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Posted 3/15/2010 3:27 PM (GMT -5)
Hi all,
Some of you know me as a long-term HW member, but I've never posted on the GERD forum before. In the past few months I've had a couple bouts of SEVERE stomach pain and nausea, and both times my doctor put me on Nexium, which immediately helped, but then my symptoms came back as soon as I stopped. I'm scheduled to go back for a follow-up visit to my GI in a couple weeks, and I'm wondering if/hoping she will put me on Nexium or something similar for the long-term. I'm wondering if this is GERD, though. I have a little heartburn sometimes, but mostly just crazy burning pain, to the point that I throw up, in my stomach. I also have pretty bad belching/gas and in general feel like my whole system (GI tract too) isn't working properly. This all started about a year ago after I had a rib injury and took prescription-strength Aleve for two weeks straight. The doc thought it was an ulcer then, but now I don't think they know what it is. Does this sound like GERD? Obviously I'll see what my doc tells me, but I'm just curious, and a little worried since these don't seem to be classic GERD symptoms.
Thanks everyone!
Posted 3/16/2010 9:08 AM (GMT -5)
Welcome to the forum. I hope you've read all the other threads and the intro stuff that's available.

It sounds like it could be GERD, but I'm no doc, just a patient. Tell me about the rib injury. I had my stomach pushed up into my chest in a bad car wreck. Seatbelt broke 3 ribs which still are loose, gave me a "paraesophageal hernia." Have you had a barium swallow scan to check for a hiatal hernia? Since my stomach was stuck in chest I needed surgery. If it's just a slider you can usually just take Nexium or something because all you need is to lower the acid when the stomach comes up. There's lots more tests we can recommend, but this one is the most tolerable, doesn't hurt.

There's nothing wrong with being on Nexium long term if it stops the acid. I was on for 25 years at least before needing surgery from the accident.

Something you can try to stop the refluxing: Keep a food log and a list of your symptoms if you have a reflux incident an hour and two hours after eating. You can then break the meal down to find the individual food, and further to find the ingredients in the food. My allergist had me do this and I found that I had a problem only with weird foods that had in common SULFITE. Other people have found different food allergies/intolerance/sensitivities. My allergist calls it allergy. My GI doc doesn't believe in the term only wil accept intolerance. Who cares about semantics, and just try not eating it if you find a culprit!

If you have reflux after everything and anything, it could be just a loose lower esophageal sphincter LES. This can be caused by an injury that messes with ribs.
Posted 3/16/2010 9:16 AM (GMT -5)
Hello and welcome to the GERD Forum. I see you have met Alcie and she has given you some great input.



I would suggest that you talk with your GI physician re having some tests done as Alcie suggested.



I am sure you will be hearing from more of our great members here in this forum. Stick with us as we are here to support you.



Gentle Hugs,



Kitt
Posted 3/16/2010 11:50 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks Alcie and Kitt! When I fell and hurt my ribs last spring, the doc thought it was just a bad bruise or possibly small fracture. She instructed me to take double-strength Aleve three times a day...Within a week the crazy burning pain in my stomach began! So I don't think it's a more serious stomach injury, but rather a problem caused by taking too much Aleve. I did then see a GI, who ordered an upper endoscopy, which just showed lower esophogeal irritation. I will see what my doc says about other testing and all that. Thanks again!
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