Ruggie's really horrible acid reflux - anyone experience this?

I'm totally raising my hand on this one.

I had reflux before surgery, but it was killing me afterwards.  I was familiar with that chest constriction feeling and the pain.  Luckily I still had some pain killers and got into my doc asap.  Went in for another upper scope (had one before) and told me it was reflux and a very small hiatial hernia.

I am on a Nexium solution, H2 blocker (zantac) and carafate.  Even then, I have to be very careful what I eat.  I've lost about 60lbs in 3 months (only 40 more to go!), so it is worth it for me.

If your mix of drugs don't work, keep checking back with your GI specialist.  NOTHING works for me except nexium...others have different things that work for them.

Hope you feel better and let me know if you have any other questions.

So sorry you had to go through that Reggie.  Do you still have your gallbladder?  It sounds like my "episodes" before I had mine removed... fear of heart attack!  It hurt worse than anything I had ever felt in my life including childbirth.  I too find Nexium to be the only thing I can use to control my residual stomach problems.  Of course I'm sleeve tomorrow and everything could change afterthat.  The best to you and hope they figure it out soon.

I do still have my gall bladder -

But I'm on Actigall to prevent gallstones, and I'm responding to the anti-acid drugs.  Do you think it could be related to gall bladder?

I'm sorry you've been having such a rough time!

Coincidentally, for the past week I've been having chest pains when I'm exercising or rushing around -- very mild, just enough pain that I notice it. I actually called my cardiologist (I have cardiomyopathy) because I was concerned something was going wrong with my heart. The cardiologist said it's probably not my heart since all my testing looked good four months ago, and I should try antacids, antigas meds and tylenol.

I'm still not convinced there's not something else going on, but who knows? Your story is making me wonder if there's a reflux issue. Hmm...

Well from me to you, your cardiologist should've followed up, if not, to at least rule OUT something is not wrong with your heart..geez.

Women, esp get dismissed..so don't let him dismiss you EVER!!

And hopefully it will not be your heart..still..Feel better soon and let us know what happens ok?

Hugs, Jan

Thanks, I will! If I'm still feeling it tomorrow, I'm going to call back and insist on being seen.

carafate is really good.

you can have rebound reflux if you take too many tums/rolaids.

if you want to try natural remedies slippery elm & licorice is really good, you can get tablets at the health food store.

prop up the head of your bed while you sleep so the acid doesn't creep up your throat.

good luck, hope you are feeling better soon!

First of all ((( HUGS RUGGIE ))) Sorry for ALL you have been going through.. geez. At least the ER took you seriously but your surgeon? Why wasn't he following up more?

My surgeon or his on-call surgeon will make recommendations and if told to go to ER will ASK to have the ER doc call HIM personally.

Also sounds like you'll need an EDG to get a good look at what's all going on inside esophagus/new tummy. I 've had 3 since surgery..its a piece of cake.. you get Versed/Fetanyl for pain. Versed makes you forget..so you will not make sense or repeat yourself for awhile immediately following proceedure. Make sure you tell whomever picks you up or sits with you. My sister reenacted how I acted and what I said.. it was funny.

I never had reflux until after surgery..many months later. I had vomiting issues right after surgery and several times afterwards.. so I need a dilation. You are on full liquids for a day or two afterwards or if he sees inflammation.

I was put on Carafate sp? which coats the esophagus/tummy, with another PPI from the one he started me on. Now I am on OTC,  Gaviscon I take an hour before bed.

For me it was a horrible BURNING that literally was burning my esophagus. I could not tolerate even the protein drink.

Now I am perfectly fine.. can eat normal..with little to no reflux. OH.. he did tell me I had a very small hiatal hernia..but that was not the problem. AND.. he reminded me to not eat a bite bigger than a DIME, chew chew chew.. and take my time eating over 30 mins. AND to drink a sip of water to coat esoph/tummy before I start to eat.

Your  esophagus/tummy will need to heal some before you introduce acid type foods. I still cannot have anything with tomato, or spicey.

Good luck and please let us know how you're doing.. poor thing.

Hugs my OH friend, Jan

I didn't mean to indicate that my surgeon didn't take me seriously - I had eaten bread for the first time since my surgery on new year's eve, and he had thought that the feelings I was describing were similiar to the bread over-expanding in my stomach.  It made sense at the time, when the pain was less and I had the bread.

Was your carafate in pill form or solution?  Mine is pill form, so it's hard to imagine it "coating" my esophagus.

 So sorry you've had to go through that intense pain, and thankfully someone finally found something to give you some temporary relief until they get the answers for you. 

I did have something similar but it was suspected to be medication-related. Almost 6 years ago, I had a (false) positive TB test at my former job. I know it was a false positive because I always false-positive on the test, and have been through the chest X-rays long enough to know my lungs are good. I have  a very slight nickel allergy that reacts to the TB test by swelling up around where they pick. Even though this was on record, the employer made me go through the Dept of Health and the TB course of treatment. I was absolutely miserable about it, but compliant - had to take this pill every day for 9 months consecutively. 

A month after I started, I got these horrible horrible pains in my upper abdomen and throat that were so bad I couldn't walk - 2-3 days at a time. My pain threshhold is nonexistant but I really could not even move at all. After about 3 months, they finally suspected that it had something to do with a reaction between my birth control and the TB medication, because I'd get the pain for 2-3 days before my menses, and then it'd go away. I stopped the TB meds and I was fine, have only had very minimal episodes (2 or 3 while post-op in the hospital, and once a few years ago when I tried to eat some 5-alarm hot wings). Nothing like it was. Iceberg lettuce in big salads would set a small bout off for me sometimes too.

I'm fairly positive that the birth-control combined with some other medication isn't causing your issue  but is it possible there are some med changes that might've flared this up for you? Seems odd to get such bad reflux out of the blue so far post-op, even with eating spicy and acidic foods? Hopefully they get you an answer quickly!!