34, female, 5´9, 120lbs. smoked a lot for 20years stopped 6 months ago, was diagnosed with GERD however no actual tests were done, doctor based it on symptoms, went to another who ran blood tests and did an x-ray, in the blood tests some numbers were a bit off however the doctor said they were still within normal range. I have switched to other doctors who have said my symptoms, were anxiety, allergies , and/or parasites!? and basically have spent a small fortune without any actual results. ALL SYMPTOMS started when I stopped smoking, HOWEVER, I actually stopped smoking because of the symptoms..
I have had loose stools every morning, but only in the mornings. I pee about 15-20 times per day. I sometimes have strong chest pain, which one doctor said were esophageal spasms? LOTS of post nasal drip and clear sometimes white phelgm that I cough up, especially when I wake up and after eating. I have been put on, pantoprazole 40mg then 80mg, as well as Cintapro and actually being on it made me have even more acid? Which I don't understand but it made me feel worse so I got off it.
I have also taken predisone and symbicort because one doctor said I had inflammation of the lungs based on x-rays, however another doctor I showed x-rays said it was normal nodules and nothing to worry about. The symbicort and predisone made me have horrible acid reflux. Tums do nothing.
Main concern is the consant need to clear throat, occasional strong chest pains and excessive peeing. I have been put on Claritin for a month, which did nothing, then was switched to Allegra, for another month, also without any results. Another doctor said that based on the blood tests I showed him he said I had parasites but said a fecal test was not needed and put me on Alinia 500mg for 3 days, I felt a lot worse afterwards and it toke me a couple weeks to go back to my normal misery. I have become distrustful of doctors and have not had any luck finding one that could properly treat my physical woes. Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated.
As a gastroenterologist, if you came to my clinic I would focus on each GI symptom and determine an underlying cause. It does not seem that there will be one unifying diagnosis to explain all of the GI issues so each would need to be addressed separately.
Acid reflux is relatively easy to treat using PPI medications. If PPI is not working then your symptoms are probably not the result of acid and further work up is needed.
Loose stools can be caused by many things, least of which parasites. It does not sound right to give you Alinia with no testing to make a diagnosis. IBS is by far the most common explanation for chronic or intermittent loose stools.
A good GI doc should be able to sort out the GI issues.