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Acid Reflux Symtoms (GERD) Help! Related to ear blockage?

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charmayne28375
charmayne28375

So for the past 7 months I have been experiencing acid reflux symptoms, it happened out of no where but has been a pain ever since. It started off with chronic back, chest and neck pain and i was prescribed nexium 40mg which did nothing. I also ended up eating next to nothing as every food seemed to trigger it. I was later reffered to a Gastro specialist, had an endoscopy and found a small hiatial hernia causing acid to back up into my oesophagus..long story short the chronic pain symtoms got alot better so i went back to eating normalling thinking i was fine...turns out this build up of mucous at the back of my throat was acid reflux all along. And now for the past 11 1/2 weeks i have been experiencing blocked ear, right side headaches and facial pain. my ENT says it is inflammation and congestion in my nose that could possibly be from acid reflux (no definitive diagnosis yet) I have also been experiencing lightheadedness/wooziness due to this. Has anyone ever experienced this?? also what are your tips for keeping the acid reflux at bay? my main concern in the mucous and it seems to happen regardless of what i eat and also in between meals I have been on Somac 20mg once a day for past 8 weeks now just upped it to twice a day.

Help!

Charmayne

0 likes, 24 replies

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  • ron03972
    ron03972 charmayne28375

    Posted

    Charmayne:  I started with neck issues and then a severe ear ache and could not traceit to anything.  Went into an ENT and scoped me to say the same, LPR or GERD type.  I did a barium swallow, non conclusive, but no hernia as you might have.

    They prescribed PPI's, Prilosec or others,  I stopped in one week, went on famotidine a milder version.  I kept lossing weight, 10 to 15 lbs, at like a bird, no carbs or meat or sugar, no wine, startted losing my voice.  Got extremely depressed and was scared to death I had something serious. Got xrays and CT scans.  Found out the neck pain was from bone spurs, the ear turned out to be an infection. My hoarse voice was the only real lasting symptom. I was taking a long list of probiotics, digestive enzeymes, DGL, Kefir,  and some others if you really want a list.  A long story short.  I stopped cold turkey on the famotidine, no issues with anytihing I was told.  Most important, don't eat spicy foods, eat small meals through out the day, don't eat and take a nap or go to bed within 2 or 3 hours. Prop you head up higher than normal, sleep on your left side.  If you are under any stress, get some diazpham or something to take away an anxiety and only use when needed.  A lot of the triggers are stress related.  Your muschles may all be unrelated as mine were.  You can beat this thing, most of it is in your head.  Stop the Nexium, that will do nothing but make you mess with you needed acid balance in your stomach. Try to eat better, no fried foods, lots of salads and fish and chicken, let you stomach heal itself.  I really do not believe the ENT specialist have a real handle on this, they just prescribe pills that have numerous side affects.  As I mentioned, I was losing my voice/hoarsenss for months, which turned out to be one of the side affects of the famotidine along with it made my food not digest properly and I was not getting the proper nutrients, thus I kept losing weight.  Get lots of exercise and do not get obsessed with the condition, it will pass.

     

    • charmayne28375
      charmayne28375 ron03972

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. My ent just upped my ppi to twice a day which I'm not a fan of taking. I have been eating very carefully for the last 4-5 weeks when I suspected acid reflux. Although I was already eating pretty well I have cut out soda and gluten for months cut out meat and dairy for the last few weeks and no caffeine for 11 weeks sad I will keep up the eating carefully and see how I go I only take rescue remedy for stress or anxiety at the moment. It's very stressful to have this going on
    • papote53
      papote53 charmayne28375

      Posted

      Wha ever you do DO NOT stop PPI's at once.  Slow down to one every other day and then one to every third day and then stop.  ;-)
  • colleen73
    colleen73 charmayne28375

    Posted

    Hi charmayne, you have just described me to a tee, i dont have a hernia, i have gastritis but i seem to be getting all the same syptoms as you. blocked right ear, numbness sometimes down right side of face, everything seems on the right. Really woozy, its scary. Im on lansaprozole x 2 30mg daily and thought it might be them. Also yday i went for blood results and my vitamin b12 levels were low so been put on tabs for that now too. Hate taking tablets they just seem to produce side effects in my case. Its been 12 weeks for me now and im desperate, im just not me anymore :-(

     

    • charmayne28375
      charmayne28375 colleen73

      Posted

      Hey

      Thanks for your response. Glad to see I'm not alone. It's so tough to go through this. Do they think the low vitamin b12 could be effecting you? Does seem like it could definitely be acid reflux related then. Gastro specialist also told me I had some gastritis as well. Not sure where else to go from here I think I'll try a dietician even though I am eating carefully already. How long have you had acid reflux symptoms for? Did they just come on after or before the blocked ear etc? How long have you been on meds? Are you taking vitamins? I've loaded up on probiotics, turmeric, olive leaf, feverfew and a multi vitamin

    • colleen73
      colleen73 charmayne28375

      Posted

      Yeah they said low vitamin b12 has cause awhole load of different symptoms. It started about 11 weeks ago, not long after the doc put me on steroids and antibiotics for a chest infection. My blocked ear came a week or so after. I started on omerprazole early on but they gave me side effects, then they put me on ratinadine and they didnt do much so they took me off everything for a while until i had my endoscopy 2 weeks ago and now on lansaprozole, im now taking vitamin b12 supplement and probiotics
    • charmayne28375
      charmayne28375 colleen73

      Posted

      Any of it helping? Or too hard to tell?

