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My Reflux Hell!!

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I just wanted to let everyone know about my story and just how ill this reflux can make you feel. I gave birth to my second child and 4 months after began to feel tired and drained, general lack of appetite, shortness of breath, chronic rhinitis and sinus pain and an odd feeling down my upper left!

i began getting pains in my stomach, and my weight began to drop. It was difficult to say what was related to post baby weight loss and what was abnormal. I felt dreadful. Then i started suffering with a lump in my throat and difficulty swallowing. Food was getting stuck in my throat and I felt utterly dreadful.

After many visits to my Gp, who suggested I had post natal depression, followed by anxiety. Then the sickness began. I couldn't eat, felt nausea 24 hours a day! It was hell.

Despite my protests that I was happy it was just the feeling of lousiness everyday that was wearing me down, I ended up been put on diazepam tablets first. They over prescribed the dose, I couldn't get out of bed for weeks! I didn't actually know they were valium, and that they should not just be stopped. I stopped them and ended up in hospital for a week. I was vomitting daily. I had an endoscopy in hospital which I had begged for as I was feeling so ill. It showed nothing! They tried 12 different anti-sickness drugs to stop my vomitting....non of which worked! By this time, I had lost 2 stone in weight and was convinced I had cancer. All the blood works I had done showed nothing, apart from low calcium?

They sent me home from hospital and told me to take some more diazapam, I was horrified! I was so weak I could hardly walk from the weight loss and sickness.

I continued to be sick every day for four months, I laid in bed too weak to move around. I felt so utterly dreadful i cannot explain!

Finally, out of sympathy for me, my GP sent me to an ENT specialist to apparently 'prove' to me that there was nothing wrong with my throat and the difficulty in swallowing i was experiencing was 'all in my head'

I recall his 2 line letter to the ENT specialist. \"this woman is suffering from anxiety please reassure her there is nothing wrong with her throat\" He smirked at me, numbed my throat and shoved a camera down it. As a precaution he sent me for a barium swallow!

This swallow was the key to my diagnosis....the minute they laid me back on the bed...my whole stomach contents came straight back up on their screens. I was diagnosed with Gross Reflux and am now waiting to see the Consultant. I paid privately for the following:-

Ultrasound scan of stomach and pelvis

Colonoscopy

Ultrasound of Throat

Chest X Ray

I was put on diazapam, anti depressents (in the end I volunteered to see a pyschiatric nurse just to prove to them I wasn't suffering from PNDepression, Anxietyand anything else!)

I had a week in hospital where blood tests and endoscopy showed normal..therefore I was sent home suffering from anxiety - because their little minds could not stretch past test normal test results!

I actually began to doubt myself in the end, despite my screams that there was SOMETHING WRONG!

I am on 600mg Ranitidine daily and have Pharmeceutical Gaviscon. It helps but i'm still suffering! I also take Fortisip nutritional drinks daily to ensure vitamins are absorbed more readily. My GP hasn't apologised, but now at least he can't blame PND or Anxiety!

I sleep with my bed head raised 6 inches, and eat small regular meals. I drink copious amounts of bottled water only! I have more of an appetite now, haven't been sick for 3 months. I still get nausea, chest pain and problems with my throat and swallowing. I think back to how bad I felt and I can now manage in comparison.

Don't underestimate how bad this dreadful Reflux can make you feel. I was convinced i was going to die I was so weak and poorly!

10 likes, 113 replies

113 Replies

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  • butterfly07
    butterfly07 Guest

    Posted

    Hi

    I have been having all of the symptoms you all have mentioned. Looking back I think it started quite a few years ago but was never picked up. I would go to the doctors with a list of symptoms and most of the time they would dismiss them. I have been sent for a heart scan, brain scan, lots of blood tests. Monitored my lung capacity, chest x ray and all came back fine. Yet I was atill feeling so unwell. I thought I was going mad and the people around me were getting fed up of me always saying I felt ill. I think they thought I was going mad. Then the anxiety started along with panic attacks. Stress would kick them off and panic for not knowing what was wrong with me. On one hand I felt like I was going crazy but on the other I just knew there was something actually wrong with me. I was told I had general anxiety and also health anxiety. I went for cbt and have just finished counselling both of which helped me control my anxiety better. It wasnt until recently, well the last 6 months, that I started getting severe

