Any experience with GERD on the board?

Vince, Pt. II · 08-10-2021, 07:44 PM

Fun times on a vacation to Zion National Park in Utah, checked myself into the hospital yesterday with chest pain. Thankfully, no cardiac events, but the likely culprit seems to be GERD (acid reflux). The discomfort / pain is real and constant, and I would love any tips any of y'all have for dealing with it.

I'm 40, 5'10", 230 lbs, so definitely going to use this as a wakeup call to get back on the fitness train, but would love in-the-moment tips to deal with this as it's happening. Any time I'm not standing straight up, the discomfort is brutal. Sleeping last night was crazy rough; finally got so exhausted that I managed it sitting straight up on the couch.

JPhillips · 08-10-2021, 07:57 PM

OTC Omeprazole works well for me.

Mota · 08-10-2021, 08:46 PM

Hey Vince, sorry to hear about your issues. I know all about it.

Be careful about taking drugs. My wife was put on proton pump inhibitors for severe acid reflux. Her esophagus actually is open, it doesn't close fully, so the acid goes all the way up her throat and she'll often have a sore throat. Often feels like a pill is stuck in your throat, and she'd occasionally feel like she was having a heart attack, the pain was pretty strong.

The PPI did help her, but after 3 years she was feeling constantly tired. She went and got tested, and turns out her kidneys were only operating at 50% capacity. It was actually considered to be stage 3 kidney disease, and there was a life expectancy attached to it. Very scary. The PPI medication was only supposed to be prescribed for 6 weeks, however all the doctors just issue them forever. Of course the doctor did not agree that this was the issue, as it would have implicated her.

She ended up going to see a naturopath, who put her on a ton of probiotics and digestive enzymes, and it has done the same job without the kidney-killing.

Thankfully after coming off the medication, her kidneys eventually went back to full function.

QuikSand · 08-10-2021, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mota

Often feels like a pill is stuck in your throat...

I don't have a very firm diagnosis, but I have experienced something similar. Mine feels precisely like I have half-swallowed something plastic, like a small candy wrapper, and it's caught in my throat without being movable either direction. In the moment, frequently half-asleep, it's awful.

I have found a variety of people in various online places describing their symptom exactly the way I do mine, so it's apparently not unique... I have taken low-end antacids and that seems to have managed it to being pretty rare. So, it likely connected to GERD or something related. My doctor is very leery of higher end long term medications like the omeprazole that I took for a while, but lower end stuff like Tums equivalents seem to be okay.

weegeebored · 08-10-2021, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Fun times on a vacation to Zion National Park in Utah, checked myself into the hospital yesterday with chest pain. Thankfully, no cardiac events, but the likely culprit seems to be GERD (acid reflux). The discomfort / pain is real and constant, and I would love any tips any of y'all have for dealing with it.

I have been dealing with GERD for 20+ years. Symptoms can vary from person to person. For example, I rarely experienced any heartburn. I also have a hiatal hernia which makes things even worse. The chest pain description sounds more like my hernia as opposed to the reflux. Here are some suggestions for the GERD, though:

NO late night eating/snacking. Finish your food intake at least three hours before you go to sleep. (And try not to overeat at dinner time.)
Cut down on food/drink that will produce more acid -- tomato sauces, spicy foods, alcohol, etc.
Generic Protonix works ok, but the medication that worked the best for me was Dexilant.

If your symptoms persist you might need an upper endoscopy so the specialist can assess the damage (if any). It's a PITA to live with but certainly manageable. Just don't let it get out of hand by reverting back to the bad habits when you start to feel better. Ask me how I know...

Vince, Pt. II · 08-10-2021, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the responses, all. Hospital doc prescribed me Pantoprazole, which seems to be very similar to Omeprazole and is one of the PPI's Mota mentioned.

I've had this very odd muscle cluster in my upper abdomen for the last year+ when I am lying down and flex my abs to get up; I wonder if that's an indication of a Hiatal Hernia like you describe, weegeebored. Nominal google searches link GERD and hiatal hernias often.

Also, cutting down on spicy food, tomato based food, and alcohol is going to be extremely disappointing. Sounds like citrus is on the avoid list as well.

panerd · 08-11-2021, 10:09 AM

GERD sufferer here, actually turned into a pre-cancer digestive disease called Barrett's Esophagus and was treated with an ablation procedure. My brother (who is polar opposites with hypochondriac me and sees the doctor for nothing) actually went from GERD to esophageal cancer. Luckily he is in remission but had to have 1/3 of his esophagus removed. Basically saying that even though a fairly large percentage of people have GERD aint no joke and can devolve quickly if not treated and lifestyle changes aren't made.

