Acid reflux correlated with growing headaches, stomach throbbing?
May 6, 2022 5:12 PM Subscribe
Maybe a silly question but I’m not sure my doctor is getting what I’m saying and it’s pretty miserable. Help me understand my weird stomach.
A couple months ago I drank a little too much coffee on an empty stomach (and probably had a few too many beers) and my stomach has been giving me trouble since. I’m no stranger to reflux but had mostly gotten it under control, until this time. I started getting bad acid reflux, a powerful “heartbeat” sensation in my upper belly (like an inflammation feeling) and throbbing headaches when I’d drink coffee in the morning and after about a week of this when I noticed the correlation I gave it up. Stopped drinking alcohol, too.
Went to the doctor and she told me to take Nexium for 4 weeks and come back. Just went back and described my current symptoms: vaguely dizzy after eating, feeling of pressure (not gnawing or pain but like a weird, annoying pressure under ribs in the middle… feels like a “gnaw” but without the burning), and definite severe acid reflux if I eat my trigger foods (have been almost totally avoiding them but slipped up once or twice and really noticed). Water (or beverages) seems to be one of my worst triggers, weirdly, even if I don’t drink much. She basically said none of this is unusual and prescribed another round of Nexium with some supplemental things (Zantac) if needed for breakthroughs.
It’s unclear to me if these are normal symptoms of GERD? More likely to be an ulcer, or gastritis? I don’t know, but there’s basically a 50/50 chance whether I wake up with the throbbing that turns into a headache or migraine by late afternoon and it’s becoming quite debilitating. Basically I want to know if this is something anyone else has experienced, if it ever went away and what helped / how long it took. I get that it’s pretty vague sounding from a doctor’s perspective but she seems to think my stomach just needs the PPIs and I’m not getting a lot of insight into if this is just my life now forever or what. I’m also a bit worried it could be something more serious since I’ve dealt with reflux for a long time (not constantly, but coming and going) and never had these symptoms before. The headaches are very disruptive and I don’t want to take NSAIDs in case they make it worse, but don’t feel great taking Tylenol every day. I usually have to take it preemptively or it doesn’t help much, but I’m trying not to take it all the time.
Thanks!
A couple months ago I drank a little too much coffee on an empty stomach (and probably had a few too many beers) and my stomach has been giving me trouble since. I’m no stranger to reflux but had mostly gotten it under control, until this time. I started getting bad acid reflux, a powerful “heartbeat” sensation in my upper belly (like an inflammation feeling) and throbbing headaches when I’d drink coffee in the morning and after about a week of this when I noticed the correlation I gave it up. Stopped drinking alcohol, too.
Went to the doctor and she told me to take Nexium for 4 weeks and come back. Just went back and described my current symptoms: vaguely dizzy after eating, feeling of pressure (not gnawing or pain but like a weird, annoying pressure under ribs in the middle… feels like a “gnaw” but without the burning), and definite severe acid reflux if I eat my trigger foods (have been almost totally avoiding them but slipped up once or twice and really noticed). Water (or beverages) seems to be one of my worst triggers, weirdly, even if I don’t drink much. She basically said none of this is unusual and prescribed another round of Nexium with some supplemental things (Zantac) if needed for breakthroughs.
It’s unclear to me if these are normal symptoms of GERD? More likely to be an ulcer, or gastritis? I don’t know, but there’s basically a 50/50 chance whether I wake up with the throbbing that turns into a headache or migraine by late afternoon and it’s becoming quite debilitating. Basically I want to know if this is something anyone else has experienced, if it ever went away and what helped / how long it took. I get that it’s pretty vague sounding from a doctor’s perspective but she seems to think my stomach just needs the PPIs and I’m not getting a lot of insight into if this is just my life now forever or what. I’m also a bit worried it could be something more serious since I’ve dealt with reflux for a long time (not constantly, but coming and going) and never had these symptoms before. The headaches are very disruptive and I don’t want to take NSAIDs in case they make it worse, but don’t feel great taking Tylenol every day. I usually have to take it preemptively or it doesn’t help much, but I’m trying not to take it all the time.
Thanks!
Best answer: I take omeprazole every day now, and it seems to mostly do the trick, but I know there is research that it's not great to take it all of the time. I definitely get bad headaches with GERD and was kind of surprised when I didn't see it mentioned in places like Stuff That Works.
This isn't to say that your other symptoms wouldn't worry me, too. I know some who have been helped by GERD-specific diets, but thus far I couldn't bear the idea of no garlic (I gave up coffee, dangnabit!), and so haven't tried them myself.
posted by ldthomps at 5:59 PM on May 6, 2022
This isn't to say that your other symptoms wouldn't worry me, too. I know some who have been helped by GERD-specific diets, but thus far I couldn't bear the idea of no garlic (I gave up coffee, dangnabit!), and so haven't tried them myself.
posted by ldthomps at 5:59 PM on May 6, 2022
My comment is maybe as much experimental as potentially diagnostic — even though I am decidedly not your doctor — but the headaches, and the intense inflammation and/or pressure are also classic signs of seasonal allergies, and as the world warms up, allergies are getting worse.
