Stopped Taking Nexium

[Stephen C]

Hi

I stopped taking Nexium about 4-5 weeks ago as I was scheduled to have the fundo (which was postponed....again). Since I stopped, I've found that bloating and its associated breathing problems have lessened considerably. I have had acid rebound but it's manageable.

I think I had a point to make, but I've forgotten it...oh well

[The Pard]

Hi Steve,

Were you trying to say, that everyone who has been on a PPI for quite a while should try to get off it for a few months.... just to see if the old symptoms that caused the PPI to be needed
are still there?

I wonder how many went through the surgery
because the side effects of the PPIs were
the "NEW REASON" to do so. Maybe the reflux
or the reason for it actually improved with time
and the sufferer never had a chance to find out.

If a physical problem like a stretched ligament at the GE junction or a viral attack on the esophageal nerves was the cause of reflux, TIME could have healed the damage, making the sugery less of a requirement.

Taking an anti-anxiety med along with the PPI
could make the PPI seem more effective, but
the side effects could perpetuate the feeling of
need for a fundo..

How is that for optomism?
The Pard... pontificating in the late AM

[Stephen C]

Hmmm, maybe that was it. It just feels like the PPI was coating the stomach so that acid wasn't getting produced, but was also keeping the gas down too. For the last few weeks I have been able, not to put too fine a point on it, to produce some nice gut wrenching burps.

I still have acid symptoms, but that just hurts, which I can deal with. The discomfort caused by bloating is much more difficult for me to deal with, even if bloating doesn't involve long term possible problems (Barrett's etc).

Having said all that, I'm still going ahead with the operation. I don't like having to make lifestyle adjustments to deal with this condition. I want to tackle the cause of the problem, not the symptoms.

Restricting diet and booze consumption is not the Irish way!

[The Pard]

Hi Steve,

I wish you well.

Have you ever thought that having a good time
has its' premiums.

If you burn the candle at both ends, there is a price to pay. Most people can not eat and drink like they did when they were in their early twenties. I know when I hit 30 the "all you can eat spaghetti nights" were never the same again.

The Pard

[Stephen C]

Certainly. I hit 30 last February so I'm well aware of it. But as things stand I can't even drink coffee and have found that most of the food stuffs that give me the worst problems are healthy foods, green leafy vegetables etc. Basically, eating anything gives me a hard time. Unfortunately, I love food, I love cooking and I love eating. Fortunately, I'm not even close to overweight, verging on underweight if anything.

I'm certainly not saying that I want to be able to continue the hell raising lifestyle of my early-mid 20's. Even if I was able to, I wouldn't want to. I'd just like to be able to eat normally. I refuse to accept that this condition is something that has to be lived with, it has to be beaten and then forgotten.

[The Pard]

Hi Steve,

If I were you, I would be taking it easy for a few months to see if you continue to improve.
Tossing the Caber can really stretch things, even if you ARE in shape.

Stick with the other less strenuous bar games like darts and chess.
Oh!!! and eat lots of spicy chicken wings. :)

The Pard

[Mel D]

I've stopped taking Aciphex, too. I've noticed that the days that I take it are worse than the days when I don't. How could that be??? I still have acid problems, for which I take Zantac, but I don't get the sharp pain in my back when I don't take the PPI. Very strange.

Good luck with your surgery, Stephen.

[Stephen C]

Hi Pard

You haven't seen me! I'd have a better chance of being the first Irishman on Mars than winning a strong man competition!

Thanks for your best wishes Mel, 5 weeks to go.

[The Pard]

Hi Steve,

You have to start somewhere...
They do make lightweight darts, aluminum cans,
and chess pieces are available in plastic.

I will see if anyone is making balsa wood cabers. :D

The Pard

[Sharri]

Hi Stephen! I'm with you...just want to live normally. My Mom's family lives in Templemore, down in Tipperary. Maybe this developed from a lifetime of shepherd's pie. I hadn't thought of that..:-) Gee I just signed up for this message board 3 days ago. Wasn't sure if I would get much use of it. WRONG. Seems I have been writing little notes to just about everyone. Its just such a huge relief to talk to people who understand. Its really hard to get across to people who don't suffer from this garbage. They don't get it, and I feel like a real whiner sometimes.

Best of luck!

Sharri

[Stephen C]

Sharri

You're rigt there. This is a fantastic website with a lot of very helpful people on it.

[Aerta]

And the minute you feel like a whiner, tell yourself that the people around you don't have to live with what you do - and see if you can find ways to make light of it. Yep, it's miserable - but it's survivable. And while living normally is rather hard for us, there are little compromises you can make to make it easier. Eat what doens't bug you to death, watch out for what does, and just think 'I'll outlive them all 'cause I'm eating better!' LOL Take whatever little triumphs you can from your day :-)

Aerta

[Sharri]

Thank you Aerta. I try! Its just hard to explain when friends and family want you to go out and do something with them and you have to decline because you feel lightheaded, or have gas pressure, or just plain feel like crap, haha. I think they consider me the proverbial "wet blanket". But you are right-it could be worse, and perserverance is the key here.

Stephen I sure hope the surgery gives you relief. I look forward to seeing a post from you at some point telling us all how great you feel...:-).

[annie]

Hi everyone, well I'm new here and I'm from New Zealand, so the names of our drugs are different. I take Losec (omeprazole), Ranitidine and domperidone...I don't think I really need the dom, but I'll stick with it for a while.
I am absolutely amazed...I have now been free of heartburn for a week, and this is just unheard of for me...it's fantastic. I am on very high doses of Losec, 80 mgs a day for that matter, and it finally seems to be doing the trick. I'm sure the Ranitidine (H2 Antagonist) must be doing some good as well. I think that people should try high doses of PPIs and maybe an H2RA if they're not getting the relief they need.
My LPR is still hanging around like a bad smell, which drives me crazy because I was a singer and I can't do that any longer. It's very frustrating being only 27, only 73kgs and having these problems, but I guess that's life sometimes. The LPR is worse at night, so I've ordered the pillow from Medslant.com. I guess the high dose PPI will work eventually.

[Sharri]

Hi Annie..by LPR you mean the lump in throat and gagging, etc? Me too. The PPI's control the burn, but not that horrible pressure and lump feeling. I am looking into the Endocinch procedure. I have heard good things about it.

[annie]

Well, my LPR is actually more that I just lose my voice and get a really raw throat. I only get the lump occasionally so am quite lucky in that respect. Sometimes my throat gets very sore, which is quite horrible.
Unfortunately, we are a bit behind with the technology and we don't have any of the endoscopic procedures in New Zealand as yet. I have read about them and am thinking it would be nice if we did!
Man, that lump in your throat all the time must drive you to distraction, and the spasms...I can't imagine that...I do feel for you. Best of luck if you decide to have that procedure.

[Sharri]

Thank you. I will let you know how it goes. Any improvement would be most welcome.