GERD battle
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hello... I’ve been diagnosed with GERD about 4 years ago. My symptoms range quite a bit. I mostly get intense chest pressure, feelings of I can’t breath, coughing, sore throat, chest pain , and only sometimes heartburn..
About a year ago I had a flare up that lasted 2-3 months. I was on omeperzole which was like the magic cure for 2 years after getting diagnosed, but when I had the flare up the medication stopped working... so I was put on 40 mg pantrozole which ended up working for awhile up until now. It’s like my body starts to become immune to the medications..
Currently I’ve had a flare up for 5 weeks. Coughing up lots of mucous, chest pressure, feel out of breath, sore throat and chest pain. Diet alone doesn’t make a change for me. I’m wondering if there any natural remedies or herbs anyone has taken that has helped them? I prefer not to be on these anti acid meds forever especially if they stop working. I’d rather find the root of the problem. I know stress and anxiety can act it up for me.. I just can’t keep going through these miserable flare ups that last months at a time, only to have my meds increased or changed which may or may not work. There’s gotta be something better that’s out there. I’m trying to do my research the best I can, but if anyone has gone through this and found relief please share. My symptoms are constant 24/7. I just want to be better! This is the most miserable thing!
1 like, 20 replies
yoli84004 Dee9815
Posted
hi Dee, I really feel for you, I have also been diagnosed with GERD and hiatus hernia, I suffer with much the same symptoms, but when I have a bad attack, it affects my throat and is painful to talk. I was put on omeprazole, 20mg twice a day, like you after a while they stopped working, my doctor told me to stop them and not I only take them for a few days when I have a flare up, I follow the diet, I don't drink tea or coffee, alcohol in moderation, no fizzy drinks and nothing with citrus, it has helped
Dee9815 yoli84004
Posted
is it common for these meds to stop working? i feel like they do more harm than good after awhile. my flare ups get so bad and last months, its so odd. its miserable, i really want to fix the problem naturally.
yoli84004 Dee9815
Posted
I have read comments on this forum that they stop working, like you I was diagnosed about 4 years ago, when I was first diagnosed I was off work for 6 months, I was so depressed, and thought I had something sinister. it was reassuring after tests to have a diagnosis. these are things that helpful for me, I started yoga as I think my trigger was stress after I had an awful shock from a family member, I find yoga very calming, I gave up all the things that I listed previously, ginger is good so I drink ginger tea, Apple juice, gradually my symptoms have improved except for ongoing cough swallowing problem and throat clearing. When I have a flare up it lasts for anything between one and three months, this is a horrible illness and I have found very little help from doctors, I moved and my new doctor told me to stop the omeprazole, he prescribed short term allergy tables and a medicine for my cough and throat but they ran out and those symptoms returned so I am going to go back to see him.
Dee9815 yoli84004
Posted
when you have flare ups are your symptoms 24/7? thats is what happens to me. i will get break through symptoms here and there if i eat bad, but when i get flare ups its constant 24/7 with no relief. last time it was almost 3 months.. there has to be something said for the fact medication stops working.. i too believe mine is stress related. i usually go to my gym class, but havent in awhile because i feel so awful. acid reflux can make you feel like youre at deaths door sometimes. its horrible.
yoli84004 Dee9815
Posted
Yes it has been, 24/7 When I get bad flare ups, then when I start to feel better something will set it off again. It's awful isn't it, I had to cancel a much looked forward to holiday before I had my diagnosis, now I know what it is I try not to let it stop me, but saying that, when it's bad I am so depressed I really don't feel like doing anything. I wish there was a cure but it seems to be trial and error
Dee9815 yoli84004
Edited
i can relate to not wanting to do anything either. when you feel bad for so long you lose motivation. i get depressed too because my quality of life decreases so much. i get really panicky when i feel like i cant breath also. its such hell. The feeling out of breath and constant coughing is the worst symptom for me because it causes panic.. im currently reasearching the best methods to take this on naturally. what kind of digestive enzymes do you take? i want to take some, but there are so many options that im not sure which is best, or if they are all the same.. i do feel that when flare ups happen it damages the esophagus which takes a long time to heal which is why they last so long.
keith52258 Dee9815
Posted
I don't have a flare up as such, but I have acid reflux the whole time. It is miserable. This is why I think you need to be checked out in case you need an operation.
Best of luck to you.
yoli84004 Dee9815
Edited
I take omeprazole for a few days, or gaviscon advance, they seem to help if I use for short term, I drink ginger tea, with honey, I use almond milk instead of normal milk, something that really seems to make it worse are cheese, pasta, bread, so I stay away from them. I think my oesophagus must be damaged as I have this ongoing sore throat, swallowing, clearing throat, I will let you know what my doctor says after my appointment.
Dee9815 yoli84004
Posted
how did your appointment go? im meeting with my GI doctor tomorrow, but was also called by her today to tell me they are setting me up to get a 48 hour ph test done with an upper endoscopy. hopefully that will get me much needed results.
yoli84004 Dee9815
Posted
I haven't had it yet, but let me know how you get on
Dee9815 yoli84004
Posted
i will. they perform an upper endoscopy and insert a tiny device into the esophagus that records the ph level for 48 hours. i take home with little monitor and have to record my symptoms for 48 hours. my body will expel the device naturally. which country do you live in?
frances84775 Dee9815
Posted
I was diagnosed in January and I have acid coming up in my stomach 24/7 still have not found anything to help it, was also diagnosed with h pylori and i have diverticulosis, my teeth feel like razors and my nasal passages are so dry. I don't have a choaking feeling in my throat, or a cough. I feel draining in my throat 24/7 as well, i am really suffering here and wish someone who may have the same problems give me some advise. this is a nasty condition and I would not wish it on anyone.
flo76085 Dee9815
Posted
I have the same signs as you before. The feeling was really bad.
How are you? Getting better ?
Dee9815 flo76085
Posted
no im still suffering quite a bit. i stopped taking my pantrolze today since its not working. my husband picked me up a natural anti acid today, im going to try that for a few days and see how i feel. until then i will continue with a strict diet.
moon53540 Dee9815
Posted
I know someone who used to get very bad reflux when they were overweight and they say since they got fit and lost weight they hardly suffer at all. I had reflux when I was really skinny as well as when I was overweight so I know that this isn't the case for everyone, but if you are overweight, it can make symptoms worse. But if not, I personally find certain foods and drinks can make things worse as well as certain times of the month. Sugar, alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods and spicy foods are meant to be the main culprits. I also used to find when I skipped meals I would get heartburn worse. Chewing a lot is supposed to help, some people say chewing gum can help, although if you try this make sure the gum isn't peppermint flavour as that can cause reflux. I find out of the ppi tablets that esomeprazole is the best. I used to take it every day but now I just take it when I really need it. I used to take lanzoprazole and that stopped working then omaprazole and that wasn't working so well after a while. Esomeprazole is usually what works best with most patients and if you want something a little more immediate gavisc0n double action works quite well.