Acid Reflux/Gerd-Updated the bottom with a question...

My DH has been experiencing bad acid reflux for 2 years. He finally went to a gastro about 6 months ago after previously only treating it with over the counter meds, because it has gotten so bad that he can't even sleep at night. He has to sleep sitting up because as soon as he lays down it gets really bad. Unfortunately we've spent very little time sleeping together and I miss my DH.

He has been taking Nexium since March and it isn't making much of a difference. He has also tried omeazeropole (sp?) and zegerid. Nothing has worked so far.

So today he had an endoscopy. They implanted a capsule into his esophagus that will stay there for about 4 days (after that time it will dossolve). He also has a beeper pack with a series of buttons on it and he has to press the buttons when he has symptoms. It will monitor the ph levels in his esophagus at those times as picked up through the capsule.

Also the results of the endoscopy weren't too great. He was diagnosed with erosive esophagitis level D, Barett's Esophagitis (which is considered pre-cancerous), and a hiatal hernia, which means that part of his stomach us up above the diaphram near the esophagus instead of below it where it should be.

There are 4 levels of erosive esophagitis and he has the highest level, level D. The doctor told him that it is as "bad as it gets." He has to go for more testing through the hospital and may need surgery. The doc didn't go into too much yet about what the surgery will entail.

I'm just looking to see if anyone has been through this, and what it was like.

Thanks everyone!
Melissa

Message edited 6/10/2008 6:22:13 AM.

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

I am sorry to hear this!!

My husband also has a hiatal hernia and has been living with it for years. His isnt as bad as your DH;s but it could turn bad if he didnt watch it.

He is on Aciphex and it helps keep his acid reflux in check.

the doctor my husband goes to is the head of the Gastro dept at Southside hospital.

I do not know if you are in that area but if you want his name so our DH can get another opinion FM me.

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

Posted by Lisa

I am sorry to hear this!!

My husband also has a hiatal hernia and has been living with it for years. His isnt as bad as your DH;s but it could turn bad if he didnt watch it.

He is on Aciphex and it helps keep his acid reflux in check.

the doctor my husband goes to is the head of the Gastro dept at Southside hospital.

I do not know if you are in that area but if you want his name so our DH can get another opinion FM me.

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

oh man your poor DH. I can only imagine the discomfort he is in. I suffer from Acid Reflux, not as bad as your DH but pretty badly.

Is he on a special diet?
Keep us posted and good luck to and your DH and I hope he starts to get some relief soon.

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

Melissa, my dad was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus almost 2 years ago (after many years of bad acid reflux). He ended up with stage 2 esophageal cancer, which, thankfully due to his monitoring of the Barrett's, was caught in time (stage 2 and not affecting lymph nodes). He did undergo surgery in Nov 2006 that removed the lower part of this esophagus and upper part of his stomach. He is perfectly fine and healthy today (he's 63) - and a lot thinner . Having the surgery also helped get him on a better diet, and helped him to better control his Type 2 diabetes.

If you have any questions, please FM me. I truly believe that his gastro doc saved his life...

Message edited 5/31/2008 8:23:20 PM.

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

Posted by chmlengr

Melissa, my dad was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus almost 2 years ago (after many years of bad acid reflux). He ended up with stage 2 esophageal cancer, which, thankfully due to his monitoring of the Barrett's, was caught in time (stage 2 and not affecting lymph nodes). He did undergo surgery in Nov 2006 that removed the lower part of this esophagus and upper part of his stomach. He is perfectly fine and healthy today (he's 63) - and a lot thinner . Having the surgery also helped get him on a better diet, and helped him to better control his Type 2 diabetes.

If you have any questions, please FM me. I truly believe that his gastro doc saved his life...

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

Okay, now Im getting freaked out.

I dont have it nearly as bad as your DH and I pray that everything turns out okay.

I have GERD and I am currently on Protonix. It helps for the most part but not all the time.

I have ulcers in my esophagus, and if not treated can grow and make swallowing difficult.

I had really bad refux while preggo but I never knew it was so serious. I finally went to the Gastro doc. for other reasons and when they did the endoscopy they found out about the GERD.

GL with your DH and hope nothing turns into the C word.

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

My husband had bad acid reflux. He was also tested for cancer but the tests came back negative. He was in the hospital for a day where they took a biopsy.

The nexium worked for him but he was silently suffering from this and could not eat and was always in chronic pain, lost a lot of weight. He weened off the nexium and wasn't on it for a while but the pain is back and has a doctors appointment at the end of the month.

My friend's father passed away from esophageal cancer. I don't think he was ever treated because it was too late.

I felt like my husband was the only one who had this because I never knew any one else with it. But it seems like more people are getting diagnosed. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your DH.

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd

Just an update---his reflex seems to get worse every day. It really worries me sometimes He called the doctor yesterday because the nexium seems to be doing NOTHING. We had so many bad nights this past week. And the bad nights just follow into bad days.

The doctor prescribed a 2nd med called Reglan. I am just wondering if anyone has taken this. The side effects sound wacky, and my DH felt "stoned" from it last night......so I am wondering who has taken it.

His doctor said on the phone yesterday that he is pretty sure he is going to want to do surgery to remove part of his esophagus and that they'll talk more about it on the 169h which is his next appt..

Re: Acid Reflux/Gerd-Updated the bottom with a question...

What about Prevacid? I had really bad acid reflux to the point where I would wake up every night and throw up from it. I would cry my throat burnt so bad. After taking Prevacid for a few months, I rarely experience acid reflux. When I do, 2 pieces of minty gum and a glass of ginger ale nips it in the butt. Also, I think ginger ale had a big impact on my acid reflux. Sounds weird, but I started drinking only ginger ale (used to only drink iced tea) and it seems to help.