Severe GERD

[jessiblah]

ok i am stuck on what i should do. Lately I have been getting severe GERD problems. I have prescription pantoprazole that i still have from throughout the year but it only helps so much. I have not seen the gastroenterologist since 11/2011. I have been seeing so many other drs for other issues and i am sick of seeing drs. I am getting so broke from seeing drs and yet getting nowhere with treatment. The GERD is getting much worse and waking me up at night. I have already made it so i sleep somewhat upright so the acid can't get all of the way up my esophagus. I take the pantoprazole twice a day and sometimes take prilosec since i don't want to run out of the pantoprazole. I use gaviscon liquid every couple of days when i can't eat anything because the burning is so severe. Not sure what else i can do. Do not tell me to go gluten free as with my budget and no discipline it isn't happening and I am not going vegan either. I have been trying really hard to cut down on acidic foods as well as dairy. Any other suggestions?
I just don't have the time or money right now to go to the gastro dr. If i can treat myself for a few months i will have the time and money then to go to the dr.

[drylady]

Hi Jessiblah. I was diagnosed with gastritis and reflux a few months ago. It was bad enough I couldn't eat for a couple of days. The doctor prescribed me liquid Carafate and that has helped me with the pain. I tried taking ppi's but had reaction to them.

I also had to stop drinking milk because it was causing bad gas and burning.

[jessiblah]

I didn't even think of carafate liquid. That sounds great I can get that at work too as i work at a vet's office and we order that all of the time. I have our pharmacist order me a bottle.

[slccom]

A friend says that his chiropracter says to slice up a whole cabbage, boil it up, if you like it eat the cabbage with some sort of sausage or corned beef, and drink a quarter cup of the liquid a couple of times a day and he swears that it made it better.

It can't cost much to try it, and you don't have anything to lose.
Sharon

[Styx]

If you're refractory to meds, you might want to consider surgery.

What tests have you had that demonstrate reflux?

Styx

[MaryBee7]

Ask about DEXILANT, it has been a great help to me.  I just started it after an endoscope due to worsening GERD and nausea/other IBS issues.

[anita]

Have you considered that it may be gastroparesis (delayed emptying) instead of just GERD.  For starters, I would also ask to try a different PPI.  I have taken protonix (pantoprazole) when admitted to a hospital because many hospitals use that vs Nexium to save money.  I learned the hard way (several times) that Protonix doesn't work for me, yet other PPI's work fine.

If other PPI's don't work then you obviously need to look at other sources of the problem...like gastroparesis, hiatal hernia, etc...so you can get treatment better suited to the problem.

[Carebear]

I can tell you what my GI told me to do, and maybe it will help you.

Elevate the head of your bed by four to six inches.  This doesn't mean the use of pillows.  I use 4 x 4s under the headboard legs.

Do not eat three hours prior to bedtime.

Eat small meals, several times daily.

Use your PPI four times daily...breakfast, lunch, supper, and bedtime.  I know you said you wanted to use yours sparingly but this has helped me immensely.

If you are taking anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen,  substitute with Tylenol.   Advil really messed up my gut.

I hope you feel relief soon.

[MaryBee7]

I was sure that mine had to be paresis.  The gastro doc I see has treated me for years but really didn't seem interested in attributing this new problem to Sjogren's.  I don't know whether to be frustrated or just accept this as what we generally face with this illness.  I asked "what about dry intestinal tract....this is all new within the last year of dx"  but still he shook his head.  He said that they don't see gastroparesis that often at all.  Esophagitis, yes, so that he dx'd me with.  He was at least more polite than my rheumy when saying "don't read too much about your illness or you'll begin to develop every symptom".   

[Styx]

He was at least more polite than my rheumy when saying "don't read too much about your illness or you'll begin to develop every symptom".

Ughhhh Mary. I'm sorry you have to put up with that physician.

[Scottietottie]

Hi

If the GERD has suddenly got worse it would be well worth asking a doctor about it. It could be caused by Helicobactor-Pylori, which can be treated. I'm not medical but I know that H-pylori feels like bad GERD.

Take care - scottie 

[jpd54]

I have posted this before, but I can't stress it enough.  Anyone who has had GERD for a long period of time, needs to have it checked.  It can turn into esophageal cancer easily and you wouldn't even know it.  My mother luckily had it checked and sure enough she had cancer.  She had surgery right of way and is still living.  They had to take her esophagus out.  Most people do not find out about it until it is too late to do anything.  Most people die from it.  My mom has started an esophageal cancer support group out of Jacksonville, FL, but they have people from all over joining. 

Sorry to be so negative, but please have it checked out.  She had been taking medicine for almost 18 years and is lucky to be alive.

            Jennifer 

[BonusMom]

Ask about DEXILANT, it has been a great help to me.  I just started it after an endoscope due to worsening GERD and nausea/other IBS issues.

Ditto!

Best med I have used for GERD!

[victoria sponge]

I've suffered terribly with acid reflux.  These are some of the things you could try:



Weight loss helps, by encouraging the muscular valve at the lower end of the gullet to remain shut rather than lie open.
Raising the head of the bed by 5-10cm employs gravity to keep stomach contents where they should be when you are lying down.

Avoidance of late meals also prevents food and other digestive juices, such as bile, from refluxing and causing just as much bother as acid.

Some people find particular foods give them more reflux than others ? you need to experiment a bit to find what you should avoid. I'm keeping a food diary. Food and drink commonly reported to trigger symptoms includes fizzy drinks, spicy foods, high-fat foods, citrus fruits, peppermint, tomatoes, garlic and onions. Caffeine in coffee, tea and cola and theobromine in chocolate have been reported to worsen symptoms, and alcohol and excessive amounts of vitamin C (from supplements) can also increase acid secretion. Chocolate, alcohol and caffeine are definitely triggers for me.

Probiotics for reflux, as there is some suggestion they might be helpful. Eating smaller more frequent meals.