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Disturbing new symptoms. Inner ear?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 11/18/2011 11:58 AM (GMT -5)
Hi there guys, I would really appreciate some viewpoints on some new developments.

I went back to the GP and just raged. Told her how shocked and appalled I was to be discharged when I hadn't even been given any help, and told her my life is basically a daily misery. She ordered bloods and a helicobacter test, and the bloods came back normal. I am back there next week, she said she would re-refer me to the GI.

Anyway, lately my ears and throat have hurt so badly. The throat is constantly red and the ears are sore. But for the past 3 weeks, I have been experiencing a very disturbing drunken feeling. When I move my head everything in my vision seems to follow sluggishly, like there is a lag. I am very shaky all the time, and my legs ache and wobble after climbing the stairs. This was my doctor's reason for the blood test, but it has come back normal.

My own theory is that the constant burn has caused an inner ear problem, which would account for the dizziness. However, would this cause the shakiness? The only thing that helps is to sit perfectly still.

Is there anyone else who suffers with the ear problems? I feel worse than I have ever felt in my entire life, and judging by the rate at which my symptoms are worsening, I am scared to death of how bad I may feel in a few months time.

This has ruined my hobby, which was keeping my morale up. I was hoop dancing, but now I can neither spin nor exert myself. I want my life back from 5 years ago! :'(

Thank you

Liz xx
Posted 11/18/2011 12:08 PM (GMT -5)
I feel sorry for you, this condition is really killing all life quality and only thing you think of every minute is the darn soar throat and stomach and you are always tired and you want to sleep but can't because if you lay down the acid will get worse in the throat.

It's a terrible situation, you are also scared of the symptoms all the time and ask yourself when i am going to get rid of this.
Posted 11/18/2011 12:32 PM (GMT -5)

Before I realized what was happening to me, and why, I had a terrible problem with ear wax buildup which turned out to be caused by the reflux, running up to my throat and in my eustachian tubes. 

To help you diagnose this, you need to start sleeping on a wedge.  It won't stop all the reflux, and if you are having LPR symptoms as you are, those won't go away simply from the wedge.  But it will be enough to stop it from getting into your eustachian tubes...if that is in fact what is happening in your case.  Six inches is the usually recommended height of the wedge, but in my experience, this is not enough.  Twelve inches is better (measured at the head), and I have gone as high as eighteen inches.

It's possible that the reflux is causing your inner ear problem, but you'll have to play detective a bit.  Best of luck!

-Bruce

Posted 11/18/2011 12:38 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks guys. I apologize, I should have given you more history really.

Bruce, I have slept with the bed elevated for almost a year, with no significant improvement, in fact the problems have steadily worsened. I've had this for 4 years maybe more, and I am slowly losing the fight, and the medical "professionals" have done absolutely nothing to help. I feel I am fighting this on my own. It is only the help from good people like yourselves and others on this forum that help calm my nerves.

I am currently on lansoprazol 30mg, and gaviscon as and when required. I eat throat sweets often, which I am sure don't help the stomach, but I can't function without them, my throat just closes and I can't bear it. I also chew gum, which again I hear is bad for acid, but it gets me through my days.

Battles with doctors just make things harder!

Thanks for the input.
Posted 11/18/2011 12:52 PM (GMT -5)

I get so frustrated with doctors!!  One in particular practically insulted me, and dismissed my symptoms and suggestions that it had anything at all to do with reflux.  (As it turned out later, he was so incompetent that he initially misdiagnosed a condition he saw during an endoscopy.)

I know there are considerations with budget, insurance, etc., but I hope you find a doctor who can help you.  I've wasted years myself trying to find answers, as you have to have the initial office visit, then schedule tests, then wait for results and the follow-up visit...and if you decide to move to another doctor, repeat all over again... 

Have you tried other PPIs?  The different molecular structure of the various types work differently for everyone.  That said, with LPR symptoms PPIs are only marginally helpful, as they don't stop the non-acid components which can be just as damaging.

Another idea -- and this is a stretch -- are the throat sweets you mention.  Are they sugared, or sugar-free?  I suppose it's possible they might be feeding a Candida infection, although I've never heard of dizziness associated with a yeast infection.

Hope you find relief soon!

-Bruce

Posted 11/18/2011 12:55 PM (GMT -5)
Just had another thought. Which Gaviscon are you using? I've tried the liquid "Maximum Strength" version, but it's not as good as the regular strength tablets. The tablets really foam up in the mouth, and coat my throat on the way down. I've only been able to find the tablets on Amazon.

