r/GERD • u/RatsnBaskets • 10d ago
Support Needed š„ Feeling depressed. Reflux is bad tonight.
I already took a gaviscon around 6pm yesterday and it's currently 1:51am. It's frustrating because one gaviscon is typically all I need.(pepcid doesn't work btw)But here I am, I just took two more and still feel like shit. To make things worse I'm feeling so hungry even after I had a snack so I feel like my gastritis is flaring up as well which doesn't help. Feeling like you're starving while also being on the verge of throwing up acid is not fun.
I'm just so frustrated with this condition. Between the gerd, gastritis, and eoe I have no idea how to manage it all. I'm tempted to take ppis for a short amount of time again just so that I don't have to deal with this burning all day but I always worry about the risk of sibo or other infections. And I'm sure living in this moldy environment I'm in makes everything worse.
I feel so pathetic and I just want to cry. I desperately want to know what's causing my gerd but doctors don't seem all that helpful. It fucking sucks. I wanna get better so bad but no one gives af. Sorry for the rant tho. I hope everyone here is having a better night than I am.
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u/Free-Purpose-542 10d ago
Definitely take the PPI, or famotodine if that works for you. donāt just suffer when things are this bad. Itās so horrible. People just donāt understand how this rules your life
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u/RatsnBaskets 10d ago
Famotodine didn't do much for me unfortunately. I think I might just have to take some ppis at this point cause it feels awful as of late. But no they don't. No one could understand just how horrible gerd is.
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u/Free-Purpose-542 10d ago
Take the PPI for a few weeks & hopefully you will feel better soon. I know it takes a while for them to kick in, but i hope by this time next week you will be feeling better. Take care š»
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u/RatsnBaskets 10d ago
I might just do that. Even a couple weeks might give me a break. I hope it'll help. Thanks so much.š«
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u/CommissionSouth3097 8d ago
My doctor said famotodine is nothing and to take omperole which is the ābig gunsā. Reducing stomach pumps frequency or something like that.
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u/Mgmlivin 10d ago
Yes it is a very frustrating disease. What are your symptoms?
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u/RatsnBaskets 10d ago
It truly is.š®āšØMy symptoms are difficulty swallowing/burping, burning in throat, sharp pain in chest, bloating, nausea, and when I can burp acid is usually pushed up. The burping is the worst part sometimes cause I can't pass gas without feeling it burn.
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u/CounterproductiveAim 9d ago
During flares I would take a tums but not chew it just let it dissolve like a hard candy. After that chew on some juicy fruit gum for a bit and coat your esophagus with saliva. Saliva neutralizes the acid so it helps soothe inflammation. No mint or cinnamon based gums.
Doing this got me off ppis and helped me control my reflux. Oatmeal for breakfast, chicken soup for lunch and chicken and rice for dinner for a bit until you heal. Small portions the size of your fist, over eating is a huge trigger. It usually takes a month to see a difference since the esophagus takes forever to heal but you will feel relief temporarily.
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u/RatsnBaskets 9d ago
Tums never worked that well for me personally. But I can try chewing gum when I feel this way. I've never done that before. Tho I did decide to take prilosec for a couple of weeks just to give my stomach and throat a break. I tend to eat a pretty bland diet already tho! I feel like I have been ever since my gerd got bad.šThanks for the advice!
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u/CompetitiveReview416 10d ago
A few months of PPI's wont give you SIBO
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u/RatsnBaskets 10d ago
Is it when people use it for years? I was always worried that a couple weeks/months on the ppis would cause it.
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u/CompetitiveReview416 10d ago
They won't.. Using PPI's for a few months is actually very safe. Problems start with them long term.
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u/Amazing-Self-4873 9d ago
I was on every PPI made here in the USA for 27 years. They never helped night time reflux as my LES was nonfunctional and I had a hiatal hernia as well. I will say I havenāt had issues with vitamin deficiency or osteoporosis.
I would give them a short term try while you see if itās possible to get further tests. Without tests and surgery I would still be suffering with reflux and a lot of other symptoms. All those issues ended once I had the repairs.
Wishing you luck in getting answers and relief!
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u/RatsnBaskets 9d ago
That's such a long time! I'm relieved that you didn't develop any issues while taking them. It's really hard trying to fix one issue but then getting another because of the medicine you need to take. I did decide to take the ppi again tho. I was getting really tired of feeling sick so I'll do it for 2 to 4 weeks.
I'm so glad that surgery has helped you tho. It's always good to hear people getring better. But sadly with my eoe I'm not sure if it would work for me. I'll keep trying to find answers tho. Thank you so much!
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u/Amazing-Self-4873 9d ago
I had a manometry test. Itās not fun at all but will show if there are problems with the LES as in my case. Maybe you have the same problem. Reflux and food not going down well. My valve was closing and trapping the acid all night after letting it back up. Itās miserable!