Moreover, allergies can, indeed, start in your sinuses, and if swollen enough, they can give you a raging headache, while also heading south, which can lead to inflammation, pressure, even nausea.
If this is all/part of what's happening, and the symptoms/cause are going untreated, coffee/alcohol, both dehydrants could definitely make matters worse, especially on an otherwise empty stomach.
As an experiment, it might be worth trying OTC Zyrtec D, 12 hour 2x/day for the next little while. If it's allergies, even if you're not aware of sinus problems, Zyrtec can help dry up your sinuses. Aspirin can help by relieving sinus swelling. If that's the problem, you will also likely find at least this set of stomach problems are gone.
*Note: I have been repeatedly told this formulation addresses a greater range of allergies than other allergy meds. Also: Take care to notice, the D is specifically for your sinuses. Regular allergy meds without it can make sinus issues worse.
posted by Violet Blue at 6:00 PM on May 6, 2022
Moreover, allergies can, indeed, start in your sinuses, and if swollen enough, they can give you a raging headache, while also heading south, which can lead to inflammation, pressure, even nausea.
If this is all/part of what's happening, and the symptoms/cause are going untreated, coffee/alcohol, both dehydrants could definitely make matters worse, especially on an otherwise empty stomach.
As an experiment, it might be worth trying OTC Zyrtec D, 12 hour 2x/day for the next little while. If it's allergies, even if you're not aware of sinus problems, Zyrtec can help dry up your sinuses. Aspirin can help by relieving sinus swelling. If that's the problem, you will also likely find at least this set of stomach problems are gone.
*Note: I have been repeatedly told this formulation addresses a greater range of allergies than other allergy meds. Also: Take care to notice, the D is specifically for your sinuses. Regular allergy meds without it can make sinus issues worse.
posted by Violet Blue at 6:00 PM on May 6, 2022
Best answer: As someone who has had hellacious acid reflux cough for years, I can say that some of my individual triggers are never on any list (bananas, for example, will start the WWIII of coughing). So, just because you're avoiding a few things on the standard list doesn't mean you're avoiding everything that triggers you personally. You might want to do an elimination diet to find out what really triggers you.
Also, doctors, despite being glorified in our society, in my experience generally function like that hospital in Idiocracy: They want to push a giant button labeled 'GERD' (or whatever other single, common, neat diagnosis) and prescribe you the one standard common pill for that. They cannot deal with any symptoms that fall outside the norm. Complexity shorts their circuits. You will probably have to be your own sleuth, then advocate for the tests or treatments you think you may need.
posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds at 6:10 PM on May 6, 2022 [5 favorites]
Also, doctors, despite being glorified in our society, in my experience generally function like that hospital in Idiocracy: They want to push a giant button labeled 'GERD' (or whatever other single, common, neat diagnosis) and prescribe you the one standard common pill for that. They cannot deal with any symptoms that fall outside the norm. Complexity shorts their circuits. You will probably have to be your own sleuth, then advocate for the tests or treatments you think you may need.
posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds at 6:10 PM on May 6, 2022 [5 favorites]
Best answer: Ask to be tested for H. pilori (causes ulcers) and maybe parasites. This sounds very suspiciously like how I was feeling and uh read my last question for the update that it was at least partially caused by giardia. (No, I have zero idea how I got it.) I would keep pushing and let your doctor know that you would like a referral to a GI or additional testing. Make sure that you mention that it’s interfering with everyday living.
posted by Bottlecap at 7:19 PM on May 6, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by Bottlecap at 7:19 PM on May 6, 2022 [5 favorites]
A throbbing sensation in the abdomen can be a symptom of an aortic aneurysm. It doesn't necessarily fit with your other symptoms, but those could be secondary symptoms caused by pressure, blood pressure, etc.
I would mention this possibility to your doctor, and see if they will refer you for an ultrasound to check.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:02 AM on May 7, 2022
I would mention this possibility to your doctor, and see if they will refer you for an ultrasound to check.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:02 AM on May 7, 2022
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I tried tapering off Nexium at the end of the first 4 weeks and frequently woke up with a sour stomach. I think without the Nexium or Zantac, I’d be having a lot more reflux, like I was at the beginning. (I know tapering off can always cause rebound acid, I’m just guessing based on how wild my stomach feels in general. Lots of burping, etc.)
posted by stoneandstar at 5:15 PM on May 6, 2022