to charberry

  • Thread starter Thread starter nessie01
  • Start date Start date
N

nessie01

Guest
hi charberry

its great reding all you posts and you have been suffering for so long.........i have likeyou been having a hell week, cant stop coughing im back to work tomorr and im a teacher lol this will be interesting........i may need to resort to lots of cd tape stories!!! and music where i dont have to sing or talk lol

anyway as you seem to have severe stuff like me i was wanting your vast knowlege of advice.........i have been on prevacid times 2 for about three weeks and started on domperidone yesterday...........how long does one give a PPi a chance for like four weeks or longer.........thre is only one i havnt tried LOsec (prosilec)...we dont have nexium or the other A one in NZ

also if your gallbladder showed as congested, scarred etc and not functioning correctly would you get it on on the little hope that it may be contributing a bit to the whole digestive process and causing some relfux?

thanks charberry

i read that you were told that surgery is not good for LPR but from what i have read even on a surgens hospital site her in NZ, its fine for LPR and is a reason why it is done, that people are not responding to meRAB, have unusal symptons or dont want to be on meRAB for life....

anyway thanks...
ness::angel:
 
Ness,
I have had reflux diagnosed for about 6 years. I think I had it for much longer before it was diagnosed because my primary symptom is a cough. I don't get heartburn or other 'typical' symptoms, although I do ocassionally get some belching.

About 3 years ago I went through about 4 months with a very chronic cough. I have asthma and reflux with a chronic cough as the symptom for both. It is tough, because the reflux aggrevates my asthma and the asthma coughing aggrevates the reflux. It took a lot of trial and error to find a medication corabination that got both under control at the same time. Unfortunately, the cough returned in full force during the last week in May. I have spent about 1/2-3/4 of my waking day coughing every day since then- that's about 90 days so far of almost non-stop coughing. It isn't a gentle cough either, it not only erabarrasses me, it is wearing me out and causing me to have sore stomach and back muscles.

I was on Prevacid 2x/day for about 3 years. It really helped during that time. At least I felt better. However, I had bad asthma last winter and testing while I was on the medication, testing showed it wasn't working any more.

I have spent the summer trying other PPI's. The doctor has had me try them for 4-5 weeks at a time then I went in for a follow-up visit to see how effective they were working. Unfortunately, the Nexium, Aciphex and Zegrid all proved to be ineffective for me. (I had previously tried the Prevacid and Protonix.) According to my GI doc, the Nexium should be the most effective, followed by Aciphex. He said the Prevacid really isn't as effective as the others. Ironically, I felt better on it than on the others since even though the testing showed it wasn't working very effectively anymore.

My recommendation would be to keep on the Prevacid another week or two, then go back to your doctor to try something else if it doesn't help. If you are not already doing it, I would also recommend supplementing with Gaviscon. It was recommended by my GI doc. I'm not sure if it has another name there, but it contains Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Carbonate as the active ingredients. It foams when you chew it. It is supposed to form a foamy barrier in your stomach to help. It helps me some, but doesn't take care of it completely. You take it after meals.

I went in for another visit to my GI doc today. I had to follow-up on recent ph and motility testing that I was re-tested for last week. At this point, my next step is a visit to a surgeon for surgery. I can't live with this constant cough and acid-related asthma problems. My asthma actually kicks in big time during the cold winter air which is fast approaching so my cough will get much worse then. I plan on having the Nissen surgery sometime in the near future. According to the research I have done on acid related asthma problems, there is about an 80% success rate. Right now, that is looking really good to me. I can let you know what the surgeon says when I get my appointment with him.

Good luck with your teaching with this cough. I can relate some, I have been there as a preschool teacher. I'm lucky that I do admin right now. It will be tough to be teaching when you can't talk for extended perioRAB without coughing interrupting it. I can't even get through meetings right now.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.
 
Hey, Charla,

Sorry to hear about your flare-up. I wish there was something the doctors could do for us when these episodes happen. I am sorry to say I think I know what you mean (I wish I didn't!!!!). Thankfully, all is quiet at the moment here.

The cough and choking are the worst part. I think mine has caused a tear in the abdominal lining. l now have a nice bulging (at times, especially after a meal) hernia above the belly button that neeRAB to be surgically repaired. I also have a big belly, thanks to the hernia. I hope that will change after the surgery. I resent being seen with a big belly and looking fat when I normally am not. My advice to anyone who coughs and chokes a lot - be careful not to strain the muscles too much. Hernias are no fun.



