Dying from reflux - it's killing me!

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neveragain444

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My doctor took me off a medication called Mobic (anti-inflammatory) after he found out I have an ulcer (god help me for even telling it) but I got really upset because the medication was helping me function, and it wasn't hurting my stomach, problems were there beforehand, so later that night the ulcer pain really kicked it, wasn't all that bad previously. I had just had an endoscopy like days before. The abdominal pain since has not stopped. Constantly hurting, nauseated, at one point, couldn't eat anything, vomitting. And now the burning through my esophagus is just horrific. I'm been taking Zegerid since June 2, does it take time for these medications to kick in or is it just me. I'm so much worse, darn that reflux pill. I also have what feels like a pretty warm temperature. How in the world would gerd cause a fever? I guess part of this is my own fault, using Ibuprofen and aspirin but only when I absolutely have to.
 
SteroiRAB wold not be used to treat GERD. SteroiRAB usually make GERD even worse, it sure did for me. Greg
 
I literally had acid reflux become life threatening for me a couple years ago. It was aggrevating my asthma to the point that I needed emergency help. Finding a good treatment balance is really difficult some times.

I'm currently taking Kapidex which has been renamed Dexilant. There is a manufacturer coupon available. I think it is for up to $50 off. I have been paying $5 per prescription. I think the coupon is good through Deceraber. I know PPI's aren't the solution for everyone though.

It seems like a lot of conditions that are seemingly unrelated really do have connection. Of the conditions you have, I also have Myofacial Pain Syndrome, GERD and IBS. I also have Cervicalgia, TMJ, Allergies, Asthma, sinus problems, hearing loss and Hypertension. I've also found out over the last couple years that I have hyperflexibility syndrome which has resulted in new joint problems which right now are affecting my shoulders, hips and TMJ. I think I'm borderline with the fibromyalgia symptoms. I know I have lots of trigger points that I react to. Seems that often when one things flares, it sets off another. I actually developed the IBS after a GERD flare and taking one of the PPI's for a couple days. I had symtoms immediately and they never went away.

Of the reflux testing, here is what helped me figure out what was going on with my symptoms. I've had these tests all done twice, a couple years apart.
-24 hr pH test: They put the tube down my nose to just above my LES for 24 hours. It was connected to a computer I had to wear.
-Manometry: This was done before both pH tests. They can locate your LES to know where to put the pH tube. It also measured how well the LES was functioning.
-Endoscopy: they took a look at my Esophagus and stomach.
-Modified Barium Swallow and Esophagram: They were able to see if I was refluxing and how. They also looked for any potential swallowing problems that may be impacting the reflux. In my case, they confirmed the acid was irritating my lungs.
 
I don't know how long this has been going on but I did have a short term bout with dyspepsia is what the dr. told me. Basically I had way too much acid in my stomach. In order to get it back in control he had me take A LOT of maalox. Everytime my stomach felt upset again I would just take a swig lol I even carried it around with me. This is obviously a short term solution since taking maalox that much isn't good for you but for really bad flare ups its an option.

Once again, I don't know how long you have been dealing with this or how fed up you are with it but there is a surgery for GERD. It's called a vagotomy. It's kind of hard to explain on here but you could always look it up.
 
Surgery is a rough thing to have to go through, don't think I'd want to unless it was just a last option. I've had gerd 8 yrs. I can usually tolerate the problems, just some times they flare out of control.
 
That is what I switched to, Kapidex. I am doing much better now. That and aciphex have been the only 2 reflux pills that have phased me. I have had repeated endoscopy's, severe inflammation, gastritis, hiatal hernia, ulcer, barrett's, acid reflux. But I haven't had the PH study.

I have TMJ too. Isn't nothing much comparable to that jaw pain except when the headache kicks in. OMG ey..

Well I'm glad your doing better now. With the pain, have you tried physical therapy. It can be just heaven when your hurting.
 
I have one probably silly question here, will a gastro treat your GERD with short-term steriod treatment if it is bad enough? I plan to ask, but I bet she'll say no.
 
Sorry to hear you are going through all that pain and discomfort. Your doctor took you off the anti-inflamatory because those drugs are notoriously bad for the stomach. You may have had the ulcer anyway, but were not going to heal while taking an anti-inflammatory medication. He/she did the right thing.

