3rd December 2005
I have struggled with heartburn for probably 15 years. I changed my diet and lost a bunch of weight about 5 years ago, and all my problems seemed to go away. The heartburn problem has recently returned, despite my attempts at controlling it with diet. I actually used to think that those who opted for acid reflux drugs were copping out because they didn't want to change their lifestyles... but I don't think that way anymore.
About two months ago, I started popping Tums again after just about every meal. About 5 weeks ago, I developed some pretty severe heartburn, and started having a persistent, raspy cough (my wife says I sound like a seal barking).
At first I thought I had a chest virus, or maybe a moderate case of pneumonia... so I started taking an expectorant/cough suppressant. After going through two weeks worth of Robitussin (two full bottles), I finally gave up and hoped it would go away.
Somewhere in that time, I also developed some chest and back pain (which started with another heartburn episode), accompanied by difficulty swallowing and burping. It was advised that I go to the ER, where they took an EKG and a chest Xray... both of which were perfect.
The ER doc determined that I had GERD, with this being an extreme episode combined with heavy gas buildup (thanks to my own Mexican food, loaded with onions and peppers). He gave me the option of picking up a prescription of 20MG Pepcid, or waiting it out and picking it up later... I opted for the latter (big mistake).
Well, two weeks later, my cough was still there. So, I went into my regular doctor. She thought that my cough (now at 4+ weeks) was due to bronchitis, and that this was too long for a virus... so she prescribed a 5-day treatment of Zithromax. It is now 7 days later, and the cough is still there...
Finally, after 5 weeks of living with irritated bronchial tubes and esophagus (can't breathe deep without coughing), a raspy cough, hacking up phlegm, night sweats, etc. I went in and picked up my Pepcid prescription. I am hoping this will do the trick, as I am pretty much at a loss if it doesn't...
Has anyone here had similar experiences with GERD?
About two months ago, I started popping Tums again after just about every meal. About 5 weeks ago, I developed some pretty severe heartburn, and started having a persistent, raspy cough (my wife says I sound like a seal barking).
At first I thought I had a chest virus, or maybe a moderate case of pneumonia... so I started taking an expectorant/cough suppressant. After going through two weeks worth of Robitussin (two full bottles), I finally gave up and hoped it would go away.
Somewhere in that time, I also developed some chest and back pain (which started with another heartburn episode), accompanied by difficulty swallowing and burping. It was advised that I go to the ER, where they took an EKG and a chest Xray... both of which were perfect.
The ER doc determined that I had GERD, with this being an extreme episode combined with heavy gas buildup (thanks to my own Mexican food, loaded with onions and peppers). He gave me the option of picking up a prescription of 20MG Pepcid, or waiting it out and picking it up later... I opted for the latter (big mistake).
Well, two weeks later, my cough was still there. So, I went into my regular doctor. She thought that my cough (now at 4+ weeks) was due to bronchitis, and that this was too long for a virus... so she prescribed a 5-day treatment of Zithromax. It is now 7 days later, and the cough is still there...
Finally, after 5 weeks of living with irritated bronchial tubes and esophagus (can't breathe deep without coughing), a raspy cough, hacking up phlegm, night sweats, etc. I went in and picked up my Pepcid prescription. I am hoping this will do the trick, as I am pretty much at a loss if it doesn't...
Has anyone here had similar experiences with GERD?