I need help from some GERD experts. I have suffered from GERD on and off for about 9 years. It started right after I had my first child. I have never had burning, but I would be plagued with severe upper stomach and chest pain and pressure. I refer to them as my attacks. They would happen occasionally and there didn't seem to be any ryhme or reason to what set them off. I ended up in the ER several times thinking I was dying. I was put on Prevacid and it worked great. I didn't have any of these attacks for several years.

I got pregnant with my second child in 2003. I stopped taking the Prevacid, because I was pregnant and wanted to limit my intake of medications. I had heart burn throughout my pregnancy which is normal, but never experienced any of this chest pressure. About four months ago the chest pains have come back in full force. This time I also get the pains in my upper back as well as my upper stomach and center of my chest.

After suffering about six hours one night I went back to the ER concerned it may be a gallbladder issue. The ER doctor didn't think it was because I wasn't having any pain in my upper right quadrant. He again prescribed Prevacid and also this nasty elixer belladonna. The Prevacid seemed to help right away, but my problem is I don't have insurance and it was costing me $155/month.

I spoke with my pharmacist about an alternative. He suggested Prilosec. That seemed to work for a couple weeks, then about week three it didn't seem to be having the same effect. I wasn't having the severe chest pain/pressure, but was still feeling pretty uncomfortable a lot of the time.

My doctor gave my a month sample of Nexium. For some reason that had the same effect as the Prilosec. I am now having daily pressure/pain in my chest and back. I'm worried to eat, because I'm affraid it will make it worse. Sleeping has become pretty unpleasant.

I am sleeping propped up, watching my fat intake, cut out citruses, not drinking coffee. My chest and back pain seems to start mid afternoon and last through the night. I'm wondering if the PPI's have just stopped working for me altogether. Prevacid has always worked for me, but I'm concerned that all the PPI's work the same way more or less, now if I find a way to pay for the Prevacid maybe it will no longer work for me either.

My questions are:
1. Do some PPI's work better than others? I see that a lot of people on this site have luck with Nexium, but it doesn't work for me. I guess I'm concerned my problem has outgrown the use of medication.

2. Does anyone else experience pain/pressure in stomach, back and chest with never any burning sensation? It seems like a lot of people have burning only. Could my problem not be GERD but something else entirely?

I'm only 26 and it seems strange that I've been having problems with this for so long. I would really appreciate any advice or ideas.

Thanks

just out of curiosity, what did your regular doc say about possible gallbladder issues? i know gallstones cause back pain. i realize the ER doc said it wasn't that but did your regular doc comment on that?

JustMarried,

I'm a huge supporter of Nexium, as it has been extremely effective for me, but only at the 2x per day dose. When I temporarily switched to Prilosec, the acid reflux returned completely. But since it was cheaper, I kept trying different permutations of the dosage - I tried 2 pills, then 3 pills, then up to 8 Prilosecs a day. Nothing worked, so I went back to Nexium.

Please note that while I have the LPR version of acid reflux for which the standard treatment is 2 pills of a PPI per day, when I was first placed on Nexium, it was on the 1 pill a day regimen, which did not work at all for me. 2 pills a day of Nexium has been the only regimen that is successfull, and it makes a 95% improvement in my condition - I consider that very liveable with dietary modifications.

I'd like to suggest that though you have GERD, not LPR, that you ask your doctor for some more samples of Nexium, and try it at the 2 pill a day dose. If it's a matter of increased dosage, my guess is that improvement would be immediate, and while it is too expensive, you can at least stop the guessing game. If Nexium fails, have you tried Protonix? It didn't work for me - but I hear it works for others.

As for paying for Nexium, I'd suggest you find a job with benefits. If that is impossible, do you have any insured close friends or family members who could "develope a case of acid reflux" and get a prescription for you? The ridiculous thing about Nexium is that it is so easy to get. A person simply needs to complain to their doctor about recurring heartburn 2 times a week and that usually qualifies him/her for a 1 time per day prescription. (Getting a prescription though for 2 times a day Nexium dosing will usually require a specialist to confirm LPR).

