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Original poster

Does this sound like GERD?

56 replies

Bepis · 04/03/2023 23:08

For many months now I have been getting the following symptoms:

  • upper back pain
  • heartburn
  • feeling like a lump is in my throat
  • choking feeling
  • tight esophagus
  • red, sore throat sometimes
  • breathing feels weird sometimes - not hard to breathe, just feels a bit odd.

Please be kind with your replies as I do suffer from anxiety and anyone telling me I'm about to die will make me panic 😂.

Does it sound like GERD?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bepis · 04/03/2023 23:33

MissShapesMissStakes · 04/03/2023 23:26

@Bepis - I was like that! Decided it must be throat cancer as my throat was so so sore and red and swollen.

It's fine now!

My throat can get quite sore and it looks red with dark veins on it that look more noticeable.

OP posts:
sunsoutagain · 04/03/2023 23:36

I get it all too and am omaprazole 20 mg
I call GORD, Americans call it GERD

I had a endoscopy and it was diagnosed then.
The cough was much worse after covid it's eased off a bit now I often choke very easily

Original poster
Bepis · 04/03/2023 23:37

sunsoutagain · 04/03/2023 23:36

I get it all too and am omaprazole 20 mg
I call GORD, Americans call it GERD

I had a endoscopy and it was diagnosed then.
The cough was much worse after covid it's eased off a bit now I often choke very easily

What was it like having an Endoscopy? This absolutely terrifies me. Can you be put to sleep for it?

OP posts:
Todaynotalways · 04/03/2023 23:43

I had a nasal endoscopy @Bepis due to the coughing, and of course the fear of throat cancer.

It was not pleasant, but it wasn't awful, more weird than anything else. They numbed my nose and throat, so although I could feel something going on, it wasn't uncomfortable and I didn't gag.

Eightiesgirl · 04/03/2023 23:46

@Bepis you mentioned that lansoprazole didn't agree with you. Please can you tell me why? I've just been put on it and am experiencing some issues so just interested to know what happened to you.

Todaynotalways · 04/03/2023 23:47

MissShapesMissStakes · 04/03/2023 23:23

Yes to sudden painful coughing fits. To the point where I'm almost sick. And then suddenly it's gone again.

It's more at night because of being horizontal. Tilting my head up helps sometimes. Also having gavscon or something before bed. It acts like a foam sitting on top of your stomach to keep the acid down.

Same on the coughing until I'm nearly sick. And often completely out of nowhere, usually when I'm either lying flat, or really hungry (eg if I miss breakfast).

Does anyone else have a wheeze when they're breathing?

Sorry for all the questions, I've be struggling with these symptoms for ages, I've had an endoscopy and a chest xray, both clear. So now I'm considering GERD (I know, I should start my own thread, sorry @Bepis@Bepis

Ps I didn't mean to tag you three times, my phone is not playing ball tonight!

Original poster
Bepis · 04/03/2023 23:50

Eightiesgirl · 04/03/2023 23:46

@Bepis you mentioned that lansoprazole didn't agree with you. Please can you tell me why? I've just been put on it and am experiencing some issues so just interested to know what happened to you.

Sure. It made my anxiety so much worse and I was practically bed ridden for months. Made me feel so weak, no energy. I also got chest pain where I ended up in A&E (wasn't heart related but muscular I think). Caused all my ribs to tighten which was very painful, like my ribs were being squeezed.

When I first went on it, I felt so sick like I was about to vomit and also got diarrhoea but that passed after about a week or so.

What problems are you having?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bepis · 04/03/2023 23:51

@Todaynotalways Feel free to talk about your issues on here, it helps us all to talk about it I think.

OP posts:
sunsoutagain · 04/03/2023 23:56

@Bepis it was like swallowing a very small mobile phone or a small microphone and very uncomfortable. You can be sedated but then you need someone to take you home as you can't drive. I chose not to be sedated they spray some numbing stuff onto the back of your throat first of all. It was over in 5-10 minutes.and you sit in the waiting room and then they give you your diagnosis and treatment plan. it's all quite quick

Eightiesgirl · 05/03/2023 00:03

@Bepis thanks for that. I was OK for the first week or so but then I started having stomach pains and terrible diarrhea. I came off it and these symptoms stopped but the acid reflux returned so I've just gone back on it and I've got the stomach trouble again. The main reason I was prescribed it was for stomach pains so I was horrified to read that it's also one of the side effects of the treatment. I spoke to someone else who's been on it and it also didn't agree with them. They were changed to omneprazole and have been much better. Apparently, lansoprazole is known for bad side effects so I'm perplexed as to why my GP didn't put me on omneprazole.

Original poster
Bepis · 05/03/2023 00:09

Eightiesgirl · 05/03/2023 00:03

@Bepis thanks for that. I was OK for the first week or so but then I started having stomach pains and terrible diarrhea. I came off it and these symptoms stopped but the acid reflux returned so I've just gone back on it and I've got the stomach trouble again. The main reason I was prescribed it was for stomach pains so I was horrified to read that it's also one of the side effects of the treatment. I spoke to someone else who's been on it and it also didn't agree with them. They were changed to omneprazole and have been much better. Apparently, lansoprazole is known for bad side effects so I'm perplexed as to why my GP didn't put me on omneprazole.

I completely forgot about the stomach pains, yes it gave me pains, like cramps you have when you have a tummy bug. It definitely didn't agree with me and made me feel so unwell. Going to ask for Omeprazole on Monday to try.

