Issues with GERD

Hi @boneyjoany . Awful, just awful. I so hope this was something isolated. Good call to contact your doctor.

I have a difficult time figuring out when the horribleness happens if it’s something I’ve done to prompt it or if it’s my body having a mind of its own. It sounds like you conquered the worst of this episode for now and are able to start recovering. On to gingerly re-entering life a bit. My go-tos are to reset my diet and activity routines.

Are you able to stay active and maybe go back to basics with your diet for a bit? Would it make sense to not lie completely down when you sleep tonight?

The medications yiu mentioned while can be bought over the counter come with some very serious side effects
Long-term omeprazole use has been linked to several potential problems, including bone fractures, gut infections, and nutritional deficiencies. Specifically, prolonged use can increase the risk of fractures, particularly of the hip, wrist, and spine, due to impaired calcium absorption. Additionally, there's a higher risk of certain infections, such as Clostridioides difficile infection and pneumonia. Nutritional deficiencies, like vitamin B12 deficiency, can also occur.
Elaboration:
Bone Fractures:
Omeprazole can interfere with calcium absorption, potentially leading to lower bone density and an increased risk of fractures, especially in older adults.
Gut Infections:
Long-term PPI use can alter the gut microbiome, potentially increasing the risk of infections like Clostridioides difficile, which can cause severe diarrhea.
Nutritional Deficiencies:
Omeprazole can impair the absorption of essential nutrients, including vitamin B12, magnesium, and iron, leading to deficiencies and associated symptoms.
Other Potential Concerns:
Some studies have also suggested a possible link between long-term PPI use and an increased risk of dementia, though more research is needed.
Important Considerations:
It's crucial to discuss the potential risks and benefits of long-term omeprazole use with a healthcare professional, especially if you're taking it for more than a few weeks or months. They can help determine if an alternative treatment plan is necessary.
Famotidine, like any medication, carries potential risks and side effects. It's crucial to be aware of these before taking the drug, either by prescription or over-the-counter.
Common Side Effects:
Digestive Issues: Constipation and diarrhea are among the most common side effects.
Headache and Dizziness: These are also frequently reported side effects.
Less Common: Nausea, abdominal discomfort, and dry mouth are less commonly reported.
Serious Side Effects (Rare):
Central Nervous System Effects: Confusion, delirium, hallucinations, agitation, and seizures are rare but serious side effects, particularly in older adults or those with kidney problems.
Heart Rhythm Problems: Irregular heartbeat, heart block, palpitations, and prolonged QT interval are rare cardiovascular side effects.
Liver Problems: Liver damage, hepatitis, jaundice, and abnormal liver enzyme levels are potential but uncommon risks.
Severe Allergic Reactions: Hives, rash, itching, swelling (face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs), hoarseness, and difficulty breathing or swallowing are signs of a severe allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention.
Low Blood Counts: Famotidine can rarely cause thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), leukopenia (low white blood cell count), and agranulocytosis (severe deficiency of white blood cells), increasing the risk of bleeding or infection.
Important Warnings and Precautions:
Kidney Disease: People with moderate to severe kidney disease may be at higher risk for central nervous system and heart rhythm problems, as famotidine is primarily eliminated through the kidneys. Dosage adjustments may be necessary.
Older Adults: Older adults may be more susceptible to central nervous system side effects like confusion and hallucinations.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: It's unclear if famotidine is safe during pregnancy. It passes into breast milk, but the effects on a nursing infant are unknown. Consult your doctor before taking famotidine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Allergies: Do not take famotidine if you are allergic to it or similar medications.
Other Medications: Famotidine can interact with certain drugs, including HIV medications, antifungals, and cancer drugs, potentially making them less effective.
Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting famotidine, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions or are taking other medications. They can assess your individual risks and benefits and determine if famotidine is the right choice for you.

GERD can also occur because of too little stomach acid, if your doctor advised you to take these, get a new doctor, Get a good GI workup to determine the cause, see if you have a weak Lower esophageal sphincter, ask about reactivation of viruses, then google specific diagnosis and ask if a specific food affect that to see if it has help you, .there are many food, teas, spices and herbs that relax the LES and can make GERD worse if in fact that is your problem. that kind of pain needs to be evaluated to determine the actual source, "sorry you are in pain

These medications can come with some serious side effects before recommending specific meds, people need to first find out the real cause of the pain and a doctor needs to know what comorbid illness a person may have,

Gerd is the worst stuff !!! You can’t get rid of the after taste, it’s terrible ! The only thing I’ve found is my doctor prescribed me 40mg of Omeprazole in the morning. I have Barrett’s Esophagus. Don’t go to bed on a full stomach or after you eat. I’ve found it often hits after dinner when I straight to bed.

Just a thought! Maybe you could take your PPI before dinner since it is worse after dinner. Ask your doctor first. That's when I take mine.

@biga282 and @waterlilly I have had GERD due to a hiatal hernia too. I have been told the hernia repair causes problems of its own, so I will not go through that. I don’t think my hernia is big enough to warrant surgery anyway, as no doctor has suggested getting it repaired.

What has helped me is: I stop eating and drinking by 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. the latest - since I usually go to bed around midnight. I take one Lansoprazole 30mg. at bedtime only. I used to use bed risers (available at Amazon and any bed and most department stores) to raise the head of my bed a few inches which helped keep the GERD episodes to a minimum. Now I have an adjustable bed, which is even better for me as I can custom raise the head of my bed (added bonus, even the foot of my bed if I ever need to - haven’t used that feature since no need yet but a handy thing to have should I need it)!

I do experience chest pains that feel like a heart attack, usually during the day if I strain my stomach muscles lifting anything heavy or even bending down to do some work. When I get those pains I take sips of water and it settles down. Sometimes I get these pains during the night though not too often, but I keep a bottle of water handy to ease them.

I also wear loose fitting clothes that don’t put pressure on my waist and stomach. I have a big enough belly that pushes against my stomach when I sleep on my side with my legs bent, causing chest pain sometimes, so I have to be mindful to keep them straight when I sleep.

Exactly everything you mentioned did happen to me. Right down to taking paxil for anxiety and ditching coffee for tea. The only difference now is that I stopped taking protonix but I'm still taking pepcid. I have been good for over 2 years but it"s really scary when it happens and it lasts a long time. I felt like I was going to die when it hit me. Good luck

Just wondering if you have had your gallbladder checked for gallstones? I did heavy lifting doing highway maintenance for 20yrs and one day my stomach/abdominal pain got so bad that I could hardly move. I needed my gallbladder out because of gallstones. It felt like a truck hit me sometimes until finally I couldn’t take it anymore. But this wasn’t the cause of my Gerd I don’t believe it was my Barrett’s Esophagus . Best of luck to you!🙏

@biga282 yes, I have had my gallbladder out. In the early 1990s.

Okay 👍 have had an Endoscopy ? Checked for ulcers maybe? Best of luck! 🙏