Charla sometimes when the surgery doesn't work, it has to be repeated. If not done properly, it causes other problems that require surgery to fix. I know someone who's had to go under the knife again to fix problems the first surgery had caused. Get a surgeon who does nothing but fundos day in and day out. Best of luck, my friend. :)

flowergirl
 
Seems like starting on Previcid it on to Prilosec and then Nexium 40 mg twice a day. They would switch me around at times but Nexium is supposed to be the best. Once when sick for long time, she put me on Protonex (sp) and Nexium. Guess it worked because I got better. The thing that will get me over a bad flare is to rest and relax. I've missed so much work with this crap and usually week at a time. I have coughed so much I'm sore and after going to Dr. today I was so hungry that I stopped at McDonald's. Not a good idea. Took one bite of burger, thought i was going to choke to death, felt like it was going up my nose and then HAD to cough and that haraburger hit the winRABheild. I would say no matter what test says, that that was some serious reflux. I can't even barely get a peep out tonight and need to go to bed as I have to work tomorrow too. My boss has to get sick of all the noises I make! Interesting what one poster said about the cough causing changes and to breath different. Always have this constant PND that stays stuck or feels in back of my throat and I keep trying to clear that side. I've developed a knot in my throat now and can't find an ENT that actually knows what it's from and they've ALL given me diffent answers. the best one I liked was maybe a stopped up gland causing nasal drainage to collect there. Meaning maybe they could fix it! It's not really the ENT's that are consered but my PC Docs. Every time I go for check up or "something" they tell me that that is not supposed to be there and have a biopsy done. It's a full circle and I'm going in circles all the time. Sure there are surgeons that will do the nisson for you in a jiff but I want the guy's whole life recorRAB. I guess if it didn't work there wouldn't be any harm? I think it's time to give the surgery a chance. I'm just so tired of using my days off every week for Dr.'s appt. So, you have known people to lose LPR symtoms with surgery. I was told once that I still probably have to take meRAB after surgery but suits me! Be so glad when this flare is over. Not feeling all that bad other than my throat burning at times and the trying to clear my sinus by sucking in and coughing.

Let me know what you decide to try or have done. There's just not I haven't.

Char
 
Thanks, Flowergirl. That's just what I was talking about! I've know many people that got wrapped to tight, not tight enough or plain come undone. I even know someone that said it made her reflux worse! The Dr's don't seem to encourage me and don't think it helps LPR as well as GERD. You would think since the LPR comes from the upper sphinter that if you tightened the bottom sphinter it would keep it from going to the upper? I'm concerned about the knot that's developed in my throat too. ENT doesn't think that much of it and everyone I've seen has given me a different answer. It's my GP that keeps saying, It's not supposed to be there. See and ENT." I think what brought this flare on up is the fact that I started painting a bedroom. The bending over or even looking up has some effect on me. Of course, I've been staying up late thus eating late and not getting enough rest . The feeling I'm having is PND in right sinus that won't budge and feel it's effecting my voice. Feels a bean stuck up one side of my nose. Burning in my throat, which I don't normally have. When I do try eat it gets stuck and goes up my nose then I'll choke and cough out food! Trying to drink lots and lots of water to maybe loosen my sinus up and maybe can cough something up. So, not coughing but this feeling is worse to me! Throat full and everything going up. Ears hurting to. I'm deep breathing since I feel like I'm SOB over the smallest of activity. The Dr. I saw yesterday didn't even give me medicine! Said I was already taking enough. LOL. Usually the Nasocort will help my sinus some but not today. Maybe a little allegy going on too. I'm miserable! Hate to answer phone and glad isn't in yet.

Thanks for being my friend along with others. Just to have someone to vent to helps since others can't imagine these feeling s we get. Any tips on what I can try to get over this? Hate to hit the Mylanta because the stomach issues come in to the picture and I'll get D so bad.

How about you? There's been questions I'll think of to ask you then forget what they were..... LOL.

