Acid reflux: Anyone out there?

Before giving up on the PPI, maybe see if you're having a temporary flare-up of symptoms. Could something else have caused the flare-up: did you lift something very heavy (that happened to me), or have stress or changed habits or the like? You shouldn't stop the PPI or you'll have rebound reflux too. I had to increase my meds and in addition to Nexium in the morning am taking famotidine at night. Hasn't completely relieved the symptoms but it's better than before. If you've had stress there are lots of things to try (exercises, physiotherapy, muscle relaxers) that could release the pressure on the diaphragm (to better close the sphincter and prevent the acid reflux). I also suggest you don't rush to surgery.

Thanks for your reply,
My Doctor doubled my PPIs, Pantoprazole, from 40 mgs once a day to twice a day with no effect, I then tried a famotidine at night as well with good results.
How long have you been on this routine ?
My understanding was for long term use PPIs were better and safer than H2 blockers.
There are specific breathing exercises for the diaphragm [Belly breathing] which have not helped so far.
And yes, lots of horror stories with surgery. Starting to run out of options. Good luck.

I've been on a PPI for about 8 years, and the famotidine at night for a few months. I had heard that safety wise it was better to be on H2 blockers and not PPI - strange that you heard the opposite.

After many medicine failures…I ended up on Dexilant.. which actually worked. My esophagus had eroded to a LA4. I did also take Sucrafate 4 times a day to coat my throat and try to protect it. I knew the risk of persistent and uncontrollable reflux….aspiration and repeated pneumonia at 71. I opted for a gastric bypass to fix my reflux. So now Im 4 months out and no reflux, no meds. My esophagus is now normal. Im healing and I am grateful for the decision I made. It is life changing and I do have challenges but so far no regrets

Just did some more searching, you are correct, H2 blockers are indeed safer long term.

I have been on acid blockers since 1986 and run through them all as new ones came on the market. I got little relief until Nexium came out and have been on it for 20+ years now. I take a 20mg in the morning and a 20mg at bedtime. I have finally started to get through my days and nights without GERD and vomiting every day. Over the years Doc's have tried to change me to Pepcid + Nexium and the pepcid at bedtime was just useless. I think to some extent everyone's system has a bit different damage and reacts differently to the medications on the market. You have to find what works for you. That also has to include going with smaller meals more often or something in your stomach at bedtime, or not. Also it's important to stay regular. If you find yourself constipated over a few days, the food you are consuming is not leaving your stomach and becomes more likely to give you reflux. It's the reflux with acid burning your esophagus throat, and the enamel off your teeth that cause so much damage over the years.

I'll attest to that. But I had as 'esophageal stricture' as well.

Not having a SPHINCTER between my stomach and esophageal, there is free passage up and down.

And EVERYTHING that goes down causes a LOUD, ROLLING belch back up.

(=^..^=)
KK

Re checked this and yes H2 blockers appear to be safer long term.

Do the risers go under the mattress or the legs of bedframe? I would like to check this out for me. I had Poem procedure and has helped do take famodione

@candidough47 - the risers go under the legs/casters of the bedframe at the head of the bed. I have had to eliminate the headboard on my bed because the risers make a headboard a bad fit. At least, in my experience I haven’t found a headboard yet that would work with the risers under the top of the bed (frame).

Bed risers are found in any bedding store - and definitely on Amazon.