GERD

Nene09

Hi, I've been diagnosed with Gerd-Gastroesophageal reflux disease- the doctor also said that i have a hiatus hernia and that this has caused the Gerd.
I had a barium swallow test which showed up a hiatus hernia and inflammation in my esophagus. I don't have any heartburn, my only symptom is that i can't swallow properly. In fact i have been having trouble swallowing for the past year, at one stage i couldn't eat or drink anything for a week!
The doctor put me on Zoton fastabs and they've helped a bit, some days are better than others. I'm also waiting to see a gastrologist.
Just want to know if anyone has experience of Gerd?? It's very hard sometimes as i can't go out for drinks with my friends or eat out....:(

fend

I feel your pain! I have pretty much the exact same as yourself, hernia included! No fun AT ALL!

Usually when I go for drinks with my friends, I know in advance i'm just asking for trouble and usually end up suffering for a week or two after. I went for a endoscopy last Saturday to see if there is anything the doctors can do to correct or fix anything and after telling me my oesophigus was as thin as a playing card and my hernia is pretty much still the same as before. My gastrologist has told me that I need to go in for an acid pH test in the coming weeks to determine how bad things have really got. I've had this for as long as I can remember and have tried EVERY sort of medication on the market from Losec to Nexium with nothing working! Worst case scenario is to get the valve/muscle around the top of my stomach where the hernia is creeping tightened to end the prolonged pain.

The pH Test will be the ultimate factor in which this surgery will go ahead or not.

I recommend going to see a really good gastrologist. I traveled to Dublin to John Reynolds in St. James' Private. Have to say he was very good and I had an appointment within a week of talking to my GP. Went to see him last Wednesday and he had me booked in for an endoscopy Saturday morning.

Very swift, very easy, very helpful and after years and years of pain and troubles, I finally feel like something is finally being done!

Your as-well off getting it sorted asap to prevent something serious like Barretts Oesophigus or something along those lines creeping in.

Nene09

Hi Fend,thanks for your reply!

It's good to hear from someone that has the same problem. You say you've had it years, i'm glad that your finally getting everything sorted out!!:)

I first stated noticing swallowing problems last Nov with liquids and then in May with solids and liquids. It was a very scary time, i thought i'd never be able to eat or drink ever again!

Just wondering if u have health insurance, i don't, i'm on a medical card. My GP sent the a letter off to the gastrologist 6 weeks ago and i think i'll be waiting a very long time for an appointment. I don't want to wait for ages as somedays i can eat ok and then other days i struggle a lot. I have decided that i would like to pay to see a gastrologist, do you know how much it would cost for a consultation and endosopy?

Thanks!!!

fend

Yes I have insurance with Aviva, although regardless or not whether you have insurance, with most tests you will have to pay up front in a private hospital and then claim the money back at the end of the year.

As far as I know it was €150 to see the consultant, and definatly got my moneys worth as I stayed in getting as much information i could and asked plenty of questions. Overall the consultation was the best part of an hour [Needless to say i don't think the people in the waiting room were impressed :rolleyes:]

As for the endoscopy, had it done by the same consultant in Mt. Carmel Private in Dublin also. I didn't have to pay a thing there. Literally walked in and walked out. Was in at 8am and out by 11.30 that morning, and that includes being knocked out under anesthetic!

I must say I was extremely impressed with how efficient the whole ordeal was, and genuinely feel for a change that something is finally coming of it, instead of the usual "Whats happening now, where are my test results, whats going to happen to me" type thing.

Defiantly worth going private for.

Nene09

Thanks for all your info Fend!!
Why did you go to Dublin, i would like to be seen by a private consultant in Galway.

fend

Heard from a reliable source that Prof. John Reynolds was meant to be one of the best in the country. Plus the fact that it was so quick to get an appointment, how could I turn it down?

Ideally it would have been great to be seen in Galway, but chances are I'd be waiting over a month for an appointment in the Bons or the Clinic.

Was going to request to my consultant that I get any needed tests done in Galway to prevent traveling up and down but the fact that the endoscopy was arranged straight away swayed my decision. Was just handy to get everything done in the one week rather than waiting weeks for this and that in Galway.

nimbinsurfer

Sorry to reply a three year old thread but am wondering if either of you got any relief from your symptons as I am now experiencing the same.

Pretzill

nimbinsurfer wrote: »

Sorry to reply a three year old thread but am wondering if either of you got any relief from your symptons as I am now experiencing the same.

As thread was bumped... I also have gerd and hiatas hernia - heartburn can be awful especially at night - I find rising the top of the bed helps so I'm not lying flat - also tried many of the meds mentioned above but one thing that has helped in recent months I've started eating porridge for some reason this has eased the burn quite a lot. Mostly though I can only synpathise with you it can be very uncomfortable.