Couple of thoughts...
1) Definitely don't eat anything or drink much 3-4 hours before you go to bed. I still drink alcohol but cutting down on the eating has made a huge difference. On a recent vacation our flight got really screwed up and we had to eat late at night and it was one of the worst nights I have had in a long time.

2) Look into either raising your bed or at least getting a wedge like pillow and sleep on your left side if you can. (I got one on Amazon for like 50 bucks) It will make a huge difference.

3) Tomatoes, pizza, peppermint gum, alcohol, and dairy are for sure my biggest triggers. I think the varies from person to person but once you find yours it really is best to completely cut it out. Like I said I didn't cut out the drinking but have cut the others significantly.

4) Kind of torn on the omeprazole. I do take it every day and so does my brother. I have read it definitely can cause other problems but fill like most drugs this gets the "big-pharma = bad" stigma that a lot of drugs get with anecdotal evidence but has been a life changer for me and my brother.

This is going to sound dumb or obvious but clearly is the struggle most of us with GERD have. I am 5'11" and when I weigh 220-230 my symptoms are the worst and when I weigh 185-190 my symptoms are almost non-existent. Wish there was a magic wand to keep me from fluctuating but so is the battle with any bad habit. Controlling your weight and diet is the key.

Lathum · 08-11-2021, 10:14 AM

I had a similar episode a couple months back, hospital and everything. Scared the crap out of me as I stay in relatively decent shape (6-2, 208), but I'm 46.. They gave me Omeprazole and it worked great after a couple days. I am going to see a gastro when I get back from vaca to rule out anything else. As others have said, pay really close attention to what you eat. Prilosec also helped a ton for short term.

Honolulu_Blue · 08-11-2021, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weegeebored

I have been dealing with GERD for 20+ years. Symptoms can vary from person to person. For example, I rarely experienced any heartburn. I also have a hiatal hernia which makes things even worse. The chest pain description sounds more like my hernia as opposed to the reflux. Here are some suggestions for the GERD, though:

NO late night eating/snacking. Finish your food intake at least three hours before you go to sleep. (And try not to overeat at dinner time.)
Cut down on food/drink that will produce more acid -- tomato sauces, spicy foods, alcohol, etc.
Generic Protonix works ok, but the medication that worked the best for me was Dexilant.

If your symptoms persist you might need an upper endoscopy so the specialist can assess the damage (if any). It's a PITA to live with but certainly manageable. Just don't let it get out of hand by reverting back to the bad habits when you start to feel better. Ask me how I know...

This is all very solid advice.

I've suffered from GERD for a long time now. I remember getting heart burn when I was 13 after eating pizza. I'd call it the "pizza sauce feeling."

It wasn't until I was a little after 30 that I finally got it diagnosed and started taking Ommeprazole. I've been taking it every day since for the last 17 years. It keeps the pain away, though sometimes I do have to supplement with some Tums from time to time. I'm not great at avoiding the foods I should avoid (I love coffee and beer) and often eat closer to bedtime than I should.

I do get regular endoscopies. I can't stress the importance of doing this enough if you suffer from GERD. I was diagnoses with Barret's Esophagus, which is when your esophagus starts to create stomach lining in an attempt to protect against the stomach acid. It's a pre-cancerous condition. Just recently I had a procedure where my GI ablated the Barret's from my esophagus. It was uncomfortable, but I was happy to get it removed, especially after my brother had esophageal cancer.

albionmoonlight · 08-11-2021, 02:43 PM

It can get very specific. My wife manages hers with Omeprazole capsules. But the Omeprazole caplets don't help much.

JonInMiddleGA · 08-11-2021, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Hospital doc prescribed me Pantoprazole

Well I wasn't expecting to see that pop up on FOFC.

That's the stomach med the doc has my wife taking (1x / day, mornings with breakfast).

It's to try to counter the somewhat common stomach bleeding that's associated with her heart medication.

Vince, Pt. II · 08-11-2021, 03:47 PM

Glad to have sparked this conversation, sounds like there are plenty of GERD sufferers here.

Turns out I'm not actually one of them.

More severe chest pain early this morning and an ambulance ride later gave me a quick trip back to the hospital, where they gave me an angiogram and diagnosed me with pericarditis. They're going to keep me on the Pantoprazole they prescribed when they thought it was GERD, because it's going to help counteract some of the side effects of the other meds they have prescribed me (ibuprofen and colchisine). I'll be following up with a cardiologist when I get back home.