-Bruce
Posted 11/18/2011 12:58 PM (GMT -5)

bcfromfl said...


That said, with LPR symptoms PPIs are only marginally helpful, as they don't stop the non-acid components which can be just as damaging.


Ohhhhh I am sooo happy you said this! I haven't heard this before and had no idea why the PPI's were not helping the throat symptoms!!! Yes, they block the acid but not the sore throat and lump syndrome etc. Yeah I have tried Rabeprazole, Omeprazole, and currently lanso, which I am not tolerating well, I may go back to the Rabeprazole.

Thanks for your take on things, I really appreciate itl

Liz x
Posted 11/18/2011 12:59 PM (GMT -5)
I am on Gaviscon Advance, the mega pricey stuff. But yeh, I concur with the foamy stuff, I have been using Gastrocote, which has the alginate stuff and froths up in the throat, which is much more soothing.
Posted 11/18/2011 1:05 PM (GMT -5)
I have tried all the varieties of PPIs, and had the best success with acid suppression from Nexium (although it still causes headaches for me). I know all these are expensive -- be sure and check for the manufacturer coupons online before going to your pharmacy.

-Bruce
Posted 11/18/2011 1:56 PM (GMT -5)
zeldagoblin

i have experienced the balance issues you talked about

i struggled terribly for many months,.... earlier this

i never fell down, but if i moved especially quickly, or if i shifted my head let or right or up or down, i got dizzy just for a few seconds and then things would settle down. i was also experiencing lots of fatigue

during this time i had been taking large doses of PPIs but other things were going on in my life that could have been the cause

i was under tremendous emotional stress as exploratory cancer surgery and other equally distressing issues lay in front of me

i got off PPIs an used H2s an antacid pills , and....

after many months the balance problems subsided but lately ive experienced lots of ringing in my ears...tinnitus...which i originally got more than ten years ago but after a few years the tinnitus had subsided and i felt i had gotten better, less ringing and all that.... but now it is much worse

i feel your pain
hang in there
Posted 11/18/2011 2:41 PM (GMT -5)
Does Gavison cause D for anyone? I want to try it but some of the Tums and Rolaids cause me to get diarrhea sometimes so I end up suffering instead.
Posted 11/18/2011 3:48 PM (GMT -5)
Bruce, I am in the UK so I get charged the same price for whatever prescription I get. It's one price for all so it won't be a problem if some are more expensive than others. I haven't tried nexium, I am noticing no difference between the Lanso and the Pariet at the minute but as I feel the Lanso is making me feel rough I am going to try going back to Pariet.

mock turtle, I just had a thought. When I started taking the Lanso I got headaches and dizziness within days...I wonder if this is all a continuation from that. I think that is another good reason to try something else. The tinnitus i can relate to, I get that when the ear burn is bad. I am very very stressed too, but all because of my health, everything else in my life is fine and my lovely family are so good to me, despite my being such a drag all the time! No doubt the stress is having an adverse effect.

Tinlou, I have never had a problem with Gaviscon at all, in fact I would say it is the best tolerated medicine I have ever had. The only problem with it is if you take a lot over a long period, it will disrupt the absorption of iron and you can become anaemic.

Liz x
Posted 1/20/2019 12:12 PM (GMT -5)
Hello, this topic and posts of others issues are the closest to what is happening with me. I have hiatal hernia, acid reflux and inner ear burning sensation right before the gerd gets bad and all during it, its so annoying. No doctors can link it together. at one point I was taking omeprazole, tums, alka seltzer and Tagamet and still throwing up when the acid would come up into my throat. Then the doctor changed medication to Pantoprizole twice a day wich works better, but I still have bad headaches, ear burning, (occasional alka seltzer and tums) and double unfocused vision wich I think is all related somehow. Maybe side effects.

Also has anyone experienced nausea or headaches or vision problems from taking Nabemutone?
Posted 1/20/2019 1:29 PM (GMT -5)
Be there done that. I sleep at night with an traveling round pillow on my neck. It helps keep the neck straight and reflux down. I also put Vicks Vaporizing rub in my nose. I am on a glutten free diet to stop the dizzy feeling. I have had the problem of acid reflux since 1981 and it sucks. I could go into great detail on all these but I am not very good at writing/spelling. All of my problems are pointing towards MS.
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