desperate for help! gerd/angina?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Sorry for being dramatic but I'm desperate for answers. I'm 47 years old, overweight but have been fortunate enough to be in fairly good health. Six weeks ago I began to get heartburn type pains a few times a day. Then on my way to work one morning the pains were so bad, I ended up in casualty as I thought it was a heart attack. Ecg and chest xray & bloods were normal so I was referred to the chest pain clinic two weeks later. At the clinic, my treadmill test heart results were normal but I'd only managed to walk for 2 mins before pain set in. I'm now due an angiogram on Friday. The doctor says if this is clear, then it could be a gastric problem. My problem is I've now been signed off sick from work for the past 6 weeks as I can't even walk to the bus stop before the pains cripple me now I can't lay down, sleeping is nigh on impossible as soon as I lay down I get a burning pain in my chest, then a numbness spreads to to shoulders and down to my elbow, I'm off my food (unlike me) & feel like there's a lump in my throat. I'm concerned about my angiogram as I need to lie flat for a hour but the pain won't allow me. I've been trawling thru medical websites for advice and am thinking of buying some zantac, gavisgon and tum tums. Has anyone else had similar symptoms? I also need to return to work and want my life back. I'm on levothyroxine for underactive thyroid and her tablets following my hysterectomy last year. Thank you xxx
0 likes, 24 replies
derek58875 kmg68
Posted
Was intrigued at your history.
You mentioned having an Endoscopy and the results.
But you do not say whether the findings excluded H. Pylori.
Do I take it from your lack of comment on it that H.Pylori was definitely excluded ?
frances02122 derek58875
Posted
derek58875 frances02122
Posted
You are in a very small minority not having H Pylori with your symptoms.
I take it that the test was done whilst you were having the Endoscopy ?
Bear in mind that all four tests have been proven not to be 100% perfect in findin H pylori.
Ranitidine is an H2 Receptor Inhibitor rather than the newer PPIs. Zantac is another one.
Ranitidine has excellent results and less long term problems than PPis.
I take it that you are taking it first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
For a short term pain in the night or between Ranitidine, Calcium Carbonate or other antacids will help. But be careful you do need some acid in the stomach or you will become wide open to stomach infections such as C. difficile.
Take lots of live Yoghurt and probiotics such as Danone and Yakult. They are extremely helpful.
derek58875
Posted
You were not taking Ranitidine before your Endoscopy were you ?
frances02122 derek58875
Posted
derek58875 frances02122
Posted
Your Dr is right. High stomach acidity over time can cause damage.
Ranitidine is one of a group of drugs which, although not quite as effective as the PPI group has less long term disadvantages.
If you get pain between doses take an antacid. Taking antacids as well as Ranitidine is generally frowned upon because you do need some acid in your stomach. but that is not to say you should suffer from damaging pain.
Best wishes
susie54250 kmg68
Posted
derek58875 susie54250
Posted
Yes you must get your Doc to do the test for H pylori. Should this prove positive do not request Ranitidine.
The Gold Standard treatment for H. Pylori is a PPI (a different group of drugs to Ranitidine), plus two antibiotics, Clarythromicin and Amoxicillin.
Thousands of people have Hiatus Hernia without any bad effects or knowing that they have it. Particularly applies to older people.
But high concentrations of stomach acidity plus a Hiatus Hernia can heighten the level of acid and damage the bottom of the eosophagus (the food pipe). The Eosophagus lining is not like the mucous lining of the stomach and acid there can cause serious damage. Not all H.pylori sufferers have this problem as well. It's called Gastric Reflux.
The medical term is GERD.
You can have an operation to repair an Hiatus Hernia. It used to be a very difficult procedure. but recent progress means that it can be done with keyhole surgery.
But I would not recommend it for your mother. She should not have a problem with a Hiatus Hernia provided that she keeps her Gastric acid under control. Far better to resolve the problems there.
derek58875
Posted
Sorry - I can't remember.
Did the Endoscopy show that she had a Hiatus Hernia ?