I had a chest infection about 2 months agoWhich I started taking antibiotics for.
It felt better but weeks back
I started having back pains, pains at the sides of my ribs, chest pain around my sternum and directly above my heart. I was really really anxious about these pains cus nothing seemed to work.
Few days ago my throat started paining me as soon as I swallowed a pill just at the junction of my sternum. All these symptoms have kept me really anxious so I went to the hospital and was told it's GERD.
All the other tests I did, x-rays all came back okayy
Are these symptoms usually typical with GERD cus I'm really worried
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Jjms
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I have been diagnosed with GERD and I have all of these symptoms and more almost constantly. They are debilitating and frightening. Drives me to distraction and full of anxiety. Its ruining and ruling my life.
So sorry about that. I read someone's story on here about an antacid called "Riopan" that helped him clear up his symptoms maybe you can try that and see if it works
To some degree. Cant say its my worst symptom, its all so random I find. Whats an issue at times seems not to be at others. Hope you can find some answers. Best wishes.
My understanding is that antibiotics can affect the gut flora which can result in GERD. Maybe you could take a probiotic to help restore the gut flora.
Hi Jjms
I will try to reassure you about your concerns.
First an explanation… about what could be going on… and an apology for the long winded reply.. but it identifies why GERD is often difficult to eradicate in the long term because only part of the solution is ever used.
Then things that help you reduce the symptoms and heal the areas enough to get on with your life.
Firstly the symptoms really begin once you
alter the gut flora and erode the mucosal layer…
In a healthy gut … the good microbiome keeps the mucus layer protecting the deeper layers of the gut.
Aspirin, ibruprofen, antibiotics…thin the mucucosal layer and loosen the junctions … which lead to “leaky gut”
Imagine a dry lake you see cracked crevices these are like loose junctions, and bacteria and sugar find their way in and irritate the nerves… which lead to pain spreading along the nerve fibres…
So you need to address loose junctions… reduce inflammation… rebuild gut flora and the mucosal linings.
The other often overlooked issue is how to restore the LES the valve the closes above the stomach becomes inefficient when you reduce stomach acid using PPI’s.
we shall address each in turn…
First let’s reduce the inflammation and put a temporary mucosal lining by taking licorice DGL the best I found is by Natural Factors… which is almost a creamy soothing chewable tablet.. one or two morning and last thing at night…
Slippery Elm bark supplements last thing at night…in green tea… will also help.
Raw ginger … cranberry juice…. Pomegranate juice will close loose junctions…. this really works!
reduce you diet to yoghurts porridge and bananas (green) for about a week then gradually introduce foods higher in acids…
You need to eat fermented foods such as kimchi… sauerkraut as this rebuilds gut flora ..cabbage in any form will heal the gut.
Second week spinach … rocket will rebuild stomach acid anything with chloride will restore the stomach acid cells… and help the LES… as will weak solution of ACV before meals…. In a healthy gut … rising acid should help the LeS close… during digestion..
Calcium chloride immediately after your last mouthful closes the LES very quickly.
Do not lay down for at least three hours after a meal… avoid fatty meals as this causes stomach acid to remain high for several hours…
Sleep propped up and try to use your left side… this avoids acid rising back during the night..
Avoid tomatoes and onions and sugar… for now.. stay off ibruprophen .
Use natural antibiotics like allicin… andrographis… olive leaf extract… doing all the above will restore things … improve your gut and bring peace of mind…
Lastly melatonin is thought to release at night which is a natural LES closer… so why not eat foods rich in it like walnuts .. only need a handful … persevere with raw ginger… it actually stops nausea and increases alkaline in the gut and very good anti inflammatory.
I hope these suggestions help you… I too had all the symptoms you had and have brought things under control … still have the odd blip through eating too much of a bad thing…
One final idea is to learn how to massage the pyloric valve… look on you tube Dr Eric Berg… often this will spasm and cause slow emptying of stomach hence reflux issues after an hour of eating.
Chewing gum with eucalyptus helps.
A word about the breathing issues… because the stomach … diaphragm share the same part of the vagus nerve you often get symptoms crossing over… vagus nerve exercises like humming and heat from a hot water bottle and massage will relax the muscle and nerves too..
Please do not fret over this .. you can get well again…Best wishes from UK
I can second all of the above. Was also diagnosed with GERD but with a clear endoscopy and abdo scan. I think mine is triggered by some foods but root cause for me I think is anxiety. I am trying to address stress reduction by adding meditation, yoga and acupuncture into my routine. I have managed to wean off the PPIs and just take slippery elm and Marshmallow root supplements along with Dgl licorice tablets which really help. I also had random chest and back pains. Issues with swallowing, throat clearing and a sore throat but my symptoms have improved a lot since starting the supplements and reducing stress. It does get better! I hope yours improves soon
I printed off what you wrote as I am building a new regime. Last night had a very small bit of creamy parmesan Cesar salad dressing, and I am really paying for it.
The Gerd attack in my chest really kicks me, moves to burning in my gut and feel lousy for hours.
I've been doing PPI for weeks with no help, now going to get an endoscopy later this month. I did a stool sample test and shows real issues with high levels of Calprotectin and one of the key acids I should have in my gut is non-existant. So after repair its a life journey on making a good gut.
I am a cancer survivor, so it is stressful as my anxiety levels go sky high. But reading replies like yours make me realize I am not alone and many people have and are going through this.
Agaian thanks
BTW you suggest natural antibiotics over prescription ones?
Natural antibiotics are generally plant based… they do not erode the mucosal layer which gives rise to those burning issues.
I left out one important point… not only do you produce acid after eating… you produce pepsin…digestive enzymes too… it’s the pepsin that causes the most problems if it rises high into the food pipe… so as you eat an acidic food this reacts with the pepsin that has lodged in the wall of the esophagus hence instant pain… and burning… because the digestion process begins the second acid and pepsin mix.
