Is this GORD??

[nellyitsme]

Are my symptoms GORD or what? I'm worrying myself sick and googling and thinking the worst. I've got an appointment for an endoscopy this Saturday coming.
I've had digestion problems for years and I usually manage it myself by avoiding certain foods etc but it's been getting worse. I'm full of wind, bloating and gurgles and I get acid indigestion and I've ibs too. If I eat a largish meal I find it really hard to swallow it as if my oesophagus has closed up. So I avoid going out for meals etc without taking gaviscon.

I've tried to deal with it myself by looking for triggers. it but it seems to have flared up recently. especially since I've had a bad cough cold virus since Xmas for about 5 weeks. Could it be connected?

Does anyone have similar symptoms?

Could be you have a hiatus hernia. This can sometimes be made worse by coughing a lot. Does it improve if you try an over the counter remedy?

It would be good to get your thyroid tested. You may possibly have an underactive thyroid, or hashimotos ( which is when your body produces antibodies that attack your thyroid) Probably not, but a good idea to rule it out, as one of the things many people with underactive thyroid encounter is chronic GERD and IBS. This because the motility of the digestive tract is slowed down. You may have it and be completely unaware.

Another possibility is to rule out gluten allergy (cealiac) and or intolerance. I know many people can jump on the bandwagon but some people really do react badly even with intolerance. Try cutting out gluten and see if symptons improve.

Its possible you have Helicobacter Pylori very common infection that can cause hernias.

Go to a decent health food shop and buy a top range digestive enzyme supplement if you are not taking them already, plus Betaine HCI. Take with every meal. Buy the Swiss Herbals liqourice sweets and suck them regularly and at bedtime. It calms things down but takes a couple days to have effect. Also buy a decent milk based or goats milk kefir best way to top up good bacteria has much more than yogurt. Avoid grain based kefirs or alcohol. Eat brown grains. Eat fibre rich foods, avoid peeling as much as possible

Try to avoid relying on gaviscon, it may make things worse over time. You need to aim to get off it gradually if you can. You need to deal with the issues that are causing your body to react in the way it is and get out of the GERD merry go round you're stuck in.

There is one school of thought that actually people with Gerd suffer from low stomach acid, something worth considering.

Hi thank you for replying its such a relief to realise I'm not the only one and that is can be treated.

@Somethingsosimple yes it does improve if I take gaviscon
@KingHenrysCodpiece the info in post is useful as once I get a diagnosis and a treatment plan I'd like to try to manage it myself with the help of medication and hopefully wean myself off medication eventually