I've suffered with GERD for about 10 yrs now and have had many endoscopies and other tests. My dr says that my problem is that my stomach empties too slowly. He won't even consider any type of surgery. I take 30mg Prevacid, which seems to work the best. But I have breakthrough reflux all the time. Bedtime is the worst. I have to sleep propped up on pillows, but when I can no longer stand it, I lay on my right side. The left side seems to bring on symptoms that are painful.I am so tired of not finding much to eat in restaurants since most of them season their food too much. It's hard to find good, non spicey food when you go out. Most people don't understand what it's like to have this condition. I'm hoping to find some kindred spirits here who can identify with how restrictive this condition is. I look forward to getting to know others here.

Brenda

I see you posted a while ago. I didn't know there was a support group for this. I have the same problem. I can't sleep right now I have stomach problems so bad. I can't seem to find a good doctor, so I'm just going to go to my GP in a few days.

Summer

Sorry I haven't returned to this site in over a month, but it didn't seem to have many viewers. I am sorry to hear of your stomach troubles, so believe me, I understand. I first went to my GP, too, and he recommended a good gastroenterologist. I saw that dr for 10 yrs, but I am ready for a new dr because this one hasn't really given me the support and understanding I need. I will see my new dr on April 10th. Hopefully, once you get with a dr, he or she will order tests to confirm your condition and maybe get you on the right drug. I've tried them all. Right now, I am starting this new regimen of taking probiotics, which are the "good" bacteria that the digestive tract needs to run smoothly. My digestion is all out of whack with many problems. I've only been taking the probiotics for 2 days now, but I already see a difference in elimination.

Keep me posted on how you're doing! Only another GERD sufferer can understand what another one is going through. Take care.

Brenda

My GP told me I have to take my nexium everyday, but this last doc would only give me previcid. At least she believed me. I just can't understand how someone could make such a harsh judgement within 5 minutes of meeting me. I really could have been sick, and I was for a while.

It's difficult to understand why you can't get a doctor to actually do the proper testing and follow up to treat your condition. I do know that in many cases, the patient has to be their own advocate and demand certain tests so that a proper diagnosis can be reached. I don't get it why so many doctors are so lazy and don't give the patient what they so obviously need. Depending on your medical coverage, you may just have to go down the list of gastroenterologists until you find one who is decent. Do you have to get a referral from your primary care doctor to see a specialist? if so, follow up with your GP to get that referral. If you leave reflux untreated for too long, it can turn into something really serious, and I'd hate to have that happen to you. May I ask your age? I am 54, and began having this problem about 10 years ago. I've learned a lot in that time. My current dr did give me the tests, but after 10 yrs, whenever I would go in, he acted so ho-hum and never changed what he would say. Surely new things are on the horizon for acid reflux sufferers, but he'd never discuss anything like that with me. I need someone with a fresh approach and an interest in wanting to help me. That's why I'm switching to a new dr. My younger daughter is a nurse at a local hospital. She said the new dr I'm going to see has a very good reputation. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this turns out well. And I'll be hoping that you, too, can find some good support for what you are going through. Keep in touch.

Brenda

I am 37 and have been going through this since I was in my 20's. It really didn't did get this bad until that last few years. I have a problem getting my point across to doctors and get very frustrated. I also have Fibromyalgia and this is another issue doctors are not willing to believe. Well, most. This is confusing to me. I know what my body is going through and I feel that I go to these appts prepared (and always with a witness), but am not taken seriously.

I did have these stomach problems when I was 13, where I would eat and sometimes, for the nest 2 days, I was up all night throwing up with terrible pains. This was happening about once a month or every other month. My parents made an appt for me to get an upper and lower GI, which showed nothing. I continued to lose weight, so much so, it was tough to eat. SOmetimes I was afraid. My parents came to the conclusion that basically I was a nervous kid and someday I would outgrow it. They never believed me. These pains all but stoped when I was about 20, but have started up in the last up in the last few years. When I have told anyone about it (I didn't tell the last dr.) they look at me weird.

I think I have to change my diet totally, but the thing is, I eat very well and I don't know where to go from here. I really feel like I've hit a brick wall. I cannot tolerate milk/cream, so I have stopped that when I was about 18 and it helps, but I think this is a totally different issue. I always get nervous when I talk to a new dr. because I see the looks and I just can't take it anymore.

Thanks for your help,

Summer

I know a few women with fibromyalgia, and they have similar stories of frustration in trying to get their doctors to take them seriously. I do think that this syndrome is becoming more and more respected and that it is now known that it is a "real" thing. But getting all doctors to get on board with doing the testing is another issue. As for your other stomach issues, one thing I wanted to ask is if you have trouble with losing weight without trying. Have you ever been tested for celiac disease? You may already know about this, but I believe it has to do with the body's inability to process gluten in foods. I've known two people with it. Once they went on a gluten free diet, they had no more intestinal/stomach issues and began getting back to a normal weight. If weight isn't an issue, I'd still consider it as a possibility in your case.

Has your doctor ever mentioned the possibility of Irritable Bowel Syndrome for you? I don't believe there is a cure for it, but just medications that can help calm the bowels. I was diagnosed with it in my early 30's, way before I began having the acid reflux. They put me on a medication that was helpful. Back then, I would eat a meal, and within 30 minutes I was running to the restroom and having diahrrea. Also, at that time, I had a VERY stressful job, and that probably exacerbated the issue. I tend to have bowel issues when faced with intense anxiety.

I hear the total frustration in your message, and it makes me angry that you have such a difficult time getting across your message to doctors. I've never searched the Internet for this, but you might be able to find some type of information to help you present your case when you go to see a doctor next time. Perhaps there are websites for people like you to provide "ammunition" so to speak, of the verbal kind, so that your doctor will sit up and take notice. I'll do a Google search on my own to see what I come up with. Are you married, have children? I hope you are getting support at home because these things can be very draining.

Talk to you soon.

Brenda