Gastro reflux disease for 4 years & still ill
Posted , 9 users are following.
My names Emma and I am 17 years old, I want to tell everyone my story on gastro reflux disease.
I've had gastro reflux disease since I was 13 years old, all throughout GCSE's and now through college, I am in so much pain, I am out of breath, weak, I don't want to eat, I have no energy and I have pains in my chest and my upper stomach, since going to my gp from the age of 13 they was no help, neither was all the hospitals I visited, they said 'it's stress from school' I was only diagnosed with GORP or whatever it's short name is a year ago, when I finished school.
They have given me High dosage from 40mg -60mg a day, and they haven't worked, I am fine for 2 weeks then bed ridden for 4-7 weeks, I have no comfort from laying in a certain position I can't get these pains to go, I cant do anything. It comes and stays the pain never goes.
The only way I can ease the pain is from hot water bottle, which got so bad at one point I burnt all of the skin under my chest area from having the hot water bottle too hot and long on my skin, even from taking multiple tablets for it as well as had to re book my gastroscopy (camera down the throat) 3 times because the places they send me too can't do my age as I'm under 18.
I have kept myself at the same weigh 8stone 6 from when I was young I haven't changed, and I have a very good diet, no foods start it, the symptoms just come when they want. The top of my bed is higher by 8 inches and I'm still getting the acid causing problems in my mouth and throat. I'm sick to death and so ill, I can't do anything.
It's ruining my life, please can anyone help me? Has anyone got anything that can help?
1 like, 20 replies
Mmagot emma93878
Posted
Emma I'm so sorry you have to deal with this so young. Have you ever gone to an allergist to see if your allergic to any types of food that may be causing the reflux or your pain? I know my fiancé has a slight cheese allergy and gets immense pains when she doesn't take a pill and eats cheese.
emma93878 Mmagot
Posted
I've never thought of that, I've never had an allergies, that I know off, it doesn't really come when I eat food, for some reason. I've never been able to record any food starting my symptoms up?
Mmagot emma93878
Posted
How long after eating food do you start feeling the pain you talk about? Have you had blood tests for
Any type of disease or possibly cancer? Trying not to scare you but if you haven't had any tests or blood work or anything you should. And how come they won't do the endoscopy? Just cause your under 18 they shouldn't deny you a endoscopy kids get them. Or are you going in by yourself without your parents?
Mmagot emma93878
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emma93878 Mmagot
Posted
Well I've had multiple blood tests, they have pacifcally states what these are for, I recon just to check everything? I'm not sure to be fair, I've had so many doctors trips and hospitals & I know.
I was referred to a private hospital (going with my mum) and I had to wait 3 weeks untill I could have it the day before they called me to tell me that they couldn't do it because I was under the age of 18! Going back to the doctors tomorrow (Monday) to re book.
I've tried that, as well as integestion tablets and heart burn tablets, I've tried multiple tablets as my nan has it, but they don't work for me like they work for her??!
Thankyou for all your help
Mmagot emma93878
Posted
jokow22 emma93878
Posted
haider43332 jokow22
Posted
emma93878 haider43332
Posted
I'm so sorry to hear about that, yeah it's so hard as we'll as the doctors and hospitals not helping or them not knowing how you feel
Doesn't help either it's not good, Thankyou for the message and I'm
So sorry for what's happened.
Wannaflbttr1 haider43332
Posted
I am sorry to hear about your suffering, no one should be allowed to live this way with no answers. I find that the more you worry about your heart and stomach issues, the worse the anxiety can become and it gets to be a vicious circle!! It might be helpful to try an elimination diet which will help you identify what, if any, foods may trigger gastirc upset for you (its sort of normal to see tomato skins in your stool....but there should not be blood.) if you've had all of the heart testing and labs, it is probably not your heart, but may be the reflux causing skipped beats. I have suffered with these most of my adult life and have been told that they are not dangerous unless they are happening every 5th beat or so or giving you symptoms such as fainting, etc. Ask you doctors if you could be have a vagal nerve response to the indigestion??? They are very anxiety provoking though and I battle panic every day!! Also if the medicine you are on for reflux is not working, you might try talking to your doctor and switching medications. omeprqzole (prilosec) did not agree with me and I have had much better luck with Zantac. Everyone is different and maybe what you are taking is not the best medication for you. Once you are on the right medicine you may find better relief. I would also ask your doctor if your problems may be related to low acid verses high....if you look up symptoms of low stomach acid online, you will see many of the syptoms are similar....good luck!
haider43332 Wannaflbttr1
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jokow22 emma93878
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Btw. What meds have you tried altogether? Some start to work then you get 'immune' almost. Maybe you are on the wrong one or wrong dosage? I have had omeprazole, lanzoprazole, ranitidine and then top up with gaviscon advance and Rennies. Sometimes a pint of milk!! Some doctors have said the pain might be coming from my chest muscles, costochondritis. I do a lot of lifting in my job. Do you lift anything regularly? Cimetidine can give you painful muscles and joints so perhaps that doesn't help matters? As you can see, clutching at straws too!
emma93878 jokow22
Posted
Thankyou for speaking to me about it, mine started to hurt Thursday and it can last weeks, I'm suppose to be off on holiday on Aigust the 13th and don't think I would be able to go because of the amount of time I'm in pain, I can't sleep, and the pain is the same as yours! I have to take deep breathes, like I have been running for miles as well as this pounding in my stomach and this crushing feeling in my chest!!! The only this is I haven't lost my appetite to much, but when I don't eat I feel ill and when I do eat I feel ill!!
I have tried multiple omeprazole 40-60mg, gaviston, I've tried others as my man has been giving them to me! Nothing and I mean nothing has helped and I'm in so much pain ??! Integestion tablets, heartburn tablets even irritable bowel tablets at the start as I was 'diagnosed' with that, I've had multiple, I've got to the pharmacists with my mum and brought a load to try out, nothing has been able to settle my chest or stomach, Thankyou for your message!
haider43332 emma93878
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emma93878 haider43332
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Yeah when I go Monday I'll ask is it 100% GERD, I'm sick to death of the pain. At 17 or any age I shouldn't of anyone shouldn't be struggling to sleep, feel ill when they eat or when they don't, have these chest pains and feel as if you are so weak you can't get up out of bed, I'm tired & knackered but haven't been able to sleep, it's ruining my life!!!
I'm thinking of asking about the survey after I have the endoscopy, but I need to re book that and wait another few weeks just to get it done, it's become such a long process and I haven't got the time for all this pain, escpiacally when I'm trying to sort out not just my college but my University as well