CharBetty
 
thanks charberry and mouontain
well we are all a mess lol
i have both gerd and LPR but the gerd has not caused my heartburn , but chest stabby pains and sore tummy...
my stomach pains and chest pains are heaps better on the prevacid but i do get some neasuea (which is why i think sometimes gallbladder that plus funny right side pains etc) ...........my LPR is msotly really to the extreme effecting my sinuses. im sounding like i have a permanet cold, my nose is like a hose and this is what is agravating my throat causing the cough from the PNDand flem, have stingy eyes, sore ears, and my taste and smeel is less just like a colD....i have treid antihistmenes but no good so i have just brought some cough decongestent stuff to see how i go on that..........i have no hesetation about getting a nisson if i have to and dont have any fear of it not working as everything i have read is what you said aobut 80% evffective, if it blocks acid then you throat and LPR should heal !! am going to hunt for some more info and peoples success stories and will post them here when i find them...
infact if i get surgery i would prob have the nisson and get my gallbladder out at the same time, if i dont get gallbladder our first............

anyway thanks will keep pluggin on.....there has to be a cure for everyone i no that there is!!!!

cheers ness
 
Please bring your attention to the posting policy.

Please do not post websites except as described in the posting policy section titled "How to share information".
 
Ness,

LPR wrecks havoc on my sinus too. I've got that awful feeling of it being stuck on the right side. When your sinus gets bad, does it effect your voice. I sound like someone on their death bed. It's like nothing will come out of my mouth if I do try to say something. It's so week and I sound real stopped up. Trying to drink loaRAB of water to maybe thin it out. Going down the back of my throat too. Throw me a rope!

Char
 
Charla,

all I can think of right now is my appointment this afternoon with a specialist. (A new one). Something else besides the hernia has come up, belive it or not. I will feel so much better (I hope) afterwarRAB. If not, oh well. It will mean that an additional thing will have to be dealt with.
If I can think of any tips, I'll post them. Come to think of it, I could use a couple of them as well..meanwhile, take care and hang in there! You are not alone.

flowergirl
 
hi
thanks for your insights everyone............i am thou beginning to wonder about a chest infection.whats the difference...........i was actually coughing in bed last night which as i said i never do........this morning alot more greeen flem and my chest hurts a little, but that could be form the coughing alone......i have never had a chest infection what other clues should i be looking for to tell the diff between bad LPR or an actual infection
thanks
ness
 
Read up on LPR and you will find that most people don't have reflux during the night but in an upright position. Wouldn't you know I'd be upside down. LOL. My problem is that I have both! I do think the meRAB help the regular GERD but I'm not so sure about LPR.

I sound so sick and what's weird is that I feel pretty good! My husband is out of town and he calls being so sweet thinking I'm so sick when I've been in the pool. I notice the nasal sinus crap turning different in different positions I'm in, different atmosphere, change in weather, and what really takes the cake is if I drink a coke in crushed ice with a straw...it goes away! Guess that happens anyway because I can be sitting here typing sniffling my head off and then notice it stopped. If I could get the snot or whatever to be able to blow out my nose, I know I'd be better. It's got to be damaging my throat and vocal corRAB with all that stuff draining and me making every effort to clear it out. It's funny because when I don't sound "this bad" guys will tell me I have such a sexy voice. If that isn't the last thing on my mind! Hopefully over the long weekend, I can really rest and rest my voice. No meRAB get me well. Time and Rest along with a few swigs of Mylanta.

Char
 
Ness,

if you come across any info that you feel might be helpful, please share with your fellow suferers. Since our symptoms also happen independent of meals and specific food inclusion/omission in our diets, I think the only thing any of us can do is to take it one day at a time and hope for best. (e.g. hope for more good days versus bad days).

take care,
flowergirl
 
flower girl

ii will share anything of course!!! i only wish everyone to get better and a normal life........at the moment im taking my meRAB, seeing a homeopathic lady and am going to a cranial oseteopath on friday......she mainly works with young babies for reflux etc, but she said that she would love to see me so i will see............i no that the reason babies reflux as because they have not fully developed their lower splincer muscle and i guess thats the same as ours not working.........anyway first visit on friday so will let you no how it goes.........i think im refluxing all the time as well even with two PPI, i am going to go and get my GP to send me to a surgen so i can ask a million questions about the fundo..........im not getting it yet but considering it after xmas if i have no improvemnt. i cerntainly cant live like this, im a no fun person anymore, used to be the life of the party lol....

cheers ness
 
Back
Top