Not sure what's wrong with me?!?!?!?

[brandguy]

So, here's my problem (with a brief history as to what has been going on). About 2 1/2 months ago, I was extremely ill with the stomach flu. The night I was first ill with this, I experienced horrible Acid Reflux, which was a rarity for me throughout my entire life (currently 25 years old). While sick, I continuously vomited, etc... After that night of being sick, no more Acid Reflux. Now, let's flash forward about 2-3 weeks later. It's Superbowl Sunday, so I decided to drink a fair amount of caffeine, a beer or two, chips with queso cheese, salsa, etc... Needless to say I had a lot of caffeine and spicy food. During the night on this night, I have horrible Acid Reflux again, which persists through the night. The next morning, this was gone. Later the following day/early evening, I decided to have an iced coffee drink. That night, I had horrible Acid Reflux...worse than any other night. The next day, and for the next 1 1/2 weeks, I started feeling like something was stuck in my throat, continued to have Acid Reflux and also Heartburn.

So, I switch myself on to a very, very mild diet for around 2 weeks, up until Valentine's Day. I had no caffeine, no spicy food, no chocolate...nor anything that would upset me. It all seems to go away. I then go out with my fiancee' on Valentine's Day and have a great meal, with a few glasses of Rose' and port later in the night. Still, I'm not affected. A week (or so) from Valentine's Day, I decide to have a glass of wine with dinner. Very soon after this point, my symptoms are back full force...only this time, with added symptoms to include: Acid Reflux, Heartburn, feeling of something stuck in my throat, gurgling noise in my throat after swallowing and excessive burping. I also begin to start having issues with my stomach, as if I was extremely constipated with an empty like feeling in my stomach.

After feeling this way a week later, I decide to go to the doctor. He prescribes Prilosec OTC and recommends I take this for 2 months straight. So, I take one dose and I start to have a rapid heartbeat. I'm prone to an irregular heartbeat and heart palpitations...something having to do with a Mitrovalve Prolapse. Knowing this, I stop taking the Prilosec and begin to get back on my mild diet, playing it safe.

Unfortunately, as of today (it's been about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks since I saw the doctor) some of my symptoms are still lingering...the gurgling noise in my throat and excessive burping. I just want to go back to normal. I've never had any issues like this before and don't want to medicate if it's going to affect my heart, etc... I was told, by family members who used to be in healthcare, to avoid the medicine if it affects my heart. I'm not sure what this could be, as I do have some of the symptoms for Acid Reflux, etc... yet know that before I was sick nothing like this ever happened before. Is it possible that I have some type of infection, or parasite causing this to occur? Is it possible it's all been induced by stress? I realize that stress can do horrible things to your body, especially if you internalize all things that your worried about. Truthfully, I just want this to pass. I want to go back to the way I was. Please, I need your help in coming up with alternative ideas and potential solutions that can get my digestive system back on track and my esophagus if it's been affected. I don't want to medicate and really don't want to have an endoscope. Really appreciate your thoughts on all of this. Oh yeah...forgot to mention that my fiancee' and I now live with her parents and I'm thinking that the stress within the household could actually be causing, or really contributing to my issues.

Today, I went back to the doctor and he prescribed me to take Zanax (similar to Prilosec OTC). Unfortunately, it has the same side affects (creating a rapid heartbeat) so I've decided not to take it. They did take some chest X-rays of me today and are bringing me back in the next couple of days to perform a test where I swallow a charcoal like liquid that shows how fluids are moving through the esophagus.  Thanks for your help, in advance.  

