I'm clueless

chrisnsteph1022 · June 13, 2003, 4:03pm

Can someone please explain the difference between acid reflux, GERD, and heartburn? Is it all the same thing?? I don't know what I have, but doc thinks it may be acid reflux. No burning or anything like that, but I feel like I have something stuck in my throat between my collarbones. He gave me Prevacid and it went away after a week. Now, a couple months later, it's back. It's felt that way for 3 days now and the Prevacid doesn't seem to be helping yet. Does this sound like acid reflux? It doesn't hurt; it's just annoying.

PS-I also have Crohn's and I've heard of people with Crohn's getting GERD more often.

Stephanie

Personal site: http://www.geocities.com/chrisnsteph1022/stephanie

Group site: http://www.geocities.com/crohnsfriends/ibd

God won't give me anything I can't handle.

Twilite · June 14, 2003, 4:09am

Hi Stephanie,

I don't know if what I experience is similar to what you have, but often I get that "lump in my throat" feeling. I'll swallow and swallow, and sometimes the act of swallowing seems to help and other times it doesn't. As far as the acid reflux goes, when I have it there is definitely a burning sensation and backup of stomach acid into my esophagus. Often, I can taste it in my mouth too. It's nasty when it happens, and tastes terrible. Fortunately, it has gotten better, and I don't experience it as often as I used to. When it flares up, I take the generic for Zantac, and it always helps to get it back under control.

You may consider letting your doctor know the Prevacid doesn't seem to be helping it at this point.

Take good care,
Joanne

If you keep a green bough in your heart, the singing bird will come.

To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive.

Robert Louis Stevenson

clueless_marsha · June 28, 2003, 12:15pm

hello I have gerd and the doc told me that the lump in my through is scar tissue that formed from cuts in the esophagus caused by acid backing up in it. i am on nexium and zelnorm for irritable bowel syndrome. sometimes when your bowels aren't functioning it can really irritate your stomach. i get really sick at my stomach alot and when i throw up it caused cuts it my esphoagus. i don't really get heartburn. but i can too taste that horrible acid and that can make you sick. i never had zantac or prevacid to work. try nexium. it helps me. also prilosec. it's good too. good luck.

Gigi24 · September 18, 2003, 1:04am

Have any of ya'll had test for Crohn's in the esophagus?

AnnieInOz · September 21, 2003, 1:21am

Hi Stephanie.....Interesting, but scary. I would have thought with you having Crohn's they would have checked that already?

I'm recently new to this (couple of years). I have gone on and off the drugs which isn't what you can do with the acid being churned up. If I eat properly, I can manage it until I have a flare, like now. I can't think of anything that my body would like. Sometimes it comes up foamy...doesn't burn. Just junk in the throat. If you have sinus draining down and stuff coming up, it's tricker to tell what started what. I didn't take this very seriously at first. Thought it was a short-term deal or just aging. Because my H.Pylori is still high, I'm more concerned because of the chance of an ulcer. Carbonated drinks are a no-no. I've never cared for lots of different or spicy foods so I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Gastro said he didn't know...it could be caused by stress factors. The little purple pill is very popular. I'm using Protonix right now.

Let me know what happens here, would you. I hate to think of you dealing with more complications.

Gluck,

chrisnsteph1022 · September 24, 2003, 8:51pm

I started taking Prevacid on a daily basis and it seems to help. Actually, I haven't been checked for Crohn's in the esophagus, but that's very rare. When I had a small bowel barium xray, the doc said he saw inflammation "higher up" which could be Crohn's or acid reflux. I think he was talking about my stomach, though. I've never had an endoscope (just one from the other end), but with this disease, I'm sure I'll have one eventually.

Stephanie

Personal site: http://www.geocities.com/chrisnsteph1022/stephanie

Group site: http://www.geocities.com/crohnsfriends/ibd

God won't give me anything I can't handle.

AnnieInOz · September 25, 2003, 12:29am

Hey Stephanie.........already wrote on the other post. It certainly sounds like a complex disease. GERD could be control much of the time by diet. I think other things are already going on and perhaps GERD kicks in as stress. Don't know. If that taste gets too nasty, Twilite, have you read about bile..ugh. I'm not much on holistic, but it has merit.

