Those of you who suffer from GERD, do you get heart pain?

[Suzanne]

I am pretty sure that is what the pain is, but I am having to take courage and go and get it checked out, for obvious reasons.

Also, I am curious about something else of a health nature. Sometimes I wake up with the most terrible ache across my back shoulder blade and it radiates up to my teeth, where I feel deep pain there. I tend to associate this with acid issues, since this blasted thing, causes so many problems for me.

What I hate is when I wake up and think: but I brushed my teeth and the only thing that helps to push acid down again, is milk.

The drs waiting area is so small and horribly quiet, but I find that playing a silent game whilst waiting helps to calm my nerves down. But honestly talk about trying to pluck courage up to go!!!!!

 

[Judge]

Heart pain? No. Only esophageal pain and stomach discomfort.

 

[Suzanne]

Heart pain? No. Only esophageal pain and stomach discomfort.

I read that many fear a heart attack, only to discover it is acid, which I am sure is what is happening to me, because I nearly lost my voice and now have an acid cough, due to waking up often, with acid in my mouth. Thankfully, that has not happened for over a year now; I wake up just in time, with acid stuck in my throat, which is bad enough, but not as bad as the other!!!

 

[Judge]

For all the issues of reflux I've had since 1993, I've not encountered them while prone or sleeping. Always in the course of eating or drinking something...

The only heart issues I've ever had were experiencing PACs in 2002. (Pulmonary Atrial Convulsions)..which are little more than an occasional annoyance ...like my heart hiccuping. Doctors gave me metroprolol to take for two weeks and it went away, although from time to time it comes back.

Let's just say I have a very good sense of localized pain...being able to physically differentiate between my esophagus and my heart.

 

[Suzanne]

very good sense of localized pain.

That is how I know it is my heart, because I too have a very good sense of where pain is!

 

[clg114]

I am pretty sure that is what the pain is, but I am having to take courage and go and get it checked out, for obvious reasons.

Also, I am curious about something else of a health nature. Sometimes I wake up with the most terrible ache across my back shoulder blade and it radiates up to my teeth, where I feel deep pain there. I tend to associate this with acid issues, since this blasted thing, causes so many problems for me.

What I hate is when I wake up and think: but I brushed my teeth and the only thing that helps to push acid down again, is milk.

The drs waiting area is so small and horribly quiet, but I find that playing a silent game whilst waiting helps to calm my nerves down. But honestly talk about trying to pluck courage up to go!!!!!

I have GERD and I have had a couple of heart attacks. It is easy to mistake one for the other and that's a mistake that can kill you. I take omeprazole for the GERD and it works very well. I can tell the difference because if it is my heart, I feel hot and sweaty. Sometimes the pain can go into your neck and arms. Ether way you should see your doctor. A heart attack can be very different for women. Suzanne, if you think you have a heart problem, see your doctor right away. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Jimbo]

If it turns out to be GERD, which hopefully it will, sleeping with your head elevated will help keep the acid in your stomach at night. I suffer from all kinds of digestive problems myself, gallstones, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome. I think a lot of aspies have digestive trouble due to the constant stress and anxiety.

 

[Tia Maria]

If it turns out to be GERD, which hopefully it will, sleeping with your head elevated will help keep the acid in your stomach at night. I suffer from all kinds of digestive problems myself, gallstones, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome. I think a lot of aspies have digestive trouble due to the constant stress and anxiety.

Agreed! Don't eat past a certain time, so many hours before bedtime. Sleep slightly elevated. Avoid certain foods if possible, the ones that tend to create excess stomach acids, like spicy or greasy food & caffeine, especially in the evening or at dinner. There are other tips that can be found online or from your doctor.

GERD is better than a heart attack, so hopefully .... But longterm, untreated GERD is serious because it usually causes other health problems including potentially heart issues & even esophageal cancer.

As others wrote, you may need to take omeprazole daily. Usually for two weeks or a few months is standard. For those who need to take it longterm (& any do) I would make sure it's recommended by your doctor because there can be long termed side affects & it causes heart palpitations in some people. A benign treatment is to take famotidine (10 or 20 mg), & a calcium carbonate & magnesium hydroxide product (like Rolaids or Tums). Pepcid Complete combines all three: famotidine, calcium carbonate & magnesium hydroxide in a delicious chew in mint or fruit flavors. Take according to the included instructions.

Anyone also grind their teeth at night?

Hope you're okay Suzanne! Please follow up & let everyone know!

 

[Tia Maria]

For all the issues of reflux I've had since 1993, I've not encountered them while prone or sleeping. Always in the course of eating or drinking something...

The only heart issues I've ever had were experiencing PACs in 2002. (Pulmonary Atrial Convulsions)..which are little more than an occasional annoyance ...like my heart hiccuping. Doctors gave me metroprolol to take for two weeks and it went away, although from time to time it comes back.

Let's just say I have a very good sense of localized pain...being able to physically differentiate between my esophagus and my heart.

Judge, I know two people who had that problem with the throat constriction (also from acid reflux) during eating or drinking. They both had some kind of throat muscle stretching procedure, & need to take omeprazole daily for life. That pretty much resolved it for both of them.

You seem (as always) to have everything pretty well under control.

 

[Judge]

Judge, I know two people who had that problem with the throat constriction (also from acid reflux) during eating or drinking. They both had some kind of throat muscle stretching procedure, & need to take omeprazole daily for life. That pretty much resolved it for both of them.

You seem (as always) to have everything pretty well under control.

That might be a stretch!

Let's just say it comes with a steep learning curve. My latest stride has been in eliminating Aspertame from my diet, which has reduced my reflux. I was drinking non-sugar drinks in large amounts, with little thought to them being a trigger. Boy did I get that one wrong.

It hasn't been easy adapting to drinking mostly just plain water, but anything that enables less reflux is a good thing.

 

[Suzanne]

Hello all and many thanks for your input. I decided only to explain the subject this time, rather than give you a detailed account of my medical history

First, I have no choice but to take the strongest dose of esomeprazole each day. That perhaps gives you an indication of how bad this is? Or perhaps not.

I keep completely away from extreme acid things; disaster if I do not. I can eat certain foods pretty late at night and others, much earlier.

Being raised up in bed, makes no difference to me at all

Have been told that my hiatus hernia is so big now, that no acid is kept at bay and should be operated on, but too dangerous due to ibs and my esophagus being too slow.

Water is fine when not suffering, but just causes more heart burn. Milk is the only thing to give me relief.

So there you go