Why have my gastric reflux symptoms worsened recently?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am an 18-year-old female, and for the last one and half years, I have had acid reflux. However, this past month I have been feeling like I am going to throw up constantly. I keep burping and spitting up in my mouth. I feel achy and weak. I also have extreme fatigue and keep passing gas. For the past two days, I have felt symptoms worsen and now have diarrhea. I am having sharp pains in my back, chest, and abdomen. Should I go to the emergeny room? Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query, and I can understand your concern.

Difficulty swallowing is also called dysphagia. It is usually a sign of a problem with your throat or esophagus. The muscular tube that moves food and liquids from the back of your mouth to your stomach. The most common causes of dysphagia are:

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): When stomach acid backs up regularly into your esophagus, it can cause ulcers in the esophagus, which can then cause scars to form. These scars can make your esophagus narrower and cause difficulty in swallowing food.
Reflux Esophagitis: This condition is a result of inflammation of the esophagus. This can be caused by different problems, such as GERD or an infection.
Diverticula: These are small sacs in the walls of the esophagus or the throat.
Esophageal Tumors: These growths in the esophagus may be cancerous or noncancerous.

I would suggest you go for a few initial investigations like upper GI (gastrointestinal) endoscopy to rule out the cause of the problem. Once the cause is ruled out further treatment can be done.

I hope this information will help you.

Thank you.