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Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

Posted by blueorca @blueorca, May 5, 2018

i am an 18-year user of daily OTC Prilosec. It does a perfect job of controlling my GERD but I am constantly battling side effects of nutritional deficiencies in iron, B-12, magnesium, etc. For example, my hair is extremely thin and loss of energy is a constant problem. I am looking for specific help in knowing which supplements to take for this and in what doses and formats and on what schedule. All the nutritionists I've found locally are not well-versed in Prilosec use. Is there a medical provider out there who specializes in this? And would they be willing to work with me long distance?

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ga1rose | @ga1rose | Sep 26 9:48am
In reply to @luvnursing52 "Having had 2 fundoplications (which aren't working very well any longer) I went back on Prilosec..." + (show)
Profile picture for luvnursing52 @luvnursing52

Having had 2 fundoplications (which aren't working very well any longer) I went back on Prilosec temporarily for persistent reflux. I stopped taking it because I felt I wasn't digesting my food properly. I may have Vagal nerve damage from the surgeries, so I'm having a gastric emptying study in a couple of weeks.
I really try to avoid any PPI's since I have osteoporosis. I don't think Prilosec was ever meant to be taken daily long term, or any PPI for that matter, because of side effects. Pepcid and other H2 blockers don't work well at all. So I try to manage with diet mostly. I take Tums once in a while if needed.
I'm glad I have a medical background to try to navigate this journey of aging. (50 yr. retired RN)

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@luvnursing52
I’ve had two Nissens as well (first a 360 and four years later a 270 bc the initial wrap was extremely tight and I could barely swallow liquids and had ((and still have awful esophageal spasms))). I also take reflux meds bc I still have reflux that somehow comes up and into my mouth. I was on dexilant which was very helpful but my insurance no longer covers it so I’m back on Protonix (in the morning) and famotidine (in the e evening but still have symptoms.
I also have vagus nerve damage from my first Nissen and was diagnosed with delayed gastric emptying (I forget the medical term).
In addition, I have chorionic SIBO infections that I used to take robaxin to help (4 weeks) and then a break and would start it again when my symptoms would come back. My insurance also no longer covers that medication - well, it covers a portion of the cost but the remainder is $1,250 for 2 weeks which I cannot afford so I’m kind of in stuck in an awful SIBO state which is only getting worse and as of right now no possible solutions.
Im sorry you’re going through this! I have a lot of sympathy and empathy for you!!!

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luvnursing52 | @luvnursing52 | Sep 26 10:44am

Thank you so much for your support!!
My first Nissen was done incorrectly- too high & too tight. He also took my GB during that surgery and deformed my rib cage somehow, pushing my lower ribs out. I noticed it right after surgery. ( I think he did it because he had to wrap it twice- to get better visualization of what he was doing- still did it wrong.) It was a miserable 6 yrs. afterward, the bloating was unreal.
So I have not been tested of SIBO- yet. I do take a high end probiotic daily. I think it helps. The delayed gastric emptying is called gastroparesis. It's fairly common in diabetics. I manage by drinking hot liquids after eating to get my food down. I've had stretching done a few times, but I think because the scar is probably pretty tight because of 2 surgeries, so it doesn't work very well.
Try getting the Robaxin from a Canadian Pharmacy! It's a generic so don't know why your cost is so high. It's not a controlled drug. H2 blockers like Pepcid do nothing for me. Keep me posted!!

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