Gerd-a-licious

Yep…that’s the new nickname my husband has given me.

If you haven’t heard of GERD – oh boy….let me tell ya – not pretty. And in my case, close to a 911 call.

GERD: GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease

You wouldn’t think something like acid reflux (extreme heartburn) would be a major health issue – at least that’s what I thought….not even realizing for 7 YEARS that it was what was causing me a slew of health problems.

In early 2001, right after the birth of my second child, I started having chest pain. Not just a little bit of chest pain – A LOT. Felt like a heart attack in every way. My husband drove me to the ER – they told me….costochondritis. This is an inflammation of joint tissue where the ribs meet the sternum (By the way…I’m not a doctor….nor do I claim to be a medical know-it-all.)

So they sent me home with mega painkillers and told me to follow up with my primary care physician. He in turn sent me for a full work up at the heart center. I did the treadmill stress test and echo. At the time I was 35 years old, in good shape….and maybe carrying 12 extra pounds from just having a baby 3 months prior.

All looked well….nothing but mitral valve prolapse which I probably inherited from my Mom. And it’s a condition that’s not life threatening from what I am told.

Over the next five years I visited the ER at least once a year for chest pain that just HAD to be a heart attack. Sometimes I would go weeks and weeks with horrible chest pain. The anxiety was incredible. It was a vicious circle. Chest pain, anxiety….anxiety brought on more chest pain or made it worse. I was in tears a LOT.

The ER….in all their wisdom…
Each time would send me home with painkillers like Darvacet, and sleeping pills like Ambein…or anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax and Valium. They tried offering me anti-depressants MANY times….basically asking me which one I wanted. Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa……Wellbutrin?? ( I didn’t shun them because I don’t think they help people or that I am “above” an anti-depressant….I just knew…in my gut…this wasn’t what I needed.)

I tried to tell them….
I’m not depressed…..I want to live….I’m not sad?!
I also wouldn’t have anxiety if I didn’t have the chest pain!!

Anybody…somebody??
Dr. McDreamy?

So….I went for years….with this chest pain.

In 2007 – my OB-GYN suggested I go in for another heart work up. She said….maybe whatever is wrong – just didn’t show up with the first heart tests in 2001 – and it’s getting worse.

Again….all the blood work….treadmill, echo…

“Many women would kill to be in the shape you’re in at 40 years old. Your blood work is perfect, your weight is fine…..and your stress test shows a healthy heart.”

What in the HELL was wrong with me? I started questioning my sanity at this point.
Are the doctors idiots? Am I an idiot? Will I drop dead from a bad heart that all these tests
just didn’t detect?

Was I just destine for a life of perpetual chest pain, anxiety…..chest pain…..anxiety.

::sigh::

I guess so.
Then…right after a trip home to Indiana for Thanksgiving last year – I was up late working on my computer. I finally went to bed around midnight. At exactly 2:23 in the morning I woke up unable to breathe. Not choking…not coughing….unable to breathe!! I jumped out of bed trying to breathe in. I took off running….(I have no idea where I was going…but apparently this is the typical reaction of someone unable to breathe – they just take off running…). I ran down the stairs, past the kitchen and into a little sitting room….my husband running behind me with the phone in his hands. He kept saying….”Kelly? Kelly? Do you want me to call 911? Kelly…can you breathe?!!”

My struggle to breathe in made a horrible loud shrieking sound. It woke up my kids…I could hear my 13 year old son saying….”Dad…do something…please Dad….she’s dying….Mom…Mom!!”

This all was happening in a matter of seconds. And I have to tell you….my life was flashing before my eyes. I thought….I’m never going to see my son get married….my little daughter will watch her mom die right in front of her. How awful…..

Then…about 47 seconds into this….I started coughing and gasping….able to get a small amount of air. I coughed and coughed for 15 minutes trying to sip some water.

To tell you I was scared….that’s just not even a word that touches what I felt. I felt Death had come to visit me and was going to be back at any time for round two.

I stayed up the rest of the night. My husband slept beside me in a big chair we have. I felt as if I’d been beat up and then shot up with adrenaline.

