GERD Nexium CKD A relationship Insights

[gleongelpi]

Along with CKD I have an advanced form of GERD (Barrett's Esophagus). I have been on Nexium for about for years, but before then, on-and-off, I have taken other medication like Prilosec. Also a few years back one quack-doctor put in aspirin for a heart condition that I did not have. In about a year I developed an allergy to aspirin. My feeling is that the Nexium is partly to blame. I took myself off it and started feeling better after about two weeks. But then the GERD symptoms started coming back, so I went back on Nexium less than a week ago. Now, the CKD symptoms are coming back. Any insights?

[jaykay777]

As a layperson, I can't offer any insights into your condition, but have a question. Is the doctor treating you a gastroenterologist? I hope so. I know only that Barrett's Esophagus is a serious disease. As long as I trust a doctor I don't change their prescribed regime. If I lose trust in a doctor, I change doctors.

[Sunsetter]

Hi Glenogelphi, Nexium is same as Omerprazole - it reduces acid in the stomach but is not recommended for people with kidney problems and I took myself off them as soon as I found out that this is probably one of the main reasons my eGFR dropped from 60 to 30 in a month - please get advice and guidance from your nephrologist or GP - you need to push things yourself, the health service is good but not co-ordinated in the UK. All the best and take care.

[gleongelpi in reply to Sunsetter]

I have been taking Nexium, Prilosec and other remedies for many years. I am well aware of the dangers of all these medications. I suspect that they have something to do with my CKD, not yet officially confirmed as it goes above sixty now and then, keeping me off the radar, so to speak. I'd like to ask you a couple of questions. How long since you've been off GERD drugs and how is that condition going? Has your eGFR improved?

[Sunsetter in reply to gleongelpi]

Hi Gleongelpi - was taking them about a year, but when I found out I had CKD in Jan 17 I looked at the NHS web site and found that Omerprazole is short term and not good so I stopped immediately. By then my eGFR had dropped from around 58 in Sep 16 to around 46 at end of Jan 17 - despite that my eGFR kept dropping to a low of 28 at the end of Feb 17. The nephrologist thinks Omerprazole and use of Ibuleve gel off and on was to blame, but also suspects a chest infection may be involved as I had this during Feb but I await result of chest x-ray and further tests. Good news is that my eGFR is slowly creeping up, so today was 38, which I think is a result and the cumulative effects of stop taking drugs which cause inflammation and stopped taking vitamins and mineral supplements; eating white meat and fish occasional red meat, no alcohol, reduced tea consumption and trying to stay calm and confident I can get myself healthy again.. lots of positive thinking! Take care

[gleongelpi in reply to Sunsetter]

I thank you very much. This is a great post. Best of luck to you. I just stopped taking Nexium again. I need to figure out how to stop the discomforts associated with GERD from coming back. I am increasing my consumption of grapes, muscadines, berries and watermelon.

[Zazzel]

I had a lot of Gerd problems and was on Prilosec and others. I found out that food intolerances were the main cause of mine. I also have CKD. Since cleaning up my eating- lower protein and lower salt, more veggies and less processed foods and staying away from my intolerant foods, I rarely have gerd problems. I took the "ALCAT" test to discover my intolerances.

[gleongelpi in reply to Zazzel]

I can certainly tell the effects of certain foods on my body, but my problem has to do with having a hiatal hernia. What is the ALCAT test anyway? I have a really good diet. No bad habits at all. But having to eat with both advanced GERD and CKD at the same time can be rather trying from the standpoint of food. More than 90% of what I eat comes the produce department of local supermarkets, mostly from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's if not from my garden.

[Zazzel in reply to gleongelpi]

Ah, yes, Hiatal hernia can certainly cause that. The ALCAT test is a food intolerance test. They test you against 200 some foods. It is not an allergy test and won't show allergies, but rather food intolerances which don't show up immediately after you eat them. Most people have at least a few foods that they are intolerant too especially as we get older. Many of them we can eat in small doses, but if you try to eat them several days in a row, you will see symptoms. It is a controversial test- many people think it's a scam, but it has worked for me and since I've been restricting those foods, I've felt a lot better. My doctors believe my IGA Nephropathy is either caused or at least made much worse due to my many food intolerances because they cause inflamation in the body which aggrevates the kidneys. As I'm highly intolerant to lemon and carrots, moderately to soy and dairy and I'm gluten free, I too find it difficult at times when trying to eat out. A salad is always my safest choice sans carrots and dressing.

[gleongelpi in reply to Zazzel]

Except for a very rare occasion, I don't eat out anymore.