Acid reflux

[Netsta]

Hi I'm hoping for a little advice. I have been on omeprazole for about 4 months now 20mg a day for acid reflux. My symptoms mostly include food appearing to be stuck, a very bad pain in my upper back and some burning. The tablets work sometimes at alleviating the pain slightly but now the pain is appearing stronger again. I also feel terribly sick and have bad flatluence and like baby kicks in my tummy. I do have sniffles also a few headaches.. not all the time and occasionally a sore throat.

I am due to go back to the docs on Monday. Do I ask for a higher dose of omeprazole, however I worry about side effects of these if on them for a long time.. or do I ask him for further tests etc.. any advice or help you can give me would be fantastic.. I'm 45 and this is making me feel quite ill at times. Thanks...

[Netsta]

I have had all bloods done which came back fine and this lead the doctor to believe it was acid reflux.. forgot to put that bit in!

[gwood80]

I'd ask to get sent for an endoscope.

[Amycaz]

Hi, I can't offer much info as I am new ish here myself.

I would absolutely insist on further tests, an endoscopy at the very least.

I'm sure others will have more advice for you, but for now, I would say definitely ask for further investigation, to rule things out.

Amy

[Karjade]

I agree you must insist on an endoscopy. My doctor just kept giving me Lanzaprazole and eventually after a year he sent me for an endoscopy and I have been diagnosed with a hiatus hernia and Barrett's Oesophagus. It is all so scary and new to me as I had not even heard of Barrett's. Good luck xxx

[Netsta]

Thanks for all your comments and I will definitely ask him for this . Will let u know how I get on..

[chrisrob]

Barrett's Oesophagus is a permanent change to the lining of the oesophagus to protect the body from digesting itself. It can be thought of as an untrustworthy friend as it has the ability (in a very few cases) to mutate to cancer so it needs an eye kept on it with surveillance scoping every few years.

Read about the genesis of Barrett's in this simple article on the BarrettsWessex.org.uk website: sites.google.com/site/barre...

[kiddy]

Yes ask for an endoscopy to confirm it is just acid reflux. Drs normally put you on Omeprazole for 2 weeks to see if it helps because sometimes it can be a bug in your stomach/ulcer. When food gets stuck it is normally for another reason not always cancer. Get it checked out for your own peace of mind.

[Hidden]

Try and describe to the doctor where the food gets stuck ie in your throat, or further down towards your diaphragm?

The pain might be muscle spasm caused by the food blocking, but there is something in your stomach area that needs investigating, with probably an endoscopy and perhaps a barium swallow test.

Try and work out a timeline for various pains, not least because some recent pains might (but not likely?) be side effects of medication.

I am also wondering whether your nausea is caused by stale food fermenting in your oesophagus before being digested? If so, achalasia starts to become a possibility.

This is unqualified speculation however, but the better the account you give to the doctor's, the better the diagnosis they will be able to give you.

[gutlesswonder]

See this post ---

healthunlocked.com/oesophag...

and/or

healthunlocked.com/user/gut...

[sukinsmudge]

Hi

Was experiencing same symptoms and the same age as you too. I requested a barium swalloand endescopy, bith showed narrowing i0of eesophagus, hence foid getting stuck and hiatus hernia, hence constantly feeling sick. I would request these tests. I am now waiting to see upper GI surgeon.