The next morning after the kids left for school my husband drove me to the doctor. For the first time ever….when the doctor walked in and said….”How are you Kelly?”, I just started sobbing. I was overwhelmed physically, emotionally, spiritually. I felt broken in so many ways.

My doctor….who has known me for 13 years listened intently to my saga and then said….”Ya know….this sounds like GERD.”

He went on to explain that some people have acid reflux bad and don’t even realize it. They might have one symptom or no symptoms….just depends. Obviously my only symptom was chest pain – and now the choking incident.

He asked me…”Have you had a cough?” Hmmmm…..I did have a cough….it had been getting worse over the last three months. And I hadn’t realized it….but often it started up after I ate something.

He also asked if I’d had a sore throat in the morning, or was a bit hoarse in the mornings.
Yep….yep….but I assumed it was just from being asleep, dry air….and typically it was gone by noon.

He asked if I’d ever experienced coughing fits at night.

OH my gosh! Yes!! Big time. They would strike out of the blue – I’d be in a sound sleep….and BOOM…..I’d be coughing, gasping…
I had experienced those episodes for 5 years or so.

My doctor said that probably what had happened the night before was the acid came up to my voicebox and spilled over into my lungs. This caused a spasm in the lyrnx, closing off the throat to protect the lungs. Say what???

These are all symptoms of GERD. Is this what’s been wrong with me for 7 YEARS????

(He had me do a sleep apnea test just to be safe….and it came back fine.)

HELP for GERD Sufferers THE “stop acid reflux” NOW ebook! Insightful!

He sent me to an ENT (Ears, Nose, Throat Doctor). The ENT proceeded to stick a long flexible straw thingy up my nose and down into my throat. It’s just a tad painful – mostly feels weird.

Guess what? My throat was raw, eaten up by years of acid exposure.

I was put on Prevacid. Told to lose 5-10 pounds, no eating after 6PM, head of my bed raised up SIX inches. Avoid certain foods…..keep a food diary. I found out wine, red onions and bread cause me terrible chest pain!

I went back to the ENT just the other day for my 2 month check up. Again with the scope in the nose thing (this time it kinda hurt!!). He said it looked 30% better. Switched me to another medication called Zegerid and told me to take it at night. I’ve been on this medicine for about a week.

I go back to the ENT in 3 months for another check up.

I have to tell you….even after the doctor suggested GERD – I didn’t sleep well for about a week. I don’t think I slept at all. And talk about a strain on your health and life in general.
Sleep deprivation SUCKS! No wonder it’s a form of torture.

But I was scared. Really terrified. That 47 seconds of gasping for air….it was THE most frightening experience in my life so far. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

But my chest pain has pretty much gone away. The cough is totally gone. (I used to eat cough drops by the dozens it was so bad…and embarrassing!)

I’ve lost about 4 pounds – still working on the other 6….

I think the no eating after 6PM has helped the most. It was hard at first. I’m a big FOODIE! I would eat LATE at night….10PM, 11PM….(years of late night radio shifts left me with weird eating times – I wouldn’t eat breakfast til around noon!)

I feel better. And though I’m a real anti-medicine kinda girl…..I think it has helped. I hope to only be on it as long as I have to be. I’ve heard good and bad regarding these types of meds for GERD.

I just thought I would share this experience with everyone. There is so much out there about women’s heart attack symptoms….and how we need to be diligent. I agree. But I think I had convinced myself this HAD to be my heart – and I wouldn’t hear anything else.
Of course – ALL chest pain should be looked into in my opinion. Better to be safe than sorry.

But just in case anyone out there might be dealing with symptoms like mine – you might ask (after heart problems or major organ problems are ruled out!!!! I am not a doctor!) – if maybe GERD could be your bodily gremlin.

I went 7 years thinking I was dying a slow heart disease death. The stress of that alone…was incredible and harmful to my body.

I feel so much better, not just physically – but mentally. It’s been a long time. It feels REALLY good.

My husband says I’m like my old self again.

I am GERD-a-licious! Former Acid Reflux Queen!

Tagged as: GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease, GERD