Livid red bruises on arms, poss. side effect

[acornlady]

Hi everyone

I started taking 20mg Omeprazole daily in March 2015, shortly before being diagnosed with cancer at the junction of stomach and oesophagus. I had chemo before and after my Ivor Lewis surgery which took place 18 October 2015. I have made a good recovery after having most of the problems associated with this surgery.I also suffer with C.O.P.D and have used steroid inhalers (Symbicort) for many years

I was diagnosed with D.V.T in August 2015, which caused pulmonary embolisms in both lungs, treated by daily anticoagulation injections followed by daily tablets. During the time I was taking anticoagulation drugs I started getting small livid red bruises on my arms after the slightest bump which I put down to the anticoagulant. However I stopped the anticoagulants in June 2016 but have continued to get the livid red bruises on my arms which take about 2 weeks to fade. It would appear that purpera are a side effect of both Omeprazole and Lansoprazole. I wonder if anyone else on Omeprazole has experienced the same side effects. I also take 150mg Rinitidine before bed but this is a relatively new addition.

G.P.s have suggested the cause was long term use of steroids and I have had many blood tests but nothing untoward was found. If it was thinning of the skin through this why would it only effect my arms?

Also I understand that there is a P.P.I. called Pantoprazole does anyone use this P.P.I. and how do you find it. It seems that the majority of folks on this site use either Omeprazole or Lansoprazole is there a reason for clinicians choosing them over the other P.P.I,s available?

I would like to say how supportive I found this site after my Ivor Lewis, it eased my recovery, knowing my problems were "normal"

Kind regards

Jill

[Spikey]

Dear Jill,

I have been on 20mg pantoprazole daily for the last four years, without any side effects. I was previously on 20mg omeprazole for a couple of years, but this gave me diarrhoea, which, according to my gastroenterologist, occurs in about 15% of cases. He prescribed pantoprazole. I believe that the reason why omeprazole and lansoprazole are most commonly prescribed is because they are the cheapest, and they work for most people.

[acornlady in reply to Spikey]

Thanks very much for taking the trouble to reply. I see my surgeon for a routine appointment this Thursday I think that I am going to ask to try Pantoprazole. I do suffer with a lot of diarhoea. Have you noticed any side effects from Pantoprazole?

[Spikey in reply to acornlady]

No. As I said in my original reply, I have not suffered any side effects from pantoprazole. My greater concern, which I have mentioned in earlier posts, is that I still occasionally suffer from acid reflux and, therefore, cannot be sure that it is doing me any good.

[gutlesswonder]

When they did your Ivor Lewis did they remove your gallbladder ?

[acornlady in reply to gutlesswonder]

Hi Sorry to have taken so long to reply. I wasn't aware of your post. No I still have my gall bladder. I have tried pantoprozol and still got the bruises so went back on the operazole.