Pepsin can stay in tissue of linings not protected by mucus..for days or weeks.. but a small about of sodium bicarbonate will remove it in a day or two… half a teaspoon in a half a glass of warm water .. sip a mouthful and swallow… over a period of half an hour.. after food… neutralises tissue holding pepsin… if you have lpr it’s thought to be pepsin that came up during sleep from reflux that gets into the region between nose and stomach … which can lead to post nasal drip… again nasal wash with a weak sodium bicarb solution using a soft pipette.
It’s important to restrict your use of sodium bicarbonate to one teaspoon a day.. otherwise you may increase sodium levels in your body enough to cause water retention etc.
Lastly a short list of natural antibiotics..
Andrographis Paniculata (Indian Echinacea)
Olive leaf extract
Allicin (garlic extract)
Oregano
Ginger
Cabbage
Avoid the deadly nightshade foods for now…tomatoes… bell peppers…aubergines onions … these are carmitives which produce gas and relax the LES.
But one other not often thought about…
Serrapeptase… this reduces inflammation infection and scarring… great for mucus problems in sinus ear canals..dental problems..which may end up being swallowed..causing issues further along the elementary canal.
I did a 1-day stool sample, and the results say I have a lot of inflammation and one of the needed acids in my gut isn't there (or in very tiny amount) hope to address this soon
This appears to be SIBO… helped by increasing the stomach’s acid making ability naturally… leafy greens and cabbage are quite helpful… betaine hcl .. for quicker results.
Biofilm is often helped with serrapeptase.. just a low dose …10 mg a day 20,000 SPU.
Again using either Andrographis , Slippery elm , Allicin or olive leaf extract will dampen down inflammation.
Drinking cranberry juice makes biofilm release from mucosa… especially in the bladder.
As you probably realised .. I like using natural foods and plant based remedies.. because they rarely give knock on side effects… that often come when we use manmade synthetic drugs.
I had wondered about SIBO but didn't read that much. Now that I do, it matches a lot. The start of this, was a flu-like bug 2 to 3 months ago. And continued to worsen as I was prescribed PPI's. The flu type bug persists for both us, going between feeling great to then waves of nausea headaches etc.
The only thing that doesnt match is the breath, I have very acidy type breath
good for the most part, I had throat cancer 11 years ago, and radiation hit both. And I have been vaxxed in case you were thinking long covid. I am progressively feeling better, just the burning chest is recurrent - and upper abdomen pain too. I am on most of what you said 2nd day now, and I am off of PPI's as of today. I know its a long road.
Not sure how long you were on PPI’s but you need to taper off them if it’s more than a month… rebound reflux could be an issue because the LES is relearning to close properly…stick with the protocol… it did help me after I accidentally swallowed a corrosive liquid that contaminated food.
yes of course…most PPI’s work by temporarily blocking the acid making cells in the stomach linings..,so when you stop them…the cells over produce acid….so it makes sense to reduce gradually.
If you got the LES to work properly…acid would not cause reflux.,..it’s the LES that is the gate keeper.
Well, tried to go for a walk and had to stop after half a block as the chest burning got unbearable. I feel healthier I have lost weight (good diet no wine) yet this lingers. Could it be the vagus nerve?
Yes I am going back on the PPI (still with a plan to wean off)
The glossopharyngeal, vagus, spinal accessory and hypoglossal nerves can all be damaged by large radiation doses for head and neck cancer; this damage typically arises months to years after treatment.
- I had throat cancer 2012 - besides chemo and surgery I had 6 weeks of daily radiation
Dr Google can explain a lot of things when you can’t get a doctors appointment… and yes vagus nerve could be related.. check if you can exacerbate the burning issue by leaning forward … have some antacid to hand to see if you can lessen that …there are many reasons for burning sensations … often due to acid rising … hiatus hernia… phrenic nerve issues (very rare) but to be sure.. you need to get professional medical advice if you continue to experience these episodes… trying to diagnose common symptoms works up to a point.
Rebound issues equals acid plus pepsin… that burning is often those two mixing in the esophagus.. which is designed to break down proteins…in the stomach..try a very weak solution of sodium bicarbonate half teaspoon per half tumbler of water sip very slowly … removes pepsin in about two or three days … otherwise it just lingers…avoid acidic foods and drinks until the pepsin leaves the surface cells of the oesophagus.
D-Limonene can often help for this type of reflux.. also calcium chloride one half teaspoon in a little water … right after your last mouthful of food can close the LES for about an hour… retrains the sphincter to close.
No I stopped the PPI's thinking if I had SIBO the PPI isnt helping. And the since radically changing the dieT and getting the supplements you suggested I am feeling way better. I know this is a long haul journey and not overnight. But maybe I jumped the gun a bit.
My by big worry is my GP raised a concern might be oesophagus cancer, because there is added risk given the type of cancer I had 11 years ago. So I worry.
That combined with the gentlest of walks can trigger an attack like it did today (but perhaps that is what 48 hours without PPI's is like when you come off)
I use a little raw ginger during episodes like this… only a couple of small diced pieces though..it does burn a little at first then instant relief because it is alkaline… stick with bananas and porridge for now.. soon levels off these burning episodes.
Not all the time… the pattern is simply a reflux episode at night that brings up pepsin too… the pepsin then settle into the tissue.. and can stay there for weeks… as soon as you eat acidic food or drink acidic drinks .. you will be experience burning. .. because acid combined with pepsin start to eat tissue … your tissue..
Neutralise with sodium bicarbonate and the problem disappears.
Woww this seems like alot but I'm ready to do whatever it takes not to feel this way in a couple of weeks or months. Thank you very much for your help.
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