Hi - I'm concerned about some symptoms I've been having and it seems very similar to GERD.
Basically twice in the past week I have had the following :
1. Lots of gas, belching, swollen stomach, burning sensation in chest / lungs, followed by immediate onset of wheezing, noisy breathing and coughing.
The first time it happened I ate a beef sandwich and can of ginger ale pop, it came on very quick after that on an empty stomach.
Second time it happened, this morning I had a headache and got up and took Ibuprofen with Weetabix with sugar and very little milk, this morning was more severe than last time and lasted longer.
My question to people who might know about this is what foods/drinks are best for immediate relief and what foods/drinks are best to avoid?
Also should I go to the hospital (hard to get a GP in my area, don't have one) or try adjusting diet first?
Is excercise helpful? Ihave a feeling lack of it, may be partly to blame. I spend 16-20 hours pretty much stuck behind a desk, in the past few months I rarely get outside more than once a week.
Thanks in advance for any responses.
Your issue is very common for GERD, gastritis or esophagitis. It could also be IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I have all three and the same thing happens after I eat a meal that aggravates all my symptoms.
The problem is the trigger foods are different for everyone. I can tell you that acidic foods such as spaghetti, pizza, sausage, oranges, Mexican food and sugars will make it worse. I can not drink any kind of carbonated beverage because of what it does to my stomach and esophagus.
Like you I am out of breath as the acid goes over the top of my esophagus and splashes onto my lungs. I can feel the gurgle when I breathe in and my chest feels very heavy from both that issue and my IBS/gastritis. The later causes swelling which pushes up against your lungs/diaphragm.
You will learn as you go which foods to avoid. To make myself feel better I eat baked chicken, brown rice, apples, carrots, Total Raisin Bran and I drink plenty of water. This was a complete lifestyle change for me as I am a reformed junk food addict. The plus side is I have lost a lot of weight.
Please listen to your body and begin noting what each food does and whether you should avoid having it again. I have a good GP and am on Nexium and Carafate. I will probably be on these drugs for at least a year and then remain on a lower dosage of Nexium for maintenance.
Good luck!