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Bile /acid reflux into esophagus

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Leni75
Leni75

Hi Almost 3 years ago, a month after having my daughter I had to have surgery to remove my gallbladder. I was having a lot of painful gb attacks until they cause pancreatitis. So there was nothing else to do but remove by emergency the gb. That's when all my health problems began. For a long time after surgery, I had gullet spasms, heartburn, chest pain, irritated throat, and even gastritis. It took almost 2 years to feel more normal. I've lost a lot of weight along the way but I'm back to a healthy weight now. I eat a lot more things I completely gave up after surgery eating chocolate, coffee, fatty foods etc. I went on holidays and start eating a lot of crap food and now I have this horrible sore throat which I feel is irritated by acid/ bile and I'm pretty worried that because of that I'll get esophagitis . I know people with no gallbladder are at more risk of having bile reflux and I know I had it after surgery because meds such as proton inhibitors didn't work. I'm scared that is bile flowing into my stomach and my esophagus burning my throat. I'm willing to have a strict diet again and try natural things to see if helps. 

Is there anyone going through similar situation I would like to know any advice or ideas you might have. Thank you.

 

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • gilda17265
    gilda17265 Leni75

    Posted

    I was just diagnosed with bile acid reflux gastritis- it's horrible

    They gave me ppi but I keep telling doctor it does nothing - they also gave me motilium as well.

    I'm on a struck alkaline diet which should have helped but not as much as I hoped.

    It started about 4 months ago with periods of extreme stress although I have had episodes throughout my life but it always went away- now it's everyday and has become chronic

    The doctor said not much can be done and an operation to fix the valve is only 50% success and there could even be a possibility of it becoming worse

    It has impacted my life so greatly causing depression- I don't go out with my friends much as I cannot enjoy dinners - lunches etc - I cringe at eating now - it sucks to have chronic acid - heartburn - heaviness feeling in chest and pain in back and exhaustion.

    Bile acid is worse than reflux and so much harder to treat. Going back to doctor soon and hope there is something else can be done .

  • terrie27149
    terrie27149 Leni75

    Posted

    Yes, I too have the horrendous acid reflux as well as globus. The ppi's didnt help. I started drinking organic apple cider vinegar every morning, which seems to help me. Some ppl it helps, others not so much.I asked my ENT if this was ok. He had no problem with it if it helped. I also TRY to watch my diet. That truly helps when I'm being good about it..wink Hopefully you will find what helps. I'd advisend you to read up on homeopathic cures for acid reflux..

    • gilda17265
      gilda17265 terrie27149

      Posted

      Thanks

      I've tried alternative- not much help

      - I will ask doctor if any other meds or what else can be done 

      It's better but not great

      Now going of the ppi will be a challenge but I don't think it helped - either change ppi for a different or stronger or trying going off them which will probably make things so much worse because of the rebound 

      Very depressing ....

  • Jojoann
    Jojoann Leni75

    Posted

    Hi, I just joined this forum and saw your post. I had my gallbladder removed about 11 years ago because I had a stone and was getting bad hearburn that radiated through my back. This was before i had kids and they recommended I do so because it would get worse. It didn't really help much. With out the GB I still got the same hearburn and back pain. I have been on ppis for months and they have done nothing. I am in the middle of a horrible attack of stomach pains, diarrhea and heartburn right now and I am wondering what they will say it is, and I'm eating very little. I feel like I am having a gb attack with no gb. I hope that your dietary changes help!

    • gilda17265
      gilda17265 Jojoann

      Posted

      So sorry 

      What tests did you have if any?

      I'm not really getting pain just horrible acid in my mouth and sometimes heartburn 

      I cringe every time I have to eat as I rather not - the ppi don't work

      My doctor said it's bile acid reflux - I am going back to see him - I am taking motilium but doesn't help- might ask for bile binder pill - maybe ask if related to gallbladder which I have - gave up all bad foods went on alkaline diet - nothing much helps and stress makes it worse 

    • Leni75
      Leni75 gilda17265

      Posted

      Bile binders could work. I came across bentonite clay for bile reflux. I might try that to see. Sucralfate coats the stomach/ throat you could ask that to your doctor .  All best

    • terrie27149
      terrie27149 Leni75

      Posted

      I have bentonite clay. How would u use tht for acid?

    • Leni75
      Leni75 terrie27149

      Posted

      Sorry I haven't tried bentonite clay yet so I don't know if it works or not for acid/ bile. I think it can cause constipation. I've been in a lot of pain in my breastbone and stomach discomfort. This sucks .. I've been taking. PPI but I still get sometimes heartburn. I've never had any gerd problems before my gb surgery and now I'm in a ot of PAIN. Good luck finding something it works. 

  • Jojoann
    Jojoann Leni75

    Posted

    I had endoscopy, esophogram and an ultrasound at the time....was diagnosed with hiatal hernia gerd and gastritis. Just had another round of tests because symptoms kicked up like a vengeance and ppis have done nothing so I'm thinking it's not acid reflux like they thought.

    • Leni75
      Leni75 Jojoann

      Posted

      Yes I don't think is just acid . Do you have stomach pain from gastritis? And what did they say that caused the stomach inflammation? Bile is hard to diagnosed but  I expect that a EGD would show that.

    • Jojoann
      Jojoann Leni75

      Posted

      Yeah, stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhea on top of the heartburn. And I get it when I eat, dont eat, it doesn't matter. It's been awful.

    • Leni75
      Leni75 Jojoann

      Posted

      Hi Jojoann have you  ever been diagnosed with bile reflux ?
  • Jojoann
    Jojoann Leni75

    Posted

    Hi, no I have not. I am definitely going to ask my Dr about it. I am so at the end of my rope with everything nothing seems to help anymore. Is that something that would have presented on my ct scan?
    • Leni75
      Leni75 Jojoann

      Posted

      I've never did a ct scan before so I'm not really sure. I think you should try everything and ask your doctor what he thinks. Have you asked if you can get the hiatal hernia fixed? Maybe would help with heartburn and therefore gerd.  

      I have a huge sensation lump on my throat chest pain and wierd abdominal pains. I've never had gerd before my gallbladder surgery, and now symptoms are so bad it makes me really down and like you I'm tired of being sick and not getting any better I think bile is the real culprit for this severe symptoms but it takes a lot of time to see the doctor and get tests done. They don't even  know what are the right tests to do. I've done a 24 ph ambulatory test with manometry because my surgeon though I had acid reflux and valves not working and that was negative for acid. In the end they never were able to tell me if I had bile reflux. This was after my gb surgery few years ago. I still had chest pain for like a year. Short after I had gastritis too but apparently h pylori induced. It took almost a year to get better because treatments weren't working. And now all symptoms are back almost 3 years later and I don't understand well maybe I do - vile bile reflux 😱 But what can we do to feel better? PPIs don't really fully work. i hope you get more answers soon. Good luck

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