GERD

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Sandie,

It's quite common for IPFers to have GERD. I had GERD

for years before being diagnosed with it, after my IPF

diagnosis. I hate knowing it, but it is possible that years

of having virtually symptom-free, untreated GERD,

perhaps with aspiration, caused my IPF. The only

symptom I had of reflux was throat-clearing - never any

heartburn - and they found it through esophagrams and

endoscopies. Nexium alone didn't control it and I was put

on a med called Reglan, which moves the food more

quickly out of the stomach before it has a chance to

reflux. Thankfully, that worked or I probably wouldn't

have been listed for transplant. There's an adverse

correlation between uncontrolled GERD and transplant

rejection. yuk.

I hate this because just this Monday, my 28-year-old

son had an endoscopy (done with an endoscope, or tube

with a light on the end of it, under anesthetic) and was

found to have GERD and a hiatal hernia like his mom,

as well as Barrett's esophagus. That results from GERD

causing the cells in the esophagus lining to change color

and configuration, and increases the risk for esophageal

cancer. This is going to involve some major lifestyle

changes for him - he eats a lot of Mexican and Indian

food, pizza, and drinks Cokes (NOT Pepsis, Bruce).

One of the first things the docs usually recommend in

case of reflux, besides meds, is to elevate the headboard

of your bed from 4-8 " . Apparently it isn't enough to use

extra pillows - that can cause acid to build up around the

abdomen and to travel back up into the esophagus. My

gastroenterologist even told me that acid can reflux all

the way up into the head, and can even affect the ears.

(I've got tubes in both of mine.)

Wow, start me up and I can't stop!

Hugs,

Gwynne IPF 7/04 listed for transplant 3/07 Texas