had no nausea. Now, I have Phenegren, Zofran or Reglan that I take trying to help with the nausea.

I know it isn't the same for everyone, but I'd choose to have the surgery again. I'm different from many on the board though because my reflux was giving me bad breathing problems. The surgery has allowed me to get my breathing under control.

I will say that my primary care physician tried to get me to a research hospital before I had the surgery. I had a long wait though to get in and they were going to re-do all the tests I had just had done for a second time. After talking to 3 specicalists and doing my internet research, I decided to go forward with the surgery. I had a skilled surgeon which was important.
 
Maybe I should go back on it? But I really don't feel I have anxiety or depression. What I feel is that this illness is GIVING me anxiety and depression.

The other thing that threw me off was that when I would ask other people or doctors about nortriptyline, they had no idea what it was.[/QUOTE]

The above is exactly why you should take it, the problems you are having would give anyone anxiety and depression, so please go back on it, like I said before, antidepressants treat more than depression. Let me know how you are doing?

Sunny

P.S. my son is also going thru the same thing, I just had the same conversation with him, he is in his 30's.
 
I have a question. If the risk of esophagus cancer exists. And on top of that, long term use of GERD meRAB is no good fo us...then why can't we all just get
Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication surgery? This is a serious question. By the way, I'm 24 and have had GERD/Acid Reflux for about 6 months. According to an endoscopy, it is minimal GERD. I am currently on no MeRAB.
 
I have another question ...

Do you guys suggest doing a FEEAST test or is it basically meaningless? One doctor told me it will prove if I have acid reflux or not, while another one told me that it shows nothing and is completely pointless.

I'm trying to take baby steps before I do a Bravo pH test or Barium Swallow. Anyone take the FEEAST test and can say if it is worthwhile? What does it show exactly?
 
Hi I have had nauesa everyday 24/7 since July of 2007. I had lunch (plain 1/2 turkey sandwich at a restaurant) in 2 hours diarrea (sp) and nauesa. Thought food poisioning, but 2 years later?? No, I have been to 3 hospitals, can't count how many doctors, only too to find nothing wrong. Doctor at Stanford told me I probably swallow to much air!! I also belch alot, I have a dull ache in my breastbone area, like a washcloth is being squeezed out. I have multiple CT scans, 2 endo's, 2 colonoscopies, gastro emptying study, test for over 100 allergens, bowel samples for bacteria, etc. It does not matter what I eat. I have never been a spicy food person, but if I was it would not matter. If I overeat, by overeat for my standard, like even a 1/2 cup of yougurt I have more nauesa and discomfort in my stomach area. Also been checked for Barrett, celiac sprue.
So I usually just have a couple of tablespoons of something several times a day. I weigh anywhere from 95 to 98 lbs from 115. I am too depressed, I feel like people watch everything I put on my plate and think I have a eating disorder. People with eating disorders do not still want the food. Getting some antidepressants figured out and try to get to the point where I at least want to be around people again. Right now I am perfectly happy to be by myself. I know this is not me. My husband is more than patient with me. I have asked to stay home on a nuraber of social events because I feel so crappy that I do not want to make small talk etc. I have been told its GERD and stress, maybe so, I just do not know anymore.
ChristyPie
 
I have a nephew that went thru all that you talk about, they in the end put him on nortriptylene, it took a few weeks, but he is 100% better now. Antidepressants do more than treat depression, they also treat the pain associated with it.

Sunny
 
Is there an actual lump or is it just a sensation feeling of a lump?

If an actual lump exists, you want to rule out cancer. If it's just a feeling, it's very likely your muscles are tightening and I first hand know how severely painful that can be & reflux does cause it. Rest assured.

Try a different medication from your doctor, seriously!

I would not try depression medication for this. It is not going to help that problem. Nortriptyline may help you sleep better, it's not for gastrointestinal issues.

Cyrabalta may help some people with Fibromyalgia, but it didn't phase me. Antidepressants made me more depressed. I would not recommend them to my dog!

