GERD barium GI results

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
GERD barium GI results
11
Tue, 07-17-2007 - 1:16am
I was diagnosed with GERD 8 years ago after I complained to my doctor about stomach pains and heart palpitations.. I could literally feel food coming up my esophagus. Back then, my doctor told me to just change my eating habits and he didn't prescribe any meds. It all went away after a year or two, but came back stronger this year. Just a few months ago I started have heart palpitations, difficult to catch my breath, bloating, etc. I just had another barium upper GI and again, I have GERD but they also found inflammation in my esophagus and in my duodenum. I was prescribed 20mg of Aciphex. I just can't stand the way the food comes up into my throat and I can hardly swallow water.. the heart palpitations and breathing difficulties really bug me. My question is... what causes this? Its hard to understand how excess acid can cause food to come up into my esophagus. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2004
Tue, 07-17-2007 - 9:50am
do you have a lot of caffeine intake?


cl-beanygurl


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"I was sleeping the other night, alone, thanks to the exterminator."

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Tue, 07-17-2007 - 12:06pm

Welcome, although I am sorry that you needed to find us!


Here is some excellent information about GERD that may explain things for you...


http://digestive.health.ivillage.com/gerduppergi/gastroesophagealrefluxdisease.cfm


Here is also some info about esophagitis that might pertain to you...


http://digestive.health.ivillage.com/gerduppergi/esophagitis.cfm

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Wed, 07-25-2007 - 9:43am
You need to talk to your doctor again. Stress the fact that food is coming up and having swallowing problems. There is an operation they can do to fix the valve or whatever it is called that keeps the food in your stomach. I don't know how invasive it is, but I think they can go down your throat to fix it. Don't suffer. Ask!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Wed, 07-25-2007 - 11:07am
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH GERD 6 YEARS AGO, AND WAS PRESCRIBED A MEDICATION BUT NEVER TOOK IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL IT, EXCEPT ONCE IN TWO WEEKS OR EVERY WEEK. A MONTH AGO I WENT TO HAVE A COLONOSCOPY AND ENDOSCOPY AND WAS TOLD I HAVE BARRETS (ADVANCE CASE OF GERD).
ANYWAY GERD IS WHEN THE FOOD GET TO YOUR STOMACH THEIR IS A FLAP THAT OPEN TO GET THE FOOD INSIDE AND SHOULD CLOSE BACK, IN YOUR CASE THE FLAP OPEN AND STAY OPEN SO THE ACID IN YOUR STOMACH BACK UP TO YOUR ASAPHEGUS AND CAUSE YOU HARTBURN AND LIKE THE FOOD IS COMING BACK FROM YOUR MOUTH.
I HIGHLY RECOMAND TO GET ANOTHER ENDOSCOPY, YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP WITH BARRETTS LIKE ME IT IS IRREVERSABLE AND YOU COULD END UP WITH CANCER.
GOD BE WITH YOU AND ME , KEEP INTOUCH
DEDEWHO
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Wed, 07-25-2007 - 10:04pm
hi,
I have had gerd for 20 years,prilosec twice a day takes care of it,it sounds like you might have a bad hitial hernia which they can do a minor surgery to fix,also gallstones or a bad gallbladder can cause bad gerd or food coming up ,make appt. with a gastro. as soon as you can,good luck,also my gerd went away when i lost 10 lbs,perhaps you can lose soon weight,it might help.good luck.
Brian
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Wed, 07-25-2007 - 10:07pm

Are you seeing a Gastroenterologist? I was being treated with Aciphex for reflux for almost two years by my family doctor but finally had to see a Gastro for relief of heartburn symptoms. She told me that Aciphex offered little protection or healing for the esophagus and then switched me to a new drug called ZEGERID. Unfortunately, because of its sodium content, I had to stop taking it. It was elevating my blood pressure. I was sorry to give it up though because it helped tremendously.

She then put me on Nexium which gives me lower abdominal cramps but helps somewhat better than the Aciphex. I also tried Protonix but it made me crave food and gave me hiccups, so I couldn't take it.

I would ask your specialist about the Aciphex. I never got true relief from it and my Doc said it was too mild of a medication to do any good. She said it wasn't even as strong as over the counter Prilosec!

From what I have learned about this disease, no amount of fats are good for it, sauces and gravies trigger it, eating too much or going long periods of time without eating triggers it and alcohol, smoking, being overweight, wearing tight pants or (bra if female) and consuming too many dairy products can trigger it. Experiment with your diet and see if it helps. I never eat past 7:00 pm, drink very little after that time and sleep with my bed elevated 8" at the headboard side. I swear, you never notice it! Good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Wed, 07-25-2007 - 11:46pm
thank you for your reply, but i have barretts (advance gerd) which is irreversable
and the dr gave me one prilosec,is it better to take 2 ? he prescibed 2 but the insurance
will pay for one so he cut it to 1.
dedewho
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Thu, 07-26-2007 - 8:24am

If your Dr. wants you to take 2 pills and insurance is only allowing one....have you asked your doctor to speak with your insurance rep, to explain the need for more medication?


Too many insurance companies are making decisions that can negatively impact patients and should not be allowed to override what the doctor orders. It is up to the doctor to 'fight' for what he/she actually thinks will help you. How can you both allow a person with no medical training to be making such important decisions about your health care?


I have had to have my doctor discuss this issue for me and with the correct information, the insurance company has always agreed with the original Rx!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Thu, 07-26-2007 - 11:30am

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Thanks for jumping in and adding your experience Brian!


It certainly sounds like you are able to keep your GERD under control, with a combination of medication and keeping your weight under control. Staying in control of our own bodies through eating correctly and sometimes needing meds to help can go a long way to being able to live comfortably.


Please feel free to add your thoughts and opinions anytime!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Thu, 07-26-2007 - 7:03pm
Sorry about your barretts,some gastro. doctors can go down your throat and use a device to stretch your esophagus to help with food sticking going down.On the prilosec i take one in morning ,one before dinner,with your barretts i would be taking either 4 prilosec or 2 40mg nexium a day,a pharmist told me her husband had barretts and he was taking 2 40 mg per day like i was before,i even read in addition you can take one pepcid also at bedtime,i get my prilosec as local cvs when on sale you can get 42 of them for 24.99.In addition if you can not afford your prilosec or nexium the makers of both of those has a help line and if you qualify you can get it free or at a big discount,check it out.Good luck,with barretts you might need a endoscopy once a year or so to check for any advanced conditions.Good Luck.
Brian

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