Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

Short version of a long story. I'm male 71. My Gerd/Reflux started 30 years ago & I was given Prilosec 20mg daily & it worked. I've had EVERY issue I am NOW reading about as side effects & that it was only intended for 14 days ? I've been to Gastros & had colonoscopies & indoscopies as recent as June 2023 & numerous negative stool cultures & ASK for HELP from NUMEROUS Drs over the years to NO avail. I've been hospitalized several times with my diarrhea & low magnesium & NOW to ME it ALL is starting to make SENSE. My biggest concern is I'm muscle wasting & have had testing done & told NO muscle disease. ALL sorts of labs & blood work. CT & MRIs. I'm really getting a lot of loose skin ALL over. I'm weak 40 lbs feel like lifting 100lbs. Aches & pains pretty much everywhere. Hips & knees & shoulders. Have xrayed everything & all I get is you have Osteoarthritis. Offer up MORE pills. I feel like NO one will address it I think since they have continued prescibing it so long & NOW there is so much BAD about it that they are AFRAID to say anything ? My kidney labs are always out of range, borderline anemic & other labs are out of range & when you READ about what they CAN mean a lot lead back to cancer. It's SCARY to THINK this may be related to talking this medication but when I question several years of labs out of range I'm told its OK & expected for my AGE ? Spinal surgeon & Rheumatologist both said Spinal Stenosis in his opinion was causing it & surgery could supposedly stop or slow it but a 6 hr surgery & 3 month recovery sounds scary. ANYONE going through anything like this ? Occular migraines are more & more frequent too does any of THIS sound FAMILIAR to anyone on Omeprazole 20mg. long term? It works but if the drug ruins your quality of life why take it. I tried once to get OFF this & the rebound was awful. I've rotated every other day with Famotidine 20 mg but it falls shot by mid day the next day. Thinking about trying morning & night ? Drs really NO help. I see a lot of lawyers taking cases ? I just want my life BACK & a REAL fix.

@pdilly you can still transition very slowly to a short acting med like Pepcid or Zantac. I understand you don't want to, but for the sake of others in the same boat, it is possible. I have osteoporosis so doing short acting vs Prilosec or Prevacid was important for my health.

I've been on a PPI for 6 years. I went off of it and developed peptic ulcers so my GI said PPI'S for life. My last EGD showed No Barrett's Esophagus or ulcers! That makes it worthwhile for me to continue on them for life. I'm turning 69 so I'm almost at the end stage of life for a male.

@pdilly you can still transition very slowly to a short acting med like Pepcid or Zantac. I understand you don't want to, but for the sake of others in the same boat, it is possible. I have osteoporosis so doing short acting vs Prilosec or Prevacid was important for my health.

I'm STUBBORN I'm NOT giving up & feel like Dr's did this to me & they can call it this & that but WHERE'S the REAL proof & WHAT do you DO to have something close to NORMAL ? IF they don't see it in tests they just make you feel like it's mental. I'm glad nothing awful has been diagnosed but ALL i'm reading sure looks like it's from meds. I forgot a few on & off dull pain right side low. Occular Migraines,Pretty much every joint I have. The muscle loss & the look even though I haven't really lost weight still 190 never been over 200 & 5'11 but to me looks like someone that lost a lot of weight. That sick look. BUT I've had ALL the Old Folks vaccines to be PROACTIVE & 6 Covid vaccines to ate & told this last one needs a booster 4 months after. I NEVER was a Vaccine person but because of age & Grandkids decided to just do em all.

Yes most people don’t know PPI’s are for short term use. No more than 4 weeks . No Dr’s tell you this . I learned by googling it .
I took a few different ones short term but non helped ( not even Protonix RX or Delaxiant RX .
I have 10 years of chronic digestive disorders. 7 diagnosed through tests. Had 3 rd colonoscopy & endoscopy w/ biopsies recently .
Gastritis, GERD , small hiatal hernia, diverticulosis, Esophagitis , small non cancerous flat polyps on stomach lining . IBS.
Deep wet belching over 1000 x a day and night , upset and churning gut . Hate to eat anything.
Tried everything RX , holistic, diet wise , every supplement for stomach issues they make .
I’m 62 yr old female and this started 52 .
I also have such chronic fatigue the last few years w/ it .
I eat healthy at home 🏠 and rarely eat out .
I live on Ultra Pepto . Take anti anxiety med as needed .
Tried Antidepressants for IBS but bad side effects.
It’s a long hard road to walk . I’m sorry you are going through so much as well .
Quality of life def goes down this way .
No hope in site for me at this point.
🙏🙏

My Gastro tried to convince me that it's the Over the Counter PPI's that are ONLY for 14 days ? That the studies people quote either were BLIND or not BLIND studies whatever she was trying to say but that my Colonoscopy & Edoscopy show NO signs of damage ?

So frustrating!! I’m sick of being so sick 🤢 every single day and getting worse, 11 years now .
Drs just can’t figure this out .
I feel for all of us that have been dealt this hand .

Going to see one more Gastro Monday that's more about Liver but he is supposed to be really goo & over the liver wing & a surgeon & pick his brain. He ordered the sono I had today & ordered tests 2 years ago that were liver related & supposedly NO Cirrhosis etc. My Gastro actually ask me WHAT are you AFRAID of ? Your Endoscopy & Colonoscopy show nothing to WORRY about ? Well lets SEE How would you like your life to revolve around a toilet ? Explained I was convinced my gut issues were from the Prilosec & her only reply was take Imodium 3 times a week & eat fiber ? That's NOT a FIX that's throwing MORE pills at it.

Going to see one more Gastro Monday that's more about Liver but he is supposed to be really goo & over the liver wing & a surgeon & pick his brain. He ordered the sono I had today & ordered tests 2 years ago that were liver related & supposedly NO Cirrhosis etc. My Gastro actually ask me WHAT are you AFRAID of ? Your Endoscopy & Colonoscopy show nothing to WORRY about ? Well lets SEE How would you like your life to revolve around a toilet ? Explained I was convinced my gut issues were from the Prilosec & her only reply was take Imodium 3 times a week & eat fiber ? That's NOT a FIX that's throwing MORE pills at it.