Gastritis and Gerd causing other problems

I have struggled with gerd for years and am on Protonix. The GI doc just put me on Carafate yesterday. You are the first person that I’ve heard mention Carafate. Do you get relief from it?

@susanfalcon52
Carafate makes a big difference , coating the stomach lining.
I also find that Dicyclomine helps- it’s an antispasmodic that in general helps with IBS symptoms.

I am on Carafate right now and while it does coat the upper GI, it also is very constipating.

I am in a gastritis flare up right now. No fun. I only eat chicken, fish and turkey. Fruit and veggies. Weight loss occurs as you don't eat any junk food. I've had this before. This time staying around longer then what l like. I had endoscopy in July and this diagnosis. I take 20 mg famotidine twice a day

My doctor has only put me on famotidine. Did the carafate help? It's not a ppi? Heard to many things about them. I was diagnosed with non erosive gastritis.

@cookiepic
Carafate really does help. I always keep it around- I never know when I’ll get a flare up.
I’m on PPIs twice a day for years- big problem with GERD. I also take famotidine on occasion when symptoms are worse.
Check with your doctor what you can take for the constipation you get with Carafate.

I had an esophageal ablation a little over a month ago. They put me on carfate for two weeks. I had to crush the tablets. First, the pain was very real when I took carfate. Secondly, it was the worst constipation I ever experienced. I stopped car fare after four days.

I have anxiety too and history of gastritis and GERD. In May swore I was having a heart attack and my heart tests were perfect. Upper endoscopy showed I have a small hernia. My new gastroenterologist told me in July to have eight weeks of being diligent on taking my 40mg omeprazole. Because of all of the emphasis on "longterm use of PPIs is bad" I was trying not to take it every day". Here at home GI dr tried to push me into hernia surgery. Mayo Clinic talked me out of it and said just be diligent with your med. They disagreed with the PPI warnings and didn't think I was at risk for longterm use. I am doing SO MUCH BETTER. I am not getting acid reflux hardly at all. Just with certain meals and usually one Tums does the trick. Also figuring out what foods are triggers helps. I had one heart scare end of August and it was a one time episode I think brought on by not watching what I ate. I hope you figure out answers and what works for you. It is horrible to live with.

@jwool89 I have been on PPIs - Lansoprazole (generic of Prevacid) for over twenty years too and it is the only thing that keeps my GERD in check - although I do stop eating and drinking by 9:00 p.m. the very latest. I also sleep with the head of my bed raised. For years the head of my bed was raised on risers, but recently we got adjustable beds which gives me a better choice of the height the head of my bed should be. Sometimes when I have eaten more than usual I am able to raise the head of my bed higher than usual. That helps a lot.