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Home > Archive > Heartburn Support > March 2006 > What to do next?
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| In October, I went to the ER because I was dizzy, having chest pains,
left arm pain and just didn't feel well for the few days prior
(couldn't eat, felt awful, etc). They did an EKG, Chest XRay, Chest CT
Scan and ended up diagnosing me with reflux. They sent me home with
instructions to see my doctor and take Zantac 150 twice a day.
I started to feel better (but not at all great--I couldn't eat more
than 1/2 a bowl of Cream of Wheat for the next week or so) and started
Nexium 40mg once a day as my doctor prescribed.
I had a barium swallow done in the next few days and it was really
challenging. I could hardly drink the liquid and was breaking out into
cold sweats as they moved me around and about to take the pictures.
According to my doctore, the report said I was full of acid from my
stomach up to my esophagus.
He wanted me to increase to Nexium 40mg twice a day and Zantac 150mg
once a day but I needed the Zantac 150mg for relief so badly he ended
up switching me to Zantac 150mg twice a day and Nexium once a day. I
started to feel better over the next several weeks and could finally
swallow food without worrying about choking or passing out.
At the end of November, I went to get a prescription refill and my
insurance wouldn't cover it. Instead, I had to get the generic
Prilosec. The next two weeks on that were horrible. I also developed a
bad sinus infection that my now former doctor didn't recognize quickly
enough and I didn't get treated with antibiotics, etc. long enough.
Toward the end of December, the insurance okayed the Nexium and I
started it again.
I was in massive pain from the sinusitis (which was later diagnosed by
CT Scan as severe sinusitis and thanks to a fantastic allergist I got
under control). But, I never got the acid reflux back under control
despite resuming the Nexium/Zantac routine. I was okay for a few days
and then awful for a few more. That doctor suggested I try Protonix
(and kindly gave me a ton of samples).
I went to get an endoscopy two days after I got the Protonix samples
and that doctor said that my stomach and esophagus were red and
inflamed but there was no damage. He also said there were striations on
my stomach that were likely indicative of all of the medications I'd
been taking but biopsied them anyway for H Pylori & Gastritis. Those
came back negative. He said to discontinue the PPIs and Zantac and try
Carafate. It worked for about 5 days but then I was back to chest pains
and burping like crazy. So I started the Protonix 40mg once a day and
Zantac 150mg at night and it worked okay (some days better than
others).
I started to develop frequent chest pains along with the burping and
discomfort. I did go see a Cardiology group to rule out heart related
issues (I had several EKGs and a stress test result that was normal. My
blood pressure and cholesterol is normal too. My heart enzymes are
good. I am overweight (although I've already lost 40 pounds since this
ordeal started in October)).
This past weekend it got really bad again, to the point of waking me up
at night with massive chest pain and burping, etc. I went to the ER
Sunday night and they said it's not my heart, but really bad reflux.
Yesterday, the doctor gave me some Xanax .5mg to try, which I did after
having some trouble taking a full breath (which I remember happening
last October). I broke it in half (I am just not crazy about all this
medication!) yesterday and it calmed me down a bit. I took it again
this morning but am still having chest pain and burping. If the chest
pain is anxiety related, I don't know how long or how much Xanax is
supposed to help or if I would be better off to try some Buspar.
He also gave me Aciphex and Prevacid samples to try. I took the
Prevacid this morning but I'm assuming it will take a few days to see
if that helps.
He said Plan B, which I could do anytime, is to see his GI doc that he
works with, who apparently specializes in tough cases. I'm leaning that
route for sure, since the GI doc I saw before wasn't much help.
I just don't know if I'm on the right track or night. It seems like
roulette everyday while I try to guess what medicine might make me feel
better.
I believe they've done a full blood workup on me and that came back
normal and I've had an ultrasound of my gallbladder that didn't show
anything unusual either.
Anyone know what I should do from here or what could be wrong with me?
Is there anything specific I should ask the new GI doc about? Is it
possible that PPIs just don't work for me (I do seem to get so much
more relief from Zantac). Ideas are so much appreciated. 
Thank you,
Laura
PS Vanny--I read your post about your trouble and I'm so sorry. I've
been reading your posts for awhile. I too seem to have developed some
joint problems on the Protonix, so I think I ought to discontinue it as
well.
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| Sorry for the double post. Google groups is acting up!
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