I posted this in Acid Reflex Support group but know a lot of forum members suffer with the same thing.
Had unusual chest discomfort on and off for over 2 years . CT scans, MRI, angiograms. So have had all cardiac tests and diagnosed and recently treated via OHS for a thoracic aortic aneurysm which was grafted. So it’s not blood supply or cardiac.
As a result of a non cardiac issue I have had endoscopy that found chronic non cancerous oesophagetis. I have tried all the PPIs going and at different strengths and nothing has prevented attacks of what seems like atypical discomfort chest sensations which from what I read are quite different from typical indigestion or heartburn pain. Mine are very short bursts of what I would call a pulsating pain and not always behind the sternum. I have read that maybe is it 20 per cent of people ( is it more?) don’t get relief from PPIs. Have any folk benefited from H2 receptor blockers ( if I am using the right phrase).
Just to advise that I think I have tried every natural remedy going plus cessation of possible triggers like alcohol, chocolate, crisps, bread etc. any thoughts gratefully received plus anyone get this atypical chest discomfort that doesn’t seem to match what I read are typical symptoms of indigestion or heartburn?
My gastro consultant has said that there are other invasive ph tests etc that can be done but suggested that this normally was for more serious cases and where surgery may be an outcome.
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Robfromwales
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"I have read that maybe is it 20 per cent of people ( is it more?) don’t get relief from PPIs. Have any folk benefited from H2 receptor blockers ( if I am using the right phrase)."
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Called "H2 Blockers" and certainly worth a try, although if PPI's haven't worked, would not get my hopes up too high. You can try them first in the evening and then both morning and night.
As to PPI's, no doubt a certain percent of people will not get any release, however, some that don't are not taking them correctly. For best effect, most PPI's should be taken on an empty stomach one hour before a meal. The meal is important to activate the PPI.
One exception is Dexilant, which if you haven't tried it, I would. Probably the most potent PPI. I found relief from 60mg Dexilant, once a day, when other PPI's did not help. Unlike other PPI's, Dexilant can be taken on a full or empty stomach.
Alginates like Gaviscon Advance have helped some, so again worth trying.
Lastly, check your medications, as so meds cause reflux/heartburn/LPR and switching to another med may be all you need.
If none of the above helps, testing is a really good idea and the possibility exists that your reflux may be from other than high acidity, in fact some may be from too little acid. Again, testing will help here.
Good luck. Been through all the above. I did wean off of Dexilant recently after my ablation, but symptons persisted. It wasn't the withdrawal as some state, but simply that the underlying cause was still there. If it wasn't that heartburn/reflux triggers my afib, I'd probably have just lived with it, but currently back on a half dose (30mg) of Dexilant and trying to watch my diet triggers.
If this is like other threads, some will chime in on how evil PPI's are. All I can tell you is that those people haven't suffered many of us who need them. Personally, I'd love to get off of them, but chose to be on them rather than keep going into afib.
Thanks mjames1. Very helpful. My symptoms seem so different to what I read are 'typical' heartburn systems. I dont get a lot of burning and dont even get acid reflux into the throat in the night or sore throat or belching. What i get is waves of discomfort/pain for say 1 or 2 seconds but in a batch of about 5-10 mins. Then not much fora while then perhaps another batch. Rarely lasts more than a day or two and seems entirely unpredictable and unrelated to food or drink stuffs. I note your point about testing and if nothing else works may try that. I suppose in short I am trying to prevent having it rather than treating it once its there - if that makes sense. PS I have also tried adding acid as I had heard that that could be a cause - but that didnt work either!
You might try 60mg Dexilant at least for purposes of a differential diagnosis, if not prevention. Then testing. Could be something else altogether. Good luck and let us know if you find anything out.