      I'm on somac (pantoprazole) seems okay hard to tell if there's any symptoms from it have been on it for 8 weeks now

    • colleen73
      colleen73 charmayne28375

      Posted

      its hard to tell, i dont know if the symptoms im getting are caused by the gastritis/ the tablets/ or my vitamin b12 
    • papote53
      papote53 colleen73

      Posted

      B12 Tabs?   Not good, take sublingual or liquid- You want something that will go straight to the blood and don't cause anymore digestive issues.
  • ken07185
    ken07185 charmayne28375

    Posted

    I didn't have pain from neck or ear, however, i remember when everything first started i had a few day of sinus problem with facial pain etc and then the throat started to become tight and slowly have burning pain in my throat until i started the proton pump, but i do have lighthead once in awhile, armpit pain on one side and hoarsness and so on.

    Now my major issue is the tightness in my throat is still there and I get panic attack once in awhile thinking is something serious.

    • charmayne28375
      charmayne28375 ken07185

      Posted

      I don't think I've had tightness in throat but I have been short of breath when I've eaten something that triggers reflux and then I try gaviscon and it helps
  • papote53
    papote53 charmayne28375

    Posted

    Hi,

    It sounds to me like sinus congestion which can also end up on the back of your throat. Did they do any test to conclude you have acid reflux on the back of you throat ? Normally an ENT will do this and is called laryngoscopy.  

    Acid reflux can end up on the back of your throat, lungs and ribs and cuase chest pain and vocal problems.  I have one scheduled in 10 days because I also have acid reflux (mild) and I have chest pressure right in the middle of my chest and vocal problems.  No more singing in Christmas. ;-(    I had 4 endoscipies done and that is all besides a mild chronic gastritis as well.   For now you can stop taking dairy products which helped me alot with congestions from sinus because I also have chonic sinus with mld congestion.  First the loaded me with medications with the nasal spray and claritin, they they tried 3 more diffrenet sprays and medications which did not help.  They I found Simple Saline which you cna get at any store like WM or Pub.  WM is cheaper. ;-)  And I take a claritin when needed which is not to often.  You can also stop eating spicy foods and eat smaller meals 5-6 daily. Just like you even if I don't eat or just drink water I feel the presure on my chest but just to make sure I was cleared by a Cardio and Pulmo so is not the chest or the heart itself.  They did every test on the book because when you have doubts then anxiety kicks in. ;-)  Please let me know how they knew you had Reflux stock on the back of your throat. ;-)

    • charmayne28375
      charmayne28375 papote53

      Posted

      Yes the ent checked my throat with camera and saw acid reflux there. I knew I was susceptible to it because of the endoscopy prior but at the time I didn't know the mucus was a sign of acid reflux.

      Have already cut out dairy and most other foods and eating very plainly which is not fun guess it just takes time to pass. Ent said it was possible my congestion and inflammation was caused by acid reflux I'm just wondering if it's this or a sinus problem. Am waiting on ct results

    • papote53
      papote53 charmayne28375

      Posted

      Thank you very much.  I have an appointment with my GI in 2 days and with my ENT in 7 days so hopefully they will be able to detect what the problem is.  I would say I;m 90% sure is the reflux as well stock in the wrong places.  Hopefully not behind the lungs. ;-(   As for you,   truly believe you should check the sinus to see if that is the problem.  If so,  let me know because because their is so many things you can do to get better without medications.  Sure, like we all know what works for me may not for for you. ;-)
    • charmayne28375
      charmayne28375 papote53

      Posted

      It has to be one or the other. Whats your advice for sinus? Im taking a lot of vitamins to try and help as well as the eating carefully
    • papote53
      papote53 charmayne28375

      Posted

      First, they will have to conclude you have sinus and the cause of it. So they wil probably put you on Anti-biotics.  For now eliminate the dairy products and instead of getting one of these pots get Simple Saline which is just water and salt in a can that you put in your nose with a nice soft mist. You can order it online and one small can cost like $5 but it last like a week only. I use it in the morning and at night before bedtime.  Claritin or Zyrtec the first month and then as needed only.  Before that I used different medications and they did not work until I found Simple Saline whcih I complte as needed with Claritin or Zyrtec. Spicy foods help woth congestion, but not good for your reflux.  Garlic is one of the best but again can aggravate your reflux, so be very carefull.
    • charmayne28375
      charmayne28375 papote53

      Posted

      Have already been on two rounds of antibiotics had the Neil med saline rinse but stopped taking it as it was making me feel more woozy now just doing a saline nasal spray
    • papote53
      papote53 charmayne28375

      Posted

      I used both and just like you the neil med did the same to me so I stopped. The saline nasal spray is always good to have around but it will not clear the congestion.  Simple Saline will and you will not even feel it. ;-)
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