Acid Reflux Forum - Acid reflux causes ?

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Q: Acid reflux causes ?

asked by: sash on June 19th, 2008

New User

My brother is 26 years old and has severe cerebral palsy, he was diagnosed of having gerd and hiatus hernia two years ago. He has very limited communication and is unable to explain the pain he is suffering. Over time his symptoms seem to be getting worse, he is on Nexium, Reglan, mebeverine, gaviscon, amitriptiline, lorezapam but nothing seems to be working anymore. He has had many tests to rule out any other causes to this chronic pain. My question is can anyone explain whether acid reflux is caused only by eating certain foods or drinks or can this occur even on an empty stomach. It has been two weeks since my brother has any proper food....but he is in constant pain especially more under his rib cage,

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thankyou

Sash

Replies(3)

MandMs

replied on June 24th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Hi!

Persistent GERD or acid reflux, is usually not only related to eating certain foods, but, results due to various conditions, including abnormal biologic or structural factors.
Hiatal hernia is one of the structural cause of acid reflux.
Many bed-bound patients (like in case of severe cerebral palsy) suffer from severe acid reflux disease because they are in bed all or most of the time. Those patients are experiencing prolonged or persistent acid reflux.
Acid reflux occurs for a variety of reasons in people who are mostly bed-bound (a person who is flat in bed all or most of the day is at a mechanical disadvantage, because in this position, the esophagus is often on the same level as the stomach, which makes it easy for acid to wash up into the esophagus).

sash

replied on June 24th, 2008

New User

acid reflux and coughing

Thankyou for your reply. He is on all the medication which is suppose to control acid reflux. We do ask the doctor to change his medication in hope that one will help but now he is in constant pain. Nothing seems to work anymore. The doctor does not think my brother would be able to cope with surgery so thats not an option. When he is pain he finds lying down more comfortable (he is able to sit up with support). He has also coughing a lot now, could this mean that his acid reflux is getting worse?

Thanks

sash

MandMs

replied on July 1st, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

You are welcome!
I'm sorry for your brother.

When acid reflux into the larynx and throat, causes many different symptoms like laryngitis, hoarseness, sensation of a lump in the throat, post-nasal drip, chronic throat clearing, excessive throat mucous, sore throat, spasm of the throat, throat pain and coughing.
If the acid refluxes into the lungs, chronic cough and pulmonary conditions can result, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Try to get him regular check ups.

Best wishes!
Marija

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