Severe Heartburn -- Any Other PKD folks experience this?

[RuthWells]

Hi all,

It's been quite some time since I've posted, for which I apologize!  The quick version of my story is I'm a 42-year-old PKD patient with GFR around 30% (new blood work on its way...) and hugely enlarged kidneys & liver.  I am only 5'4" and have a pretty small frame, so the enlarged organs are a bit of a bother as times.

I've always had a little bit of mild reflux, which has been easily controlled with OTC meds (Prilosec).  Suddenly, this past Sunday, I had a severe and very painful heartburn attack, which was still sort of "in my system" on Monday morning.  In the few days since then, I've been having severe attacks beginning in the mid- to late-afternoon, lasting all evening, regardless of what or how much I eat (which is pretty minimal anyway). 

I'm not drinking alcohol, I'm exercising daily -- I can't for the life of me think of what may be causing this.  The only thing I've been able to come up with is that perhaps the constriction caused by enlarged organs on the esophagus are causing that valve to fail.  Have any other PKD patients heard of this, or experienced it? 

[paul.karen]

have you changed your eating habits?
Are you taking more foods with acids in them.

This sounds strange but Poland springs water gives me bad indigestion have you changed water>

Strange the previcid doesn't seem to be working anymore.
I would try to think of anything you have changed in the last few days eating wise.  Then call your doc and see if he can give you something stronger then previcid.

heartburn on a regular basis truly does suck.

It could be the kidneys getting in the way like you mentioned?
Good luck

[monrein]

Your supposition makes sense to me (I was thinking less about the valve failing and more about stomach acid being physically pushed past it with the same result, heartburn) but I'd ask the doctor.  I've also heard the idea that feelings of heartburn can be the result of insufficient acid for digestion rather than too much acid.  Why is your liver enlarged?  Is bile involved in the heartburn?  Sorry to respond with further questions rather than answers.  Please let us know what you find out and I hope a solution can be found.

[RuthWells]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies.  Paul, I was eating a bit "outside my diet" on Sunday evening (at a dinner party), but have not changed any eating or drinking habits aside from that -- and that was days ago already!! 

Monrein, my liver is also polycystic, which is pretty common in PKD patients, and has caused the enlargement.  I'm seeing my neph next week and am hoping to make it until then without having to call a doc.

So frustrating!

[Yvonne]

I never know if they are the same heartburn and indigestion.  About once a week John has indigestion in the late afternoon and lasts well into the night. He takes double doses of the indigestion medicine he has and none of it seems to work. He is in such pain each time have been on the verge of going for help as I think he might be having a heart attach.  But next day he is washed out but in no pain.