Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

Thanks for your response. Had a screening upper GI with colonoscopy August 2022, all was normal, had one last week, said all looked okay but waiting for biopsy results.,,no hiatal hernia, no problems until I had the surgery, none at all. Coleystectomy was for a suspicious polyp found in gallbladder ultrasound. Now I am miserable. Cannot sleep at night due to pain, eating causes pain. Pain has become a constant companion. I am desperate so going to try acupuncture.

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.

This may or may not help you in any way, but about 6yrs ago +/- there was an article released that said when PPI's first came out, they were not intended to be used on a long term basis, but because of how helpful they were to GERD sufferers, and apparently few side effects, doctors kept their patients on them indefinitely. I like many others was in that group. But then it was written that there actually were some definitely unwanted side effects. PPI's send a signal from your brain to your gut to "cut the acid", And I guess after years of this, its hard to go back to normal. I decided on my own to stop my PPI. ( I am a retired RN) I was so ill that I could not even eat, and lost 20#. My GI doc convinced me to get back on it , which I did. You have to weigh the pros and cons. Thing were going well, and then out of nowhere-LPR

With LPR I cough frequently, I have regergitation of thick mucous, my voice has changed, and I can barely sing in church, and I no longer want to spend the night at anyones home, as I often wake up during the night gagging on mucous and going into coughing fits. GERD was a walk in the park compared to this. I have one more GI scan coming up Fri. and then I am done. GI keeps doing more and more tests, but nobody has an answer to make it go away.Anyway, I wish you all the best on this difficult road.

I took Prilosec for many, many years and you can't take it for more then 5 yrs without a break. I had got a new doctor and wanted me off cold turkey, I did, it was tough and started chewing spearmint gum which actually helped👍, to this day each time my Gerd acts up I chew gum and that's the only thing I do...

Thanks everyone for sharing your story, we are all in this together and surely need the support of each other.
I drank some celery juice this morning and it seemed to have helped, will try the gum. I intend to try to wean off the omeprazole in a couple weeks. Don’t have a diagnosis of LPR yet, but I have suspicions…
Hope and pray for healing and guidance for everyone here. Please continue to share your struggles and what helps.

Began having heartburn symptoms roughly 18 months ago & was popping Tums for immediate relief, but certainly not long-lasting relief. My Gastro put me on Famotidine which didn't work, even when he doubled the dose. My family doc prescribed Omeprazole which has worked very well. I've been on it for 3-4 months and rarely use an antacid like Tums.

I am glad it is working for you. I am on it but still have breakthroughs. My Gi said I need to be on it for Two months then wean off.

Sharing:
I found a website called Reflux Doc LPR on u tube. Make a solution of alkaline water and baking soda and spray into throat at you inhale. Check it out on utube, I did this yesterday and for me seemed to help heartburn and sore irritated throat. Also juicing celery 4 stalks and drinking first thing in the morning. Day 2 of this and I think a little better. May not be a silver bullet, but something.

Thanks