Marsha..are you still taking Zelnorm?? Just curious. I do hope it helps people. I'm not going there. It's never been offered and I'm not asking. I do have to find a way around it though. Someone thought apple juice, prune juice used to be the big one, hot oatmeal makes a big difference for me. Water soluable fiber and lowers my choelestrol.

I think of Crohn's, UC along w/Lupus being shotgun disorders. (fms is as well) Something goes off and it scatters and pops up everywhere.

Besides the gum that helps H.Pylori, I just discover that something I used to take helps lower it. Vitamin C....that's easy. I don't digest vitamins and forget about them.

Patoolla · September 25, 2003, 5:36pm

Annie, I've heard cabbage is a good tummy soother too. Cabbage juice if you have a juicer or fresh cabbage like in cole slaw if the other ingredients don't upset you. I've tried the juice and it helps some but not enough to lie flat when I sleep. Only the meds makes it possible for me to do that. :(

AnnieInOz · September 25, 2003, 10:25pm

Hey Patoola........I know we've had someone else talk about cabbage juice. When wholenurse was posting, she had lots of ideas and she has her own site. Holistic.

I've haven't been able to eat those types of foods for years. I blow up like a hot air ballon. I'm beginning to feel more like that anway.

I'll start back on heavier foods now that we've cooled down. I don't know what people in hot climates eat as I change with the season. Hot, hot climates eat HOT foods. Not me, can't do it, never could. When I fix ham/beans or just beans, I soak them overnight in water w/salt or even baking soda. Not a lot. If I just had GERD going on, this wouldn't be so complicated. The only thing I ever went to was Phazme or Maalox when I was uncomfortable. I have gone so long without a variety of foods that I'll probably have to start slowly and see what I can tolerate.

Wonder what that's all about..cabbage juice? I never really doubt these things do help people. When it comes to me..it's usually something my body rejected early in life. No..don't eat cole slaw. Thanks anyway...maybe someone else can try it.

Hugs,

Patoolla · September 26, 2003, 7:41pm

I know what you mean about cabbage blowin ya up like a balloon! I love cooked cabbage but ewwwww, the gas it gives me. Worse than that pot of ham and beans! lol Oh yes, the good ole soaking in baking soda makes a big difference in beans! Thank goodness cause I just love beans and cornbread, even tho I still suffer some no matter how I cook them. So I don't eat them as much as I would like to.

sadlass · December 21, 2003, 11:25pm

hi stephanie
it is sarah (sadlass) from the crohns board.
i have had the same problem.
i had an endoscopy done and my doc says it is acid reflux!!!
but not GERD!! i am currently on protonix. he has prescribed it to me for 2 months.
here are some foods to avoid.
spicy
caffenated drinks
tomato and orange juice
coffee
chocolate peppermint
spearmint
heavily seaoned or minty foods.
i hope this helps.
love-sarah

dreamsequels · January 17, 2004, 8:20pm

Hi Chris:

Sorry to hear about your discomfort. I use to also suffer with the lump in the throat feeling. Mine was so bad I couldn't swallow at times. It felt like I was choking. My doctor told me I should see a gastronolgist. This specialist recommended I have an EEG. Through this test I learned I have a serious form of GERD called Barrett's Esophagus, which means the lining of my esophagus could become cancerous. This specialist also prescribed Protonix and I have been doing fine. But I do have a very sensitive digestion. If this is the case with you, Chris, I highly recommend your looking into the food combining diet and eating right for your blood type. These diets have done me a world of good.

All the best.

Teri16 · September 18, 2005, 2:09am

I just saw this thread while I was doing a search on acid reflux and thought it was cool to hear stories from 2003...still the same basically as today.

Hugs, Teri :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

geri · September 18, 2005, 5:29pm

Hi dreamsequels

Glad to hear you are having some success with food combining.I wonder if you would mind telling me a bit more how it helped you and if you used a particular book as guidance.

many thanks