Still having trouble

Hi, Joseph, thanks for replying. Yes I've had a few. Mostly normal but biopsies showed " mild reflux changes" which scared me but the consultant did not seem at all concerned and was happy for me to manage things with Gaviscon Advance and diet after a disastrous trial with Esomeprazole. How about you? Do you suffer with this too?

Strange several of the posts show as "Edited" I don't think we have that option so has the moderator made a small change to them ? Have never noticed this before .

Think my phone froze halfway through a reply?

yeah, taking proton pump inhibitors the past few years after several endescopys diagnosed GERD and barretts oesaphagus. in due for another endescopy later this year just to keep an eye on things. i do suffer with reflux and regurgitation after eating and obviously dont go out much to a restaurant or dine out with family or friends as it takes so long for food to digest. can be very frustrating at times.

Hi, Joseph so sorry you too are having a rough time. It involves such a lot of lifestyle changes doesn't it and that's what adds to the anxiety not to mention the awful symptoms and trial and error of medications none of which seem to work. Maybe I just don't give them long enough. GP has told me to stop taking the latest one as it meant spending most of the day in the bathroom if you see what I mean. So now I shall live in dread of rebound and wonder what to do next. I was only on them 5 days but I've been here before. Glad they are keeping an eye on you though. Which ppi did you find the best for you? Do you bother with a special diet or does it not make a lot of difference? The regurgitation isn't much fun always freaks me out. Hope you are managing ok. All the best

Thanks for your reply, Jaisa. You sound to have the same symptoms and experiences as me. Done all lifestyle and diet changes and waiting for manometry. I'll admit that I am losing all hope which is selfish and ungrateful considering what some people have to go through. Sleeping sitting up doesn't seem to make any difference even. Basically I am terrified of medication due to bad experiences. Never notice improvements because I am scared of becoming hooked on something which is giving me bad side effects. Don't feel in control on ppis as they seem very powerful and I've read so much about how people suffer rebound and all the negative things that it makes anxiety worse. I wish they did a guide on what you might feel like day to day on them but I suppose everyone is different. It's hard for me because I have had 2 consultants say they don't think this is acid related and yet my endoscopy histology showed minor reflux changes and ENT saw inflammation around larynx. Thank you for your reply it really helps to know I'm not the only one. Have you found a good medication for you?

I was on Omeprazole for 10 years. I've managed to get that down to 10 mg from 40. I've supplemented with Rinitidine which helps somewhat. I think Omeprazole is ok short term. Some people need time for things to heal. But, no one should just be left on it for years. It is so hard to get off of. And long time use definitely causes problems you don't expect like anemia and b12 deficiency. I haven"t had the experience of anxiety on Omeprazole but I've heard people do. I know its scary having that kind of reaction. Do your testing . If you do try another med. you aren't going into it the same way. You know your baseline and you can shut it down if you feel "off" And by all means don't just stay on it indefinitely if helps. Let me know how test goes. Best-j

Thanks, Jaisa - I'm glad that Omeprazole and Ranitidine have helped you. You've done well to reduce the dose so substantially . My GP has told me to come off Lansoprazole today after I could not keep out of the bathroom if you see what I mean! I shall keep trying stuff and hopefully find a way to cope. It seems to be a trade off - put up with side effects in the hope the throat will heal or go the natural route and put up with good digestion but permanent sore throat and swallowing difficulties. Feel I give up too soon due to panic. Hope all is well with you.

Have they ever put you on a steroid considering your suffering inflammation in your throat? Wouldn't be something you would want to stay on but just curious.

