GERD but without heartburn.

[Spirconi]

Had issues with throat and chest since a short illness in January. After being ill with flu like symptoms (it matches covid but negative antibody test recently). Since the illness, I've had bad fatigue, not debilitating but as an active person its the opposite of what I am used to.

It seems to come and go, doctors suggest GERD but omoxiprol (pardon spelling) didn't seem to work long term and not noticeable short term.

My throat gets quite tight and I need to burp or cough to clear it. Chest feels tight, not worryingly, more that I'm aware of it. I seem to be OK for a month or so but then it gets bad for about a week and then goes again. I can exercise with it, sometimes it can feel like I shouldn't for fear that I won't be able to breathe properly.

Currently in the cycle of having it bad again (which may be bad diet and drink over Xmas).

On here mainly to see of anyone else matches and any suggestions that would say the diagnosis was correct as I don't have heartburn or anything.

[filibrit5061]

Hi....almost the same for me. No heartburn but severe regurgitation. Coupled with the stress of the current situation and my inability to get home (I’m stuck in the Philippines and my home is UK)...need to see a gastro specialist but nobody available until the New Year. Sore throat, tight chest and bloating of the stomach. Currently on Omeprazole which helps and also taking probiotics . Careful with the diet eat lots of fruit and vegs.....but alcohol is a killer....exercise each day just walking. Been like this now for over 6 months....just learning to live with it as best as possible. Its not easy and Im lucky I have a very supportive wife.

Good luck. See a specialist if you can. Find a suitable calming pill (I use Rivotril which I think is generic here)....it helps.

[Spirconi in reply to filibrit5061]

Hi. Thank you for replying, I'm glad to find someone the same, but also not glad that you are feeling the same of course!!

Can I ask a few things? I've not been able to describe this to anybody that hasn't experienced.

Assuming you are male, does it kind of feel like your Adams apple is swelling up? And like the back of your tongue is swollen?

Also, do you have the fatigue part? That's probably the hardest part for me, it just makes me feel like I'm waiting to get to the next day, and when I hold my little boy it makes me really breathless. Lifting weight is fine, but its prolonged carrying which is the issue.

I did actually read up on another condition, that weirdly was suggested it was a mental condition brought on by anxiety and stress. I'll try and find it again and post in case it helps you reading about it as well.

[troyboy196969 in reply to Spirconi]

anxiety, depression,and the invisible bump yes, same here still doing studys

[Spirconi in reply to filibrit5061]

Its called globus sensation. The feeling of having a lump in the throat that isn't there. It was thought to be purely mental for a long time but there are more studies to understand it now.

May not be linked to what you are feeling, or I, but it sounds at least as similar as GERD.

Good luck in getting back home, and hopefully the world will become a much more normal place sooner rather than later.

[filibrit5061 in reply to Spirconi]

Hi....yes I get the same throat problem. Sometimes its also difficult to swallow. Fatigue.....yep. Big time. I can manage a 40 min walk in the morning but not much else. I play golf once a week but my recovery time is around 2 to 3 days. Before this kicked in I could play 3 times a week. I saw a cardiologist and had a thorough check. Blood tests were ok; ECG was OK...pulmonary tests OK. He said a lot of the problem was indeed down to stress and anxiety....hence the Rivotril. I wont really know until I have had an endoscopy but that is a few weeks away. I had some therapy to help with the stress and was put on TRE....tension release exercises. You could try that....just Google it...

Like you I have had no one to share this with and that has been difficult. Getting medical help here is so difficult and getting a hospital appointment is harder than breaking into a bank. Very very frustrating. But I have survived 8 months of this and guess I can continue until such time as medical resources are easier....

I hope you are able to come to terms with what you are suffering. I can only sympathise and if you need someone to talk to or bounce ideas off just drop me a line here.

Good luck.....oh..... Happy New Year. 2021 has to be better ☺️

[012911Pipa]

Hi! I do have the same symptoms and more. I’m currently taking omeprazole. I’m also on acid watchers diet (AWD from dr Aviv) and it seems to help with the symptoms. I found that having dairy it makes the symptoms worse. Also, from what you described to be your symptoms, I think you may be suffering from LPR (silent reflux) which is linked with throat issues. When I first started to have symptoms I was breathless most of the time, difficulty swallowing, feeling that I had something stuck on my throat, sore throat, burning sensation on my chest and back and tired all the time. After 2 1/5 months, I am feeling much better. I found that following a strict diet it helped a lot. If you are interested, there is a group on Facebook call The Acid Watchers Diet Support -Relaxed Group. They have been a huge support. I hope you get better soon!

[Spikey]

If you were ill with flu like symptoms in January, but only had the antibody test recently, it is possible that you had Covid 19, as the antibodies don't last that long.

Like you, I have sometimes experienced a feeling of a lump in my throat. It is often accompanied by a cough and excess phlegm, and continuously needing to clear my throat. I don't think it is GERD, as I have been taking PPI medication (omeprazole/pantoprazole) for more than 10 years following an oesophagectomy. My GP has referred me for an endoscopy to try to get to the bottom of it, after numerous blood tests and X-rays all came back normal, but I am still waiting for an appointment.