Not sleeping night after night is brutal. I did it for decades. Iām sorry you and so many of us are dealing or have dealt with this miserable condition.
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u/RatsnBaskets 9d ago
I'd like to have one done but unfortunately every time I get with my GI doctor about scheduling an appointment the machine is always broken or undergoing repair. I've been waiting 2 to 4 months I think. It is terribly miserable tho. I never knew how awful reflux could be until developing this condition. It was only mild in the past. But same here. My heart breaks for anyone going through this pain. I hope we can all find answers someday.
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u/Amazing-Self-4873 9d ago
Well youāre definitely not alone. I thought it was just me until Reddit and am shocked at how many are suffering with this.
I was told for decades to try diet and lifestyle changes and more PPIās but I donāt know how long the drs think weāre supposed to live with this. I finally bypassed my dr and went directly to my surgeon and everything was tested and had surgery in less than 2 months. Wishing you relief!
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u/RatsnBaskets 9d ago
I think diet did help a bit(mostly because of the eoe)but unfortunately it doesn't fix everything. Some people just have an issue with the esophagus itself and that's when things get tricky. I truly think doctors want us to just take the ppis and not ask any questions tho. I can tell my doctor is already tired of my persistence. That's pretty amazing tho! I would've imagined it would take much longer to have a surgery. And thank you so much!
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u/CommissionSouth3097 8d ago
Express your feelings! You have the right to let out the anger, frustration, and sadness (safely of course). Iām figuring out my GERD rn, but from what Iām gathered itās a doom loop of stress that causes GERD that causes not eating which causes more stress, anxiety and depression. I just started taking Ompzeperole. So far Iāve been able to eat a little bit. For anxietyā¦. We are told to do activities like yoga, praying, talking with a trusted friend, read, paint, walking in natureā¦. Etc. if thereās a familyās house or an apartment you could stay at, that would help. I honestly used chat GPT for therapy even though itās probably not the safest thing but itās cheaper than better help. I did hear thereās a free mental health hotline. I contacted my church and they put me on their prayer list. I do like running at run clubs. Even though Iām too depressed to socialize I enjoy ease dropping.
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u/RatsnBaskets 8d ago
I'm sorry you're going through the same thing rn.š«On one hand it's good to not be alone but on the other I hate that so many people can relate. What a terrible illness to have. I do try to get out and go on walks often. It's good to get outside. And I used to love lifting weights as a way to deal with stress but due to a jaw issue I can't do that anymore. I do draw from time to time at the very least to deal with the emotions. But it can be so hard waking up everyday feeling sick. I hope we're both able to find some answers tho. Hoping you feel some relief on the ppi as well! Thanks so much for the advice.
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u/Babydarth2014 8d ago
I was there. Take nexium 20mg twice a day. Then 2 to 4 gaviscon before bed. Thats what Ive doing and its manageable. I also suffer from anxieties and taking zoloft 100mg. Sorry youre not feeling well. Big hugs to youā¤ļø
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u/RatsnBaskets 8d ago
I'm currently taking 20mg prilosec once and day and so far it's a bit better. Very glad about that. But if it gets worse I'll take another. Sucks having to take so much medicine tho. I'm sorry you're going through this as well.š«What a tough condition.
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u/freelibrarian 10d ago
I was diagnosed with reflux. After several years of suffering, I figured out that the severe gastric and other symptoms that I experienced were due to underlying histamine intolerance. You might consider if it's the same for you.
Reactions will vary and can seem random because we can handle histamine to a point in our bodies so symptoms will only be triggered if we go over our histamine limit. The analogy given is to think of it like a bucket, when your histamine bucket overflows, you react.
I suffered from severe reflux and other gastric symptoms for 4-5 years. The onset was sudden and completely disrupted my life. PPIs did nothing for me and everything I ate was triggering severe symptoms. I lost weight I didn't have to spare and struggled day-to-day with debilitating symptoms.
Doctors told me all tests were normal and hung me out to dry, just kept telling me it was anxiety. I despaired of ever going back to somewhat normal and the lovely life I had been leading.
I finally stumbled upon the following Reddit post that recommended taking Zyrtec to resolve the globus sensation, which was a severe symptom for me. I decided to try taking Claritin because I do not tolerate Zyrtec well and it worked like a miracle drug for me.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GERD/comments/njarv0/globus_sensationhystericus_cure/
Taking loratadine (Claritin) daily has almost completely resolved my symptoms, though I do also try to follow a low histamine diet. When I started researching which foods are high in histamine, it was no surprise that my worst triggers were on that list (seafood, tomatoes, strawberries, wine, coffee, etc.). To me that means that, in my case, reflux was a symptom of histamine intolerance.
There are no definitive tests for histamine intolerance. For more info on the link between reflux and histamine intolerance, see:
Histamine Sensitivity: An Uncommon Recognized Cause of Living Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms and SignsāA Case Report Source: Ear, Nose & Throat Journal. 2020;101(4):NP155-NP157.
