Nexium Side Effects

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lala52

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Hi All:
I just started nexium 2 weeks ago. I did not experience any side effects until yesterday. I had diarrhea and today stomach pain. I don't know if it is from the nexium or just coincidental, since i do have ibs. But i generally don't have diarrhea. I do have it once in a while though, so i am not sure. Does it take two weeks before you have side effects? I would love to know others peoples experiences with this. Thanks. LaLa
 
I still have the residual digestive issues, but my acid related breathing issues were better from the moment I woke from surgery. I still have asthma problems, but they are now more environmentally and allergy triggered.

There are several surgical approaches to reflux. They are definitely not a first option, but for some of us who have severe reflux, it becomes an option worth considering. The surgery I had is called a Nissen Fundoplication. They did it laproscopically in my case. They went in and wrapped the upper part of my stomach (fundus) around my esophagus and stitched it into place. Now, every time my stomach contracts, it contracts around the esophagus. Basically, my stomach is acting in place of my LES that wasn't functioning properly. It only has about a 85% success rate in the short term. I'm not sure what the long term success rate is. There is a higher success rate for people with breathing problems related to the reflux. Ironically, the surgery has also appeared to reduce my nuraber of sinus infections and lowered my blood pressure.

I'm a bit unusual in that my GI doc kept me on 60mg Dexilant even after the surgery. Most people who have the surgery are able to go off the PPI's, at least for a while.

I'm sorry to hear about all your other issues. I have other issues I'm dealing with, but they aren't as severe as yours. It seems that many things that are seemingly unrelated often end up interconnected. In addition to allergies, asthma, reflux and IBS, I had ear pain/stuffiness, shoulder pain (and surgery), back and neck pain. After about 1 1/2 years, I now know I have TMJ (from grinding and possibly from intubation during surgery) that having my jaw joint out of wack has thrown my neck/back/hip alignment off. I've also found out my joints hypermobile as well. My TMJ specialist has highly recommended that I seek naturopathic solutions because my entire body is inflammed.
 
Mountainreader:
You have really had your fair share of problems. I sometimes wonder if some of my problems are from TMJ also. My initial onset of a virus and body aches and fatigue and all that stuff are not, but a year a half ago i had dental work and i think thats when the tingling in my head started and the neck pain and the balance issues. don't grind my teeth but i think i clench. There is a tmj specialist i heard of around here but i am not covered for him and it is very expensive. I don't know about staying on this nexium either. I think i had a little nightmare last night and i think it is bothering my stomach a little. I heard one of the side effects is nightmares and stomach issues.When you say your entire body is inflammed - How do you know that or how does your tmj specialist know that? I also have spine and neck and hip pain sometimes. I am only 52 yrs old and this whole thing is also making me depressed and really ruining my life. Gotta go for now I am going for my upper gi this morning. I have to get out of bed and get ready. Talk later. LaLa
 
At one time or another, I've been on all of the PPI's on the market. Nexium was the only one I had problems with side effects with. Within a day, I had diarrhea. It continued and got worse. I was going frequently and had stomach pain as well. I called my GI doc and he said it would get better and to stay on it for a month to see if it would help with the reflux. At about 2 weeks, I stopped taking the Nexium. The diarrhea was horrible. My GI doc swears it wasn't the Nexium though. I know better. Nothing else changed at the time this was happening. Unfortunately, the diarrhea continued even after I discontinued the Nexium. They did tons of tests on me and finally classified it as IBS. A catch-all for they don't know what caused the diarrhea. I'm 2 years out from taking the Nexium and don't have diarrhea constantly, but still have bad days. I now have alterating IBS. Ironic because before all this, my family used to tease me because I went like clockwork a couple times a day.

From experience, I'd say be careful taking it if the side effects continue for you. You may also want to talk to your doctor.

I did find out from another PCP later that my GI doc had a connection with Nexium as a proponent of the drug. Something my GI doc didn't tell me. Although in his benefit, it wasn't the first PPI I was on while under his treatment.
 
