I've also weaned myself off omeprazole and I'm now on zantac but is this safe in the long run? Please do let me know

@shahnaz I tried Zantac and it made my blood sugar drop. The Dr. could not explain that one to me? They just switched me to the omeprazole instead.

Perhaps Baking soda if not on sodium restriction

For six months in 2017 I complained of acid and was popping Gaviscon like candy. GP said to keep taking it if I needed it.
September 2017 I was very sick with the flu for 2 weeks, went to the walk in clinic and chest xray showed 'pneumonia' . 3 courses of antibiotics and 2 months being bed ridden and no change in the chest xray. The coughing was out of control.
I forced myself out of bed and started to get better.
Referral to a respirologist found Micobacterium Letiflavim in my lungs through sputum tests. TB clinic doctor said the amount was so minute that it wasn't the problem and it is not unheard of to have this in the general population as it is found in water.
Puffers were prescribed but they made me cough worse.
Burning became so unbearable I mentioned it to the respirologist and he sent me for Barium swallow. The radiologist said reflux was the worst she has ever seen. Tip me backwards and stomach acids flow right out.
I was put on PPI. I have had both endoscopy and bronchoscopy. They found hiatus hernia but were happy that there has been no damage from the acid in my GI tract.
My CT scans (x3) continue to see on 50% clearing in my lungs. Respirologist is stumped and doesn't understand why it has not cleared up. (they are guessing that all of my acid, while I was bed ridden, was leaking into my lungs and have done damage). His only suggestion is to do a lung biopsy which I have refused so far. They aren't looking for anything specific but rather searching for anything at all to answer the question of what is left in the lungs that they are seeing and can't identify. I said if the lungs have cleared up 50% since the PPI meds, let's wait and see if there continues to be improvement.
Now I am severely deficient in vitamins D and B12 to the point of being critical but GP just said to take supplements and get rechecked in 2 months.
I was the one that brought up the suggestion of the PPI causing the D and B12 deficiency and the GP agreed it could be the reason.
So here I am feeling like crap, still coughing and short of breath. Now my energy level has bottomed out and my bones are stiff and sore.
They have put me on a waiting list to be tested for surgery on the stomach sphincter to see if I am a candidate but I don't know enough about that surgery or if I should even have it. The Gastro specialist says it isn't a one time fix and I may have to have it again in the future.
Is there a specialist that looks at all things combined? My specialists are all looking at their own fields of expertise but I am feeling like someone needs to be looking at the whole picture and combining treatment. Right now it seems like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
They are treating me like an anomaly but I'm feeling like and finding from posts that my situation isn't so unique.
Any thoughts?

Been there, done that. Zantac is supposedly "safe." NOT - depends on the individual. There is a lot bogus (statistically invalid) data re the use of Prilosec that should be rejected. I'm back on a half dose of (10 mg) of Prilosec and may stay with that; whatever works, no magic.

I have some of the same concerns as you. I was taking 40 mg one time a day. I tried to stop and found that my acid reflux returned. I talked to my doctor the next time I had an appointment and asked him to prescribe 20 mg two times a day so I could take less and then take additional if it didn't work. I generally take one but some days I take two. I feel it is better for me to have reduced my medication intake without compromising my acid reflux issues.

I have heard Zantac may be a carcinogen. Check it out.

Still using omeprazole but 2xs wk if I know going have glass wine in pm that day...using FAMOTODINE 40 mg but 2xs day. Take upon arising in am - +& around 3 pm. (Per my gastro MD). Yes, have osteoporosis/osteopenia knees, wrists - no broken bones! have hiatal hernia; Gurt under control. I’m baffled. should consider hernia operation? Found someone stating not successful (?). I’m lactose intolerant but have no side effects When eat ice cream/cottage cheese, sour cream.

I am so glad you asked this. I too am trying to get off Omeprazole. (I do not have a hiatal hernia that Inknow of). I took Zantac successfully for years but then it got pulled from the market. I have tried the protocols of 2 functional medicine doctors, one an MD and one has is a Dietician. I have cut many things out of my diet such as coffee, cooked tomatoes, milk (mostly - I struggle with thay- cheese). I try hard not to eat past 9 30 pm. With the Dietician I have been doing a gut biome protocol for months with the theory that I have a "leaky gut". Step 1 was a stool analysis. I had high candida and some of my probiotic bacteria was off balance. Step 2 was getting rid of and clearing candida out my system and adding certain probiotics. Step 3, where I am now in the last "gut healing" phase. Honestly I cannot say, so far, that is has helped my heartburn a lot. Still hopeful? I AM able to manage my heartburn with 20 mg famotidine in AM and in PM, plus Tums. It is not as comfortable as being in omeprazole. I will stay with it and see how it goes. I also take diglycrrized licorice (chewable) and Slippery Elm which the dietician recommended and which I have read about. I think the licorice helps. Cider vinegar makes my heartburn worse. My one 3-day attempt with celery juice also seemed to make it worse, though there were confounding factors so in may try it again.

Thank you for your post. I too am an RN and have just started on this hellish journey. Started omeprazole a few day ago but terrified of it and coming off it. Right now it is not working for me. I am going to stay tuned to your posts and follow your journey. I started acupuncture 2 days ago, there is some literature supporting GERD treatment success. Not sure how to strengthen my gut microbe with this but am taking probiotics.