to those whom ppi's don't seem to work

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marigoldgirl81

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yes, thank you:) i have been following all of those guidelines for some time now.
 
i need advice. My reflux is getting worse. It burns up my left nostril and ear and eye waters.....i can hardly eat, i know things are bad but should i go to an er? i just don't think there is anything they can do (last saw a dr. a week ago and he suspects i have an infected throat ulcer that can't heal b/c the reflux won't go away). I am on prilosec 20 mg 2 x aday. My husband is furious and frustrated with me and the drs and i just need advice b/c i feel utterly confused and so sick of being in constant discomfort since this came on in June.

If anyone has had it as bad as me or has and made it through...i need hope tonight. please :)
 
marigold, have you tried chewing gum and/or lollipops to keep the saliva flowing (and keep that acid diluted)? It's been the one silver lining to the nightmare of reflux for me - I now give myself permission to chew gum and suck lollipops whenever I so choose! I do think it helps. I'm new to this but it also seems that my reflux is worse when I let my stomach get empty, so as opposed to not eating, I now make sure to eat something every couple of hours. Are you eating frequently (but in small portions)?
 
I have it very bad as well. I empathize. I am exploring options of changing medicines, since Nexium doesn't work for me and Prevacid twice a day seems to be less effective now, too. Find a GOOD GI doctor that can really work with you and get your husband on board as well. And, hang in there! You are not alone!
 
ps. i am going to seek a second opinion with an internist next week (10 days). I also have never had any bloodwork done, just a endoscopy in July.
 
My doctor says chewing gum causes MORE acid production. It may be temporary relief, but won't really help in the long run.
 
It sounRAB like you could use the help of an ENT who treats LPR. That or a good GI doc. There is only so much a PCP or internist will do.

Twice a day PPI's sounRAB like a good plan. My GI doc had me stay on them for at least a month. If that didn't work, he moved on to the next one until one of them did work. I'd find one that worked for a while, then stop working.

Have you made reflux diet and lifestyle changes yet? If not, that is an area you should be aggressive with as well.
 
Yeah, I was just thinking about that, too, because I thought I read somewhere that Nexium is now the top-selling prescription drug, which means that a HUGE nuraber of people are suffering from reflux. I guess obesity, poor diet, stress, and inactive lifestyle can explain much of this (as compared to previous generations). In my case tho' about all I might have out of those is the stress trigger. Like you my reflux seemed to appear out of nowhere. One day I was feeling great and now the past 3 months it's like my body has been taken over by something alien! So frustrating because I really had been taking very good care of myself when this besieged me. I'm determined to get back to that tho' and eliminate this scourge from my life one way or another!
 
Gosh, i know....its like prilosec does nothing for me, but when i try to cut down i get this massive backlash of acid that was worse than before *sigh*....i hear you, i am now 114 lbs (after losing 25 lbs), always been skinny, healthy eater, active, etc. but i've always had trouble with stress, panic attacks, depression, etc. I was sooooooooooooooooooooo much better off before i tried medicines for my anxiety, gosh, now i truly feel (coming off these that i broke something but hopeully not). I cannot believe this is happening to someone whom was so focused on eating her organics and was a vegetarian for many years, eats whole grains....i just don't get it. My acupuncturist wants me to try a gluten free diet but i feel overwhelmed with how much weight i've lost and i am trying the past few weeks to get ANY food in me.

There has to be an answer why so many of us from so many walks of life are getting this. Preservatives? Pesticides? Stressful pace of society?
 
Marigold:

I am new. Came here looking for answers and support I do not get from physicians, sad to say.

I hope you have been able to see a specialist and are feeling better. I was so sorry to read your post and see you have been in so much pain.

It is frustrating when you read that acid reflux is caused by smoking, overeating, a sedentary life, etc. when I have none of those problems. Like yours, my reflux came out of nowhere and has stuck around.

Hope you feel better very soon. Let us know.
 
oh, i am so sorry you have it so bad too, you have been going through this this the 80's?! my hat is off to you. This is pure hell. I am so afraid i am not going to live to see another christmas and i am an otherwise healthy 28 year old female, i can't believe i've lost 25 lbs from this. You give me hope that i can survive this even though it is hellish. Deeeeeeeeep breath, except wait, that hurts....

It seems to me there is simply not alot of knowledge on it, especially lpr (i haven't been diagnosed with that yet, just severe gerd, ha JUST.....i have only had the endoscopy which is why i'm waiting for a 2nd opinion and trying to relax as it does seem there is a HUGE correlation of people with gerd and anxiety, stress, etc. but its odd b/c knock on wood my anxiety has been so little, the best for me in years, so i'm confused as to why this is now coming on) I am still floored how my life changed in ONE day, i literally one day while taking in my recycling felt like i couldn't get a deep breath in and it got worse and worse and my throat was tight and swollen and nearly 6 months later not alot has changed except i feel alot worse and have at least one throat ulcer now.

Its just odd. I can't believe when i google this how many people are suffering from gerd, lpr and gallbladder issues and my gi dr, whom specializes in this?!, said he has no idea if its all related. I'm shocked there are so many of us seriously suffering and so many gi dr's with not a clue as to what to do for us. My life has dramatically changed of what i can and can't do. But i'm going to focus on what i can do. I can go and sew right now and give my son another kiss goodnight.

Bless all of you suffering too and have a good night :)
 
thanks...i went to urgent care tonight and they told me i need to see an ent after looking in my throat or go to a huge university hospital a few hours away that specializes in throat/esophagitis/stomach issues.

I have changed my diet. Everything i eat is bland. And what i eat everyday is becoming less and less b/c i reflux it up and/or feel full/bloated. In the beginning prilosec began to help me (5 months ago) but i tried to stop it b/c i thought i was better and started it again for it to return horribly worse. So it has been waves of yuck, bad and worse. I will call an ent in the morning. Thank you for your advice.
 
Eating a "bland" isn't really necessary with acid reflux. The dietary changes that help are things like avoiding trigger fooRAB (coffee and other caffeinated drinks, alcohol, chocolate, tomato-based sauces, peppermint, and anything else that you've noticed triggers reflux), eating smaller meals, and not eating anything for 3 hours before you lay down in the evening. It also helps to raise the head of you bed 6 inches (sleeping propped up on a pillow will not help), avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing and losing weight if you need to.

Hopefully the ENT will help you get things under control and keep them under control. Good luck.
 
awww, sorry to hear about yours rosebloom:(
i TRULY believe my problems are med induced but can't seem to get off them quick enough and who knows if they'll go away. I feel like my own dr anymore, honest to goodness.

good luck rose and hope you find the support and answers you are looking for here.
 
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