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
You have received some valid suggestions. Omeprazole is a good drug to combat this. Along with it you can try over the counter antacids. However I would recommend you see a doctor and take medication under a doctor’s supervision. Avoid heavy meals. Eat frequent small meals instead. Avoid too much of caffeine, tea, fried food and drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic fuzzy ones. Avoid heavy exercises within 4 hours of a heavy meal. Raise the head end of the bed by pillows to 30 degrees. Go to bed at least 2 hours after food.
Sometimes the acidity and reflux increases to profound levels not controlled by medications. If omeprazole is causing side effects you can try a similar drug called ramiprazole.
Another possibility is that you have hiatal hernia complicated by severe acidity. Some people have hiatal hernia which remains a symptomatic for long.
Hope this helps. I would strongly recommend you to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system). Do let me know if there is any thing else and keep me posted. Take care!

[Goobr]

Might have your doc check for Heliobacter Pylori. It's a simple blood test to check for the presence of a very common bacteria that causes ulcers. This is easily treated with some antacids and a ton of antibiotics. Remember, if this comes up positive, have them rerun the test after you have completed the meds.

[Goobr]

I totally agree that this probably is GERD. You can sure try the natural remedies such as drinking milk or chewing on Tums, or avoiding all spicy/bubbly/alcoholic/caffeinated bevarages as well.

However, on an off note....I'm sure this isn't your problem, but best to just be sure. Is there any mold in your house? I only ask because of this....a few years ago, I was helping clean a flooded basement. I was down there for hours pulling water out of some carpets to help a friend of mine out. I told her that she needed to tear the walls out, because of the wallpaper you couldn't see mold, but it was just a "duh" situation...water for prolonged periods+darkened cooled basement=mold. I went home that night, none the wiser. A few hours after I went to sleep I awoke with a very horrid and persistent heartburn. I'm talking....the worst heartburn EVER. I couldn't get it to go away. So I went and sat in a chair and tried to go back to sleep. Then, it got worse. The heartburn, and the knot in my throat, became severe, I ran to the bathroom and EXPLOSIVELY vomited for 10 minutes. I have NEVER had reflux that bad, I have NEVER puked that hard. Now I noticed another incidence a year later in which I was having severe heartburn for days on end....and low and behold some cucumbers in a drawer in our bevarage fridge were molded (and I didn't even know there were cucumbers in there....darn husbands and dark fridge drawers)....I cleaned it up and sanitized it, heartburn went away. I know it sounds stupid, but it is a possibility. Come to find out, I'm allergic to molds (proven by allergy tests). Check into it. Until then, make sure you are doing everythign in your power to keep yourself up to par. Acid reflux on a regular basis can really hurt your throat, and it is uncomfy anyways! Hope you get to feeling better, oh, and it never hurts to get a second opinion.

[Encephalomalcia]

When you need to drink fluids, try drinking cold water.  Water decreases the acid in your stomach.  Having the flu or virus may have upset your stomach and made it inflammed and sore.  Peppermint also helps. I eat peppermint stick ice cream when mine gets bad.  Do not eat anything scratchy such as chips or toast.  This will irritate your stomach.  Stay away from dairy products including milk.  Milk increases the acid in the stomach. Also, soft drinks and alcohol will upset the stomach.  If you live in the US, there is a lot of chemicals in the wine and beer unless you are drinking beer from Germany.  It will most likely take a couple of months for your stomach to straightened out, so be patient with it.  Let us know what the tests at the doctor turn up.  Hope you are feeling better soon.  I have chronic stomach problems on and off due to scheurermanns disease.  

[KatEyes]

What you describe certainly sounds like it could be GERD. Your doctor should be advising you how to treat this without doing harm due to the rapid heartbeat. I guess what I'm wondering is how fast and for how long?  Seems that would matter in weighing the risks vs the benefits of treatment. I have used several meds for my reflux in an effort to find something with the least side effects for me.

I keep the head of my mattress elevated a few inches just to allow gravity to help out a bit. I have read that sleeping on the left side is the best position for reflux. A friend of mine with valve problems has reflux, but can't sleep on his left side because that doesn't work well for his valve problems. Have to figure out what is ok for you. By the way, once I was diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea, my GERD is rarely ever a problem.

Hope you get things straightened out soon.