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I am in pain all the time, and like many that posted, the doctors are giving pills to cover up symptoms and my empty wallet is emptier with barium tests, EKG's etc.

there were suggestions of taking magnesium instead of Nexium, Prilosec (which I take), etc.

I would like to continue on this discussion, because I am at wits end. I have major chest pains, and get it every once in awhile if I dont watch what I eat. I have been being careful, but this latest bout has me sleeping sitting up because if I lay down, the pain it horrible. Feels just like a heart attack minus the shooting down the arm pain and shortness of breath. When the pain first hits, it starts in my jaw. That's how I know it's going to be hitting me in the chest soon enough, so I drink LOTS of water.

I have not had an endoscopy, but have had barium. Nothing showed up and that was years ago. So now I am thinking I need to again head back to the doctor, get another perscrip for pain killers, spend more money for them to stick a camera down my throat (I have no insurance) and try to get this fixes so I can actually lay down. But before I do all that, I would like to hear more from people who tried the Magnesium pills. Are those people still around? HAve they fixed their own situations with the magnesium? Any further advice?

I am 55, female, and if I can get some advice/suggestions from fellow posters, I would be appreciative.

Hi Brenni

Sorry you are feeling so bad....I know you have no insurance but I think you should get the endo done. That will let the docs know for sure what is going on and able to maybe treat your symptoms better. I had one done in Oct. of 06 after three years of dealing with issues. After my edno they found nothing and I was symptom free for months. In August it started up again and I am also at wits end. I have not been eating and feeling weak because of it. But to say the truth I rather feel weak than deal with the symptoms of GERD.

I to live in California and know how expensive insurance is. The docs have me on perscription omeprazole which has helped somewhat.

Hopefully others will respond to your post that can give you some good suggestions.

Hi mskubic and thanks for responding.
Yes, I am at my wits end. I suppose by my post, you could tell, heh.
I am tired. Just tired. Pain like this is horrible. After 3 trips to ER, and bills I couldnt pay due to the emergency visit and EKG's, I know it is not my heart. I have no acid reflux since I live on Prilosec now, but if I am stopping acid, how is my food digested? I think I need magnesium. Something. Anything.
I am bloated, gained weight, and I barely eat. I am not fearful of stomach pains due to eating incorrectly since I don't eat acidic foods any more, nor spicy things. What I worry about is these horrible chest pains. My gawd, I have a high tolerance for pain, but after a day or two...well....I can't live on vicodins. And they just mask the pain, not fix the problem.

I read of other people saying chest pains or pain, but not in detail. Mine is almost center but on the left side. Shoots straight thru to my back. Thats when it is just throbbing. The ache pain that makes me twist my fingers and plead to God Above to please stop the pain is when it radiates across my whole chest. I am thinking this is not GERD. Its my stomach trying to crawl up my esophogus, hence Hiatal Hernia.

My sister suffers the same thing. Her solution (which does work) is to drink A LOT of water..let it settle for a few seconds, then jump up, land hard on the flat of her feet, and force the now full of water stomach BACK DOWN where it belongs. And keep doing it until it does. However, you do that enough times, you are going to jog something that shouldnt be jogged, ya know?

So yes...I guess I will have to make payment arrangements and have a endoscopy. Once that is done, I can then decide what to do next. Perhaps I don't have enough magnesium and that is assisting with my stomach not being able to process what little I eat. Perhaps it is more than that. I won't know until they shove a camera down my throat. Sigh.

But wouldn't it be lovely to actually be able to lay down flat and sleep like a baby?

I actually do not get the typical GERD with acid shooting up I get it where it radiates to my nose, ears and jaw (like yourself). It is horrible because I suffer from severe health anixety disorder and it can become debilitaiting the worry. I also have that swallowing issue as well that comes and goes. I am beginning to wonder if maybe its because everytime I eat I am concentrating on the feeling too much.

Would you mind telling me how long you have been dealing with this. Mine started in June 2003 at the age of 38. I will be 43 in March of 08. I suffered for many years from an eating disorder so I blame this crap from that. I admit I have been under major stress lately. I am in the process of taking my ex back to court for custody and money issues and plus the holidays are hard on me after loosing my 15 year in a car accident in May of 05.

Take care

I think it started about 7 years ago. Then, for a year or so, it just went away. Then it came back. Now, it hits me every now and then. The past 3 days it's been "visiting" regularly.

I think stress has A LOT to do with it. I have adult family members living here (3) and we are all disfunctional. I was fine when they left for 4 days for the holidays. The day they were to return back, it flared up. But if I told them to GET OUT, I would stress out just as much as them being here, since they are family. So...damned if I do, damned if I don't.

I notice I'm having a prob with swallowing, but that just started. Like it gets stuck in my chest, with pain, then when I think Im going to choke and gag, it passes on by whatever hung it up and I'm fine. The weird thing about it is, it's stupid stuff like jello. Doesn't happen often, but when it does I don't like it.

I think weight gain has a lot to do with it as well. I need to lose 25 lbs to be back to my "normal". Since this thing has returned to visit me, I have lost 3 lbs.

I think if stress is reduced, so will our pain. Tomorrow, I plan to call my doctor and make arrangements for an endoscopy. I also plan to visit the healthfood store and get some magnesium. Did you read that thread I gave a link to? Very informative.

Well, I guess I'm the guinea pig now. I did not take my prilosec this morning, and instead took Nature Made Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc tablets (3 per day). The pharmacist was NOT thrilled that I said I was weaning myself off Prilosec..said he didn't agree, but it's my body. (I don't like that guy much. He is not my pharmacist, so that's good. He has the personality of a fence post that just ate a sour apple).
Later today, I am going to a real health food store and ask the people there what I'm to do further. I called my doctor and I will not be able to get in to see him until later on in the week, so that's in the process. Meanwhile, I want to see if this magnesium suppliment does as all those people said in the other thread. I will keep you informed if I drop dead. (How is that for an oxymoron?) :D

Update. I went to MY pharamcist and asked him. He said to stay on the Prilosec under I swallow the camera, take a multi vitamin for the deficiences since I don't like veggies and don't eat enough of them, and if I want, I can also take the magnesium/cal/zinc pills, but stay on the Prilosec until the doctor can see whats going on in there. So..that's what I'm going to do. Heck, I trust my pharmacist more than I do anyone, since he knows "me", inside and out (so to speak).

Whats funny though is....we were dicussing the pain in my chest, and he said to drink maalox...then JUMP UP AND DOWN to knock my stomach back down where it belongs. LOL!! I said I already do that!