New here with a question

[Coop de Ville]

Hi All,

Should I go back on prilosec?

I am 38 and have been popping tums since I was 12. At age 30 my doc put me on nexium (40mg) and it seemed to work. Shortly thereafter I switched to omeprizole because my insurance dropped nexium. About a month ago I stopped taken it and dealt with the acid using tums as necessary (15-20 per day).

I have also been taking mega doses of probiotics before bed, but this doesn't seem to help.

I stopped taking the prilosec because I keep reading that it unbalances your system and prevents proper absorption of vitamins... yada yada.

But, after a month I don't feel any better and waking up 10 times a night to pop a tum is really not all that beneficial.

So, I ask, would it really be all that bad to go back on prilosec for the rest of my life and at least not have to walk around with a pocket full of tums?

Best,

-Coop

FWIW- I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia years ago. If I so much do a handstand, anything in my stomach will come out.

[Kevin]

If I were in your spot, I would want to get some sleep! If prilosec does it for you, you might want to consider that. Chronic sleep interruption has serious risks too--increased risk of cardiovascular disease, especially. This is not to say that ppis are risk free. But so far they have been taken by bejillions of people for many years. You can try, as an alternative H2 blockers like ranitidine. You may want to consider Zegerid--it is faster acting than prilosec, but with the same drug, omeprazole; you can take it at night only, if that is when you have your symptoms.

Good luck!

[TonyMar]

Coop

I also have had problems since I was young. I was 14 when I first got heartburn. Well now I am 57 and the reason I got the surgery was I finally got Barretts at age 56. I had a sliding HH. I would have to take meds to sleep through out the night. I also would wake up to take tums. I waited 6 years for a less invasive surgery, but , It never happened. If you having problems, find a good Gastro surgeon that has done 100's of nissens . I went through 4 of them before I found one I thought would take good care of me . Read as much as you can about this , get educated, and hopefully you will be writing about your great recovery.

[Coop de Ville]

Thank you both for the response. I kept hearing how much better I would feel after getting off the prilo. Truth is I feel a lot worse and panicking when I can't find a tum is crazy. When the heartburn hits me I will literally regurgitate/ vomit from the burning... it happens almost instantly. There are some nights when I aspirate the acid... and inhale a huge dose making me cough awake and then trying to back to bed with a sore and swollenthroat only to have it happen 20 minutes later.

My doc (He's a new doc since my employer switched to Aetna my long time doc is not covered) said he would do an endoscopy if the nausea continues, but he thinks I need to get over it and stop making such a big deal about it.

When you've had it for so long, it's like just another part of your life... you never know what it's like not to be in pain... kinda like chronic back pain but I won't go there

Best,

-Coop

[TonyMar]

Coop

If I were you I would look for another Gastro Dr. None of my Dr.s wanted to me to do anything but take the PPIs. I can not take those meds anymore. But, when you are on PPIs you are shutting the acid makers (receptors) your body knows you have less acid being made so your body tries to make more receptors. So when you try to stop PPIs you really have more acid being produced in your stomach.
Ask to be scoped to make sure you don't have Barretts or a hiatal hernia , a ph test to see how bad you are refluxing and a manamotry to see how bad your les is . That should be enough to get the ball rolling for a fix. If your Dr gives you a hard time and does'nt want to do the tests. Find a new Dr.

[Thistle]

Coop, welcome! Your doctor sounds like an idiot, and I agree that you need to find another one. Any chance you could ask your old doctor to suggest one of Aetna's approved GI specialists?

Hang in there.