08-10-2021, 07:57 PM	#2
JPhillips Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Newburgh, NY	OTC Omeprazole works well for me. __________________ To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers

08-10-2021, 08:46 PM	#3
Mota College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jan 2001	Hey Vince, sorry to hear about your issues. I know all about it. Be careful about taking drugs. My wife was put on proton pump inhibitors for severe acid reflux. Her esophagus actually is open, it doesn't close fully, so the acid goes all the way up her throat and she'll often have a sore throat. Often feels like a pill is stuck in your throat, and she'd occasionally feel like she was having a heart attack, the pain was pretty strong. The PPI did help her, but after 3 years she was feeling constantly tired. She went and got tested, and turns out her kidneys were only operating at 50% capacity. It was actually considered to be stage 3 kidney disease, and there was a life expectancy attached to it. Very scary. The PPI medication was only supposed to be prescribed for 6 weeks, however all the doctors just issue them forever. Of course the doctor did not agree that this was the issue, as it would have implicated her. She ended up going to see a naturopath, who put her on a ton of probiotics and digestive enzymes, and it has done the same job without the kidney-killing. Thankfully after coming off the medication, her kidneys eventually went back to full function.

08-10-2021, 10:22 PM	#6
Vince, Pt. II Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Somewhere More Familiar	Thanks for the responses, all. Hospital doc prescribed me Pantoprazole, which seems to be very similar to Omeprazole and is one of the PPI's Mota mentioned. I've had this very odd muscle cluster in my upper abdomen for the last year+ when I am lying down and flex my abs to get up; I wonder if that's an indication of a Hiatal Hernia like you describe, weegeebored. Nominal google searches link GERD and hiatal hernias often. Also, cutting down on spicy food, tomato based food, and alcohol is going to be extremely disappointing. Sounds like citrus is on the avoid list as well.

08-11-2021, 10:09 AM	#7
panerd Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: St. Louis	GERD sufferer here, actually turned into a pre-cancer digestive disease called Barrett's Esophagus and was treated with an ablation procedure. My brother (who is polar opposites with hypochondriac me and sees the doctor for nothing) actually went from GERD to esophageal cancer. Luckily he is in remission but had to have 1/3 of his esophagus removed. Basically saying that even though a fairly large percentage of people have GERD aint no joke and can devolve quickly if not treated and lifestyle changes aren't made. Couple of thoughts... 1) Definitely don't eat anything or drink much 3-4 hours before you go to bed. I still drink alcohol but cutting down on the eating has made a huge difference. On a recent vacation our flight got really screwed up and we had to eat late at night and it was one of the worst nights I have had in a long time. 2) Look into either raising your bed or at least getting a wedge like pillow and sleep on your left side if you can. (I got one on Amazon for like 50 bucks) It will make a huge difference. 3) Tomatoes, pizza, peppermint gum, alcohol, and dairy are for sure my biggest triggers. I think the varies from person to person but once you find yours it really is best to completely cut it out. Like I said I didn't cut out the drinking but have cut the others significantly. 4) Kind of torn on the omeprazole. I do take it every day and so does my brother. I have read it definitely can cause other problems but fill like most drugs this gets the "big-pharma = bad" stigma that a lot of drugs get with anecdotal evidence but has been a life changer for me and my brother. This is going to sound dumb or obvious but clearly is the struggle most of us with GERD have. I am 5'11" and when I weigh 220-230 my symptoms are the worst and when I weigh 185-190 my symptoms are almost non-existent. Wish there was a magic wand to keep me from fluctuating but so is the battle with any bad habit. Controlling your weight and diet is the key.

08-11-2021, 10:14 AM	#8
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	I had a similar episode a couple months back, hospital and everything. Scared the crap out of me as I stay in relatively decent shape (6-2, 208), but I'm 46.. They gave me Omeprazole and it worked great after a couple days. I am going to see a gastro when I get back from vaca to rule out anything else. As others have said, pay really close attention to what you eat. Prilosec also helped a ton for short term.

08-11-2021, 02:43 PM	#10
albionmoonlight Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	It can get very specific. My wife manages hers with Omeprazole capsules. But the Omeprazole caplets don't help much.

08-11-2021, 03:47 PM	#12
Vince, Pt. II Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Somewhere More Familiar	Glad to have sparked this conversation, sounds like there are plenty of GERD sufferers here. Turns out I'm not actually one of them. More severe chest pain early this morning and an ambulance ride later gave me a quick trip back to the hospital, where they gave me an angiogram and diagnosed me with pericarditis. They're going to keep me on the Pantoprazole they prescribed when they thought it was GERD, because it's going to help counteract some of the side effects of the other meds they have prescribed me (ibuprofen and colchisine). I'll be following up with a cardiologist when I get back home.

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