    Heart burn really burning my throat up to my mouth. I kept losing my voice or it becoming hoarse. I got a cough and sore throat most of the time. I went to the doctors (new surgery) where they said I had acid reflux and hiatus hernia. I think before the heartburn symptoms I had silent reflux. I am now on Omeprazole for the next two months then if no improvement I will go for further tests. I have done a lot of research about this condition and also how the vagus nerve relates.This nerve being trapped or pushed on can cause a number of problems. I also plan to see a chiropractor if these tablets dont work as I have heard they can help with the hernia. I constantly feel unwell, achey, sick, feel like I havent got the energy to do much. I am off work today as spent most of last night awake with a chronic headache which I still have as well as painfil sinuses and jaw. I have had ringing in my ears for years and been for tests on them and it all came back clear. What I didnt realise is that the acid can actually travel up into your sinuses and middle ear. So the ringing and fullness in my ears is probably due to acid as well as my headaches which can be so severe I cant get out of bed. Shortness of breath or not feeling like you are taking in enough air. It can all be related. Now I just need to get it under control to stop these symptoms. I dont think people realise how much this can affect your life. And how depressing it is. I think there are still some people in my life that think im mad and also focused on being ill. But it really does interfere with everyday living. I hate taking time off work and feel like im letting people down. In someways I am glad I know or hopefully know what I am dealing with. It was the not knowing that was driving me crazy. I dont need to pay more attention to what I eat as I think this will help. Im sorry that you are all going through such horrible symptoms too but it is nice to know im not alone in what im experiencing and feeling :-)

    • lindsey08696
      lindsey08696 butterfly07

      Posted

      Hey!

      A year on.....are you better?

      Suffering similar, and feel.like there's no hope.

      X

  • butterfly07
    butterfly07 Guest

    Posted

    Sorry that was meant to say 'I do need to pay attention to what I am eating' doh
  • antony17862
    antony17862 Guest

    Posted

    I feel exactly the same I have had what I thought was a throat infection for last 5 weeks I think the penicillin has made it worse if anything eventhough I felt like I was get better. I have a heart condition with muscular dystrophy. I have had stress with my Dad ill with cancer, but I don't think this is cause of it although it may have added it. I also cannot swallow and feel a bit nauseas . I really don't know what to do. I dread having a endoscopy . My consultant has referred me to a swallowing speech therapist to possibly to have a barium swallow to see if there is muscle weekness. I don't know if this is all related to my wisdom tooth that has been rubbing on my bottom gum and causing a bit of infection . The dentist told me this a couple of months before I developed these symptoms. Anyway from speaking to my own GP she agreed that the throat neck pain etc which I actually thought was glanduar fever is probably acid reflux as I have been having indegestion and a feeling of food coming back up or air burps in my chest. So I am going to try a course of Omeprazole for a bit and see if this solves the problem. Whatever it seems to be causing my throat to be swollen and sore and you can see white patches with red at back which is why I suspected glandular fever.  I am glad you are feeling better.
  • ironsheik7
    ironsheik7 Guest

    Posted

    There are 2 things that come to mind for treating acid reflux. The first is apple cidar vinegar, however if you have an ulcer it could make your stomach pain worse, it worked wonders for me but unfortunately I had an ulcer and had to stop taking it.

    The 2nd thing one could try is baking soda, take a tea spoon of baking soda and mix it in a very small amount of water, the taste is horrible but it is very strong, it a little bit with the baking soda but it cleans you out.

    A third thing is to not eat anything anywhere close to bed time, I'm talking about at 6 pm not a drop of food till breakfast time, not any food not even a small tiny tootsie roll.

    • AngelsKiss
      AngelsKiss ironsheik7

      Posted

      To add to your comment...as I previously posted...raise your bed about 4 or 5 inches.
  • Peckham
    Peckham Guest

    Posted

    Hi I have not had acid reflux as bad as you but I think am getting it a bit too frequently and it frightens me a Lil cos I always think the worse, I do have a family with history of cancer and my brother died of throat cancer. I hope you don't mind me asking what was the cost of your private treatment. xx
  • Jubliss23
    Jubliss23 Guest

    Posted

    I thought I was the only one out there. Have had numerous EKGs, endoscopy, and others that related to checking for reflux problems. Just recently left the emergency!! Everyone (Doctors) says "everything is normal!!!" I feel I can't breath at times, always burping, I'm beginning to eat healthy, cold turkey on alcohol!!! Idk what else to do. Every single symptoms you all are having I am. I'm an 29yr old very athletic, eats and drinks according to the reflux diet!!!! I'm still losing. Only time I find relief is by during ginger tea. Can't drink tea all day!!! Have to work and plus have family with younger kids who needs attention!!!!!!
  • Jubliss23
    Jubliss23 Guest