Mountainreader:
Thanks for your quick reply. What do you take now for acid reflux? I am still suffering with bad indigestion. It gives me chest pain and back pain and also i am having intermittent breathing problems. I can't catch a cleansing breath. I don't know if this is related, but i have been to the cardiologist and the pulmonologist and they don't think anything is wrong there. Tomorrow i am going for an upper gi series. I do know that i have been diagnosed before with a hiatal hernia. As i told you, also IBS. But i have been going to natural drs and i have been diagnosed by them as having candidia (yeast overgrowth) of the intestines. The thing is the regular drs don't believe in that. I am stuck between two different philosophies. Hope to hear from you soon. LaLa
 
mountainreader:
One more thing, my gastro dr does not think my breathing issue is related to the indigestion problem. They both started at the same time so I think he is wrong. you had breathing problems do to acid reflux and i think i have read other peoples posts saying they have. What is your opinion on that!!!
 
Hope your endoscopy went well.

It took having my Pulmonologist refer me back to my GI doc for my GI doc to do further testing. I'd been in 2 years earlier and had a Upper Endoscopy, Manometry and 24 hr pH. I had all of them repeated and showed I'd gone from having bad reflux to having extremely severe reflux. The Pulmonologist also ordered the Modified Barium Swallow/Esophagram which actually showed the acid coming up and irritating my lungs. If you truly think this is a factor, I'd keep pushing until you get a solid answer.

Also, some people with reflux can have problems with anxiety as well. That can present with breathing difficulty as a symptom as well.

My TMJ dentist works with holistic doctors as well. He feels my whole body is inflammed because I have so many different disorders that relate back to inflammation as a symptom. I've been reading up on anti-inflammation diets, but haven't given it a try yet. It should theoretically help with the reflux and joint problems I've had. Treatment for TMJ is all out of pocket for me as well so I'm going really slow since I can't afford to go full force.

BTW, I'm in my late 30's. I was officially diagnosed with reflux 8 years ago. About 3 years ago, I started in with the joint problems and severe asthma problems.
 
mountainreader
i appreciate the info very much. i definitely think the inflammation diet is needed. they say inflammation in the body is a big contributing factor to disease. i had a bit of a catastrophe this morning and did not make it to my appointment for the upper gi, which btw was the barium and esophagram. i fell outside my house when i was leaving for the test. i had to go to the emergency room because i hurt my arm and could not move it. i am in very bad pain and cannot use my right arm. i am, of course, a righty. i am typing with only my left hand. i am on naproxin for inflammation and oxycodone for the pain and i am still in pain and cant do anything with that arm. and also i was scared to take all these meRAB. they all have side effects. forget the nexium right now. i was crying all morning. what else is going to go wrong next. the arm is not broken. it might as well be because i cant use it anyway. i have an appointment with an orthopedist on wednesday. they will probably want me to get an mri. i dont know how i am going to take a shower, get dressed, put my makeup on and style my hair. i dont even know how i am going to sleep. i had a night out planned with frienRAB tomorrow night that are visiting from fla. i have not seen them in 6 years. we were getting together with another couple that are mutual frienRAB that live near me. i am very vain and style concious. i want to look nice. so anyway, i am going to have to put my test on hold for now. i cant handle that until i recover at least a little from this tragedy. last year i broke my tailbone. that was also really bad. but at least i was able to use my arms and i was able to sleep. i will talk to you tomorrow. it getting tiresome typing with only one hand. hope you are ok and thanks for listening. lala
 
I found that prescription Prevacid in the Solutab version worked best, but after some years on it, it stopped working fully. I'm now taking Dexilant.