My daughter & I both have chronic reflux issues + post nasal drip issues. Maybe one has something to do with the other?? Mine is usually it's worst when I get a virus. She takes medication for hers, Loratadine during flare ups and it clears her up, otherwise she's up during the night coughing and always clearing her throat. There is a surgery you can have done with your espophagus to help that problem, would not recommend it though.. That's pretty invasive. Have you tried allergy medication for that?

I believe Carafate is a med I've taken before that coats your esophagus & stomach lining preventing further damage from whatever. It's only used short term though.
 
Dear Zoe....bless your heart. I am so sorry you are going through all this. Expecially at your age. You are so young and in your prime. You shouldn't be feeling like this. Most likely I would think it would be some depression and anxiety. Even when you don't think it's going on in your life, sometimes it is and your body is just telling you that it's under pressure. I also think you might have silent acid reflux. I have that too. A good indication of that is the lump in the throat. I have alot of reflux where I don't feel the burning sensation but I will have this gunk in my throat and a little cough. It is a post nasal drip thing that comes from the reflux and come back down your throat. All of this can make any of us depressed.

If you were old like me ( I am 44) I would say you might be going through perimenopause. Ugh! Believe me you won't like this at all. I am totally confused with my symptoms right now to be honest. I feel so crappy and also wonder if I am dying....and I am not sure if it is my pms, low hormones,perimenopause and low thyroid issues, or if I am depressed and needing medication for that and then it will treat all my aches and pains. It's like which is causing which? I don't know which thing to treat or to treat them all. I don't want to over medicate. I am sure you don't eithor.

Today is rough for me. I am curled up on my bed with my heating pad just feeling like my good life has been robbed from me. You may have to look at your circumstances too. In my case...my husband and I are close to losing our house in a few months to foreclosure, we are barely paying the bills, I am sad because my two daughters and grown up and in their early 20's and moved out, so I have the empty nest syndrome. I am kind of having a midlife crisis. I don't know where to go with my life and I feel all broken down.

You on the other hand are just 29. I don't think it's hormonal. Maybe you are under stress. Regardless you will get it figured out. Don't let this rob you of this happy time in your life! Hang in there! Find all the help you need.:angel:
 
Personally Zoe...I know I am not a doctor but sometimes I think people can over medicate. I am not saying don't take your doctors advice, however I have sought out the help of naturalpathic pharmacist and health food stores for alternative things to do. I can't take all those presciption acid reflux meRAB. I am allegic to sucralose (and artificial sweetner) put in most of those. They use binders too that could be making you not feel well. For this very reason I have made a decision to go back to college to be a pharmacist and go into wellness with it. I am going to help people like you and me. To treat the whole person. Not just the symptoms. I really pray you will be feeling better!! This is no way to live.

I take some natural tablets from the healthfood store, as well as digestive enzymes. I use Tums as needed and take Xyzal for my allergies. (I do have bad allergies) Its so tricky trying to balance our bodies into feeing well. My goal in life is to help others. I pray that God well give me the Grace and ability to go through college in my 40's.
 
what gall bladder test should i check for? all i recall doing is a sonogram of the stomach, neck...and blood tests. what else checks the gall bladder in better detail?
 
Hi, am 16 and ive been sufferng from acid reflux since over 2 years.ive had a endoscopy,barium xray didnt show any signs of acid reflux.until i had ph studies which showed that there was excess amount of acid reflux.ive tried many medication from gaviscon to lansaprazole, nexium,rantidine.for my stabbings i got in my stomach i had a colonscopy.for that i was on buscopan now im on dempordone.as my medication isnt helpng im going to have Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication sugrey.looking at the pros n cons off sugrey it is better to have the sugrey than sufferng from long term acid reflux ,if acid reflux is not treated you are @ a high risk of gettings oesophagus cancer.

have you had a ph study???


i wish you all the best.and requested you to pray the sugrey is successful.:angel:

thankyou

unsi :wave:
 
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