I have had acid reflux since early childhood where I remember complaining of a sore throat, although I was a very difficult baby with very bad colic, which I think may have also been caused by acid reflux. From that point, I remember often having severe burning sensation in my throat and pain in my chest, constant stomach pain, bloating and gas, a bad taste in the back of my throat and nausea. I also was having constant hoarseness and losing my voice often, usually in the winter. Throughout my life, I have had recurrant and constant problems with constipation, sometimes having two weeks where I wouldn't go to the bathroom. I also usually bleed when I use the bathroom, even when I haven't been constipated.
At 19, after years of complaining to my doctor and being told it was nothing, he finally did an endoscopy and found that I had barretts esophogus. He then started me on various medications, the only one I found really helpful being nexium. Even with the nexium the acid was still not under control, and eventually I was prescribed 3 nexiums a day in order to control the acid. During this time, it was also found that the acid was going into my voice box and was also possibly going into my nasal cavity.
Since this time I have had various tests, all of which have come out abnormal. These abnormal results have included a hiatal hernia, a weak valve, gastroperesis, a swollen stomach, damaged upper intestine (I was tested for celiac, the test came out positive the first time, negative the next and the biopsy came out negative) and most recently I had a signoidoscopy which came out with a result of possible colitis, although I haven't been able to see my doctor to get the final results yet.
My question is, has anyone with severe gerd also been found to have problems with the rest of their digestive system as well? If so, does anyone have any clue for why this would be the case?
Hi Emily,
We're glad you stopped by. There is a wealth of information about your conditions here at Health Central.
First, it's good you are under doctors care, but there are some resources online here that might help you in speaking with your doctor. It's always good to be well informed when you see the doctor so you ask the right questions.
First, there is a good section located here on what Acid Reflux is, and how Barret's Esophagus is developed. There is also a very good symptom checker here, that will ask you a few questions and help you determine some of the questions you want to ask your physician.
Dr Eisner is our resident expert on GERD. There are several postings where Dr Eisner has suggested that to get relief from conditions like Barret's, you must take up to twice as much of the medication normally prescribed, to get ahead of it. Here you will find some of Dr Eisner's postings about the subject. Particularly question # 5. Seems to describe your symptoms. Here is where Dr Eisner explains the need for double doses of medication when dealing with esophogial reflux.
There is also a posting here where Dr. Eisner talks about asthma like symptoms of GERD.
As always, you should speak to your doctor before making any changes and talk frankly with them about the symptoms you are experiencing. They can not treat what they do not know about.
Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing Emily!
Vicki M
i am very short of breath due to gerd. my breathing became increasingly worse over the past year until this past december i finally did the lap nissen fundoplication surgery with hernia repair. prior to this i had an upper endoscopy and the ph monitor test done. both showed massive amounts of reflux and the endoscopy showed a hernia but i was told it was small in size. due to my constant breathing issues they felt it was best to move ahead because it looked as if the reflux was going into my lungs and bronchi.
when i awoke from the surgery i was immediately told this alleged "small" hernia was in fact 4 times larger. it had been sitting in my chest where my stomach pushed through it. that is how the acid/reflux were getting to my lungs.
i was also on nexium twice a day prior to this surgery, carafate and various other acid reducing medications. however nothing stops reflux. reflux and acid are two different things. this surgery was the only solution.
i am still recovering although back at work. i would do it all again because i am now a month out (exactly today) and my breathing has made some improvements. because of how long this was going on prior to the surgery i have been told my recovery will take close to 6 months.
like you i also do not have asthma. i have tested negative for it many times and no inhaler has ever helped me. if you have not had an upper endoscopy or the ph test done i strongly encourage you to do this. if your breathing continues to get worse and no amount of medication is working i would discuss the possibilities with your doctor about the laproscopic nissen fundoplication.
good luck!
Hi Emily,
I did some reading on the site and found this: duodenitis is the inflammation of the duodenum the top part of the small intestine. Brunner's glands are found in the duodenum as well. I can not get a clear answer from what I have read, but apparently displasia has to do with the changes in the Brunner's glands. What does all this mean to you? Well there is certainly something irritating your digestive tract for sure!
According to a posting by Dr Todd Eisner, resident expert here, NSAID's like Aspirin can cause issues with the duodenum. You can read more of Dr Eisner's posting here. Tylenol is recommended instead.
Have you gotten any results from the allergist or determined if something in your diet is causing the issue?
Remember, we're here if you have questions or need to talk! Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!
Vicki M
Hi Melissa,
There are many people online here who are experiencing asthma/allergy symptoms along with their GERD. The acid reflux coming into the esophogus can cause the scratchy throat feeling. At night time the acid can actually get up into your sinus and cause sinusitis as well as pain in the sinus area. Our bodies are so connected!
Nexium is widely prescribed for acid reflux and you can read more about it here. It is something that acid reflux sufferers use long term. If you are interested in information about other types of treatments, you can find some information about that here. Most of all, these resources are good sources of information to help you manage your care by asking your doctor the important questions.
If you ever need to chat, or just want to ask a question or even vent a little or talk about a treatment that is working for you, just make a sharepost and let us know. Stay in touch!
Vicki M