my boyfriend is suffering! - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

alexis760 · 06-09-2008, 12:42 PM

He has suffered with acid reflux for years and it seems like there is no end in sight. Everytime he gets better, he seems to head right back down the road of suffering. He throws up days at a time, and it hospitilizes him at least twice a week every two months. It's gotten to the point where certain hospitals won't even treat him, because they say he is a pain med addict. Coupled with the acid reflux he has panic attacks, I have suffered through that and know that it feels like you are dying. I try to encourage him, and tell him he's not dying and just to relax (things i had to do when i suffered form anxiety) but I think he has it a million times harder because of the acid reflux pain. The only time he feels relief is when he takes really hot showers. He sleeps outside on our balcony to help with the anxiety. We can't seem to go back to normal. Does anybody else have the same symptoms as him? Is there something I can offer him as some for of relief? (He does take protonix which helps, when he isn't vomitting) HELP!

Linda_in_NJ · 06-09-2008, 12:53 PM

It sounds like he has more going on then just GERD. You don't vomit from GERD. That kind of vomiting is telling there is something wrong with his stomach. Maybe an ulcer. And you don't need pain meds for GERD. The protonix is good for him and he should take it daily to stop the reflux. The panic attacks are also another issue. He needs meds for a while to get him under control. Did any of these hospitals ever take tests besides blood work?
Take one step at a time and have him see a therapist for the panic attacks. Once he can get them under control (which is hard, I know first hand too) he can concentrate on his other problems (stomach). Wishing him and you the best. Linda

alexis760 · 06-09-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linda_in_NJ

It sounds like he has more going on then just GERD. You don't vomit from GERD. That kind of vomiting is telling there is something wrong with his stomach. Maybe an ulcer. And you don't need pain meds for GERD. The protonix is good for him and he should take it daily to stop the reflux. The panic attacks are also another issue. He needs meds for a while to get him under control. Did any of these hospitals ever take tests besides blood work?
Take one step at a time and have him see a therapist for the panic attacks. Once he can get them under control (which is hard, I know first hand too) he can concentrate on his other problems (stomach). Wishing him and you the best. Linda

Yeah, he does have a therapist, but i know he is not taking the pills because he says it messes with the acid reflux (or gerd). He has had every test under the sun, i know he gets discouraged, then he finds hope everytime they do tests on him. He can't keep a job because, he calls in sick too much, so he has molina health care (medi-cal). I want to marry this guy, and it hurts to see him suffering. I sometimes get annoyed by this problem, and I try to keep my attitude in check, but it gets tough when he doesn't follow doctors orders.

TEdds83 · 06-09-2008, 06:19 PM

HI Alexis! It does sound like he may have something else going on , like down in his stomach. Has he ran all the tests he could to figure things out? I would leave no stone unturned. I would demand tests until I found out the problem. He must be suffering so much. That coupled with anxiety just magnifies everything. I have really bad anxiety too. I never take the meds for those because I am afraid to take them and I am afraid of addiction. I think therapy would be good too. I am going to look for one myself. I need it. Some of the problems are in the head and emotionally too. I feel for both of you. Don't give up! You both will find some answers! Good luck!

alexis760 · 06-12-2008, 08:50 AM

thanks. He has had blood tests, ultrasounds, mri, ekg, all the abbreviations in the book. When he's in good health everything is great. You wouldn't even be able to tell he has this illness. It drives me crazy to see him suffering and on the brink of giving up. He doesn't believe the doctors anymore. He feels like what he has is not acid reflux. When he throws up its all clear, of course with specks of esophogus lining. He hasn't eaten hardly anything in one week now.