How common is GERD and how long does it last?

singer1 · 11-10-2004, 08:53 PM

I'm just curious of how many people have GERD and how long have you had it and what do you do for it? Is it possible to have acid reflux and not realize it?

heidi23 · 11-12-2004, 03:23 PM

I would say GERD is more common than you might think. I was diagnosed three years ago, after I developed extreme nausea for no apparent reason. Since then, I really have never had heartburn. My symptoms are nausea and coughing, and sometimes trouble swallowing - and once, asthma-like breathing problems.
As far as I know, acid reflux never just `goes away' on its own. At least if you have a `mechanical' problem, like I do, where the valve closing my esophagus off from my stomach (at least I think that's what it divides), does not close all the way.
If you have GERD, you need to keep in under control through either diet or medication, because if you let it continue, the acid will harm your esophagus and cause a pre-cancerous condition, and then obviously, cancer in some cases.
But there are also new procedures, done with out-patient `surgery' using a laser, that appear so far to be pretty successful in ending GERD, by tightening that valve up so that acid can't leak in through it. That's what I am considering at this point, because the GERD symptoms (and the expense of the medicine itself) is such a nuisance. It would be really nice to not have to deal with it anymore.

singer1 · 11-13-2004, 10:12 PM

It cause cancer???? How long does one have to have Gerd before that becomes a concern??????? Can you have GERD and not know it sometimes? How is Gerd diagnosed? I take Nexium sometimes. How do you control it with diet? I have asthma so I never know if my breathing problems are due to that or now I guess it can be Gerd. Anyway, thanks for the info!!!! I really appreciate it!

heidi23 · 11-14-2004, 01:41 PM

Indirectly, GERD CAN cause cancer, but I'm not sure in what percentage of cases that happens. But I think it takes years of it to get to that point.
How it can lead that way is if the GERD is not kept under control, then the acid that gets into your esophagus has a bad effect on the cells there, and causes changes to take place in those cells, which leads to a condition that if I remember right is called `Barretts esophagus.' Barrett's is a pre-cancerous condition. The Barrett's cells can then turn cancerous.

If you have GERD, I think you would know that something is wrong, but not necessarily what. I would think you would have other conditions besides breathing problems, like heartburn, and/or nausea, and/or coughing for no apparent reason, trouble swallowing, et.. I don't think the breathing problems with it are common - I would say that's much more likely from your asthma. But please ask your doctor as I could be completely wrong.
If you do think you might have either GERD or a problem like it, I would recommend talking to your doctor, and even seeing a GI specialist at least for an evaluation.
Mine was diagnosed (I was 32 at the time) by my family doctor, after I went to see him because I'd suddenly become really nauseous for no obvious reason. When I ate food, the nausea would go away for a little bit but then come back when my stomach was empty. The first thing my doctor suspected was acid reflux. He gave me some samples of Prevacid to take for a few weeks to see if that helped, and it did, so that basically confirmed the diagnosis.
When my employer switched insurers, I had to switch to Prilosec, which worked for awhile but then failed. So then I went on Nexium, and the same thing happened. Now I'm on Prevacid, which has done by far the best job at keeping in under control. I have no symptoms as long as I make sure to take my 60 mg per day. But my Prevacid co-pay is expensive, because most insurers won't have it on their `preferred' list.
If you do have GERD, you need to take your medication every day, in order to keep it under control. Otherwise you will continue to have problems.
My doctor did have a Barium swallow test done on me, where they watched me swallow the dye while standing in front of some imaging machine. That confirmed for them that the valve was not closing completely, even when I was on medication. They can also do a scope test on you to see if there's damage to your esophagus.

Anyway sorry for the long post. I just wanted to give you info because I had to find all this out the hard way. I hope you find out what your problem is.
I should also add that GERD can be made worse or even caused by stress, as can many stomach problems. So you might want to look at trying to get your stress levels down and see if that helps.

vamp36 · 11-15-2004, 10:58 AM

I have had GERD and acid reflux since last March when I got sick with my liver illness. I use a lowfat diet and I am meds for it. I take Nexium and Reglan twice daily. I still have problems but it is more controlled now. If you have it, take care of it or it can cause major problems for you.