    Posted

    I thought I was the only one out there. Have had numerous EKGs, endoscopy, and others that related to checking for reflux problems. Just recently left the emergency!! Everyone (Doctors) says "everything is normal!!!" I feel I can't breath at times, always burping, I'm beginning to eat healthy, cold turkey on alcohol!!! Idk what else to do. Every single symptoms you all are having I am. I'm an 29yr old very athletic, eats and drinks according to the reflux diet!!!! I'm still losing. Only time I find relief is by during ginger tea. Can't drink tea all day!!! Have to work and plus have family with younger kids who needs attention!!!!!!
  • greta42744
    greta42744 Guest

    Posted

    Hey, I really understand you because the same symptoms were for me as well when I got gerd.I though I was going to die as well. The doctors couldn't find anything at all, so my family doctors told me that I had depression and wanted to prescribe me antidepressants. But finally I realized what happened to me thanks to the power of internet. BUT HOWEVER, no thanks to the doctors. They really do not know how to work properly. They really don't take their job seriously, so they don't care about other people at all.
  • greta42744
    greta42744 Guest

    Posted

    hey, maybe could anybody share his or her knowledge on eating habits when you got gerd? can you tell me what you eat? Maybe I would add that to my food list because now my food is really annoying me.
  • daniel56090
    daniel56090 Guest

    Posted

    Has anyone have any relief? I started with pain when I swallow. Went to the gi had ct scan with contrast and barrium clear. Lost a lot of weight went to get upper endoscopy had gastric metaplasia (benign condition ) I have esophagitis and after this upper gi everything when downhill. Stomach pains loss of appetite upper back pain chest pain. Now my symptoms are back pain chest pain and lack of appetite and mouth burning on and off. They put me on dexilant it help my throat but the side effects are horrible. Now I'm on zeros which is not bad but the healing is slow still burning mouth slight back pain bad chest pain from the esophagitis.
  • kerry24008
    kerry24008 Guest

    Posted

    I know this is an old discussion but want to share my story. I have a past history of anxiety but 2 years ago after a few years of no anxiety I started feeling really dizzy. I kept telling the GP that my ear felt wrong but she wouldn't look and insisted it was anxiety. She sent me for a blood test that showed I'm folate anaemic so I take tablets every day. After going back because the dizziness was so bad and getting nowhere I eventually went to an out of hours GP who did listen and said I'd perforated my ear drum! 18 months on I get the occasional dizzy spell.

    But in the last 6 months I've started getting some really scary symptoms. I feel constantly sick, it feels like I've had a cold for 6 months that won't go. I'm always clearing my throat of gunk and have a hard time breathing through my nose. I started getting chest pains, tingling arms, a pain in the centre of my back. I have constant acid indigestion that won't go. I have to force myself to eat. My whole body aches and I have no energy at all. This has put me to bed for days on end and petrifies me! I've got a GP app this morning. I'm actually sick and tired of feeling sick and tired and I want to feel normal. It's causing havoc with the anxiety. I'm in a way glad that there's others that know how I'm feeling. I am going to push the GP to do something.

    • JesusIsLord
      JesusIsLord kerry24008

      Posted

      {{{{{HUGS}}}}} I just wanted to say that I am so sorry you are going through this.  I started having this exact thing happen to me about 4 years ago.  It was miserable.  I was really scared.  I too had out of control anxiety too, which makes things 10 times worse.  I often have flare ups to this day, but at least I know what to do now to control them.   I went to alot of different doctors. The only doctor that found something was the immunologist who says I am not optimally producing antibodies.  He said that I have CVID, which helps explain the digestive issues and all the sinus infections I was getting.  He recommended IVIG infusions, and I was approved by insurance to get them, but I decided not to do them.  I changed my diet drastically and can control my symptoms, but often have flare ups when I don't follow my diet.  My diet is very basic....I stay away from all grains (wheat, corn, rice..etc), legumes, sugar, dairy, high fat foods, processed foods, and acidic foods, and eat small portions. I do allow myself some olive oil in salad dressings.   If I do this for at least 3 to 4 days, I will feel better.  If I do this for 6 weeks, I am good go to,  and am able to eat some of the restricted foods as long as I eat them in small quantities.  The benefit is that I am able to stay slim.   Good luck to you, and hope you get some answers.
    • Tasha1987
      Tasha1987 kerry24008

      Posted

      How are you feeling now kerry24008? Hopefully the docs helped you? I myself feel like this I'm sick of them saying it's anxiety, I went back to the GPS on Friday who said I have reflux now on meds for this aswell hoping they work, I want to feel normal again x
    • monica11312
      monica11312 kerry24008

      Posted

      Have they tested anyone for H Pylori?

      It causes a lot of weird symptoms like anxiety depression acid reflux nausea body aches etc.

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