Acid reflux and stopping estrogen

A

annie42

New member
I stopped taking estrogen and the hot flashes started. Next came the acid reflux and very painful stomach which finally sent me to the GI doc. He did an ab ultasound, all well there and then a gastroscope. He found stomach ulcers and inflammation and also a small hiatel hernia. My esophagus and throat is irritated also. I took Zegerid for a couple of weeks then switched to Nexium. I get some good days but then the bad ones always come back. I usually watch my diet.

I read where hormones can cause acid reflux problems. I'm wondering if this might be part of my problem especially since the pain started after stopping the estrogen.

Any reply would be greatly appreciated.

Annie
 
Hi Annie:

I have never been on hormone replacement therapy, but you bring up a very interesting point. My acid reflux did not start until I was fifty two and had started going through menoupause. I am now fifty five and still having perioRAB every three-four months. My heartburn and reflux have never gone away. I used to take Aciphex (a PPI). I switched to an H2 blocker (Zantac) in January 2010 for reasons I describe below.

I don't know how long you have been taking the PPI's now, but it may take several months of treatment to experience healing and relief, since you have an ulcer and the doctor found irritation when he/she conducted the gastroscope/endoscopy.

With respect to the PPI use, I am not sure how old you are since people of all ages can be on hormone replacement. I took Aciphex (a PPI) for nearly three years, and this past January found out that it had led to advanced osteopenia on both of my hips due to calcium malabsorption (I had a perfectly normal Dexa scan the same year I began PPI use because my doctor wanted to have a baseline bone scan at the onset of menopause). This is not to say you should not take your PPI if you need it, but please be aware of the side effects (calcium malabsorption due to acid suppression) and make sure you are taking a good calcium supplement with vitamin D3 at the recommended dosages (1200 mg of calcium citrate along with 1000 mg of vitamin D3 daily split in two separate doses). I did not read up on any of this and my doctor neglected to tell me, so I am now having to deal with the risk of osteoporosis and a hip fracture down the line.

I am hoping that does not happen to others here if they have this information early enough to make necessary changes and up their calcium intake.

Rose
 
Rose, Your reply is very much appreciated.

I'm 67 and was on HRT for 28 years. I stopped it in Feb this year. All hel* broke loose in my stomach right after. I had no idea how intense hot flashes were! I was on HRT as soon as my hysterectomy was performed so I never experienced any side effects. I would love to know if stopping HRT affects the stomach.

I'm taking the 1500 mg calcium citrate and 1000 mg D-3. I do have mild osteopenia.

I'm sorry to hear you weren't informed about the side effects. Do/did you have ulcers? Thank God for the Internet and HealtrabroadoarRAB.

I was on 40 mg Zegerid for 2 weeks and switched to 40 mg Nexium for a few days then got back on Zegerid. I thought the Zegerid wasn't working but then I had the same results from the Nexium, so...back to Zegerid.

I was scoped February 28 of this year so I haven't been on PPIs very long. I plan on calling my doctor this week as it's been 9 weeks since I started the PPI. I am not scheduled to see him until July 2 as he wants to scope me again, mostly to see how the esophagus dilation, (6 weeks ago) is doing. I'm sure he'll go into the stomach also.

I thought I had bad allergies but actually it was the acid causing the nasal and throat congestion. Strange that I never had heartburn. I did have terrible nausea.

I hope I'm healed enough to stop PPIs and start on H2 blocker.

Thank you so much for replying.

Blessings, Annie
 
You do bring up very interesting point. My hell began overnight after i weaned off of anxiety drugs (that mess with your hormones)...i am now seeing a naturopathic dr that says my hormones are seriously out of balance, much more so that what he typically sees in a 28 year old and i have severe GI problems with throat erosions etc...all from this past year. I unforuanately am one of those that ppi's have made worse, hence why i've sought out alternative health care (i'm seeing some changes good and bad which they said is normal for the first month of treatment). I still cannot stomach the herbs b/c i cannot stomach anything yet so they are doing jade treatments on me and diet until they build up my system enough.

Anyways, just wanted to comment that i feel like i am proof when your hormones are out of balance your GI system can lose its mind. Like my naturopath said, when one wheel of the GI ssytem goes off, no matter how small, then it can ALL get off balance, which is whats happened to me, gerd, gallbladder, gastritis, ibs...all in one year...w.o.w.

Best wishes to your health and healing.
 
Thank you for replying Marigold. You are very young to be going through these problems. I hope you are able to get relief from the naturpath.

May I ask how the PPIs made your condition worse? This is fairly new to me and I'm trying to learn from people who have experience taking them and not just off medical websites.

I read Rosebloom's thread regarding PPIs and found it very interesting that so many doctor's don't tell us the side effects, some potentially very dangerous.

I hope you are able to stay off of anxiety pills as they are so addictive. I weaned myself off over a year ago and just pray... a lot!

Blessings,
Annie
 
Yeah, this is ROUGH territory i am in. I became much iller on the ppi's. I now have frequent episodes of burning stomach, acid reflux (i did not have these feelings before getting on this last summer). I have erosions in my throat, possible stomach ulcers now, gallbladder problems (which started after i began taking a higher prilosec dose but didn't realize it at time) and ibs. I have lost 30 lbs and am quite underweight now. The list goes on. Some people do fine on these, i obviously do not hence why i am having a naturopath guide me off this ppi. best of luck.
 
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