I am 19 years old and I have what I believe to be acid reflux, it started about 6 months ago now and doesn't seem to be getting any better. I am taking Omeprazole at th moment with no luck. I don't tend to get a lot of the burning sensation others mention, but mostly the chest pain, the 'lump' in my throat and the pressure on my chest. Because of these symptoms I started having panic attacks, before I could blame the symptoms on acid reflux these were frequent and I thought I was very ill but I have since learned to control them.
I am a student, which means stereotypically all the things that bring the flare ups on are part of my everyday life - alcohol, caffeine whilst working, fatty foods and smoking (which I am trying to quit). Alcohol is the main problem, when I have been drinking the night before I get a terrible day that follows - constant pains and reflux (I am experiencing right now). I can't easily cut out drinking from my social life, it feels like I am being very restricted. (That is not to make it seem as though I drink on a daily basis!)
Thing is, I can't really speak to friends/family about it because they don't understand how something as simple as stomach acid can actually decrease your quality of life. My boyfriend in particular, gets very frustrated with me and although he has never said it he thinks I am actually a hypochondriac and that there is nothing wrong. The only time he believes I am ill is when I cough at night, but then I have a cold. The constant need to belch is also rather restricting, not to mention embarrassing!
It is SO frustrating. Does anyone else have the problem that nobody believes you are ill? How common is the GERD-induced anxiety? And most importantly - is it curable? It seems that everyone on forums has been living with it for quite some time.
Jemma
I also meant to ask, could bleeding when passing a stool be related to acid reflux - or is this a completely different problem?
Hiya,
I completely understand what you are going through. I have had acid reflux since I was 20, (past 4years) and had the same problems with drinking etc when at uni and the side-effects it can cause. Unfortunately there is not a lot you can do to get rid of it forever, but temporarily solutions are there.
Diet is the 1st obvious choice, and I think the most important one is not to eat too much in one go, and not to eat late at night. This is especially important if you are out drinking. I am on Lansoprazole but found after awhile that it wasn't working all that well, so I am now also on Doperidone which has been great. It might be worth while mentioning it to your GP and testing it out for a couple of weeks. The other advice I would say to you is try not to take too many pain kilers, and if you do have to then just stick with paracetamol. Avoid anything with codeine in it as this will inflame your stomach which is sensitive enough as it is.
I hope all this is some help and that your symptoms decrease sooner than mine.
J
I can sympathize with these very unpleasent feelings. I started before Christmas, although I have had problems with my digestion for years but over the last months have had reflux - burning in my throat, burping, now and again ache and burning sensation in my lower chest area moving down to my naval. A feeling that food goes down heavy. The GP put me on Omeprozole, marginally they have helped but after 8 weeks, I still have symptoms like a metallic taste and a general feeling of discomfort.
To add to this, a blood test for H-Pylori was lost at the hospital !! so now I have to have another one this week. Trying to sort out diet and just what causes problems is an art-form.