Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

I was on omeprazole and then ranitidine for 10 years. I considered a fundoplication or linx at one point. I’ve been PPI-free for 2 years. Like others have said, tapering off is key. It’s really important to understand what is causing the reflux. In my case, it wasn’t a weak esophageal sphincter or excess stomach acid according to a manometry and other tests. After researching more alternative explanations, I think it was bad microbiome and low stomach acid along with too much processed food. What ultimately worked for me was elevating head of bed 6 inches, nothing to eat after dinner, high quality probiotics ( I take New Chapter), adding kefir and other fermented food items regularly, adding magnesium and zinc to my supplements, recognizing and avoiding my trigger foods, eating smaller portions, and chewing the heck out of food. I’m not recommending this regimen for you as I have no idea what is causing your issues and am not qualified to offer direction. I just want to share my success story because there was a time when it seemed hopeless that I’d get my situation under control. It’s not perfect, but much, much better. I wish everyone the best.

I've transitioned fairly well. I have occasional mild to moderate swallowing problems.

I have similar problems. Have a hiatal hernia and was also diagnosed with a "nutcracker esophagus" when I was tested for swallowing abilities. I've been on 80mg of pantoprazole for awhile now, but recently went to 40mg in the morning and 20mg famotidine before bed. I'm close to half sitting in bed and now used to it. The swallowing issue is worrisome, but I've never had food really stuck, just maybe hard to get down but eventually did. Since I'm from Sweden, I started reading about a device that was developed there called Iqoro. It's a piece of plastic that you put in front of your teeth and pull to create a vacuum. This trains the muscles in your esophagus. Takes months to feel a difference. I had my sister send it to me since it's not approved in the US (but it is in Britain). They have a website that is also in English. My test is to see if I can drink a glass of water without stopping. I'm getting close!

Is the fundoplication scary? Any side effects? I've heard about it and considered it as a permanent solution to my GERD.

I got off Omeprazole because of a suspicion that it caused inflamation flare ups in my joints.. mostly my hands and wrist.

yes to your new protocole! I have arrived at the very same findings and it helps a lot!
Also cutting out wine.

No food or alcohol after dinner, avoiding trigger foods worked for me.

Hi JK,
I am on Omeprezole and Prednisone. I also have been told that I need to take Tymlos. Can I ask how the Tymlos treatment is going for you? I'm a little nervous about the side effects. Did you have any? If so how long? Any suggestions for me would be appreciated. I understand that it is a new drug and there isn't a lot of people who take it so your response is valuable. I also understand that everyone is different with different medications and conditions.

Hi, @daisymae53 Welcome to Connect!

I am almost done with Tymlos. I will finish at the end of the year or the beginning of 2023 depending on when my pen runs out. That will be 22 or 23 months of Tymlos, a month shorter than the full 24 months. I am doing that because my deductible is huge the first month of the year and my endocrinologist said that getting off a month or two early wouldn't make much difference.

The most common effect seems to be fluid retention in the belly area. I presume it must be a defense response of the body to all of the little injections. The injections are either painless or just a minor twinge. I hope my belly will go down somewhat when I get off of it. The other side effect that seems relatively common is achy muscles and/or joints. I find that comes and goes. For a brief period, it was bothering me a lot but now it is not. Initially I had no side effects, but the achy legs and puffy belly developed over time. A small number of people do have more difficult side effects but then they generally reduce their dosage and increase it as their body adjusts to Tymlos. I asked my endocrinologist if I should start low and she said no, and as it turned out I had no side effects initially so that was the correct way to go.

Many people do find it affects their blood pressure. Mine was slightly high and is not now so perhaps that's due to Tymlos.

I am no longer on either Omeprazole or prednisone. When I realized that Omeprazole could have an effect on your bones due to blocking the absorption of some nutrients I asked to be changed to something else so I am on Famotidine now which is the same as Pepcid AC.

Before you start make an in-person or phone appointment with a clinical advisor about injecting and also go to the Tymlos site and print out the diagram to help you keep track of where you have injected so you are not injecting in the same place all of the time. You can also get a free travel case for the pen with slots for 7 days of needles. If you do travel at all that's very nice to have.
JK

Tymlos is a hormone treatment that is very effective in preventing spinal fractures by speeding up the building of bone. Caused cancer in lab rats (high doses). I've had success building bone by getting my Vit D up to snuff, following recommendations at saveourbones.com, eating prunes, taking Ca and some strontium. I quit Omparazole then Nexium after I learned about effects of PPIs on the kidney. I find that gargling with 8.8 pH alkaline water helps my throat, which is prone to irritation from GERD resulting from my hiatal hernia. The alkalinity neutralizes pepsin, the enzyme that digests protein and can also digest throat tissue. (I learned of this via a journal article from PubMed.) I also try to finish eating at least 4 hours before bedtime, use Gaviscon Advance aniseed suspension as a stomach block and antacid. My go-to antacid is Life Extension's Esophacool.