Husband Said "This Is It!" - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

CharBerry · 09-01-2008, 06:33 AM

After being sick for 3 weeks, missing my whole long holiday, husband say's "this is it." He's making me an appt with surgeon in the Woodlands (close to Houston) to see if they can do "something" other than give me the same advice and medicines I've been getting for 10 yrs. I have missed work so much this year and I get 6 weeks vacation! Have not had a single day off that I wasn't sick or had some kind of appt. I can't put up with it any longer. Even on the days I feel half way decent it still takes me forever in the mornings to get all this crud up, I'm often sick at my stomach, get SOB and have this constant PND and cough. No matter what I eat or drink, I must cough afterward. Friday was awful. I got very SOB, mucus was so thick I had to stay in shower for hrs trying to thin it out. did saline rinses over and over, coughed until I think I did do some damage, finally had to take a Xanax and go to bed. This just can't go on and even knowing a lot is my own fault, I'm never going to be perfect, eat just right and timed. Besides, doesn't seem to matter anyway. I want my life back (hell, I can barely remember what a normal life is!)

I'm done. Stick a fork in me. Wish me luck.

CharBerry

MountainReader · 09-01-2008, 10:33 AM

I'm right there with you. Been officially diagnosed for 6 years, though I now know I have had it longer. My latest "flare-up" with the acid has lasted since the beginning of June--that's three months of chronic coughing. I can relate with your coughing side effects as well--lots of sore muscles, but I figure my abs are getting a workout. I have had all the usual tests, and then some, done again--had them done three years ago--and they all showed that my reflux has gotten worse despite medication, diet, lifestyle change, etc... My GI doc said I must have a cast iron stomach to not have more damage from the all the reflux. I have a local surgical consult on the 9th. I tried to schedule an appointment with a local university hospital, but the soonest I can get in to even see a PA is Sept 30th. It would have been the end of Nov. to see the doctor. At at this point, I am seriously considering skipping the second appt and just going ahead with a local surgeon because I don't want to wait that long--especially if they make me re-do all the testing. From what I have read on the internet, I have gone through all the usually steps that need to be taken before surgery is considered. This surgeon is one that this local GI practice uses a lot. My asthma problems really kick in with the cold weather in the winter. I'm not sure I can handle this acid cough along with the bad winter asthma cough at the same time right now. It is scaring me. I just want a whole day with regular breathing and no cough.

flowergirl2day · 09-01-2008, 10:41 AM

Charla,

I am sorry you are being driven to take such drastic action. I can understand it perfectly though and feel sorry for your husband. Like yours, mine has to put up with a bunch of stuff. It is so tough on them!!! In my opinion, WE should be the ones to complain, not them!!!!! Mine yelled on several occassions, when I was choking or couging uncontrollably. It must have scared him a lot. He demanded that I and my doctors do something about it! Yeah, like what???!!! He acts as if everything is MY fault for allowing it to go on. I guess, in a way it is. I still think it's unfair of them to demand that we do something about it.
I think my stomach symptoms are getting worse, not better. At least my nausea is gone by taking two medications instead of one. That helps a lot. So, I have found a little bit of relief from one of my symptoms. I hope the extra medication does not create new symptoms, also requiring a medication to treat. It is a vicious cycle. Have you thought of combining the various stomach and decongestant medications? You have nothing to lose by experimenting. I have a feeling you would have tried EVERYTHING you could think of over the years.

I hope that you will be helped by this procedure. If anyone deserves to find relief after so many years of suffering, it is you. My only advice is to do a lot of research about your options. You don't want to jump in uninformed.

flowergirl

harrywilliams · 09-01-2008, 11:25 AM

Our daughter just had this recently and we were wondering of the cinnamon as well. Seriously hopefully it goes through for you as expected. I also think it could be her allergies to certain foods.

nessie01 · 09-01-2008, 01:26 PM

hi char

im right behind you. go girl!!!, the coughing is exactly what im expereinceing at the moment its chronic and everyone at work is like you are so sick (like with the flu not), dont no how to tell them that its not the flu and it may not improve for a while (if at all)...........i get up in the morn like you and hack away to i get some nice green flem!!!! this is insane, anyway we have nothing to lose with the operation, i want my life back to...........im currently emailing somone who has had the ******** for *** and is dong great,

make sure you post all the details from your doc visit etc
take care

ness ((((((hugs)))))