Hi, Jaisa, no, that's one thing they haven't tried. I don't know what else I could have done to sort this out. I 've been to countless primary care consultations, seen many consultants who all said different things, tried all the medicine they suggested and suffered the consequences of being told to just come off things without tapering the dose. It was always just a very sore throat, then came awful pain on swallowing, restricted diet, sleeping sitting up etc, then bad tasting stuff spasming up into mouth. Never had heartburn or digestive issues really until I tried acid suppressants. This has been going on so long that I have got depression and severe anxiety which of course is what they say is causing all my symptoms. No

Sorry, Jaisa I got so carried away with self pity there that I pressed the wrong key! One consultant suggested dysmotility and said that with age the gullet becomes baggy and things can get stuck in it. A GP said that if no inflammation was seen then it was due to stomach contents spasming and a low dose tricyclic antidepressant would help hypersensitivity. I am trying to comply with trialling what has been suggested but by now I am so wary of making things worse. I am currently trying to cope with rebound when antacids and Gaviscon both burn which is very difficult. It is hard to be positive and optimistic about the future. That's enough moaning from me

How about you? You sound to have got things sussed but I expect you've had to go through a lot of ups and downs to get where you are now? Thanks for replying, it's kind of you.

Do you drink milk ? My GP is totally against it and say that it makes acid. I've never been convinced of that.

I have heard that too and I have a friend whose throat burns if he tries to drink all varieties. I tried almond milk as it's supposed to be more alkaline or something but I drink a great deal of milk probably too much but water tends to burn my throat. Natural yogurt too is my one treat so probably too much dairy but if you can't manage food some days it helps. Maybe worth a try leaving it off to see if it helps?

I drink a lot of milk as well.. full cream Jersey mostly. As an insomniac I'm even drinking it at 3 am.

We have always taken yogurt and at one time made our own. Also have lot of Cornish ice cream.

Sounds good to me! I have a little yogurt maker thing but I am too idle to get it out of the cupboard! Cornish ice cream is a distant memory but I used to love it. If I ever get sorted that plus strawberries will be top of my list! My cholesterol is raised but I'll worry about that later.

I love strawberries but only English ones now as Scottish ones no longer make it over the border. When we had a garden we had a massive area of them that lasted all summer for eating and jam and we still had enough to fill the freezer.

I've never worried about my cholesterol or my blood sugar despite readings saying that I was T2. But victory as this week the practice nurse phoned checking on her aged diabetic patients. I said that initially I was said to be glucose intolerant but they changed the rules. I stopped going for the annual check up two years ago and just have an annual Hba1c blood test once a year and had not asked about the last two results.She said that they had been 65 or 8.1 and that is now regarded as all right for my age group as they no longer want to treat oldies as it brings their levels down to much and they pass out and break hips. I said I'll add a cheesecake to my Waitrose order for next week. I did used to be very careful with my diet but lately have been much less so.

You are a tonic, Derek. Anyone who can cheer me up while I'm sitting here wondering how to cope with this burning is a rarity! You sound to have had an idyllic past life and have a good attitude towards your health. Well done for dodging the diabetes meds. Cheesecake from Waitrose ranks up there with the raspberry pavlova and orange that I hope to one day sample again. Feels an awful long way off though. I miss English strawberries so much. Tried blending them with almond milk which is supposed to counteract the acidity but it was horrible and it still hurt my throat! I am sure you're not an oldie, age is a number that's all. I feel like you about diet. If it gives you pleasure have it. Spent my whole life being health conscious, denying myself foods, exercising etc and it's got me in this mess. Enjoy your cheesecake and strawberries!

My life has not been idyllic. If I told you it from 2 to 85 you would be sobbing all night. No matter what has happened one needs to get over it and make tomorrow better than yesterday.

My mind knows that age is a number but my body seems to be on a different timescale.

I've had the burning and can understand how you feel. Have you tried Manuka honey ?

I am so sorry Derek, you seem so positive that I got the wrong impression. Your philosophy about getting on and looking to the future is a good one. I can not believe your age! You must have so much experience to share. Like you my physical health has added about 20 years on to how I feel. When I next venture out ( about Christmas time?) I shall try the honey. Think the sweetness might just finish the throat off at the minute. Take care.