1. < Digestive Health

PPI use and Stomach Aches

Posted by billgil @billgil, Sep 9, 2023

Hello; I have been on PPIs [Rabaprozole [20mgs 2x per day]] for over a year now and they work well for GERD with no side effects, YET. I know about the long term effects but they work for me. [H2 blockers don't] so I have little choice other than the surgery "Funduplication" which I would like to avoid. I Have tried Diet change to no avail.
However for the last 2 weeks I have experienced a continuos chronic stomach ache, mild most of the time but is now becoming more intense. No other symptoms just general belly ache. From your experience has anyone else found this be a side effect of long term PPI use? or something else? Doc appt in a week. Thanks

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sylvias | @sylvias | Sep 9, 2023

I developed osteopinia after 24 years of PPI use. When on PPIs your body doesn't absorb calcium carbonate. You need calcium citrate. I was 10yrs into PPI use when I learned that little tidbit. Also, you will not absorb protein bound vitamin B12 because of the higher pH in the stomach created by PPIs. This will cause you to become deficient, so research problems caused by this. If this happens you can also lose tastebuds.
I had to remain on these medications after a Nissan Fundalplication because of 8 cm of Barrets Esophagus and still having mild gerds. I am assuming you have a Hiatal Hernia and that's why a Nissan Fundalplication was mentioned. If that's not the case perhaps your lower esophageal sphincter is not functioning properly. A LINX Band would fix that.
When I had my Nissan Fundalplication I was 34yrs old and most of my stomach was in my chest. At the age of 59 in 2019 I had a repeat Hiatal hernia repair with a LINX Band placement. At that point I was double dosed on 2 different meds for Gerds, worsening reflux and a lot of painful heartburn. My surgeon told me if I had waited another year my stomach would have been in my chest again. Now 4 yrs post op I have mild heartburn again and another small Hiatal Hernia. The hole in the diaphragm just keeps coming back. I've been off PPIs for 4 yrs now. Hopefully I'm the odd patient with reoccurring problems and you won't experience any like that. Whatever I learned about deficiencies I learned on my own. No Dr ever mentioned anything.! Research, research, research. Good luck, Sylvia

REPLY
2 replies
sylvias | @sylvias | Sep 9, 2023
In reply to @sylvias "I developed osteopinia after 24 years of PPI use. When on PPIs your body doesn't absorb..." + (show)
@sylvias

I developed osteopinia after 24 years of PPI use. When on PPIs your body doesn't absorb calcium carbonate. You need calcium citrate. I was 10yrs into PPI use when I learned that little tidbit. Also, you will not absorb protein bound vitamin B12 because of the higher pH in the stomach created by PPIs. This will cause you to become deficient, so research problems caused by this. If this happens you can also lose tastebuds.
I had to remain on these medications after a Nissan Fundalplication because of 8 cm of Barrets Esophagus and still having mild gerds. I am assuming you have a Hiatal Hernia and that's why a Nissan Fundalplication was mentioned. If that's not the case perhaps your lower esophageal sphincter is not functioning properly. A LINX Band would fix that.
When I had my Nissan Fundalplication I was 34yrs old and most of my stomach was in my chest. At the age of 59 in 2019 I had a repeat Hiatal hernia repair with a LINX Band placement. At that point I was double dosed on 2 different meds for Gerds, worsening reflux and a lot of painful heartburn. My surgeon told me if I had waited another year my stomach would have been in my chest again. Now 4 yrs post op I have mild heartburn again and another small Hiatal Hernia. The hole in the diaphragm just keeps coming back. I've been off PPIs for 4 yrs now. Hopefully I'm the odd patient with reoccurring problems and you won't experience any like that. Whatever I learned about deficiencies I learned on my own. No Dr ever mentioned anything.! Research, research, research. Good luck, Sylvia

Jump to this post

I forgot to mention belly aches/ nausea are common with GERDS.

REPLY
ilonac | @ilonac | Sep 13, 2023

I hear so many reasons why ppi’s are bad to take long term. I think if you change your diet you have to be so good about all the things you shouldn’t eat and do it for a long enough time to see it work.

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riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | Sep 13, 2023

I would take my ppi 1/2 hr before supper, when do you take yours?

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billgil | @billgil | Sep 13, 2023

1/2 to 1 HR before lunch then Dinner [2x per day rabaprozole]. No meals after 7PM. All my issues are with sleeping at night. I can get through the day OK, so I take 2 PPIs more toward the evening. I am 75 yrs old so the Long term effects of PPis are not as important, Quality of life now is what I need, and no effects after 2 years so far.

REPLY
riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | Sep 14, 2023

I stop eating 3-5 pm everyday. I then drink only water.

REPLY
saucy | @saucy | Sep 15, 2023
In reply to @sylvias "I developed osteopinia after 24 years of PPI use. When on PPIs your body doesn't absorb..." + (show)
@sylvias

I developed osteopinia after 24 years of PPI use. When on PPIs your body doesn't absorb calcium carbonate. You need calcium citrate. I was 10yrs into PPI use when I learned that little tidbit. Also, you will not absorb protein bound vitamin B12 because of the higher pH in the stomach created by PPIs. This will cause you to become deficient, so research problems caused by this. If this happens you can also lose tastebuds.
I had to remain on these medications after a Nissan Fundalplication because of 8 cm of Barrets Esophagus and still having mild gerds. I am assuming you have a Hiatal Hernia and that's why a Nissan Fundalplication was mentioned. If that's not the case perhaps your lower esophageal sphincter is not functioning properly. A LINX Band would fix that.
When I had my Nissan Fundalplication I was 34yrs old and most of my stomach was in my chest. At the age of 59 in 2019 I had a repeat Hiatal hernia repair with a LINX Band placement. At that point I was double dosed on 2 different meds for Gerds, worsening reflux and a lot of painful heartburn. My surgeon told me if I had waited another year my stomach would have been in my chest again. Now 4 yrs post op I have mild heartburn again and another small Hiatal Hernia. The hole in the diaphragm just keeps coming back. I've been off PPIs for 4 yrs now. Hopefully I'm the odd patient with reoccurring problems and you won't experience any like that. Whatever I learned about deficiencies I learned on my own. No Dr ever mentioned anything.! Research, research, research. Good luck, Sylvia

Jump to this post

I had the Linx in 2014 and recently had it removed since it stopped working and ended up with ulcers and stage C esophagitis. They now know the Linx develops scar tissue. Had to go back on PPI's for 3 months to heal and trying to just take H2 blockers but have burning at night. I have a very strict diet, have a fructose malabsorption and seems like there are very few foods I can eat. I'm 71 and really don't want to risk dementia so not sure what to do from here!

REPLY
sylvias | @sylvias | Sep 17, 2023

I had the LINX band placed because my lower esophageal sphincter was wide open 24/7 and I was double dosed on 2 medication and still had horrible heart burn. It was a last resort. It's been now almost 4 yrs and at my last endoscopy I was told I had a small hiatal hernia. That tells me the hole the surgeon closed in my diaphragm 2019 is starting to enlarge again. So frustrating!!! I don't ever want to go back on PPI's. They have forever screwed up my gut and have given me osteopenia. There is still 2cm of Barretts at the LES after 6cm were burned and scraped away and my GI is telling me I don't have to comback for 3 yrs! I am like you. What is suppose to happen next?

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