Reflux - what to do next?

[mimblewimble]

I have reflux and it's making me feel so fed up!

It developed after a mild cold, and initially presented with night-time waves of burning chest pain/tightness. (I've been checked over and told it's not my heart.) Then I got more obvious reflux symptoms - feeling food coming up my throat, sometimes combined with heartburn, sometimes not. Feeling like there's something in my throat at times. Sometimes food coming back into my mouth. Burping a lot etc.

I've also had kind of niggling ear pressure and postnasal drip that started at the same time, which could be a hangover from the cold but I'm wondering whether it's connected.

I've been taking gaviscon at night. Trying to cut out the main culprit foods. Have raised my mattress at the head end. Not eating big meals. The GP prescribed me a low dose of omeprazole, which I've been taking for about 10 days.

I'd say the burning is still there but not as bad, I'm still regurgitating a lot though, it's disturbing me at night, and now the worst symptom is that my stomach feels very bloated and sore, between my belly button and the bottom of my ribs. All of my trousers feel uncomfortably tight.

What should I do? Should I go back to the GP and ask for a higher dose of omeprazole? Could it be the omeprazole that's making me feel so bloated, or could it be sth like a stomach ulcer?! Do I need to be asking for further tests as this reflux has been going on for a few weeks now? Or just stop moaning and persevere with what I'm doing.

I'm so bored of feeling crappy, not sleeping, and worrying about what's going on.

Hi, I have diagnosed GERD, I'm afraid once it comes it's very hard to get rid of again. So you could ask for a H pylori stool test to be done as if you have this bacteria it's the most common cause of stomach ulcers and this is treated with antibiotics. You could ask to be referred for an endoscopy but unless you have red flag symptoms you won't be put on a priority list (I waited two yrs!) Red flags would be - weight loss, over 50 yrs old, family history of stomach cancer, frequent vomiting.

You have my sympathy, I've been on two different PPI's low and high doses, I've changed my diet, quit smoking, everything and yet I still suffer. I had a barium swallow test as my endoscopy failed and it showed no hernia, no ulcer, no tumours, no structural problems whatsoever but in the doctors words "your gastric contents are visibly being refluxed up into your oesophagus, your LES valve is opening when it shouldn't be", the other thing for that is an operation which again they don't offer that unless you are losing weight, frequently vomiting and so on! 😵‍💫

I reccomend the book: the Acid Watcher Diet by Dr. Johnathon Aviv, he describes a specific diet and other lifestyle factors.

I have dreadful reflux intermittently. What feels like gallons of saliva (plus any food I've just eaten) comes up into my mouth and I have to go and spit it all into the loo. It's disgusting.

There's no acid in it. My GP has told me it's acid reflux but I don't see how that can be, as there isn't any acid. Other than that the GP has had no suggestions, as endoscopy showed only a small hiatus hernia, so I'm currently just living with it.

Following here in case I see any suggestions!

All sounds so familiar! I’ve been battling it for 18 months. I got it post-covid with a host of gastrointestinal symptoms and never been right since! Had all the tests etc.
Postnasal drip is a classic GORD symptom as you produce the mucous to protect the oesophagus.
I was on omeprazole at first which helped, but after I came off it things got worse, but then I found out about the Acid Watcher Diet which did calm it, although I’ve never got rid of the reflux completely.
You have to be 100% committed to the diet and it’s only in the past 5 weeks I’ve been 100% compliant and even then it can take months 🤦‍♀️ I am determined to stay in it until I’m symptom free now though. I am off all PPIs as they have far too many side effects And don’t really help anyway (have tried 3 types).

I had an endoscopy about 4 or 5 years ago to check for coeliac disease and I was diagnosed with GORD instead. I'm plagued with a cough from all the post nasal drip for over a week now and have been taking 40mg protozole since last Friday. I'm also taking Ryaltris nasal spray to help dry up the post nasal drip.

Looking back I've probably had it for over 20 years but it was fobbed off as post nasal drip from sinusitis. My GP is going to refer me for another endoscopy once I'm over this flair up so that I'm off the medication to prevent it showing a false negative as swallowing difficulties are becoming more frequent.

I'll have a look at that book - anyone know whether it's any good for vegetarians?

Having a rough day today, had what I assume was a reflux attack this morning - I got a sharp pain in the centre of my chest, more specific than the usual general burning feeling, and had what I can only describe as a 'funny turn'. Just made me feel really off, had a brief heart palpitation feeling, felt a bit nauseous, and then I guess was anxious after all that. I hate these chest pains, as I had this on two occasions before over the past few years. I've been to a&e three times, but they never find anything wrong. This time I had an ECG at the GPs, and she sent it to a cardiologist with details of all my symptoms, who said they were confident it was not my heart.

I believe it in theory, as I have definite food regurgitation going on, but that doesn't stop it feeling like it is when it's happening.