Some questions for the board....

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MizzoufanKC

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Hello. I'm new hear, this is the first time that I have posted. I have a few questions for others that may be in the same boat as I. I'm going to give a little info about myself, and some of the problems that I have been having over the past couple years. Hopefully some of you can sympathize with it, and maybe give me your take on it.

I'm 26 years old, very athletic, lift wieghts almost every day, and jog 3-4 days a week. I'm 6' 200lbs and would venture to guess I'm around 7-10% body fat (not exactly a prime candidate for GERD).

In high school and college I drank ALOT. About 3-4 years ago I noticed that nights after I would drink excessivley, I would wake up, almost like I was gasping for air. It was very strange.... and kinda erabarrassing, so I just dealt with it. After awhile I found that if I wouldn't eat after 1-2 o'clock the day after tying one on, I wouldn't have the problem as bad. So that's what I did for a year or so...... then came the heartburn.

I never really got heartburn that often... every once in awhile (usually after drinking a case of beer and eating Taco Bell at 2 A.M.) In 2006 I guess, I started getting heartburn pretty bad, almost after everytime I ate.... so I started eating Tums like it was my job. Finally, I started taking Prilosec OTC everyday for a couple months.... and I was cured!! Then I tried to get off of it..... a week or so later...... you know the story, the heartburn was back. My Father In Law has taken it everyday for the last 4 years, so I figured what the heck..... I've been on it now for about 1 1/2 years.

In the last 8 months or so I noticed I was clearing my throat out quite alot, especially after eating. I also chewed about a can a day of skoal.... that's another story I'll get to later. Anyway, my boss started scaring me telling me I had esophageal (sp?) cancer...... did I mention I'm also a hypacondriac (sp?). So I went to the doctor.... and of coarse by this time, my throat clearing was CONSTANT. He told me to get off the Prilosec OTC, get on Protonix, and go have an upper G.I. scope. The Protonix really didn't work any better than the Prilosec OTC, but I had to wait a month for the scope, and was living in a constant state of fear. I had the scope done.... the Doc said I had nothing wrong with my esophageaus, and I had GERD, keep taking the PPI'S.

That was a HUGE relief. For about a month after the scope.... I really didn't clear my throat (so I noticed) at all. Now, I switched back to the Prilosec OTC, and it works good... I never get heartburn, but I do get the throat clearing after eating, and sometimes in between meals. I get a fullness in my chest and throat from time to time also. I just quit chewing tobacco about a week ago (hopefully I'll stick to it this time) and I have noticed a little improvement with the GERD. Oh.... also, the Doc said I have a small sliding Hiatal Hernia...... which I guess can add to the problems..... although my Grandma has one, and she dosen't have to take PPI'S. Anyway, I'm thinking of going back to the Doctor and having a PH test done.... to see how bad my GERD really is, and to see if surgery is an option that would work for me.

I really am sorry for babling on... hopefully I didn't lose you guys/gals. It's just tough because my Wife and none of my buddies have this problem, so they can't really see where I'm comming from. It's gotten so bad, I can't even drink alcohol anymore without thinking about clearing my throat out... then, of coarse, I do. What do you all think? Do I have a serious problem.... or is it minor, and I'm making it worse because of the constant obbsession with it? Any responce would be very much appreciated. Thank agian. Have a great day.
 
hi

gerd dosnt care if you are slim, fat fit or unfit or a child, teenager or elderly it has no rules............thank goodness you are giving up chewing tobacco cause that will give you thraot cancer for sure!!!

my suggestions are see a gastro and ENT specilist to get tested for gerd/LPR, go on a healhty diet. lay of junk food and alcohol.

everything will be alright but its improtant to find out what is going on internally like gerd, or gallbladder issues, slow gastric empting etc..........oh it takes years for acid to cause cancer, as i said the tobacco is more likey to do it.......

cheers ness:angel:
 
It sounRAB exactly like LPR (laryngopharangeal reflux). I have it too. It's known as silent reflux and a lot of the time, you don't experience heartburn. The difference between LPR and GERD is that the reflux goes up into your larynx instead of stopping sooner. Shortness of breath and throat clearing have been my main symptoms. The treatment is the same as it is for GERD. Try and keep your anxiety level low and don't worry because stress makes everything worse. If you are anxious, however, testing to rule out different diseases will put your mind at ease. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the responses, I appreciate them greatly. I guess if it is LPR.... will surgery significantly help? Also, I wonder if I should start taking more PPI's to try and help, since I'm currently taking 1 20mg Prilosed OTC. I have heard that the PPI's could possibly cause other stomach and digestive problems... and even cancer, if taken over prolonged perioRAB of time. Anyone have any info on that? One more thing.... who do I need to go see that will tell me if I infact do have LPR? Thanks.
 
You should see a gastroenterologist or an ENT and if you haven't already done so, have them perform an endoscopy. Unless that test shows something seriously wrong with your esophagus, which I doubt, you won't need surgery. You can control your symptoms with diet and the PPI. The PPI won't cause other digestive problems but can cause osteoporosis if taken over a long period of time so you may want to take a multi-vitamin with calcium. Check with your doctor on all of this. I truly believe your main issue right now is stress and anxiety. You might find that if you relax and stop worrying, all your symptoms will go away.
 
RSMY59-
Thanks alot for the response. I'm kinda confused.... I went to a doctor, he put me under "conscience sedation" although I don't remeraber a thing... but gagging a couple times. He ran a scope down my throat and into my stomach... he said I had no problems with the esophageaus. Now, is that the test I need to find out if I have LPR? Is that the endoscopy? If not, what does that procedure intail? Do they put you under for it? Thanks in advance.
 
That sounRAB like an endoscopy, although when I had mine, they put me totally out. Typically, when they perform the endoscopy, they test for h pylori bacteria at that time so you may want to check with your doctor before seeing someone else. If you're positive for h pylori, they'll put you on antibiotics along with your PPI.
 
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