Info on tee and GERD needed

[Mb]

Hello all!

This past week we visited with my husbands cardiologist, who has recommended a transesophogeal echo be done to guage the severe leaking in his tricuspid valve. (He has two St. Jude valves already, aortic and mitral.) However, he suffers from GERD, and the cardio wanted an opinion from a gastro guy regarding the condition of the esophagus as well as the situation with his liver. He saw the gastro guy yesterday, who just said "there shouldn't be a problem, and why go down there twice". Although my husband has taken Prilosec for almost two years now on a daily basis, he continues to suffer daily from bad indigestion.

Has anyone with GERD had a tee here? What were your experiences? I am beginning to think we are going to have to see a gastro Dr. in Boston.

Thanks for any input!

Marybeth

 

[Granbonny]

Marybeth

Marybeth

Just returned from Daddy's in Alabama. We keep his bed raised at top on 2 bricks. Seems to help. Know there are lots of new meds for heartburn. Daddy doen't have to take any..Just a tum now and then. Hope hubby finds help. Bonnie

 

[TIM W.]

I am a sufferer of GERD. I take Prevacid. I had a TEE last month and it was no problem. The technician numbs the throat prior to the exam and I felt nothing. In fact, I don't even recall the test due to a drug I was given IV at the very beginning of the test. I still have no memory of the test other than waking up right after it was finished.

 

[Bob]

I have GERD and had a TEE prior to my MV surgery. There was no problem. They put me to sleep and woke me when it was over. Had a sore throat for a day but that was it. I am on Prilosec that seems to work well.

 

[Mb]

Ooops, I probably should have been clearer., He is on the Prilosec, but is NOT symptom free. I just heard from his cardiologist, who says he MUST be symptom free before they will do the tee. We will see if doubling the dose of Prilosec does the trick, and if it doesn't, we will see a different gastro guy.

Any additional input would be helpful.

For those of you who do have GERD, how much Prilosec do you take that gets you symptom free??

Marybeth

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Marybeth,

Sorry to hear your husband is having concerns with GERD.

For myself it was scary because it felt like major chest pain. Ended up in the ER a few times. I do feel mine was caused by all of the tests, tees tubes, etc. The opening to my espohgus was damaged. Confirmed this with a upper GI. No problems of that sort prior so??? My concerns went on for about 2 years post MVR but have been much better in the two proceeding years since. What worked great was an OTC called Riopan Plus liquid. It did not interfere with my other meds. BTW, the Prilosec did not work for me either!

Wishing your husband all the best. I pray they are wrong about his other valve. Like all of us here that have been though it. Enough is enough. Hang in there
Take care

 

[Mb]

Dear Gina:

Thank you for your reply....and thanks to everyone else out there. However, we already know his tricuspid valve has a severe leak....he has had two regular echo's done, and both showed severe leakage. His new St. Jude mitral valve also has a moderate leak....I believe caused by the tricuspid valve. He is SOB, retains fluid, etc. We knew almost immediately after the two valves were replaced that he was not recovering as well as most of the folks here on this board. The first echo was done last April, 6 months post surgery. The second was done in June or July of last year. The Dr.'s told us that meds often could control the leaking, and that keeping him "dry" was the most important objective. As far as the GERD goes, I am convinced it has something to do with the heart enlargement. He started having GERD as soon as he went into congestive heart failure, and it hasn;t left him since. He can have some pretty bad days. Imagine waking up with acid reflux. There are some things that do make the "day" worse. Like, eating past 7:00 in the evening can get him up two or three times during the night. So, we eat dinner earlier than most. I am really hoping that doubling the dose works....not only because it will avoid two procedures, but mostly if it gets him to feel better. Even small steps in this direction to improve the quality of his daily life would be great. BTW he is 56 years young!! And, the nicest man you will ever meet. - Thanks everyone - Marybeth

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Marybeth...

I suffer from GERD and was told by my dr. to raise our bed about 2-4 inches at the headboard, take prilosec or nexium, which she prescribed, don't eat any heavy meal just before going to bed, especially any tomato product or acidic foods, lose weight, and take the prilosec for two weeks before reevaluation.

That advice has seemed to work for me. Iam no longer on prilosec, but keep it on hand just in case. hope that helps your hubby.

Evelyn

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Marybeth,

Forgot to add..... make sure he drinks at least an 8 oz glass of water when he takes his meds. This will help with digestion. Also found it very interesting that his GERD started after his CHF. I was CHF there for awhile too. Induced by cardiac tamponade. Combination of all of the tubes and meds you would think it would effect your digestive track. Heck I have GERD attacks when I am under plain stress!

Wishing you both the best. Please keep us posted.

 

[Mb]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like everyone does just about the same things, except for doubling the dose. Lets hope it works! I'll let you folks know!-Marybeth

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hello Marybeth,

I've had GERD about as long as I've had Heart disease and a lot of 'false alarm' trips to the ER with chest pain.

I've found that eliminating Soft Drinks and Caffeine (coffee and choclate) helped control my GERD. Limiting acids (fruit juices and tomato products) helps also. I also elevate the head of my bed about 6 inches.

I was concerned about possible 'constrictions' in my esophagus since the TEE transducer is larger in diameter than an endoscope, but the only thing I noticed was a slightly sore throat that went away after one day. I've had at least 3 TEE's without any complications.

STOP the Cokes, Coffee, Chocolate, etc. and life will be better!
Oh yes, make sure his pants / belt is not too tight also

Best wishes,

'AL'

 

[alicia]

I also have GERD and a hiatal hernia. I developed all this 2 years prior to the onset of my heart problems. I've been on 30mg of Preavcid and I take 10mg of Reglan at bedtime and for the last 4 years I've been symptom free. If I miss a dose of my Prevacid I can tell. Those juices start up. I've had a TEE and had no problems at all. I sleep with my bed elevated and I sleep on 2 pillows. Good luck to your hubby.

Alicia

 

[azpam]

digestive problems can be helped "naturally"(if you wanted an option from the medicine route) by taking digestive enzymes just before a meal. prevacid/prolosic,etc can deplete the body of vitamins long term. tums is bad because is takes away your natural enzymes and lowers the PH in your stomach. so it helps short term but long term creates more digestion of food problems. you need a way to digest the food better. had an episode with my husband's brother in law couple years ago with severe chest pains for 30 minutes and ready to head out the door to ER. gave him 2 good digestive enzymes and all pain went away in 15 minutes!

 

[Mb]

Again, thank you everyone. There have been some interesting ideas here, that I will pass along. There are a few things that do help him, like not eating past 6:00 or so. We have a water bed, which means no elevating the bead, but he does sleep with at least three pillows. The other meds sound interesting, so I will make sure we get that info to the Dr. - Again, thank you.
Marybeth