As many of you probably remember from my various posts (Help diagnose me or Anyone with Post Nasal Drip?) I’ve been suffering from some strange throat clearing problem for the past six months (my training has suffered big time). On Friday I saw a forth doctor (ENT) who performed an endoscopy through my nose. She found signs consistent with Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) so ordered a Barium Swallow study. Well, I just got the results and it’s true…I’ve got GERD. In defense of the other doctors I’m not the typical GERD patient (not overweight 6’4 - 177lbs, no heartburn, eat low-fat foods, 29 years old). The ‘stuff’ in my throat has been stomach acid all this time.
OK, anyone out there with GERD and how do you control it or does it control you? I even read that exercise and GERD don’t mix…I would rather die!Help, Dave from VA
I had acid reflux for a while, which sounds like the same thing. Took Aciphex for about 4 months which allowed the damaged lining in my esophagus to heal. I no longer need it to take the Aciphex as my symptoms have improved, but I notice from time-to-time I’ll get a mild recurrence of symptoms after a particularly hard swimming workout.
I have GERD and have had it since I was 12. I was so young when it started, I didn;t know any better and never thought that it wa sunusual. Started having trouble swallowing when I was 18.
Twice in one week had to have the heimlich maneuver and went to he hospital with chicken stuck in my throat.
That was 6 years after I first started truly having problems eating. That was the day I was diagnosed with reflux disease. The scarring had shrunk my esophagus such that food wouldn’t go down.
Had my esophagus reamed out three times and when I started taking prilosec (later nexium) every day my life literally changed.
I can’t tell you over the internet how different my days are now than they were before.
Things got even better when prilosec became an over the counter medicine. No more forgetting to fill the presciption and going back to the old ways.
So the answer is prilosec or another prescription proton blocker. EVERY day! When i figured that part out I was i n business.
You need to discuss this with a gastorintenstinal guy too. Reflux puts you at increased risk of esophageal cancer. So even if the prilosec hadn’t made that big of a difference I woud still be taking to avoid the acid exposure.
Agree with above poster … I have (usually) been in great shape my entire life. When I was 22, I started haveing problems swallowing … I chalked it up to dry food/too big of a bite/etc. After it started happening weekly, I went to the doc who diagnosed GERD and placed me on Prevacid. Night and day difference in my ability to eat, swallow, and enjoy food and training again. Now I take Prilosec OTC and am a happy camper.
I have it, I had ulcers in my esophogus that caused some wicked heart burn. I took protonics (sp) daily for almost two years. Raised the head of the bed, don’t eat 3 hours before bed. The first of the year I’ve been watching my diet to loose weight. Mine is very diet related. It has never cause me any training problem. I have always been a MOPer. You’ll be fine.
About 3 months ago I started taking nexium for about 3 weeks just to rule out reflux. I didn’t see any difference. Of course now I will just too off set any potential damage to my esophagus. Another concern of mine is that my voice has been shot for awhile; anyone ever experience that with reflux?
I have GERD as well, 5 time Ironman finisher since discovery. I take Protonix for it, and you have to be very careful with your diet, Don’t eat within 3 hours of bedtime and my doctor had me raise the head of my bed 5 inches to help keep acid out of my throat during sleep. Diet is critical, check the web there are a lot of good sites that list which foods tend to set it off, say good bye to Pizza, Peppermint…
Once you get it under control your voice should clear up somewhat, depends a lot on how bad it is.
No Pizza, I don’t think I can do that. I also read no chocolate, I’m screwed! Mike, one last question; do you notice a difference between Protonix and Prilosec OTC?
Yes chocolate, but I still eat small amounts of it, just be careful. Yes there is a huge difference between Prilosec OTC and Protonix, I originally started out on 40mg of Nexium twice a day, now I take 40mg or Protonix once a day and it works great, Occasionally I still get those weird lumps in my throat but I’d say it’s because I strayed a bit from the correct diet.