acid reflux\gallbladder - Gallbladder Message Board

eric6010 · 06-10-2008, 05:40 PM

My wife is being treated for acid reflux. Started out taking Prilosec. Now taking protonix 40mg twice a day.She has periods of recovery then back to being sick. Burning is not bad in throat, but has feeling of something in throat.She has burning sensation in abdomen.Gastro Dr. ordered ultra sound to check gallbladder.Anyone else have burning in abdomen or any other suggestions?

eihcet · 06-11-2008, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric6010

My wife is being treated for acid reflux. Started out taking Prilosec. Now taking protonix 40mg twice a day.She has periods of recovery then back to being sick. Burning is not bad in throat, but has feeling of something in throat.She has burning sensation in abdomen.Gastro Dr. ordered ultra sound to check gallbladder.Anyone else have burning in abdomen or any other suggestions?

If she doesn't have the upper chest area pain then it's probably not gallstones and the ultrasound might not show anything. Doesn't mean it's not gallbladder though if no stones are found, just that it's less common of a suspect. The doctor could then request a HIDA scan if the gallbladder is still suspected. The gallbladder could still be the issue but it's harder to pinpoint when there are no stones, a few possibilities would be if it's not emptying properly that can cause nausea and / or fullness feelings. Also, when it does empty some people's stomachs don't close off properly and the bile can back up into the stomach which can irritate it and cause symptoms similar to reflux.

PPI antacids (Protonix is a PPI) have been shown in at least one study to reduce gallbladder function. [url]http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/503676_print[/url]

Alternatives to PPI's (but possibly less effective against long-term acid reduction) are H2 Blockers (Like Pepcid), Calcium Carbonate (Like Tums), and natural items like DGL Licorice Chewable Tablets, Ginger Root, etc.

There are other possibilities besides gallbladder, of course. A Hiatal Hernia could cause the lump feeling in the throat. I think the Doc's would suggest an upper endoscopy when presenting with the symptoms described, and antacid treatment didn't help.

londoner70 · 06-15-2008, 03:13 PM

Your wfie's symptoms sound very much like mine. I just posted a new post in acid reflux forum. I am on 2x 40mg nexium a day, I have burning in the stomach, and sometimes it even hurts when I bend over, like I have tenderness or bruising, it is mainy is the upper stomach, and I also have the feeling of lump in the throat, and loads of mucus in the throat,which is better on nexium.
I saw an ENT who diagnosed me with LPR(Laryngopharyngeal reflux). If you do a search on the net for the symptoms of this disorder, lump in a throat feeling is mentioned,
Has your wife seen an ENT? I have been through a upper and lower endoscopy, but the ENT believes I need a PH and impedance manometry test done.
This is where a proble goes through your nose in your stomach, and mesure the acid, as well as non acid reflux.
The ENT mentioned it is very important to have the test done which doesn't just measure the acid, because sometimes we could be refluxing other stuff which irritae the throat and the laryns, unfortunately in the UK this test is not as common as in the states, and finding aplace where they measure both, is a real challange.
Hope this helps.