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| Self help |
| Patient stories |
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Marie Lawson -59 years old and works as a practice nurse at a doctors'' surgery.
Marie has suffered from symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), predominantly heartburn, a painful burning feeling rising from the stomach or lower chest up towards the neck, for more than 30 years. ''I thought it was just something that I had to live with after I had had my kids - I didn't realise that there was something out there that could help.'' For over 20 years, Marie tried to sort the problem out by herself, using over-the-counter heartburn medications recommended by the pharmacist. ''Eventually, the problem completely took over my life; I couldn't eat anything without being in pain and I could hardly sleep.''
Marie found that the impact of GORD both personally and on her family was considerable. It particularly affected her social life: ''we regularly used to get a group of friends together and we would go around to each other''s houses for dinner. I had to check what everyone was preparing. At first people were very sympathetic, but later I realised that I wasn't being invited to all of the gatherings - I think that people just got fed up with it. If I went out, I had to think about where we were going and what I would be able to eat. At first I had problems with pastry, curries and anything spicy - but later it became absolutely anything I ate - even a bowl of cereal could be a problem. It got to the point where I couldn't really eat anything without being in pain.''
Sleeping was also a challenge for Marie. 'I would need at least four or five pillows to prop me up to try and stop the acid regurgitation. After only a couple of hours, I would wake in pain. I would then take antacid tablets before trying to get back to sleep again.' Although Marie liked to garden, every time she bent down, the pain would start and eventually she had to stop gardening altogether.
Eventually, Marie discussed her problem with her GP; 'my doctor asked me to describe my symptoms and said that they sounded typical of a stomach acid back flow problem which I now know is called GORD.' Marie's doctor prescribed a proton pump inhibitor, a tablet that is commonly taken once a day.
Marie has been taking her proton pump inhibitor, on and off, since going to her doctor five years ago; 'I have had periods where I have come off this medicine, sometimes for as much as nine months - but I generally take it every day. I can live a normal life now and I can also sleep all night. I still do things in moderation and watch what I eat within reason. I have never smoked and I drink only very occasionally. I walk a lot and consider myself to be quite active.'
''I am amazed that there are lots of people like me out there who are still suffering. I would like to try to reassure people that there is something that can be done about their condition.''
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