I guess Dexilant is prescription. Yes I do wonder if it’s something else but if not cardiac and if not gerd and not hernia ? So episodic and brief in duration
Rob, try following the dietary advice in this book. I have chronic acid reflux due to abdominal surgery aged 19. My stomach does not make acid properly and I am totally reliant on what I put in to my system.I do pretty well by following this advice. It's not faddy and she talks you through the chemistry of it all.
For topical relief I use Gaviscon Advance but I don't know if that will help in your case. Try it and see. Get the liquid form. No eating or drinking for a couple of hours afterwards if taken in the day after meals. Nothing at all at night for 3 hours before bed except the Gaviscon.
My grandfather had his gall bladder. Too late to ask him as he had passed.
I finally had mine out aged 50. It had disintergrated.
Advice is to have a warm drink of water and real lemon at the start of each morning.
If your gall bladder is not working acid drips into the stomach throughout day and night. The gall bladder regulates what acid it needs to break down what is in your stomach.
Thanks Singwell. How would you describe the pain discomfort? Mine seem very atypical with little 'burn' or bloating or belching etc and more short ripples of pain/discomfort in bursts of seconds in batches of say 5-10 mins. Then stop without me taking anything. It does make me wonder sometimes whether it is acid reflux but I do have oesophagatis. I may ,as Mjames suggested, see if testing reveals anything. But if not GERD and not cardiac - what else would create such episodic episodes currently running at once or twice every week. Interestingly the best two months I had was after open heart surgery in April. In terms of meds the only thing different to what I am now was aspirin and heavy duty diuretics.
I simply couldn't tolerate a PPI. I ended up having explosive vomiting and diarrhoea while away in Venice using those. On return I told the GP and got moved onto a medication called Ranotidine which was subsequently withdrawn and I ended up taking Famotidine which works in a similar way (but not as effective?).
thanks. My understanding is that famotidine is next level down and if ppi doesn’t work ( and I can tolerate) it’s unlikely to . But it may be worth a try! Is it prescription only
If you have not done so already, you should research PPI's on various websites including the FDA's site.
Check out a doctor in Wales called Sarah Myhill and GERD. She may have other suggestions.
Also see what Dr. Mark Hyman, a functional medicine doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, has to say. He has done many YouTube videos, some hosted by UK doctors. Unfortunately, most doctors do not practice functional medicine.
Also search for The People's Pharmacy and what they have to say. You may wish to get their regular emails. You can safely sign in. They will not send you junk emails, only ones to which you subscribe.
Sometimes chiropractors can help but finding one who can is often a challenge. I finally found one who never does the "crack approach" but instead uses many more sensible methods with much better results, changing the treatment depending on what you say is your current problem and the results from the last visit. First X-rays are done to actually see the condition of your spine. These are used for reference at each visit. Then, the two scales and the line to see how off center you are, then depending on what is known, various treatments on many different benches employing laser, massage, etc. Then PEMF, Scenar, red light therapy, etc. if needed and all for the same price as other chiropractor's five minute "crack' approach.
My chiropractor is female and her husband chiropractor is male. They do chiropractic on each other and on their three sons. They also apply functional medicine practices. She said yesterday they noticed their oldest son, who plays a lot of sports, was out of alignment. On the scales, there was 14 pounds, (Canadian) difference from one leg to the other. So a definite lean to one side. One adjustment on a young person fixes this. But for an older person usually many more. Having the spine this much out of jjust this one alignment can cause some significant health issues because the nerves are affected. The first time my wife, who is 60, stepped on the scales, she was 20 pounds off and this was after 2 years of visiting a different chiropractor. It is amazing how much better her health now is just by visiting this chiropractor. We had been busy all summer and did not go to the chiropractor. Now many of her problems are back but this time it will take less time to get her back to health. Effective chiropractic visits are as important as any health visit and may be even more.
Many younger people are getting AF. Some chiropractors think if could be the result of spending so much time on phones, computers, etc and carrying very heavy backpacks too low on their backs. All these activities deform the spine and affect the nerve communication to the entire body. Maybe some day more will be known.
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