Dr. Recommending me antidepressants even though I have a Hill Grade IV Hiatial Hernia?
For context, I am f20 and just got an endoscopy and the bravo test done. I have a 2 cm hill grade IV hiatal hernia, the bravo ph study test came back as having no abnormal reflux. Dr. says my biopsies showed signs of intestinal metaplasia. I think that’s another name for Barrett’s esophagus?
My acid reflux is very genetic on my mom’s side and she had Nissen fundoplication surgery at age 17. As well as her mom being on Prilosec for basically her entire life. And brothers, cousins, etc being affected.
My symptoms:
- I’ve had bad acid reflux since age 16, but in the last year or 2 it has progressively gotten worse.
- I take tums every single night for the last 2 years. They don’t do anything anymore but they used to.
- Dairy makes it worse and also hard to digest foods like raw vegetables. And spices.
I’ve quit so many foods and it barely does anything. I’m gluten free for the last half a year. Dairy free. And just random other foods I’ve quit. I’ve tried exercising, doesn’t help. It is so hard to eat enough food in a day and I’ve recently lost 10lbs because it feels like I have to choose between eating or having terrible acid reflux. And I’m already only 100lbs
-when off of tums or gaviscon I have acid reflux at least every 2 hours. (When I did the ph bravo test)
- Prilosec makes it worse
- I’ve also had weird chronic “scream hiccups” since age 16. Which I’m pretty sure is related to this. Half of the time my burp is just a scream hiccup lol.
Anyways, I’m just feeling very confused. I feel like wouldn’t surgery be the obvious answer here? I am very against being on medication for years and years, and to me this sounds like a PHYSICAL issue in my body. Especially for how young I am.
- **My GI Dr said “**your more likely diagnosis is reflux hypersensitivity”
“Which is treated with neuromodulator medications and behavioral therapy.”
“treatments including diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation strategies, and/or cognitive behavioral therapy.”
- I’m confused how this would fix my hernia? It just feels not right but I am willing to try medication for it.
Did anyone here have success with Nortriptyline or antidepressants for reflux with a hill grade IV hiatal hernia?