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Not sure what’s wrong with me, can I have your opinions of what it could be?

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charlotte_95442
charlotte_95442

I’m an 18year old female, who has had acid reflux type symptoms for years. I have been on Lansoperazole, Ranitidine, Omeprazole and now Esomeprazole without much relief. Every so often I get these  ‘attacks’ of severe burning that come from my upper stomach. It goes into my ribs, into my back, up to my shoulders, and down my arms. If this was heartburn or acid reflux surely it wouldn’t give me burning sensations down my arms? Is this possible? It also starts straight after eating whenever I get it and tends to ease a little when taking extra antacids. It normally lasts for about an hour at a time. I’m confused on what this could be as I take Esomeprazole 20mg twice a day as well as Rennies and Gavisgon Advance. Any advice on what this could be? Thankyou.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • jason_02625
    jason_02625 charlotte_95442

    Posted

    Charlotte what you are experiencing is acid reflux and by the sounds of it you have a pretty severe case of acid reflux. I am 32 but started developing those symptoms as well when I was 17 or 18 years old and I was on PPI medication for about 12 or 13 years. It wasn't until I discovered a procedure called the linx procedure where it took care of all of my symptoms. I am not sure where you were located either in the UK or in the United States but if you are in the u.s. there are several places around the country here that do perform this procedure. If you are in the UK that is a different story I know there's only a certain amount of doctors that perform the procedure and it's hard to get from what I've Been Told. And there's also a very high possibility you could have some sort of hernia that will cause acid reflux as well. What I would suggest is talking to a GI specialist and getting some sort of testing done. As PPI medication goes it is not the safest alternative there are many long-term side effects that these medications can cause.

    • michael45991
      michael45991 jason_02625

      Posted

      Jason

      I do not know what you have read or heard, but I have read more than one thread here for some who have had operations that are telling people to not get them. 

      It is possible like anything it works for some, and not so much for others. 

      I definitely concur on the dangers of PPi's, I know that these are the go to for doctors to prescribe now, but man have I read a lot about the dangers of them over the long term, especially with the kidneys.

      I have read tails on here of people who have been on them some up to 12 years.

    • jason_02625
      jason_02625 michael45991

      Posted

      Hey Michael with any surgery you have some successful ones and some not so much. The linx procedure has a very high success rate. I know its still somewhat of a new procedure but out of all the surgeries this is by far the best procedure and i cant say enough good things about it. I know there's things to control your reflux such as watching what you eat watching what you drink alcohol and also dieting but to be honest I did not want to go through life watching what I can eat what I couldn't eat I didn't want to do that and that's when I came across the procedure and I would have it again in a heartbeat

    • charlotte_95442
      charlotte_95442 jason_02625

      Posted

      Hi Jason, Thankyou very much for replying. I live in the UK and haven’t heard of that procedure. I had an upper Endoscopy last year which didn’t really find anything but I am not sure if the results were very reliable as I was told to keep taking Omeprazole even though in the leaflet they gave me said to stop taking PPIs 2weeks in advance. I’m not sure if it would interfere with the results of the Endoscopy. I really do want to come off my PPIs but at the moment I can’t find anything that helps even the slightest. What other tests could my consultant do? Is there any alternative medications that are less dangerous? 
    • jason_02625
      jason_02625 charlotte_95442

      Posted

      Unfortunately all PPI meds are the same. All they do is lower the amount of acidity so when it comes up you won't notice it but truth is you are still getting acid coming up causing damage. The Linx procedure is still a new and thats why many people havent heard much off it. You can google it videos of it. In the states the Linx is starting to make a name for itself. In some cases there is a chance you could have a hernia which will cause severe acid reflux as well but with these PPI meds it's a Band-Aid for the problem it's not fixing the problem so when your doctors are saying take these meds take this amount they don't know how to fix it they're just giving you a Band-Aid.

  • michael45991
    michael45991 charlotte_95442

    Posted

    Hi Charlotte

    Reflux certainly has given me many of the same symptoms you are mentioning, and more.

    As Jason mentioned, if you have not been tested for it, it is possible to have a hernia. 

    I do not know what your diet is like, but my problem started in earnest over a year ago now, and the first 2 months was horrendous for burning, and gas pain. However, as I got more regular with my diet, and started taking foods out that are triggers, I started having periods where it was not as painful. I am in the process of weaning off of coffee which is hard for me, but caffeine, alcohol, sugars, dairy, and refined foods have become major no go for me.

    If I stay with my good diet I know works for me, the reflux is much less of a problem, but if I start slipping it starts up again.

    Also, I think for me was my weight gain from taking a desk job, I seem to do better as I loose weight, and get down closer to my proper weight.

    Working on your thought processes, and getting your stress down by breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques are also major helps for the reflux. Stress will send mine out of orbit.

    • charlotte_95442
      charlotte_95442 michael45991

      Posted

      Hi Michael, thankyou for also replying to me. It’s good to know that someone has similar or the same symptoms as me as I found it strange for the burning pain to reach my arms. Regarding my diet I have cut out the triggers that I have found and avoided acidic foods and drinks. I’m not that unhealthy when it comes to food so I’m not sure if diet would be making it worse. I am also a healthy weight. The pain seems to come out of nowhere. Could you tell me your trigger foods that you have cut out as it might help me keep an eye on those specific foods to see if it’s a trigger? Thankyou again.
    • michael45991
      michael45991 charlotte_95442

      Posted

      Hi Charlotte

      For me, from the way it appears so far. Dairy, breads, and sweet crackers or cookies, peanut butter, mayonnaise, coffee of any kind, alcohol of any kind, tomato products, and anything overly spicy. These are just some from off of the top of my head. My reflux has gotten so bad at times that drinking water causes it. I think that occurs usually after I have gotten out of balance though.

      What is strange for me though is it seems to be related to how the motility of my bowels are, breads, and dairy for me seems to decrease the rate of my intestinal motility, and then I bloat, and then the acid gets worse. So much so that I can taste it in my mouth, and my nose.

      Then when I cut out those trigger foods, I can feel my motility get going again, the bloating decreases, and the acid reduces.

      When this first started is when I could feel it in my back, my shoulder, and my arm especially on my left side. Everything for me has almost been exclusively left side. I am still being tested, I am seeing a neurologist this month also.

      You probably know this, but cutting out all stress you can, and worry over what it might be. The worry, and fear has been probably my greatest adversary to helping me get better. If you are like me, and you tend to overthink things, or are forever googling your symptoms, that would be a real good place to start to break that habit.

      Much better to try to find out for certain so you have some understanding to deal with, in the mean time listening to your body, and when it tells you don't do this.

      You may know this too, if you have ever practiced meditation, when done regularly it is phenomenal for a whole slew of what ails your body, and mind.

  • michael45991
    michael45991 charlotte_95442

    Posted

    Hi Charlotte

    Since you seem interested in your overall eating habits, I will pass one more thing along to you quickly that my Nurse Practitioner told me. She also is a sufferer of Reflux problems. 

    Now she told me that she eats how she does, and then just takes the PPi's to lower the acid issue. But those are not safe long term, and maybe shorter term for some.

    What she did say is she gets two kinds of patients, those who want to get to the root of the problem, and actually solve it, and those who want the medicine to mask the symptoms they are suffering.

    All of us who are having this, and other health issues will eventually have to answer that question. 

    I will stop writing chapters now. 

    Good luck, and hope you find the relief you need.

    Michael

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