Hi all,
I've been having heart burn issues for the past like 7 years. For the past 1 year, this condition worsened and i developed symptoms similar to those suffered by patients having stomach ulcers i.e. burning sensation in the tummy and terrible hunger pangs when my stomach gets empty. I had an endoscopy done last year and the results indicated that i had an inflammation of the stomach lining ( gastritis) and chronic bile reflux condition, Hpylori tested negative. I always wake up with an irritated stomach..kind of burning sensation which lasts until i have my breakfast. I really try to avoid foods that trigger my condition but it seems like almost everything triggers my condition.
I was put on esomeprazole and itorcip for two months and was ok while on medication but once the medication was over, my condition recurred. My medication was changed to Ilaprazole and Itoprid which i just completed about a week ago and my condition still hasnt changed.
Wonder if there's any of you who has had this kind of a condition....
Hi Joe - a simple thing to try is have smaller meals taken more often. Havent a clue why this works but it does!
Joseph you have described better than I can how I feel.
My endoscopy showed the same as yours and they could not tell me why I had inflammation in my stomach.
I am going to see my doctor today for a repeat prescription and I am going to ask him to test my lower oster... Phincter as advised by one of our friends on here.
When I have any further news I will let you know.
Good luck for now
Ted
Hi rex
Thanks so much for your advice. Am gonna give it a try and see how it goes.
Hi Ted,
Wonder how the test for the lower esophageal sphincter (L.E.S) { guess this is what you mean } is done. My doc told me that if one has the reflux condition, this is an indication that the L.E.S allows acid to flow backwards. I'll be glad to hear from you how the test goes maybe i also need to have this done. Its such a terrible thing to have persistent heartburn !!!
Hi again Joe as I said I went to see my doctor and he HP test was OK and with regard to my LOS he cannot see me having a problem clearly, he is a psychic, and as I am 64 something that can happen to anyone as they get older.
Would have preferred if statistically as I got older I had more chance of winning Lottery.
In addition to the Lansoprazole he as now given me Ranitidine to take as well. Hopefully it will give me a good nights sleep. So until suffering this for over 60 years I never regularly took any tablets and now I am taking two types of pill which is really annoying. It does seem to me that doctors are only too quick to dish out pills rather than try and get to the root of the problem.
If you can Joe avoid the tablets and instead find out what is actually causing the problem. Good luck. Ted
Hi ted,
I think I've used Ranitidine some time ago. I can't remember seing any change on my condition.
Its not a very interesting thing to stay on medication. I've actually tried some food supplements which dont seem to work. I tried using some glutamine powder and some probiotics which i bought from some local store but i dont see any change.
I pray that my case will be sorted out.....
oh .....I wish you well too Ted
I pray that my case will be sorted out..... and I do for you as well Joe
Hello Joseph
I think I developed bile reflux and in my case due to an emergency gallbladder surgery because I had pancreatitis. All of this two months after I had a baby. I also had gastritis and was prescribed different PPIS which helped but my heartburn never went away. I know the feeling. You should try to eat small meals and take a pro kinetic to help empty the stomach faster, so bile doesn't hang around for too long in stomach. Also have you heard of sucralfate, it can heal and protect the stomach and esophagus from the bile and digestive juices. I have to say that bile reflux its harder to treat and only surgery can cure it, but I am hoping That I get better in time and Can live life again. Best of luck to you finding relief of your symptoms.
Hi Leni,
Thanks so much for your advice. Will sure try to eat small meals and to find out what pro kinietic and sucralfate is .....never heard of sucralfate..I dread the surgery option !!
meanwhile am just on PPIS.......
You're welcome. I wish I could help more and help people more that has this terrible condition. Also have you've ever had tests done to your pyloric valve to know if it's working properly? Because chronic bile gastritis means that that sphincter is letting bile passing onto stomach. I heard about injecting Botox could help stopping bile going through. I read it in another health site and I was wondering if this is possible. Maybe you can ask your doctor. I have a bit of reluctance to ask about things to doctors, especially because english is not my first language and I fear they misunderstand me and think I am hypochondriac. If you find out anything else that might help for bile, please keep in touch in this site.
Hi Leni
The endoscopy tha I had done revealed that my pyloric valve (the sphincter) allows bile to flow backwards which should not be happening and thats why i have issues. Am gonna find out about the Botox injection as you say
Hi Joe. I was wondering if your symptoms worsen throughout the day? Also, are you losing a lot of weight?
Hi,
When am on PPI's I normally have a very good day...as in no heartburn. When am not taking PPI's i have heartburn almost after every meal. I've not lost any weight....am actually struglling to loose weight.....currently weighing 97 Kgs and my ideal weight should be around 75 Kgs
You are lucky. all the over the counter med's and prescription acid blockers have no effect on mine. It is excruciating. The late afternoon/evenings are the worst. I literally crying myself to sleep every night. I have no life anymore. I've never been so sick or in so much pain in my whole life. when this all started over seven months ago I wasn't a big person to begin with. I've now lost over 30 pounds and and am very week. Nothing I do help relieve the pain. Nothing I take helps, at all.
I am so sorry about your condition. I really pray that you get a solution somehow to your case. Whenever am not on PPI's i normally have a very rough time due to heartburn....it makes me use so much anti-acids. I hope that i will get a solution to miy case also and avoid an operation which i understand is the last resort. Wonder if your condition is aggravated by particular foods
Hi all,
I guess we are all in the same boat (and it certainly isn't a pleasure cruise liner). I have suffered for years with these problems and have been taking Lansoprazole (previously omeprazrole for years and years.I have probably had about 6/7 gastrocopy tests - the latest diagnosis was Hiatus Hernia, Gastritis and Oesophagitius (reflux). My last attack was so severe they doctors thought it was my heart - due to the fact the pain was all over my chest. However, tests revealed no heart problems. I am at my wits end, as this pain in taking over my life and it really is miserable - so my sympathy goes out to all you fellow sufferers.
The severe pain has calmed down due to my Lansoprazole dose being doubled (don't want to even think what the side effects will be) I now am left with a constant gnawing/empty pain in my stomach, constant nausea and I generally feel so weak and tired and always seem to be expecting the next horrific attack of severe pain. I do believe there is an operation available but I don't know enough about it at the moment. I have tried so many ways to help myself but not found the answer. I just want to know ARE THESE SYMPTOMS NORMAL for this condition and do we just have to learn to live with it. The doctors just shrug their shoulders - which is no help to me. I do wish you all well and hope you get the help you need. Dont give up.
Ruth
Ruth I am sorry to read of your AR problems again and going by what you have written and so many others I must be at the beginning of an awful journey. Mainly because my symptoms to be mainly of having a stomach ache continuously and an occasional pain in my shoulder.Yesterday I went without my daily dose of 30mg Lanso but because I felt awful for most of the day and night I took it again today.
I had read on here about a self help cure but to be honest I think I would rather risk taking the Lanso continuously even they in the final analysis it could be detrimental health. My wife has been taking it for 4 years now and fingers crossed shes yet to have any ill effects from taking it.
I suppose the biggest question we all have is when will our doctors take us more seriously when it comes to AR and its consequences. Best of Luck to everyone suffering Ted
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for the encouragement.
In a sense it helps to know that one isnt alone in this thing and to have someone encourage you. I wish I knew more about this condition....my only source of info is the internet coz all my doc tells me is that my L.E.S allows bile to flow in the opposite direction hence the discomfort.
The best i could do is wish us all well !!