[salukigirl]

I have never experienced this before. This morning I woke up around 4 am with incredible heartburn. I figured it would be gone by the time I got up to go to class. So I got up at 7 and it was still horrible. It was radiating from the pit of my stomach through my entire chest. The entire morning I felt awful and tried to throw up but couldn't.

My walk to class is about 10-15 minutes. I'm kind of amazed I even made it. I walked into my building and bolted for the bathroom. I didn't even have time to lock the stall door before I threw up. And it was violent. There wasn't anything there since I didn't feel well enough to eat breakfast. It was just yellow - like only bile.

And unlike every other time I get sick, this time I didn't feel better afterwards. All day I have felt this knot in my chest. Then I go to eat or drink something and it hurts so bad. I don't have trouble swallowing and my throat doesn't hurt but it feels like a brick is moving through my esophagus. If I burp or anything my chest hurts so bad. I have always gotten heartburn from certain things like everyone else does but this was totally different. The only thing I can think of is esophageal spasms? Could this be from stress? Is this a long term thing that I need to get medication for? Or could it be just a one time thing seeing as how in 22 years I have never felt this before?

[shezbut]

What a way to wake up! I would recommend seeing your doctor, preferably in internal medicine or (the best) gastroenterology. It is very unusual for heartburn to begin several hours after eating. Same rule applies towards esophageal spasms. Typically, the worst symptoms begin to hit around 20 minutes after eating.

I do have GERD, which is in my esophagus. A very slim minority of GERD cases fall there. This leads to missing many typical GERD symptoms. My symptoms were frequent laryngitis, inner tooth decay (from flow coming back up often), and something else. I was finally diagnosed & began treatment after a Z-pack induced esophagitis. VERY Painful! I'd get hungry, but was unable to eat much at all due to extreme pain. Finally saw a GI doc after a couple of days of misery, had an endoscopy reveal the damage, and began treatment.

Very best wishes to you ~ it's no fun at all, regardless of cause ! Do see an experienced doc in this area soon though, especially if you are unable to relieve the pain & pressure. Also if weight loss begins, see a doc asap. Take care

Shez

[salukigirl]

Thanks Shez. I was diagnosed with acid reflux but couldn't afford the meds for it. I have cut down on smoking a lot (gone from over a pack a day to less than half a pack a day) and cut down on drinking alcohol and soda and the symptoms subsided a bit. Today was a lot less painful. I still have the pain when I swallow but not nearly as bad as yesterday. The thing is I live in a really small, rural area so typically to have tests like that done I have to drive out to a hospital somewhere and don't really have the money for a lot of copays and such. Maybe if I talk to my mom she can help me out.

Thanks again.

[Rmdctc]

I would still recommend the tests. I hope your mom can help you because they don't really know what it is unless they run tests.

[shezbut]

I agree with Rmdtc. You really should have the testing done. Different companies have different policies, yes, but proper diagnosis and treatment really is necessary. Especially to prevent further harm.

Best wishes ~ I'll keep my fingers crossed that you're able to get help soon!
Shez

[smiley1984]

Use your cigarette money to buy your medicine. Not only do they cost money, cause lung problems but they are also risk factors for lots of gastro problems plus diseases in any area of your body.

[salukigirl]

Thats sounds a lot easier than it is. I have tried to quit before and Im pretty proud that I have cut back to less than half a pack a day. I have a doc appt to check up on my Lyme so when I go back Ill ask about it.

[thunderbear]

Hey saluki. It sounds to me like GERD. My sister has it and she used to have alot of pain like that. Is'nt there a program at the hospital you can apply for that pays for your testing? Most of them have them prgrams. Also when you do get your meds the pharmacies usually have those meds on the $4 list. And if they don't, you can get assistance through the pharmacutical company. Hope you get to feelings better

[salukigirl]

So I went to the doctor for a Lyme check up and told her about the extreme heartburn and luckily, apparently it was caused by the antibiotics from the Lyme. She said she was on doxycyclin once and had the same exact symptoms and told me that after about a month of Nexium (or the like) my stomach should be back to normal.

What a relief. I was so terrified I was going to hear "you have to quit drinking coffee". Cause we all know if I had to quit coffee everyone within a 5 mile radius of me would be terrified lol

[Rhapsody]

GERD comes to mind and as a sufferer of it I have first hand experience.... please check with your doctor... there are many OTC and Rx that can help stop the suffering before it even starts. GERD can get so bad that you actually feel as though you are having a heart attack, so please take this matter seriously so you do not needlessly suffer.

[lynn P.]

I have had esophagitis for years and been on Nexium also. I've had it so bad that it truly does feel like a heart attack. In fact I had heart burn last night very bad. I have to have a scope done every 2 yrs because my father died from stomach cancer when I was 2. I try to avoid using Nexium for too long because I heard it interferes with the absorption of B vitamins.

Hopefully yours will go away, since your doctor thinls it's the meds. But if it continues past a reasonable time, you should have a scope. If left untreated you can get lesions/sores in the lining of your esophagus which could eventually lead to possible cancer.

I have a natural rememdies book and came upon a natural solution for heartburn. You drink a tablespoon of natural lemon juice, then drink some water. At first I thought this would burn my stomach more, but I tried it anyway. Surprisingly it worked, but it doesn't work for every case though. Make sure you don't go to bed with a full stomach. I also don't know why laying on my left side makes it feel better. I hope you feel better soon.

[salukigirl]

My friend was diagnosed with GERD but didn't have health insurance so he just put up with it. Now his doc is telling him it has caused adult onset asthma. So he has been on me about it because he has seen it progress into other things very quickly (he was diagnosed less than 2 years ago). I have the prescription for Nexium but I think I'm just going to keep it around in case I have another flare up. Since I quit taking the antibiotics I haven't had another episode so I think the doc was right about it being caused by the new meds. If it happens one more time I'm going to go and ask for a scope but for now I feel much better.

Thanks guys.

[shezbut]

salukigirl,

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better, BUT...If you've been diagnosed with GERD, please understand that it is a chronic disease. We can take lots of preventative measures (like weight loss, avoiding acidic foods and carbonated drinks, eat small slow meals, lie with the head of bed elevated 4 inches, and give ourselves 2-3 hours to digest before lying down before bed). However, these measures often don't fully protect us from symptoms. That is why Nexium (or another proton pump inhibitor) medication should be taken daily, to prevent any further injury in the esophagus and/or stomach.

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gerd.html
Please check the site above for more detailed information.

Shez

[lynn P.]

You're right Shezbut, GERD is a chronic problem. Also Nexium has to be taken regularly for it to be effective. It not like if you have heartburn you take it 1 day and then skip a few days.

[salukigirl]

That's true - I didn't thin about the fact that it works on heartburn by inhibiting the pump, not just by settling your stomach. I do lay with my head elevated and I lost about 35 lbs over a year ago and have kept it off and that has helped with heart burn some also. And if it's getting close to when I'm about to go to bed I make it a point not to eat anything. I will take it everyday then.