OP posts:
Eightiesgirl · 05/03/2023 00:11

@Bepis yes, my stomach pains are exactly like cramps too.

JustDanceAddict · 05/03/2023 08:59

Yes. I have it and have some of these symptoms - never had breathing issues but they are also a known thing.
see your GP as it can’t go untreated either by PPIs or diet if you have the stamina (acid watcher or dropping acid) - also a poss gastro referral for a scope depending on severity of symptoms.

JustDanceAddict · 05/03/2023 09:07

Ps I’m also on lansoprazole now which GP has upped to full dose of 30mg. Was on omeprazole which worked at first, but then didn’t & things got worse.
I have been scoped as well - I was sedated (I don’t remember a thing) and nothing was found.
apso don’t go to bed within 3 hours of eating and try to sleep in an incline.

Anniissa · 05/03/2023 10:48

Eightiesgirl · 05/03/2023 00:03

@Bepis thanks for that. I was OK for the first week or so but then I started having stomach pains and terrible diarrhea. I came off it and these symptoms stopped but the acid reflux returned so I've just gone back on it and I've got the stomach trouble again. The main reason I was prescribed it was for stomach pains so I was horrified to read that it's also one of the side effects of the treatment. I spoke to someone else who's been on it and it also didn't agree with them. They were changed to omneprazole and have been much better. Apparently, lansoprazole is known for bad side effects so I'm perplexed as to why my GP didn't put me on omneprazole.

Omeprazole is also known for causing the same side effects. My mother had terrible stomach pains and diarrhoea when she was given it but was much better when switched to Lansoprazole so it is just a matter of which your body tolerates better. They also interact differently with other medications so the choice of one or the other can depend on that.

HomeSchoolNovice · 05/03/2023 11:03

This sounds exactly like what I am experiencing too. I also can’t keep food/drinks down. I can eat/drink, but get a very tight uncomfortable feeling in my chest/throat straight afterwards. It goes if I’m sick but is very unpleasant.

Eightiesgirl · 05/03/2023 12:07

@Anniissa thanks for the information about your mother and the medication. Hope she's feeling better.

snowgirl1 · 05/03/2023 12:16

I had silent (?) reflux - feeling of lump in throat, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, cough after eating, wheezy breathing. The consultant I saw suggested raising the head of my bed by a couple of inches - to stop the acid washing into my throat while I slept at night. I did that and my symptoms have gone - might be worth trying that?

OneForTheRoadThen · 05/03/2023 12:38

I think it sounds more like gastritis and/or a stomach ulcer. I have those symptoms and have just been diagnosed with both. I'd speak to your gp about getting an ultrasound , h pylori bacteria test and a endoscopy.

Eightiesgirl · 05/03/2023 14:03

@OneForTheRoadThen do you mind me asking what treatment you are receiving for the gastritis and stomach ulcer and also what symptoms you had? I was diagnosed with hpylori in 2021 and had lansoprazole and clarithromyacin as treatment. Just recently I've had similar symptoms but tested negative for hpylori and have been prescribed only lansoprazole.

OneForTheRoadThen · 05/03/2023 14:22

@Eightiesgirl I have just been prescribed lansoprazole. I'm negative for h pylori too which is quite rare with an ulcer apparently (mine is a dudodenal ulcer). I'm trying to manage it through lifestyle so no alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, spicy or fatty foods which is helping but a bit miserable! I'm going to ask for another endoscopy in a few months to see if it's cleared up.

OneForTheRoadThen · 05/03/2023 14:24

@Eightiesgirl forgot to say my symptoms were mainly burning pain on right hand side about halfway between boobs and belly button. It also aches in the corresponding place on my back. I had a bit of burning indigestion too but the medication has sorted that out a bit and I drink lots of gaviscon!

Eightiesgirl · 05/03/2023 14:46

@OneForTheRoadThen thanks so much for the information. I suspected I had an ulcer when I had hpylori but I was only diagnosed via a stool sample, I didn't have an endoscopy. My symptoms cleared up but it did take a few months. Just recently I have had the exact same symptoms but hpyloyi test was negative. My GP thinks I now have a hiatus hernia but Im convinced I have an ulcer again. I've been given a course of lansoprazole but was interested to know what, if anything else, would have been prescribed for a stomach ulcer, so it's interesting to know it would still just be lansoprazole. I've also tried to lose weight and am sticking to a bland diet but I agree it's not easy. I, also, heard that a stomach ulcer without hpylori is rare, yet I'm convinced I have one, back pain, aches etc. I think I'll end up having an endoscopy, which I'm absolutely dreading.

OneForTheRoadThen · 05/03/2023 14:50

@Eightiesgirl I was dreading the endoscopy too but it wasn't as bad as I thought, mainly because it's over very quickly, about 5 minutes. My hospital offered anaesthesic throat spray and / or conscious sedation with fentanyl. I only picked the latter because the doctor said the throat spray can make you not feel your breathing or swallowing and I knew this would panic me.

You do gag and choke a bit throughout which is normal but unnervingly but it honestly doesn't really hurt and is over quickly. I think it's one of those things where the anticipation is much work than the actuality.

Eightiesgirl · 05/03/2023 15:01

@OneForTheRoadThen thank you, that is really reassuring. I'm so desperate to know what's wrong with me, ill just have to get it over with.