Help....GERD? - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

Jennsie · 03-24-2006, 02:43 PM

Hi all--

For the past several months I have had discomfort/tightness in my chest and throat. I often, almost all the time, feel like something is stuck in my throat as well...something sharp like a piece of food and nothing is there. In addition, off and on and sometimes for weeks at a time I wake up in the morning and have to gag and usually throw up (not because of nausea but because my gag reflex gets going)...sometimes it is awful and feels like INCREDIBLY hot pepper juice or something coming up and leaves my throat sore for days.

I am also being treated for anxiety and initally thought this was part of the anxiety thing, but as my anxiety waxes and wanes this remains constant. Could I be having some sort of night time GERD/post nasal drip problem that is damaging my throat and setting off my gag reflex in the morning? Does anyone else get this? It has been months and I am sick of starting my days off this way. I have an appointment with an upper GI specialist, but he can't see me for another 5 weeks! Help!

Skylar_ · 03-24-2006, 04:18 PM

Jennsie,

Anxiety and GERD can be related-anxiety can worsen GERD symptoms. And what you are describing could be throat symptoms of GERD, called LPR. Have you tried Prilosec OTC to see if that helps? You could take a 2 week regimen and see if you felt better. Also, avoid the trigger foods: spicy, tomato, citrus, onion, caffeine, alcohol. Also, try elevating the head of your bed 6-8 inches and see if it helps, good luck, Skylar

aswander · 03-24-2006, 06:28 PM

Jennsie,

It does sound like laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). You have the major symptoms. Any chance you also have a bad cough?

You mentioned you have bad anxiety. Were you taking any anti-anxiety meds before the reflux started? Benzos like Xanax, or beta-blockers, or anti-depressants? Many of them are linked to the onset of reflux - they can weaken the esophageal spinchters that are supposed to prevent reflux.

If you want immediate relief, you can try Prilosec OTC as Skylar mentioned. But if I can suggest it, I would just call your PCP, tell her you've been getting constant reflux, and ask her for a prescription for Nexium, Prevacid or Aciphex (all prescription PPIs). Take 2 a day, even if your insurance will only pay for one a day. Take them together, in the morning, 30 minutes before eating. Ideally, you should experience 85-100% relief within 30 minutes to 3 days. If they work, you know you have reflux. If they don't work after 2 weeks, then you definitely need to see the gastro, or you need to try another brand of PPI.

I use Nexium, it works great. I take it 2x a day, and I've also been taking Mylanta liquid a few times a day. I was in bad shape before, but I've maintained darn good health for 3 years on the Nexium. But sometimes you have to try all the different PPIs before you find one that works the best for you.

Remember this - your PCP prescribes these PPIs all the time. You don't need a gastro to get a prescription for a PPI - they're like candy to doctors. You need the Gastro for a proper assessment of the damage you've sustained to your esophogous. At some point after your appt with him, you'll go in for an endoscopy - they put you under general asasthesia, scope you and biopsy the tissue of your esophogous if they find erosions. It's outpatient - and the procedure takes 20 minutes. In the worst cases, acid reflux can lead to Barrett's Esophgous or cancer, so even if you haven't had reflux for long, an endoscopy is a good idea.

Prilosec OTC is available over the counter in drugstores, but there isn't a lot of anecdotal evidence on this board that it is effective in treating LPR reflux. It seems to have better success in GERD patients. This anecdotal evidence includes my own experience with it. But it can't hurt.

Jennsie · 03-25-2006, 06:58 PM

Thank you SO much for the advice! Before my appointment on May 2, I'm going to first try the Prilosec for 2 weeks (starting tomorrow); if that doesn't help, talk to my PCP; then if I'm not any better by May, I'll know that this is something I should definitely be seeing the specialist about.

I am on both benzos (VERY rarely...no more than .25 a day, and sometimes none) and a very low dose of antidepressants (25 mg zoloft) for about 6 weeks. This gagging/throat problem started before the meds though and have continued through my anxiety treatment. The throwing up did stop for about a week, which was awesome, but then came back same as always, and the tight throat/stuck in throat feeling has been constant for months.

Sooo....I'm going to give this a try and see what happens!