19th January 2007
Hi Lookinforananswer,
Sounds like your GERD is getting worse. Since you've had it this long, I'm really surprised you haven't received proper medical treatment for it. Especially because you have begun developing laryngeal symptoms in the last 2 weeks. This is not a good thing and can make it more difficult to treat. Laryngeal symptoms are part of a form of GERD called LPR (Laryngo-pharyngeal reflux). You are developing classic LPR symptoms (sensation of something stuck in your throat/difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness)
Now to treat - tums are not enough. There are 2 stronger classes of medications that you must try, H-2 blockers, and PPIs (Proton-pump inhibitors). H-2 blockers are sold over-the counter under names like Tagamet and Zantac. The active ingredient in these products is a compound called "Ranitidine". These pills are quite safe, and for treating chronic GERD, it is recommended that you take at least 150 mg per dose. The standard dose is 75 mg, but that' s for dealing with only occasional heartburn. Many people need to take up to 300 mg at a time to deal with GERD.
However, I doubt the H-2 blockers will be effective enough for your GERD and I strongly recommend that you try PPIs. Currently, all the PPIs are available by prescription-only, except for one called PRilosec OTC. Prilosec OTC is indeed sold over the counter, and it's fairly pricey for an OTC medication. However, I really have strong hesitations about using Prilosec OTC because the response it's had on this board isn't good. I even started a thread - do a search for it - in which I asked if anyone had success with Prilosec OTC for treating chronic GERD or LPR and I think 1 out of 13 people found it useful. The rest found it useless.
So that leaves you with the group of 6 prescription PPIs. They are expensive, so I hope you have insurance. The 6 PPIs in the U.S. are: Nexium, Aciphex, Prevacid, Protonix, Zegerid and Prilosec BRAND. (Please note that Prilosec BRAND and Prilosec OTC are manufactured by 2 different companies.)
I strongly recommend Nexium or Aciphex having monitored this board for over 2 years. They seem to get the best response. And although doctors frequently say that all of them are/work the same, it's not true. So many of us here have had to try all 6 before figuring out what works for us. I have taken Nexium for 4 years now, and during that time I experimented with the others and nothing else worked except for Nexium.
You will also need to consider dosage. For typical chronic GERD, limited to heartburn symptoms, most people only require 1 dose a day of a PPI. However, you are developing LPR symtpoms and LPR must be treated with 2 doses a day of a PPI. For instance, I need 2 40 mg pills of Nexium a day for a total of 80 mg.
So if you're suffering now, go to the drugstore and buy some Ranitidine. Take at least 150 mg and see how you feel. If it doesn't work and you can't get to a doctor for a while, buy Prilosec OTC. If that doesn't work go to the doctor and get a prescription for Nexium or Aciphex.
Sounds like your GERD is getting worse. Since you've had it this long, I'm really surprised you haven't received proper medical treatment for it. Especially because you have begun developing laryngeal symptoms in the last 2 weeks. This is not a good thing and can make it more difficult to treat. Laryngeal symptoms are part of a form of GERD called LPR (Laryngo-pharyngeal reflux). You are developing classic LPR symptoms (sensation of something stuck in your throat/difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness)
Now to treat - tums are not enough. There are 2 stronger classes of medications that you must try, H-2 blockers, and PPIs (Proton-pump inhibitors). H-2 blockers are sold over-the counter under names like Tagamet and Zantac. The active ingredient in these products is a compound called "Ranitidine". These pills are quite safe, and for treating chronic GERD, it is recommended that you take at least 150 mg per dose. The standard dose is 75 mg, but that' s for dealing with only occasional heartburn. Many people need to take up to 300 mg at a time to deal with GERD.
However, I doubt the H-2 blockers will be effective enough for your GERD and I strongly recommend that you try PPIs. Currently, all the PPIs are available by prescription-only, except for one called PRilosec OTC. Prilosec OTC is indeed sold over the counter, and it's fairly pricey for an OTC medication. However, I really have strong hesitations about using Prilosec OTC because the response it's had on this board isn't good. I even started a thread - do a search for it - in which I asked if anyone had success with Prilosec OTC for treating chronic GERD or LPR and I think 1 out of 13 people found it useful. The rest found it useless.
So that leaves you with the group of 6 prescription PPIs. They are expensive, so I hope you have insurance. The 6 PPIs in the U.S. are: Nexium, Aciphex, Prevacid, Protonix, Zegerid and Prilosec BRAND. (Please note that Prilosec BRAND and Prilosec OTC are manufactured by 2 different companies.)
I strongly recommend Nexium or Aciphex having monitored this board for over 2 years. They seem to get the best response. And although doctors frequently say that all of them are/work the same, it's not true. So many of us here have had to try all 6 before figuring out what works for us. I have taken Nexium for 4 years now, and during that time I experimented with the others and nothing else worked except for Nexium.
You will also need to consider dosage. For typical chronic GERD, limited to heartburn symptoms, most people only require 1 dose a day of a PPI. However, you are developing LPR symtpoms and LPR must be treated with 2 doses a day of a PPI. For instance, I need 2 40 mg pills of Nexium a day for a total of 80 mg.
So if you're suffering now, go to the drugstore and buy some Ranitidine. Take at least 150 mg and see how you feel. If it doesn't work and you can't get to a doctor for a while, buy Prilosec OTC. If that doesn't work go to the doctor and get a prescription for Nexium or Aciphex.