Any Suggestions??

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2003
Any Suggestions??
8
Fri, 02-03-2006 - 1:52am
I have had horrible heartburn for at least the past three years, if not longer. I take antacids probably everday...but they don't always work...I have been to the doctor and she said I just needed to eat better...but it seems like no matter what I eat I get heartburn or an upset stomach...heartburn wakes me up usually every night, but sometimes I get it in the morning it often feels like a huge air bubble is pushing it's way up my throat and hurts really bad...also sometimes I jolt out of bed at night because bursts of what I am assuming to be acid come into my mouth...it's like throwing up, but usually it runs down my throat before I can get to the bathroom...I also get stomach pains quite frequently...they vary in how they feel...sometimes they make me feel nauteous and sometimes they are dull aches with occasional sharper pains...I've tried prilosec, but it doesn't work for me...is there anything else to get because the doctor I went to said prilosec was just as good as anything prescription...also I have noticed lately that there is blood in my bowel movements...I dont know if that is a result of this or not...but it occurs almost every time I have a movement and has been happening for at least a month...I've made an appointment with a different doctor...but am afraid that there's just not going to be a solution as there wasn't one the last time...and suggestions???
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2004
Fri, 02-03-2006 - 9:40am
have you tried doing any research on alternative medicine....I take prilosec...although It doesn't really work for me either half the time and I take Digestive enzymes which really made a differance for me at night...Doctors have also told me to try not to let your stomach empty but, I have a hard time with that because I hate feeling bad at work. I also try to sleep on 2 pillows...I assume your going to a gastroentiologist and not just a family doctor?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Fri, 02-03-2006 - 1:33pm

Hi Americaneaglegirl!


Welcome to the board!

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Fri, 02-03-2006 - 6:46pm


Hello and Welcome to the Board!

Sorry that you are so miserable. I'm very happy that you decided to see another doctor. that was going to be my immediate suggestion. There is no way that your doctor should ignore your symptoms. I would suggest that you ask to have an upper endoscopy done so that they can see inside your esophagus and stomach and see if there is any erosion. I had my first scope last February and it was not as bad as I expected. I was having very bad indigestion and lots of burping but not so much "heartburn" and sour burps like you seem to be having and they found that I had GERD and erosive esophagitis which is not good to have. My doctor put me on Protonix - similar to Nexium (the purple pill you see advertised on TV) and my next scope showed it was healing.

I do have to agree with the doctor that what you eat makes a big difference. I would advise you to follow the list of "don'ts" that Lynn posted and also do not drink carbonated beverages or coffee, don't eat for 3 hours before bedtime and do try to put blocks (6 inches) under the feet at the head of your bed. Try to keep a diary of your exact symptoms and what you ate prior. This will help the doctor get a better picture of what is going on.

Take Care!

Keep us posted and/or come back with other questions.

Avatar for ariesgirl26
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 02-04-2006 - 12:57pm

You had another endoscopy done, on erosive esophagitis? I was told by my GI doctor that I couldn't have another one unless I had ulcers, and they said I had erosive esophagitis as well, they were shocked I had it, because of my age. They said there was no point in doing one, unless I started getting symptoms of ulcers. Can I ask where you live??? I live in NH, USA.

Jess

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Sat, 02-04-2006 - 7:33pm


Jess,

We're neighbors - I live in Massachusetts!

Ironically I wasn't even scheduled for the first endoscopy- I was getting my first routine colonscopy last February 8, 2005 (I was 54 and it was time for one plus I was having lots of stomach problems). When the GI Doc came in he started asking me questions about why I was there ( I had never met him - I received a referral from my primary care physician to get the colonoscopy not to see a GI Doc). I told him my PCP sent me for bascially a routine scope but then I explained all my digestive woes including the fact that I had terrible indigestion with bad chest pains even though I changed my eating habits and didn't do coffeee, caffeine, carbonated beverages, lost 25 pounds, had my bed on blocks and tried to stay away for the most part from spicy and fatty foods (I'm Italian and love my spaghetti etc!). He offered to do the upper endoscopy as well as long as I was there and bascially prepped - so I said yes.

My colonscopy showed no problems but the upper scope showed GERD with erosive esophagitis and a hiatal hernia. It also showed that I had had an ulcer at some time in the past that I didn't know about. He immedately put me on Protonix for 60 days for the EE and ordered a repeat scope that time. My second scope was done april 8 and at that time he said the EE was healing but I would need to be on life-time meds to prevent more damage.

Are you on meds for the EE? I would ask your Doc how will he know if it is healed? How will you know if it gets worse? I also just recently had an esophafeal manometry and 24 hour Ph probe test because even on meds ( I am on protonix before breakfast and dinner and prescription pepcid at bedtime) I have random GERD attacks. At my last visit the GI gave me a presciption for Reglan but ?I have not filled it. I'm afraid of the side effects - I'm also afraid of what he is going to say when he finds out when I see him this Tuesday for my 8 week check-up.

Do you see your GI on a regular basis?
We need to compare notes again. Take Care!
Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Sat, 02-04-2006 - 7:49pm


Jess,

Oops - I knew I had read posts from you but didn't realize you had just posted the long saga about your stomach pains. I can definitely empathize with you. I was told that I have IBS also. Sometimes it is so hard to know what to eat that I don't even feel like bothering because it will cause me aggravation in either my upper or lower gut. Sometimes I can't tell what problem is causing me the pain - the GERD or the IBS - it seems they just blend together. the only god thing is that I lost a total of 50 pounds from changing my eating habits and so that was a good thing - although a very expensive thing because I needed to buy all new clothes! LOL

I'm very glad that you spoke up and got an appointment to see the GI doc. I'm sorry you have to wait so long but Good girl! If you don't speak up for yourself no one else will so don't feel bad that you did. As for the NP who made the snide comment next time ask if she wants you to call her in the middle of the nite when you are in agony. How rude of her!

Well try to feel better!

Sue

Talk to you soon!

Avatar for ariesgirl26
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 02-05-2006 - 10:35am

hey susie, ahh okay, at least mass people get taken care of, my GI doctor doesn't want to see me unless I have a problem. I have tried to get referral for boston but they refused and I can't go unless I have a referral. I asked them how would know I am healing, and they said just by going by your symptoms, well symptoms improve and then they don't. My heartbrun is back with a venegance, i got it so bad last night I drove to the store and bought ginger ale, and pepcid ac, extra strength, It did help, but I'm in pain again now! I do go and see a new GI doctor, same clinic, since i need another refferal to see a new GI doctor as well, and hopefully get some answers. When they did the upper endoscopy, they went by grades ike grade A just shows inflamation, grade B shows some erosion and inflamation, grade C you see ulcers erosion and inflamation, and grade D is the worst kind, and that's usually when you get barrets esophagus. i had a grade B and my last GI doctor was actually shocked, because at the time I was 27 years old, i am only 28, so I am kind of young to getting this problem.

I was told by a nurse practioner that the next time i have any problems they may have to do a repeat endoscopy, and maybe other stuff, the worst is surgery and i don't want to do that at all. I don't like going under for anything.

Jess

Avatar for ariesgirl26
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 02-05-2006 - 10:37am
actually it was a male nurse pratictioner.