Danielle’s Personal Story: Managing GERD Through Lifestyle Changes
Hi. My name is Danielle. A little over a year ago I started working at a full time job shortly after finishing grad school. I was very excited to start my adult life! Very soon however, I began developing bad headaches and shoulder pain at work. I was taking OTC pain relievers regularly just to get through the day. I didn’t realize this would mark the beginning of my GERD. Because I was taking NSAIDs almost regularly, as well as struggling with workplace anxiety, my GERD had only got worse.
It began as moderate indigestion, but in just a couple of months my transient lunch time discomfort evolved into a host of many other symptoms. Now, almost everytime I eat lunch, I will feel like I am having a heart attack. I get sick to my stomach, develop incredible nausea, will constantly bloat, and suffer from on and off again sore throats. Additionally, after eating I suffer from what felt like a pounding heartbeat. Sometimes, I even get dizzy. I was so afraid of what was happening to me!
I was prescribed several medications to help with my problem (Famotidine and Omperazole, namely) but had quickly come to learn that these medicines only work for a little while. Once I gain some tolerance, my symptoms return and I am forced to take more medicine, and God forbid I forget a pill! My symptoms return then worse than ever! I learned to take this medicine sparingly.
After running a few tests, such as an H. Pylori test and a heart monitor test, I learned that this may never truly go away completely the way I want it to. But I can ease my symptoms. I need to take good care of my body. After removing a few stressors from my life, eating healthier, drinking more water, sleeping at least 7 hrs a day, staying happy, my stomach hurts a little less everyday. Overall, I learned that when I let myself feel empowered and happy, my GERD hurts the least.
