I am wondering about other people's experience with acid reflux and digestive upsets. I am concerned I am getting more of these symptoms and wondering about the longer term damage it can cause. . I am in touch with my GP and having some treatment and contacting him again to discuss it.
So this is the situation.
I have been getting acid reflux over the last few years. I guess this can happen for multiple reasons.... Medication, RA itself, stress etc. It seems to be more frequent in recent weeks. I spoke to the Dr a week go and he prescribed Gaviscon before bed and the usual advice... Small meals, no food late in the evening, no caffeine. I have other symptoms.. Dry eyes, itchy dry skin in ears, catarrh. Again over recent years these symptoms can vary in amount and go away completely too for long periods. This time around I was prescribed a thrush/anti fungal medicine to see if it helped (started yesterday).
If you get Acid Reflux symptoms does it also make you feel very tired, groggy/foggy head, mentally slow/sleepy? This can happen to me.
I held off my Tocilizimab injection end of last week due to having my Covid booster on Saturday ( 4th vaccination). I haven't had reactions to any Covid Vaccinations but wonder if this time it has just added to the fun in my system at the moment!!
I am going to speak to the GP again to say how I am feeling. In the past I have mentioned digestive issues to Rheumatology, so far in there view it isn't connected to Tocilizimab.
It is tricky because even if it is the meds causing it or part of it I need it to control the RA.
In October 2020 I had a polyp removed from my throat (benign) which is believed to be caused by acid reflux.
My main worry is the future getting frequent acid reflux and what that could lead to. Like everyone feels its enough to deal with Rheumatoid Arthritis let alone the extra add ons as well!!
Any thoughts welcome. Take care all 😊
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Mouseling
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I'm not sure I can provide advice on what may or may not work for you. However, here's my experience which I hope might suggest something else to explore.
I've had various IBS type symptoms for years including pain, digestive upsets, reflux etc., and apart from prescribing omeprazole from time to time, which did help the symptoms, but isn't a long term cure, doctors haven't been much help. The thing that has made a huge difference, is my diet.
I've gone 'cold turkey' on coffee, chocolate and, interestingly porridge. I'm also more or less on a gluten-free diet although I'm not sure how much this helps as I can occasionally eat bread without too much trouble. And, as a result, my IBS symptoms have, bar an occasional resurgence, just about gone. Giving up chocolate and coffee took some willpower, but after a few weeks, the cravings have gone too.
Thank you. Yes changing diet is what I am looking into. All the things you mentioned. Interesting that you mentioned oats. I have muesli every day, I will look at cutting it out too. 😊
I still have porridge every day but switched from goats milk to dairy alternatives and also found I was super sensitive to eggs so cut these out too. This has improved my stomach issues greatly, the original switch was from cows to goat milk which stopped my acid reflux and molten stomach problems. Something to talk to your gp about is which foods have anti inflammatory properties, oats are a up there and a good slow release carb. My gp printed out a list of foods in different groups identifying their properties worth asking for a referral to a dietician. Also keep a food diary to identify what you have eaten on days that are really bad, sometimes it can be a combo or even an individual food type.
I have GERD big time and there was mention of an operation but I’ve left it open for now and trying to deal with it myself.
I take emprazole twice a day ( max dose) gaviscon does nothing for me so I take peptac before bed.
I don’t eat after 4.30 no alcohol no caffeine or tomatoes or spice . I drink caffeine free green tea . I am working on my gut health. I have apple cider vinegar/kombucha/live yougart and a prebiotic.. I have done this for a year and things really have improved and now can have all the things I gave up now and then with no repercussions.
GERD uncontrolled is dangerous and so hard to control it takes time .
Omeprazole every day and don't eat so your tummy is overfull or late at night? That helped me but I have a strong stomach in general. Oh, I always eat when taking naproxen, either at meals or an apple at night. Some people use the memory foam wedge pillow to keep themselves upright when sleeping. Hope it gets better!
I have had GERD and reflux issues in the past from time to time, before I was diagnosed with RA. I was prescribed Omeprazole which helped. After the RA was diagnosed, I was having to take Prednisolone and told to continue to take the Omeprazole as well.When I came off the steroids finally I decided to try to lose some weight by reducing my carbohydrate intake and I stopped taking the Omeprazole too, with my GPs approval. Since then I have not had any acid reflux issues. So it's hard to know why - was it stopping the steroids or reducing starchy carbs? I have a feeling it may have been the latter.
My eating regime is not extreme and I don't feel I need to exclude anything. I just eat a Mediterranean type diet with a low starchy carbohydrate intake and that works for me.
I take one Omeprazole 20mg every morning and it’s kept acid reflux away. I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia many years ago , this has rarely caused me much trouble. Try not to worry too much, because all this sort of trouble is very common make sure you drink plenty of fluids
Hello Mouseling,Like so many of us, you are trying to manage all your health issues. I too have found that multiple medications cause adverse reactions. My gastro specialist prescribed Vonoprozan a few years ago for the reflux I get from both PF and Crohn's Disease. It is, for me, brilliant. I take one in the morning and one in the evening. I have been eliminating food that upsets my gut and stopped alcohol 10 years ago. One of the antibiotics, Rifabutin, caused havoc with violent migraines, shaking and reflux. I no longer take it. My decision. I feel a lot better now. Anyway, talk to your specialist about Vonoprozan. It is a Japanese medication that is only sold through Compound Chemists in Australia. I don't know whether you can get it in the UK. It's worth finding out.
