Acid reflux: What are the long term problems that it can cause?

Before anyone says anything about a doctor's visit, he's at the doc as I type this. Also, I have looked on the net for some answers but didn't get too far. I would like an answer written in plainer english than what I can find on a medical site.

(I'm not dumb, just don't know a lot of the medical jargon) :)My boyfriend is in his late 20's and has had a reflux problem for a long time. He has seen a doctor in the past and takes medication for it but is still having issues. He has been having heartburn AND diarrhea (often).

He is at the doc, but says that if the doctor wants to do tests he will walk out. I want to have some info for him about why he needs to follow through with tests and treatments that the doc recommends. What can happen if he doesn't let the docs figure out the cause of all this?

What are the long term problems that can arise? I am worried about him and want to make sure he gets the best care. Thanks for your help.

Asked by MrsOrangeNikki 45 months ago Similar questions: Acid reflux long term problems Health > Conditions & Diseases.

Similar questions: Acid reflux long term problems.

Acid reflux can cause lots of problems The heartburn is certainly one of them. Somehow I think the diarrhea is not part of the problem. Acid reflux essentially pushes acid up and down your esophagus.

Since the esophagus is in the upper portion of your chest, you can get pains in your chest that are so bad that you can feel as if you are having a heart attack even when you aren't. The reflux, if it goes on for any length of time, lets the acid eat at your esophagus, and can cause really bad irritation, or even lesions (cuts) in it. When that gets really bad, surgery is needed.

And, if the esophagus is inflamed for a really long time, this can lead to cancer of the esophagus, and that is really hard and painful to cure. Having had the tests (the endoscopy when they put a tube down your throat and look at the esophagus) which are uncomfortable, I would know now to ask to be put "out" - and that is the best way. For the reflux part, all you need to do for preparation is to not eat for a day - so, if you are put 'out' that's not a horrific test.

Since your friend has diarrhea - he probably needs a colonoscopy. They put you 'out' for the test, so that's no problem, but the preparation is rather awful, for essentially you need to take bad tasting medicine or lots of pills to empty out your stomach - so you have big time diarrhea for a few hours the day before and morning of the test. However, it's all over in a day.It is really worthwhile having the testing, for there can be polyps, or other problems that are more serious, and the sooner any of them are dealt with the better.

And, it is good to be careful with what you eat - for example things like coffee, soda, tomatoes, pizza, chocolate, lots of garlic, spicy foods are deadly until the acid reflux is cured. And, since your friend is young, he may have a few colon polyps that won't be even uncomfortable to deal with after the test, but would be good to know about so any problems can be treated ASAP. Since the tests sound so gruesome, they seem scary - and they do take time, but they are well worth it.

Just getting rid of acid reflux is well worth the trouble of an endoscopy. Sometimes it really is "no pain, no gain". Perhaps you can get some of his friends to confront him with humor and care to get him to follow the doctor's suggestions.

Good luck.

You're smart to research this and your boyfriend is lucky to have you. Gastroesophageal reflux (often called GERD) is a very common problem occurring in all age groups. Many people complain of occasional heartburn but GERD is a more serious problem.As I’m sure your aware, GERD is when gastric acid refluxes into the esophagus.

This is a problem because the lining of the stomach is designed in such a way that it can handle the effects of acid (which aids in digestion), the esophagus isn’t. Over time the irritative effect of the acid can damage the esophagus.It can lead to inflammation which is damage to the lining (called esophagitis...basically inflammation of the esophagus)of the esophagus. If this continues it can lead to ulcerations and ultimately scarring.

If the esophagus scars it can become abnormally narrow in one part (what docs call a stricture). This can lead to food getting lodged in the area of narrowing. The most ominous complication of longterm untreated GERD is cancer.

Think of how the irrtative effects of smoking lead to lung cancer. The esophagus is no different-over time the lining of the esophagus become so damaged that the cells begin to change....ultimately becoming cancerous. Esohageal cancer is a very nasty customer with very poor longterm survival statistics.

My veterinarian had this happen to him. He gave the classic history....bad reflux for 2-3years which suddenly got better. What happened?

The lining in his esophagus changed and was no longer irritated by the acid but the altered lining became cancerous. He had to have his esophagus removed and undergo chemo...to date (2 years out) he’s still alive but his story of survival is uncommon. There are many treatments which can markedly improve symptoms.

Most involve medications which decrease the acidity of the stomach. These are usually tolerated well and significantly improve the quality of life and decrease the risk of the complications I described above. Sometimes surgery is required - called a "fundoplication" which can significantly, if not stop, reflux.

The two main tests used to evaluate GERD include an esophagram or upper GI, and endoscopy. The upper GI involves drinking a thick, chalky tasting liquid called barium while a radiologist (specialized MD who reads xrays) views the barium moving down the esophagus. This allows evaluation of how well the esophagus functions as well as the presence or absence of strictures, ulcers or masses.

He also can see if there are any conditions present which might predispose your boyfriend to reflux. The other test is with a flexible scope (called an endoscope) which a gastroenterologist passes into the esophagus to take a direct look. I hope this helps some.

Encourage your boyfriend to follow his doctors recommendations - GERD can be treated successfully and most likely the nasty scenerios described above can be avoided. Let me know if you have any other questions! Sources: experience .

It can damage the esophagus. Since your boyfriend is in his 20's he may not give much credence to what could happen in 30 years but you might tell him this. It is not going to get better by itself.

If it is unpleasant and uncomfortable now, it WILL get worse. He might need tests to find out what damage has been done. It could be uncomfortable but he needs to take a big boy pill and just do it.

The dr might find the problem can be handled with life style changes, stop smoking, limit drinking, a less spicy and greasy diet, not eating while in the recliner, an OTC antacid . If he doesn't want to hear it or do it he, might look forward to thinning and tearing of the esophagus requiring surgery, scar tissue that interferes with swallowing, years of pain and even throat cancer. Download some pictures of throat cancer and put them on the refridgerator-that should do it!

Galileogirl's Recommendations Chronic Heartburn: Managing Acid Reflux and GERD Through Understanding, Diet and Lifestyle -- Includes More than 100 Recipes Amazon List Price: $22.95 Used from: $12.50 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 5 reviews) .

Esophageal cancer An EGD is a piece of cake, particularly when the alternative could be cancer treatments. Esophageal reflux of three or more years duration can start eroding away at the esophagus and this then leaves the area vulnerable for the growth of cancer cells. Urge him to get whatever tests are recommended.

Tell him to do it for you if he will not do it from himself. I believe that gastro.org has some well written info on it that is easy to understand. Good luck.P.S. tell him he would be asleep through either an upper or lower endoscopy.

Sources: 9 years in a gastroenterology office (9 years of butts and guts) .

Celiac ( can't eat dairy or gluten grains). Dr. Fine has a stool sample and genetic cheek sample to diagnose this... Blood tests and biospies may not work half of the time.

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Dr Oz said that malayan Salt will stop acid reflux. Does anyone know how to take it? Do you mix with water?

How much?

Can someone who have acid reflux take this diet supplement.

From experience, what are some good remedies to help night time acid reflux.

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