Hungry and weak feeling. Acid reflux?

[Scrumpyjack72]

Hi, i seem to have to constantly clear my throat, it feels like there is always phlegm there. The doctors think its acid reflux and have me on omeprazole but although helps a little, it doesn't go away. Sometimes i have this feeling where i am constantly hungry and weak, even after i eat i have the feeling in my stomach like i am hungry and also my legs ache a little, feels like how i would expect low blood sugar to feel. Have been tested for diabetes and bloods came back normal. Can acid reflux cause symptons such as these were you feel hungry and weak? Anyone else have this?

[Mauser1905]

Hello there,

Welcome to the forum. Also note a sister forum Acid Reflux Support link below:

healthunlocked.com/opa-gord

Suggest alos visiting the OPA website for further information on the disease and making yourself aware. Link below

opa.org.uk/awareness.html

Have you been checked for vitamin D difficieny? Suggest taking off the shelf high strength oral vitamin D and also calcium, if no issues for yourself for those supplements to be taken on your own. try that and see if this resolves the ache and tiredness feeling in few weeks.

something in the throat feeling could be throat infection as well, not necessarily acir reflux. majoirity times the reflux will induce an intense pain in the oesophagus which you interpret as chest pain, heartburn etc. It may be a brewing chest infection as well.

If I may ask you how old are you? do you experience any difficulty swallowing food? how long this issue is around.Are you losing weight?

[Scrumpyjack72 in reply to Mauser1905]

Hi thanks for your response. I did get checked for Vitamin D over a year ago and it was low, i took supplements then but have not for a while, will start taking again.

I never really get proper heartburn, mostly just the throat complaint which has been going on for years off and on. I have been taking omeprazole most days for a few months but i tried to stop taking it a few weeks ago and got the most intense burning in my throat, with a burning liquid coming right up my throat, thought it may be because i stopped taking omeprazole cold turkey.

I have been to the docs lots about this and finally have an appointment with a gastrologist at the hospital but that is not until January.

I am 48, no weight loss, no difficulty swallowing. The issue has been around on and off for years. Although this current throat issue has been around for about 6 - 8 months i think.

[Mauser1905 in reply to Scrumpyjack72]

Thanks for sharing more information. helps in connecting dots when reading in between lines.

My understanding is that GP must have done lifestyle checks and advisory with you. like coffee, smoke, alcohol etc. food diary.

a diary which has episodes information, like when, how, why, for how long, what started it and what soothed (in your view) symptoms each time.

Would you experience the same issues when sleeping at the night or only day time?

Sudden stopping of PPI may restart the normal acid production in your stomach and if this refluxes up then yes you will get intense burning pain, foul taste on tongue as well with persistent reflux teeth will be yellowed.

Glad to know that no weight loss and no swallowing difficulties, thats good to know. Also glad that you have got an appointment to see GI consultant. Posibly they will see if manometry as well 24hr pH monitoring could be done and endoscopy. January is not far off.

My speculation is sliding hernia, pure speculation. if not experienced in the night.

Also have a read about the LINX band and Nissen Fundoplication inthe link in earlier posts.

PPI is not a root cause fix, and as you experiencing the digestion system is a critical one to normal functioning of bodt, PPI which reduces the acid production compromises the digestion function. associated issues crop up or lie underlying.

Also see if Gaviscon advance can be of help when the burning pain is there. PPI may work in advance, meaning before the reflux is induced. after the reflux is happened PPI is not effective as the acid is already burning the throat/oesophagus. that moment you need something like gaviscon advance to layer up the oesophagus against the stomach acid.

On a note feeling hungry is good, try to feed the stomach and manage the life such that to not induce the acid reflux.

[Scrumpyjack72 in reply to Mauser1905]

Thanks for all your advice, its very helpful. Strangely my dentist noticed my throat was slightly red and when i explained my symptoms, he mentioned a hernia. Will see what the GI consultants says.

It was more the hunger thing that worried me as it leaves me feeling weak and tired. Last night i was hungry even right after dinner and feeling weak. Will try the Vit D and Calcium and see if it helps.

[Mauser1905 in reply to Scrumpyjack72]

be prepared for the GI appointment with objective data from your end to reduce further experimentation and being helpful to diagnostic investigations.

if you have known past yea for vitamin D defficiency then theres no harm for you to top it up and see if it helps with C as well. Perhaps Iron defficiency could cause this as well Vitamin B12.

Having said that PPI act very complciated way to a patient taking it on a long term, and current coid related lifestyle changes are exaggerating the side-effects. hence it is bit of a challenge to pin point the root cause of all those symptoms.

could also be interpreted as diet lacking nutrition which it is sensing, within reasons and safety of your own circumstances of being able to manage the symptoms you can experiment with food to see what works or not. feeling hungry is a positive, feeling weak is a symptom. and there will be a lot os cross conenctions between your medication, lifestyle and root cause issues known or unknown. with GI at least the main issue can be looked into. current wait period is 56 weeks in my area for heart routine.

[Spikey]

I have come across several people recently, including myself, who are constantly having to clear their throat as you describe. Unfortunately, too many GP's assume that the most likely cause is acid reflux and are too quick to prescribe PPI's, which cause problems when you try to come off them, as you have experienced. In my own case, I have been taking PPI's for several years, following an oesophagectomy in 2007, but have only had the throat problem on and off for the last 2-3 years. I have had numerous blood tests, but none has revealed anything abnormal. My GP has now referred me for an endoscopy, but in the current circumstances, I expect it will be many months before I get an appointment.

In my opinion, acid reflux does not explain your other symptoms. I would be interested to know the result of your appointment with the gastrologist.

[zerodrudge]

I would get a scope done.

[Mentalmicky6]

If I'm careless with late eating and get a reflux while asleep then I get phlegm for about 24 hours which heals the damage, I get occasional dumping ( low blood sugar) also through careless eating which causes a feeling of weakness and hunger which I respond with an apple, fluid and something savory ( 8 years post op)

[Scrumpyjack72]

So after months of waiting i finally had my endoscope appointment. It showed everything was mostly normal in esophagus and stomach. It did however show something called an 'Inlet Patch' in my throat. Has anyone else come across this? Apparently its a patch of skin that is like stomach skin and has been there from birth and can produce acid in your throat. The endoscopist said it was very common and a lot of people have it but dont have symptoms. I have had my throat symptoms on and off for years. So i am relieved it is not anything sinister but has anyone else heard of an inlet patch? They have prescribed i keep taking the PPI's but to be honest it doesnt stop the phlegm in my throat although coughing is a lot less when taking them. She suggested that sometimes when it is symptomatic then they can be laser treated but the letter from them to my doctor just suggest PPI on demand and doesnt say anything about laser treatment. Does anyone know anything about this or has an inlet patch themselves?