JUST MARRIED0620: You case sounds like a mirror to mine. I have been battleing with what they call GERD for the last 2 years off and on. My symptoms are numerous. The scariest one is this pressure I get in my upper stomach..which then radiates to my upper back bewteen the shoulder blades. It feels like somebody has my back in a vice grip and keeps tightening it. This feeling can last on and off from anywhere from 15 minutes to 3-4 hours. It's miserable. Sometimes, bendng forward and belching eliminates some of the pressure. Also, on occasion I get this squeezing pain in my upper chest by my heart that comes and goes - last a couple seconds - then gone. I had this chest pain in bed a couple times where it actually hurt to roll from one side to another - then it would go away. It's scary stuff. You feel like you're having a heart attack. I've beem on 3 different PPIs for over 1.5 years now. I was on aciphex - worked a while then stopped, switched to Nexium - worked a while then began getting a burning sensation in my upper stomach so Dr switched me to Protonix, burning sensation didn't go away and still had these so called "attackes" so Dr upped the dosage to 2 Protonix/day. And, STILL get the same symptoms. I don't know what is next. My gall bladder was removed 1 year ago. So, they tell me this is NOT obviously gall bladder related. They still say it is GERD. I had an endocopy done last March while I was on Nexium and all looked good for me while on that med. I'm hoping the doc will order another one soon to take another look to see what is going on.

Hello,

Thanks for all of your responses. After I wrote the original thread the other night my pain was so severe that I ended up going to the E.R. again. This time I did have a sharp pain right under my right breast. I got to the E.R. about 1:00 a.m. and they finally saw me after 4:00. While waiting in the waiting room I vommited, which my GERD has never caused before.

The E.R. doctor gave me a G.I. cocktail, which did nothing. After that failed they hooked my up to an i.v. and gave me morphine, a PPI, and something for the nausea the morphine would cause. The morphine (which I've never had for any reason before), took the pain away, but I could still feel the pressure. When I was pretty well drugged up that gave me an ultrasound. It turns out that I do have gallstones. They gave me a shot of a pain killer and sent me home with a rx for Prevacid, Oxycodone and a strict diet regiment.

I am little frustrated at this point, because I was in a different E.R. two months ago, for the same symptoms and the doctor "didn't think it was gallbladder related". So, basically if he had just checked into it this episode (which is by far the worse I've ever suffered) probably could have been avoided.

I feel like someone has punched me several times on my right side. I've been taking the Oxycodone and have slept most of the past two days. I have a doctors appointment on Friday to find out the best option for my gallstones, whether it be gallbladder removal, trying to manage them with diet, or breaking them up with medication.

I don't think that I've had gallstones for the past nine years, but I do think I maybe one of the lucky ones that now has both GERD and gallstones. The first several years with the GERD symptoms I was able to completely manage it with Prevacid. I think that if it was gallstones back then, the Prevacid wouldn't have helped.

Any advice on whether to have my gallbladder removed or not? I have heard good and bad things about the after effects of the procedure. Just curious.

Thanks

aren't doctors fun? how could they not think it was gallbladder related! oh well...water under the bridge i guess. my mom, friends mom, and friend, have all had their gallbladders out. my mom occasionally has issues if she eats something high in fat (salad dressing, etc)...but nothing too major. my friend is fine and so is my friends mom. all 3 waited until they had a number of attacks before having it out. i would consult with a doctor to see when they recommend getting it taken out. i would assume it would depend on the number / size of stones, frequency of attacks, etc. good luck. you'll be ok...don't worry!

I have gallstones and reflux, but Nexium has helped me with reflux, and I carefully watch my diet. If I don't, I am VERY uncomfortable.

They aren't looking into surgery to remove my gallbladder, as my gallstones are not severe.

Lori