My symptoms of reflux were primarily a chronic cough and trouble breathing. My Pulmonologist had me do a Modified Barium Swallow/ Esophagram. They showed I had acid coming up and irritating my lungs. As a result my lungs were constantly irritated and it was flaring my asthma. He sent me back to my GI doc for further evaluation. The GI doc re-did tests I'd had a couple years before. They showed my reflux had gotten much worse despite lifestyle changes, diet changes and meRAB. I'd also developed a hiatal hernia, most likely from all the coughing I'd done.

I was able to keep my reflux under control for years, but eventually my breathing problems became critical so I ended up having reflux surgery.

I'd love to see an ND, but it's not covered by insurance and I can't afford that right now. It is a good approach though.
 
Mountainreader:
I never heard of anyone having surgery for acid reflux. Do you mean you had surgery for the hiatal hernia? I can't stand this breathing issue. I don't have asthma though. I know what you mean about the nd's. I am not covered for them either and have spent a ton of money because i have lots of other issues. I can't get into it all now but the jist of it is that 4 1/2 yrs ago a got some kind of a virus and have been sick ever since. Symtpoms range from stomach issues, to joint pain, to tingling on top of head, neck and lower back pain, balance issues, you name it i have it. I have gone to millions of drs with no answers. Even the natural ones. They put me on tons of supplements spend tons of dollars and am getting nowhere. The breathing issue is the newest issue with the extreme indigestion. So i guess since you has the surgery you are better now? Talk soon.LaLa p.s. my brother lives in salt lake city. I noticed you are from Utah.
 
Hang in there lala. You'll make it through. You might want to make sure you have enough food in your stomach when you take some of those meRAB. They tend to make me really nauseaus.

My shoulder was messed up a couple years ago. I couldn't lift it up or reach behind my back at all. Ended up having surgery on it. You really don't know how often you use your arm until you can't. Best advice I can give you is to be careful and be creative to make things work for you. I also found that crushed ice in a baggie was the best thing to help with swelling. By crushing the ice in my blender, it allowed the bag to wrap well around my shoulder.

As for your dinner, I know your frienRAB will just be happy seeing you. If you are need of help getting yourself done up, maybe you can go to a salon for hair and make-up help. It sounRAB like a special event.

Keep us posted on how you are doing. Both with your arm and your reflux.

My thoughts are with you,
MountainReader
 
mountainreader:
I don't know what happened, but your reply did not come through my e-mail like it usually does. I went to the acid reflux board and went to our first post and the last page, and there was your response. I was wondering why i did not hear from you. Anyway, here I am. My arm is,thank goodness, getting better. I was actually able to get myself ready to go out last night. But it was not a good night. It was good to see my frienRAB, but i was so nauseaus. I don't think it was from the meRAB because i did not take the naproxin yesterday and only took one pain killer at 12:00. I thought by taking that it would help me in getting ready to take a shower, etc. by around 3:00. It did help but i was sick feeling all night. This just happened on Mon. I took very few doses of meRAB anyway. I wonder if the nauseus feeling is anything to do with stopping the nexium. I could not handle all the meRAB. I decided not to take the nexium monday and tues. By tues afternoon that is when the extreme nauseausness started. I can't take it anymore. If it is not one thing it is another without any diagnosis. I can't even enjoy a night out without feeling sick or pain somewhere. I feel very depressed. I was never like this before. It all went down hill about a year after I got divorced. I have the black cloud. Thanks for your advice. How are you doing? Do you work? Do you have a family? Oh, that reminRAB me, my son is leaving to go back to college on Friday. That is bringing me down a little bit also. I like the freedom when he is not here, but i also enjoy when he is home. I always adjust when he leaves but it takes a couple of days. I do have a great boyfriend. We are supposed to be getting engaged and married soon, but i have to tell you, all my health issues has taken a little toll on the relationship. I was healthy and happy when i met him and with all my issues, i am no longer the same person. We are still going ahead with out plans, but it is more strained do to illness. I am sorry for being so doom and gloom, i hate being this way, but it is what it is right now. Talk soon. LaLa
 
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