GERD, what were your symptoms?

[Armyofprawns]

I have suffered from upper and lower gut issues for years and years. I have had lots of tests and my gastroenterologist says it's just Functional Dyspepsia and IBS-D but I am pretty sure that I have GERD.

These are my symptoms and I wonder if they resonate with anyone?

Excessively gurgling and growling stomach (especially upon waking and for about 3 hours in the mornings)
Gurgling travels down my digestive system and I often have loose stool/diarrhoea (most days)
Burping regularly, especially after meals/food and weird 'silent' burps which come up and sit in my throat
Full feeling in stomach which is relieved by burping
Nausea
Acidic feeling in base of throat
Constant tickly cough
Bad breath
Sore/dry/raspy feeling in throat
Sore and dry tongue
Stuffy nose
Phlegm and always trying to swallow phlegm down
Often have a bitter taste in my mouth

I had a gastroscope with biopsies in 2019 but all came back as normal.

I take Gaviscon regularly but it doesn't do a lot and the taste of it often just sits in the base of my throat making my feel quite sicky. I tried Omeprazole before but it made the diarrhoea worse so I stopped.

I do already follow a low fodmap and acid watchers diet, I only drink water and am very careful what I eat and drink as I don't want to exacerbate things but it's not getting any better. I am slim and exercise.

I am seeing my GP next week to discuss this. Does anyone know if there are any alternatives to the PPI's which could help?

This thread might be helpful?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5221182-anyone-come-off-omeprazole-successfully?reply=140809454

Thank you.

Do you take anything for it?

I think I have it too
I'm constantly coughing up phlegm and blowing my nose
Tickly cough that brings up phlegm
Constant very smelly farts
Bad taste in mouth
Nausea

I take Famotidine which is an H2 blocker and an alternative to PPIs. Omeprazole made me feel awful, so bloated.

That's good to know, I will ask th GP about that when I see him next week.

@Armyofprawns
Sounds like GORD to me. I've had it for 2.5 years (knowingly!) and have some of your symptoms, namely:
excessive gurgling stomach
a lot of wind
sore throat esp on waking
stuffy nose on waking
phlegmy and mucousy

Also on acid watcher and things have calmed down a lot from when I first had GORD as I was nauseous, had no appetite, had horrible taste in mouth constantly, had more acid coming up in the daytime. My stomach gurgles less now as well.AWD helps a lot but it's no way a miracle 'cure'.

I'm keeping a food/symptom diary - have done this at various points - nothing is wildly obvious though. I probably should stay off the small amount of cheese allowed on acid watcher, but the diet is so limited already it's hard. I try not to have cheese in the evening though as this def makes things worse!

Re drugs, you can ask for famotidine but my GP refuses to presscribe it even when I say PPI made things worse (she wanted to up the ppi - I ignored her). Recently had a PH impedence test and manometry so will see what the results bring. Had an endoscopy 18 months ago and had h pylori so was treated for that (could be coincidental as so many people have that).

Good luck

What was the GP's reasoning for refusing famotidine?

Do you know why your GP won't prescibe the famotidine? I am hoping to ask for this when I go and see my GP next week.