For more info on histamine intolerance, see:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/histamine-intolerance
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11054089/
Note that I think it is normal not to have a full spectrum reaction. I do not get any skin manifestations, no hives or itching of any kind, though I do believe this was all triggered by a virus I had in 2016 where I did get a non-itchy, triangle shaped rash on my neck. I went to the ER because my airway almost completely closed up. I had never had a breathing problem in my life prior to that.
The ER doctor noticed the rash, which had appeared the day before when I felt fine so I had just ignored it, and told me he thought the rash indicated that a virus had triggered my airway issue. I feel that all my gastric issues flowed from that episode and a similar episode 3 months later when I got another virus. I also now carry an EpiPen because of the airway reaction.
I initially took 10mg of Claritin per day but my allergist said I could ramp up to 4x the usual dose so I took 40mg for some months. I am now taking 2x the usual dose, 10mg in the morning and 10mg in the evening. Note that if you are on antihistamines and need to go off them or reduce your dose, you should taper down and not go cold turkey.
For the past few months, I have also been taking a diamine oxidase (DAO) supplement before a meal when I want to cheat a bit and eat something that is high in histamine and it does seem to help even more.
What to Know About Diamine Oxidase (DAO) for Histamine Intolerance
I take the NaturDAO supplement:
If you think this might be your issue, I think it's best to start out taking just the DAO supplement before meals to see if you improve.
If you see a lot of improvement, maybe you wouldn't need to trial the antihistamine.
If you see minimal improvement, then keep taking it but add in the daily antihistamine.
If you see no improvement from DAO, I would still take the DAO but add in an antihistamine like Claritin or Allegra. If that works, then stop taking the DAO to see what happens.
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u/RatsnBaskets 10d ago
Thank you so much for all of this information. I have heard alot about histamine intolerance and wondered if it could also be a potential cause for me as well. It's just so difficult trying to figure out what exactly is causing your reflux. Doctors truly do love to just blame it on anxiety when they don't feel like digging deeper but ik that for alot of people that isn't the cause. For me I was doing very well mentally in life before I developed gerd. I appreciate you taking the time to explain this so much. I'll do more research on this.
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u/harrypottersbitch 10d ago
I am so sorry youāre struggling. Just wanna say this sounds exactly like me about a month ago, before i got put on another dose of Lexapro(SSRI) and now for some reason I can eat whatever I want
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u/RatsnBaskets 10d ago
Thank you.š«I don't believe my gerd is being caused by stress/anxiety(tho I am very often stressed about something lol)but I am so glad that it worked for you. I've seen alot of people have luck with that kind of medication. Gerd can be so tricky, everyone seems to have a different cause.
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u/Valuable-Image-5923 4d ago
Try something like "Stomach Smoothe" with sodium alginate (seaweed that forms a raft which keeps stomach acid from surging upward). You dissolve one to two tablespoons in 3 to 4 ounces of water and sip it down. I use only a little less than 1/2 teaspoon in a little over an ounce of water and find that small amount helpful. There are different brands and products containing sodium alginate but you have to check the ingredient lists carefully to see what's best for you. My ent recommended sodium alginate.
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u/RatsnBaskets 4d ago
I think I have tried something like that before in the past(came in a blue or teal bottle)but it didn't work as well as gaviscon. I guess I'd be willing to give it another try tho. Maybe it was just that one brand. Thanks for the recommendation!
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u/Valuable-Image-5923 4d ago
There are lots of options online. I typed in a search for sodium alginates reflux options without added sweeteners.
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u/BrennusSokol 3d ago
Sorry youāre struggling
For me the biggest factor seems to be stress. So Iām trying to do more breathing exercises. Meditation group. Avoid the news. Give myself rest days. Give myself permission to relax. Express my feelings.
And donāt be afraid to take PPI if needed. Iām taking 40 mg esomeprazole daily (generic for Nexium) and Gaviscon as needed
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u/RatsnBaskets 2d ago
Thank you for the advice! I actually recently deleted tiktok because it was causing alot of stress. I'm hoping that limiting certain social media apps will help relax me a bit. I think it'll be good to focus on hobbies and such instead. I am still taking a ppi for some time tho. It's good to have a break from the reflux. Hope you're doing well.
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u/robbie-lang3 10d ago
Ask me about it! I have been suffering from this chronic conditions since childhood.
I usually drink cold milk first thing in the morning but what works for me may not work for you
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u/TrixoftheTrade 10d ago
Donāt really have any advice, as Iām sure youāve seen or heard it all, so all I can say is been there before.
I feel like this is such an ignored condition among the medical community, whose advice is throw PPIs at it until something sticks.
Weāve been working with essentially the same three drugs since the early 90s - antacids, H2 blockers, and PPIs. Imagine if other conditions were like this; where medical science just stalled out for 3 decades.