Problems in my chest and throat - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

Kevin_Martin · 03-29-2006, 06:14 AM

I really need help. I need other opinions on this. I am only 22 years old, and my doctor said I have esophagia. He says the tests showed incredible damage for my age. I have waited since 3rd grade to say anything about the pain thinking it was nothing at all. Looked it up, and mainly guys get this at ages over 50. Why now? Every year it is getting worse. Now it's really bad. I cannot swallow good, I cannot eat hard foods without a pain, my chest hurts so bad, and I cannot breathe good. When I swallow, I hear a crack inside of my throat. And it hurts when it hits that crack. I dont know what that is. Anyway, onen thing that might have done it. When I was in kindergarden through 6th, I ate a whole raw onion at dinner every night. I dont know if this was a cause of what I am developing. DOc has me on Aciphex but he said flat out to me, he doesnt think it will work being how serious the results were. I have to go back in for another test in 3 more weeks. Can anyone help me out what to do, or what you think this is?? Thank you. Im only 22, this isn't fair.

Kevin

feistygirl77 · 03-29-2006, 02:31 PM

Hi Kevin.

You've come to the right board. We are all suffering here with Acid. It doesn't age discriminate at all. Babies are born with it and are on meds sometimes within months of birth. Unfortunately with this type of illness it's all trial and error. What works for some won't work for others. I'm in a category where I can't even take any of the PPI's cuz they make me terribly sick. I have trouble controlling my GERD with H2 blockers and diet alone. It's a struggle every day. Don't get too discouraged we are all in this together. We lend support and advice. Just keep on the health boards to try and get some ideas. Don't be afraid to to try things. Like the nurse as my gastro's office said to me once, "You have to listen to YOUR body. Only it really know what it needs to heal. The Doctor isn't with you everyday so you have to be the one to find out what works."

Good luck!
~Feisty

Skylar_ · 03-29-2006, 08:00 PM

Hi Kevin,

Feisty is right, you've found a good board for learning and support. And you are right, this isn't fair. I felt the same way at first, I am also only 29 and don't have any of the common risk factors (smoking, drinking, overweight, etc.). But, I do tend to worry excessively, which can also make this condition MUCH WORSE. It's hard not to worry when you're sick though, so it can be a vicious cycle.

There are a few things you can do though, while also trying to accept the things you can't change. You can change your diet. You can elevate the head of your bed 6-8 inches. You can keep experimenting with PPIs to find the right balance. You can make an effort to reduce your stress level. I've had this condition since last July and have already noticed that my attitude has a lot to do with how my symptoms are.

sammi77 · 03-30-2006, 07:11 AM

Hi, don't know if i am posting in right place, but could really do with some advice right now.
I am from the uk, 39 year old female. mother of two.
My problem is, about six weeks ago i started having a strange taste at the back og my mouth, this would only last a few hours but days later would return, again only for a few hours.
I then started having problems digesting my food and had a lot of trapped wind, with lots of gurgling going on in my abdomen, and tenderness just below my sternum.
This was accompanied by nausea and sometimes i would get pressure in my chest and throat area.
now and again i would get a small amount of reflux,coming into my mouth, and have a feeling that after i have eaten i still have particles of food stuck low in my throat, around the base of my neck area.
for the last two days my nausea and wind problem have lessened, but i still have the feeling of something stuck in my throat, and now have a constant sweet taste at the back of my mouth, which affects the taste of any food that i eat.
I visited my doctor about four weeks ago, and he gave me gaviscon advance and said it was esophogitis, and that gritty feeling , or lump in throat was scarring from the acid reflux.
i just wondered if anyone else had the sweet taste and the lump feeling too?
I must admit this is really getting me down, and is affecting my diet and the way i live my life. if things don't improve i will go back to my docs.
What really worries me is that my gran died of cancer of the esophogos in 1997 aged 73 and although her symptoms were quite different to mine, it is still a worry.
So sorry for length of post, just needed to get it all down

Kevin_Martin · 03-30-2006, 07:32 PM

Hi, thanks for the replies. Sammi, I am having that lump in the throat feeling as well. My doctor has warned me to schedule a Barrium Swallow procedure, and I will be having that April 13th. I hope all goes well. No medicine seems to be helping this. Im not under stress either. I dont know, maybe eating a whole raw onion a day since 2nd grade has made me like this? In 4th grade I had massive chest pains in the middle and didnt know why. I continued to eat whole onions everyday not thinking anything.

Kevin