I don't think the doctor will treat reflux with steroiRAB. In fact, a steroid might make the stomach issues worse.

If you read through these posts you may find some natural remedies that may help soothe your irritated GI system. Hope you feel better soon.

Rose
 
Well I switched my reflux pills last night and am already better. That one wasn't worth a quarter! The other causes abdominal pain, only reason I quit taking it, but it's wonderful for clearing up reflux (Kapidex), so I guess I'll talk to my gastro and see if it's alright to stay on it instead, unless it causes side effects again. If it does, they can always put me back on Aciphex, it always kills this dead on, problem is I can't get a prescription for it, and I don't always feel able to go pick up samples. I thought I was getting sick last night with that fever and sore throat but I guess the gerd attacked my throat pretty bad, it was red, but it doesn't hurt much now. And I have no obvious cold symptoms.
 
I don't think one problem should be ignored to help another problem. Yes he did the right thing in his mind, but he could have replaced the medication I was taking with something else, instead I end up having a nervous breakdown, and don't think I didn't make myself clear, prior to that, that I can't deal with this muscle pain and fatigue anymore. Besides what if my problems are autoimmune and that could be attacking my GI tract, since the ulcer pain & esophageal problems got extremely worse after I stopped taking that medication, hard for me to believe it was the right thing taking me off of it, if I do have an autoimmune disease, it could make my inflammatory problems worse not treating it, and since when is abdominal pain, vomitting, nausea, the inability to eat, and severe GI burning good for ya. That's what I thought, lol. I see his point, and then again, I still think that decision to do that was the wrong one. He did agree to give me pain medication after I called there and told them how hard of a time I was having but the stuff he wants to give me, will be no different than taking two tylenol. That kind of medication (narcotic type or accetamophin) can temporarily relieve my pain, but it does nothing for my fatigue, neither helps me from feeling like I'm not dying.
 
It's the menthol in my cigarrettes hurting me, couldn't quit for too long, but I did long enough to see it's making my esophagus hurt.
 
I just read that low b-12 can be due to lack of stomach acid. I've taken betaine HCL (puts acid in your tummy) and it healed my barrett's esophagus back in 2008. I used it for this ulcer pain and was able to start eating again, after a couple of days though, things got worse, and I went back to my reflux pills. GERD can be caused by lack of stomach acid or too much, either one. Think taking reflux pills might actually not be the answer here, I'm asking my doc for the reflux test, if they ever call back, been waiting for days. Maybe they are sick of my complaining LOL.. She says she's never heard of lack of stomach acid causing problems though, but I have read about it online.
 
I'm not taking aciphex now but that's the one I always liked. And no, I can't drink liquid vitamin, but thank you. Puke started coming up earlier when I was trying to have a b/m, and think I had been holding the b/m for awhile, doesn't want to come out where I have a retrocele, and I've had trouble urinating, think it blocks my bladder when I need to have a b/m and can't. Well I had to go back to the bathroom again because it didn't all come out, and then puke violently 6 more times. Last night all I did was pea myself to death. I don't know why a retrocele would affect my bladder, but it does. My gyn wouldn't fix it after saying twice he would. Think he might reconsider or should I avoid going to a doc that doesn't do anything but lie and find another one.
 
Well went to a gyn today, the story goes my surgical papers were never sent up to surgical center, lost in transit, twice I guess. Doc told me out of his own mouth he didn't want to fix it the 1st time because of my age. But they promised I'd get my retrocele fixed in a week or two. What a day, doc sticks her fingers in my butt to un-impact me. Haha can't help but laugh over that one. That's what I get for complaining I guess.

The betaine definetly is not helping me. I am going back to my gastro, well stopping by tomorrow and begging (on my hanRAB and knees) for my aciphex back.
 
My doctor has never brought up the consideration of even doing surgery and I think I have been going to her for 8 years now.
 
If the Zantac works, then I would suggest staying on that rather than going back on a PPI. I don't think any of these meRAB are meant for long term use but Zantac and H2 blockers in general have fewer side effects and have been used longer than the PPI's. The PPI's are more effective acid suppressors but they can also cause side effects such as hip fractures with long term use.

Rose
 
I am on Protonix for my reflux...and it is the only one that works for me, and I have tried EVERYTHING!! I swear by it!!
 
Protonix caused me to get acne really bad. Aciphex is my fav. No side effects and it kicks butt fast.
 
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