“Permanent heartburn?”
Dear Sirs/Mesdames,
Seven years ago, I had an esophagogastroduodenoscopy with the following diagnosis:
- Hernia hiati oesophagei
- Gastropathia erythematosa (gr. Mediocris)
- Cascada ventriculi
I was then prescribed Controloc 40 mg every 2 months. The condition improved (heartburn and abdominal pain stopped) while taking the therapy, but soon after the heartburn recurred. I tried to correct the condition (according to the advice of several doctors) with a diet, teas, and some natural preparations, but the heartburn was still present and could not be neutralized without medication (Controloc or Ranitidine, and for immediate help Rupurut or Gastal). In the meantime, I was recommended another two-month therapy with Controloc (2016), NERD was added to the existing diagnosis, but after that, the condition remained unchanged, mostly heartburn, without major problems.
Over time, the condition stabilized in such a way that I occasionally took Controloc 20 mg as needed (sometimes for 3 days, but very often it would have been once a week, and even happened for 20 days without medication) until late last year. There have also been periods with certain difficulties over the past five years (chest pain or mild abdominal pain, sometimes in the upper back, very rarely brief sharp abdominal pain). On one occasion, despite the daily Controloc, I got heartburn and an inexplicably heavy feeling all over my mouth to the stomach, a kind of blockage of the entire upper gastric system, with no appetite. I had to seek emergency medical help and after receiving an infusion and a few days off, everything calmed down (then I was prescribed Nexium). Everything continued as previously described (Controloc 20 as needed), except that I occasionally had periods without Controloc, using Ranitidine. I have been eating normally all the time, without a special diet; I avoid garlic, peppers, and strong spices.
In the middle of last year, although I had periods of 20 days without Controloc, I would have occasionally experienced mild and vague nausea, and at the end of last year, the long-term stable period ends, PPI has been needed more often, and mild nausea has been more common. I tried to replace Controloc periods periodically with Rabeprazole (since we no longer have Ranitidine available) and I felt relatively good, but I have been using PPI almost daily.
I am currently using Nexium 40 daily, I have no heartburn or pain, but the feeling of nausea is more and more present. I have no vomiting, the stool is mostly OK.
Please advise. I believe that gastroscopy should be done again, but I am not able to do that at the moment (I am abroad where health care is not very high), so I would ask for a recommendation of some medicine that could possibly help me or for some other useful advice.
Thank you in advance.
Seven years ago, I had an esophagogastroduodenoscopy with the following diagnosis:
- Hernia hiati oesophagei
- Gastropathia erythematosa (gr. Mediocris)
- Cascada ventriculi
I was then prescribed Controloc 40 mg every 2 months. The condition improved (heartburn and abdominal pain stopped) while taking the therapy, but soon after the heartburn recurred. I tried to correct the condition (according to the advice of several doctors) with a diet, teas, and some natural preparations, but the heartburn was still present and could not be neutralized without medication (Controloc or Ranitidine, and for immediate help Rupurut or Gastal). In the meantime, I was recommended another two-month therapy with Controloc (2016), NERD was added to the existing diagnosis, but after that, the condition remained unchanged, mostly heartburn, without major problems.
Over time, the condition stabilized in such a way that I occasionally took Controloc 20 mg as needed (sometimes for 3 days, but very often it would have been once a week, and even happened for 20 days without medication) until late last year. There have also been periods with certain difficulties over the past five years (chest pain or mild abdominal pain, sometimes in the upper back, very rarely brief sharp abdominal pain). On one occasion, despite the daily Controloc, I got heartburn and an inexplicably heavy feeling all over my mouth to the stomach, a kind of blockage of the entire upper gastric system, with no appetite. I had to seek emergency medical help and after receiving an infusion and a few days off, everything calmed down (then I was prescribed Nexium). Everything continued as previously described (Controloc 20 as needed), except that I occasionally had periods without Controloc, using Ranitidine. I have been eating normally all the time, without a special diet; I avoid garlic, peppers, and strong spices.
In the middle of last year, although I had periods of 20 days without Controloc, I would have occasionally experienced mild and vague nausea, and at the end of last year, the long-term stable period ends, PPI has been needed more often, and mild nausea has been more common. I tried to replace Controloc periods periodically with Rabeprazole (since we no longer have Ranitidine available) and I felt relatively good, but I have been using PPI almost daily.
I am currently using Nexium 40 daily, I have no heartburn or pain, but the feeling of nausea is more and more present. I have no vomiting, the stool is mostly OK.
Please advise. I believe that gastroscopy should be done again, but I am not able to do that at the moment (I am abroad where health care is not very high), so I would ask for a recommendation of some medicine that could possibly help me or for some other useful advice.
Thank you in advance.
Male | 58 years old
3 Answers
This is not a simple case that I can advise on over the internet. Most people whose symptoms do no resolve on antacid medications have another condition or more than one that has nothing to do with acid. If acid was the only issue, then the pills would take care of everything. You can have symptoms from other conditions even while taking antacid meds, e.g., hiatal hernia symptoms, dyspepsia, H. pylori infection, SIBO, etc. Other diagnoses need to be sought before recommendations can be made.
Extensive medical discussions like this are not acceptable on this site. I do not provide diagnosis or treatment online. Please visit a local physician in your area for treatment.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I don't know where you are, or what kind of medical care you are able to get,, but you certainly need another GI workup. Instead of trial and error with different medications, you need a better diagnosis. As well, I don't know what your diet consists of. The first thing I would do is modify the diet. Start with eliminating any spicy, or fried food if possible. Also, if you smoke or drink alcohol, stop. Since you have already stopped some foods, you know they were not the offenders. You might try a gluten free diet for awhile if feasible. I would hope you could get a GI series done, even if an endoscopy is not obtainable. At least the X-rays might show something. Also an abdominal CT or MRI might be of help. What you really need is quality medical care, in order to make a diagnosis. Try to get to a place where you can find the care that you require.
