I have been dealing with gastrointestinal issues for nearly a year now after having the stomach flu in November 2016.
My symptoms were often upper and lower GI- constant diarrhea, stomach pain after eating, constant acid reflux, awful nausea, headaches, vomiting. April 2017 I took a turn for the worse and was puking every morning despite medications. I had an upper endoscopy done that showed chronic gastritis (who cares, 9 out of 10 people have gastritis).
Since then, my diarrhea has gotten better and due to medication, my stomach does not hurt all the time now. The constant nausea is not as bad but the acid reflux has gotten extremely bad to the point where it burns my throat from sunup to sundown, it hurts to talk, it feels like my chest and throat are swollen. I was taking Protonix 40mg twice daily and it wasn’t working after 6+ months on it. I am now on Dexilant which was working the first couple weeks after switching but now my symptoms are getting worse again. I also currently take Zantac 150 at night to help as well. I take Gaviscon Extra Strength as needed but notice no difference when taking it.
I have awful gas that comes after eating and before eating, it smells really bad and I don’t think it is due to the medication as it started randomly when I had not changed any medication in awhile.
I am tired of feeling so sick and am looking for relief.
Blood work is normal, upper GI is normal otherwise, stool sample normal, ultrasound showed my intestinal structure is okay, HIPA test showed gallbladder function at 76 percent, and the next test will be a PH test but I am nervous to do that as I would have to be off my antacids for 2 weeks which I am thinking will make me feel miserable if I already feel miserable WITH prescription antacids.
I think I will have to take off work to do that test but it is the last test I am going to perform before talking to my doctor about getting surgery for the acid reflux symptoms. Esophageal surgery, I am thinking via an endoscope (rather than cutting open my beautiful stomach) would be the best bet. I hope my doctor agrees. I would like to not be on antacids much longer as I know about the detrimental negative side effects.
I want to get this cleared up or at least feel somewhat better before moving to Colorado in the summer of 2017. Wish me luck.