It’s not yet licensed for use in Europe and America but trials are underway. So if shown to be as or more effective than current drugs it should get the green light soon.
I'm finding out that the RA drugs can have some side effects on your digestive system. For two years I was also made to believe I had chrohns. In the end through having the camera down the throat and the other way at least twice, they are telling me it is something could Heliobacter Pylori. I looked on the official NHS website and guess what? This can be caused by taking NSAIDS or medication for RA. Tell that to a gp and the response you get is, "Oh no, I don't think it's the drugs," even when their national website suggests otherwise! Yes Mouseling, at the moment I've got dry eyes, catarrh and stomach issues. I take Metho tabs 15mg a week, and sulphazalazine. We are going through a stressful time at the moment which isn't helping. I would suggest getting in touch with your gp and asking to be referred to gastroenterology. You might still have to push to get answers though.
thank you yes unfortunately the medications can help one thing and cause other issues. I am getting lots of information and my GP seems to be covering everything at the moment.
I have really bad acid reflux at least twice a week that can stop me from being able to sleep, which began during the last couple of years and I’ve been taking RA medication for 3 years - coincidence ?? I don’t think it is a coincidence although my GP disagrees, but regardless I don’t want to jeopardize my RA having found a treatment regime that works so well for me. As a result I have tried various approaches to managing my acid reflux problem and have found that apple cider vinegar (with the “Mutha”) works well .. supplemented with occasional gaviscon. I have a teaspoon of vinegar a day in a glass of water and it seems to help.
I’ve been on Omeprazole or Lansoprazole for years due to the meds I take. For a long time I felt it controlled the gerd. However twice I’ve lost my voice for 8-9 weeks, and had to see ENT who said that I had silent reflux which had damaged my vocal cords. Voice would eventually return and no change to meds were suggested. Then just over a year ago I noticed I was getting short of breath, and asthma meds weren’t helping. Gp ordered a HRCT scan, which showed pulmonary fibrosis. I was referred urgently to respiratory and was told for 7 months i had PF with a life expectancy of 2-5yrs. Had just got my head round this over 7 months, when respiratory specialist phoned to say it wasn’t PF but damage to my lungs caused by aspirating stomach acid. I have fused ribs with no chest expansion, which she explained meant my diaphragm was weak from not being exercised. This has resulted in a small hiatus hernia, and exacerbated the GERD symptoms. I also have numerous areas of collapsed lung due to it not expanding properly. She called it micro aspiration, and said it needs treating aggressively or risks developing into PF. Initially she prescribed Esomeprazole which my GP wasn’t happy to continue as it interacts with my clopidogrel and increased my risk of further strokes. So I was changed back to lansoprazole while we waited to hear from respiratory. For some reason returning to lansoprazole worsened my symptoms and I lost my voice again, it’s now 8 weeks and it’s only just starting to return. It took 5 weeks before they agreed to switch to pantoprazole, which seems to be better. I also have to take Gaviscon advance, which she said was essential and not the double action one. It is much thicker and leaves a thick coat over the top of stomach contents, and definitely seems to be helping. Sorry for the length of my response, I just wanted to highlight the importance of addressing the issue. Many think on it’s only a bit of acid, no issue really. If only that were true. I also have an electric bed and sleep on a slight incline. Hope you get it under control 🤗
Hi I am so sorry that you have been through so much. I am glad you have now got somewhere with treatment. Yes I am totally aware of the dangers of acid reflux disease. I am doing a lot of research and my GP is doing various things. I have spoken to the UK Sjorgens Society and have the name of a Rheumatologist specialist I can be referred to. Thank you for your advice
Like others have mentioned, I found changing my diet the best thing. I have LPR/Silent Reflux alongside RA. Omeprazole didn't work for me, although it's meant to help with GERD type reflux - but cutting out things like caffeine, alcohol, onion garlic, chili and peppers, carbonated drinks, and any acidic foods/liquids did. I also now sleep with my bed elevated six inches at the pillow end. Before that I was getting a burnt throat, larynx damage, breathlessness, ear pain, and crackling in my chest. Now most of that is gone.
Hi Mouseling, yes this seems quite a common problem, I think mostly due to our meds!! I like many here have cut out carbs & gluten, I’m following more keto now, though not as strict as I’d like!! I take 2tbs of raw apple cider vinegar in a glass of water every morning with half a fresh lemon juice, this has helped me & I know longer have that problem. I cut out oats completely (but that could just be me!) being doing this for 3 yrs now.
I also practice intermittent fasting which I also find extremely beneficial., do a little research & see if you think it’s worth a try. All the best, I hope you find something that works for you ..
Thank you when I was first diagnosed with RA I followed a diet from Margaret Hills which included cider vinegar. Yes I am definitely looking at diet. Glad things are working for you. 😊
Yes me too!! I’ve never stopped the ACV, I’m going on her granddaughters retreat, Julia Davis in Kenilworth to hopefully absorb more genuine advice to support my journey..,
I recently was diagnosed with Gerd after a long long period of literally throwing up with no control ! I now have lamprosole which helps but … I try to limit tomato intake and coffee as this seems to make it worse but everyone is different
If I don’t take the meds for this I am a mess but mine has been a gradual worsening over a long period of time
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