GERD without heartburn?
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi,
I believe I have GERD but I don't have the heartburn that usually goes with it. My symptoms are a revolting sour taste and sore gums, tongue, throat (a little) and teeth that ache.
I recently had a gastroscopy but all that showed was a very small hiatus hernia, mild gastritis and multiple small ulcers in the duodenum. The advice was to continue taking esomeprazole and I'm seeing my gp when the biopsies they took from the ulcers are back (2 - 4 weeks).
The problem is the ppi's don't seem to do much anymore and I've tried changing my diet and losing weight etc. but it doesn't seem to make any difference.
I'm sure it is acid reflux causing my problems but I don't have heartburn which from everything I've read is the main symptom of GERD so I'm a little confused.
When I see my gp in a few weeks I am going to ask if I can see a gastroenteroligist to try and get to the bottom of things but I just thought I'd see if anyone else has GERD but without the heartburn.
Chris.
0 likes, 13 replies
maria74670 chris93218
Posted
Do you have any stomach aches as well? i have the sour taste and sore throat which doctor said is silent reflux because i don't get the typical heartburn. I also get huger pain like hungry all the time which i think it might be some ulcer going on in my stomach. my endoscopy, colonoscopy on April showed nothing but i am still dealing with this symptoms. you mention you have duodenum ulcers, what are your symptoms with this?
chris93218 maria74670
Posted
Maria,
No I don't get any heartburn but I do have pains in my stomach which I believe is caused by 20+ years of opiate addiction (not anymore thankfully but the damage is done) and the resulting constipation it causes, although it has been somewhat better recently as I have been eating better and using digestive enzymes.
I do have a slightly sore throat but it is much more a disgusting sour taste in my mouth and a sore tongue, gums and toothache.
As for the duodenum ulcers I literally only found out about them yesterday when I had my first endoscopy. The doctor who did it took biopsys (I should get the results in a couple of weeks) and that is as much as I know about that at the moment.
It's funny you mention silent reflux as I have been doing some Google reading and thought it did sound more like that as everyone else with GERD mentions heartburn pain which thankfully I do not have.
They said I have a very small hiatus hernia so I can't believe all my symptoms are caused by this but who knows?
Chris.
DrMkhan chris93218
Posted
The common symptom of GERD is heartburn.
what is a GERD ?
it is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach.
chris93218 DrMkhan
Posted
DrMkhan,
Yes I have absolutely no heartburn so it does sound like something else is causing my symptoms, when I first started having problems 12 years ago they gave me PPI's and they worked brilliantly but around 3 years ago they stopped being as effective and have become more so as time has passed.
I have suffered from 20+ years of constipation due to first a heroin addiction then a long term diamorphine maintenance prescription but am now clean of both and my constipation has eased somewhat but is still not 100% normal and I use senna tablets to help.
Maria in the previous post mentioned silent reflux and from what I have read it does sound more likely to be this but honestly I haven't got a clue and it's just uneducated guess work on my part.
I'm going to ask my gp to refer me to a gastroenteroligist and hope he/she may have some idea what's going on.
Chris.
norma04599 chris93218
Posted
You could have LPR. Silent reflux. There is an excellent support group Facebook page . Try acidwatcher diet, also has a suport group page.
chris93218 norma04599
Posted
Norma,
Thank you for the recommendations I shall look into them.
Chris.
Diva-drea chris93218
Posted
myself was also diagnosed with mild Gerd and I dont necessarily have heart burn, but I was also diagnosed with sliding hiatus hernia and I think thats what causing this acid reflux and you are absouloutely correct about the emeprazole, not working as I take them as well and no difference it makes.
postaldogg chris93218
Posted
I had the bitter taste in my mouth without the heartburn and was told I have silent reflux. Tried a coule of PPI's and pantoprozole finally helped. Dr. wanted me to try Ranitidine because of the side effects of long term PPI use.I had some rebound acid reflux when my acupuncturist suggested juicing celery. I have been doing that for about a month and I am totally off of medication
maria74670 postaldogg
Posted
did the bitter taste went away? i also have a bitter/sour taste with no heartburn. how long did it took for you to notice a difference? any side effects from juicing like looses stools/diarreah or upset stomach?
postaldogg maria74670
Posted
I only experience very slightly in the morning from laying down all night. No side effects from the juicing
moon53540 chris93218
Posted
Do you take any regular painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen? Do you smoke or drink alcohol? Have you been tested for h pylori? All these things can contribute to your symptoms.
Have you had you blood tested for your cell count, liver, kidney, food intolerances/allergies and vitamins and mineral levels?
There maybe an underlying health issue which is causing your problems, I think it is important to ask for a blood test with everything listed above if you haven't already.
chris93218 moon53540
Posted
Moon,
Yes I've been tested for h pylori and it was negative, I don't take painkillers and I don't drink. I do smoke occasionally at the weekend but only a few (10 cigarettes maybe) and I'm certain it's not that. I've been tested for kidney & liver but not allergies or vitamin levels generally but they did test me for vitamin D which I was very low on and so they gave me extra strength tablets for 5 weeks and I'm now taking a multivitamin each day.
I'm hoping to get referred to a gastroenterologist and I can ask them to run tests for food intolerances.
Chris.
j40585 chris93218
Posted
I get silent reflux (no heartburn), but I have a haitus hernia, so it's definitely reflux that gives me troubles. Have a look at 'The Acid Watcher Diet' by Dr Aziz. It's very good. Also, try a bed wedge.