Hello all,
I haven't been around in a while. I was in a car accident. I am fine however my vehicle was totaled. So lifes not been to good lately.
I am going to have an Endoscopy this Thurs. I have been having problems swallowing, (stuff gets struck in my throat) and also problems with acid coming back up. I was hoping someone can give any idea as to what this procedure is like. I am a little nervous. Not so much about the procedure itself but as to what is causing these problems and what exactly will be done about it. Thanks in advance for any info.
This is long but.......................trying to guess what it is can cause you more stress than is needed or required. Good luck with it nevertheless.......LEV
GERD — gastroesophageal reflux disease — is more than just chronic heartburn. Although heartburn is the most common symptom of this disease, GERD is a condition in which stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back (refluxes) into your food pipe (esophagus). The constant backwash or acid reflux can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause inflammation. Such irritation can lead to complications such as narrowing of the esophagus, ulcers and even a slightly increased risk of esophageal cancer.
Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn with lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter medications. But if you have GERD, these remedies may offer only temporary or partial relief. If you have GERD, you may need newer, more potent medications, possibly even surgery, to reduce symptoms.
Common signs and symptoms of GERD include:
In heartburn, the sphincter muscle at the lower end of your esophagus relaxes at the wrong time, allowing stomach acid to back up into your esophagus. Frequent or constant heartburn can lead to GERD.
When you swallow, the lower esophageal sphincter — a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esophagus — relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then it closes again.
However, if this valve relaxes abnormally or weakens, stomach acid can flow back up into your esophagus, causing frequent heartburn and disrupting your daily life. The acid backup is worse when you bend over or lie down.
This constant backwash of acid can irritate the lining of your esophagus, causing it to become inflamed (esophagitis). Over time, the inflammation can erode the esophagus, producing bleeding, or narrow the esophagus, causing difficulty swallowing or even breathing problems. When there's evidence of esophageal irritation or inflammation, you have GERD. However, many people with GERD will have a normal-appearing esophagus despite symptoms.
GERD may be related to other conditions such as hiatal hernia. In this condition, also called diaphragmatic hernia, part of your stomach protrudes into your lower chest. If the protrusion is large, a hiatal hernia can worsen heartburn by further weakening the lower esophageal sphincter muscle.
Some factors that can make GERD worse include:
Conditions that cause difficulty with digestion can increase the risk of GERD. These include:
Most problems with heartburn are short-term and mild. But if you have severe or frequent discomfort, or you experience any of the other symptoms of GERD for a while, you may be developing complications that need more intensive medical treatment and prescription medications. Talk to your doctor if you have:
You may need further medical care, possibly even surgery, if you experience any of these:
Usually a description of your symptoms will be all your doctor needs to establish the diagnosis of heartburn. However, if your symptoms are particularly severe or don't respond to treatment, you may need to undergo other tests to check for GERD and other conditions:
In addition to irritation and inflammation of your esophagus (esophagitis), chronic reflux of stomach acid into your esophagus can lead to one or more of the following conditions if left untreated:
Whether you have mild, moderate or severe heartburn, many treatment options are available. The most common treatments involve medications, but surgical and other procedures also are available.
Over-the-counter remedies
If you experience only occasional, mild heartburn, you may get relief from an over-the-counter (OTC) medication and self-care measures. OTC remedies include:
Prescription-strength medications
If you have frequent and persistent heartburn leading to an inflamed esophagus, you'll likely need prescription-strength medication. It's important that you take these medications correctly, and generally 30 minutes before a meal. Prescription medications can help reduce and eliminate GERD symptoms, as well as help heal an inflamed esophagus — the result of continual exposure to stomach acid. The main types of prescription drugs are:
Surgical and other procedures
Because of the effectiveness of medications, surgery for GERD is uncommon. However, it may be an option if you can't tolerate the medications, you can't afford their long-term use or your doctor determines that the medications are ineffective. Your doctor may also recommend surgery if you have any of these complications:
Before 1991, a procedure called open Nissen fundoplication was the surgery of choice for severe GERD. Today, doctors are able to perform the same surgery with similar success laparoscopically — through a few small abdominal incisions, instead of one large one. The advantages of laparoscopic surgery are a shorter recovery time and less discomfort.
Nissen fundoplication involves tightening the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent reflux by wrapping the very top of the stomach around the outside of the lower esophagus. During laparoscopic surgery, a surgeon makes three or four small incisions in the abdomen and inserts instruments, including a flexible tube with a tiny camera, through the incisions.
People who benefit most from a Nissen fundoplication are those who gained relief from medications. If you have minimal or no relief from medications, your doctor must be certain that you have GERD before recommending surgery, which may mean additional testing. Most people who undergo Nissen fundoplication remain free of GERD symptoms for at least two years. For the majority of people, this benefit extends to five years or more. You may still require medications for GERD, but your GERD will likely be easier to control.
Other surgical procedures include Toupet fundoplication, Hill repair and the Belsey Mark IV operation. All involve restructuring the lower esophageal sphincter to improve its strength and ability to prevent reflux. These surgeries are done less often, and their success is often dependent on the skill of the surgeon.
Complications from surgery generally are mild, but may include difficulty swallowing, bloating and diarrhea. These complications generally go away within one year.
Newer, less-invasive procedures
Your doctor may suggest a procedure for tightening the lower esophageal sphincter. These procedures generally take less time to perform, they don't require any incisions, and you can go home the same day. The procedures are performed endoscopically through a long, flexible tube that's inserted into your mouth and down your esophagus. These procedures are recommended if you have a hiatal hernia or Barrett's esophagus.
You may eliminate or reduce the frequency of heartburn by making the following lifestyle changes:
Several home remedies exist for treating GERD, but they provide only temporary relief. They include drinking baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) added to water or drinking other fluids such as baking soda mixed with cream of tartar and water.
Although these liquids create temporary relief by neutralizing, washing away or buffering acids, eventually they aggravate the situation by adding gas and fluid to your stomach, increasing pressure and causing more acid reflux. Further, adding more sodium to your diet may increase your blood pressure and add stress to your heart, and excessive bicarbonate ingestion can alter the acid-base balance in your body.