Gerd, Lightheadedness, and Water - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

ethos · 12-21-2005, 12:22 PM

Long story, but if anyone recognizes this or finds it relatable it would be great to hear from you.

I have been treated for GERD since 03/2005 with Aciphex 20mg. It worked great and I could eat anything but over time my symptoms began to overpower it and my GI specialist switched me to Nexium 40mg in November. For the first week or two it worked fine but once again my symptoms began to overpower it. Eventually I couldn't sleep and felt esophogeal spasms at night so I went to my GI dr. again who put me on Zegerid 40mg at night just before bedtime.

My symptoms have gotten a little better, except that I am very lightheaded. It gets worse throughout the day, and by evening I feel like I'm about to pass out. I am still eating, or trying to, my appetite is very diminished. Even in the morning on my drive to work I am yawning, even though I went to bed at 1030 and got up at 7. I eat bland and sleep on an incline ( as of last night ) but still even drinking water makes me burp and my throat is scratchy and uncomfortable.

I went to the hospital initially when I felt like I was about to fall over and they did an EKG and checked blood oxygenization, and everything looked fine to them. I have never been scoped on either side ( it's never been ordered by my Dr. till now ) so I have no idea what is going on in there. I am 26/M.

Does this lightheadedness with GERD sound familiar to anyone? Everything I've read says that the two don't seem to be related and that lightheadedness fits more with angina/heart episodes than GERD.

-s-

mymeka · 12-21-2005, 09:22 PM

You are singing my Mother's 'song'. She has been informed that her symptoms of GERD (which include lightheadedness) is not symptomatic, but can be part of reflux. She indeed gets lightheaded, especially after eating.

She is currently on Aciphex. Nexium made her even more lightheaded.

I would highly recommend getting scoped asap.

Best of luck,

Lori

kitty.11 · 12-25-2005, 03:51 PM

Sorry it's a bit long winded but I thought this may be of interest to you.

I was diagnosed with reflux (after all the tests) about 4 months ago. Have been taking Nexium for about three months. This greatly improved my symptoms of reflux. The problem was that while I was taking nexium I started to experience really bad attacks of dizziness. About four weeks ago I had an attack that lasted a week and I was having problems even getting around the house. I decided to see if the Nexium and dizziness were related and stopped taking it. After 8 days my dizziness symptoms had all but gone. Then after 12 days the reflux was back with a vengence, so I decided to start back on Nexium and sure enough, that evening, the dizziness returned. Again, I stopped the nexium and have been trying to get by with Gaviscon and really watching my diet. It's a catch 22 situation but given the choice, I'd rather have the heartburn because the dizziness was causing me alot of anxiety, which was adding to my problems. I'm going back to the Doctor's next week and hopefully I can try something else.

To the second message (about your mum) does she experience a sort of rush to the head (lightheadedness) when she eats? - because this sometimes happens to me and wears off after a few minutes. I've been having this for a couple of years and thought it was due to anxiety and didn't realise this could also be related to Gerd.

Best of luck to you both.

jennyVee · 12-25-2005, 04:31 PM

Oh my.... lightheadedness for GERD??

this is unreal since i am having horrible dizziness throughout the day, I thought it could be my thyroid condition.. but it came on suddenly after my LPR got bad, ohh I also get ear pains, when I drink anything I feel a pop in my ears and they hurt alot, I am not sure if i have an ear infection, my lord this gerd is horrible causes all kinds of symptoms that i would never imagine it could cause.