How long to get over PPI?

[Janouska]

I have been off esomeprazole for 6 weeks but now am just getting worse and unable to eat much at all without symptoms. I went on the pills as a trial suggested by cardiologist for feeling if pressure in chest! I did not have regurgitation or stomach pain. I stopped them for endoscopy in December and had rebound. Endoscopy was clear ( although left me in pain for days) so started the pills again in late December for 8 weeks. Started getting regurgitation and weaned myself off. Could I still be having problems with getting my stomach back to normal? I did not have diarrhoea or belchjng or regurgitation two hours after eating before I took the pills. I’m now getting worse reflux at night into nose and sinuses despite bed raisers and not eating after 6 pm and taking gaviscon advance. Just cancelled holiday so at least don’t have to travel like this. Dr sending me for blood tests in a few weeks time. Any advice very welcome! I am going to just have porridge and slippery elm for a few days

[starveycat]

I can only speak for how I react and porridge really affects me very badly, after half an hour I'm in agonyI am trying to wean myself off omeprazole ,I take it one day, then for the next two days I take apple cider vinegar with mother capsules for two days, I'm ok at that.

I avoid gluten , if I have anything with gluten I'm in pain for three days

I hope my experience might help you a bit, gentle hugs

[Janouska in reply to starveycat]

thanks. I was properly sick yesterday for first time- 5 hours after eating my lunch. Am thinking to just have water for couple of days but have to be careful as I have low blood pressure. Looks like have to cancel seeing my friends again. I had some friends to stay over weekend so did loads of cooking - am not tempted by leftovers😂

[ParkSchool5]

Hi, sorry to hear about your problems. It seems such a shame that the PPI's seem to have made things worse, when you didn't have reflux problems beforehand. PPI's are terrible to try and withdraw from. I have been on them for nearly 7 years and have tried several times to wean off them, but my symptoms come back with a vengeance! I totally understand, this condition ruins your social life and I have not had a holiday for four years because of it, as I also have to have a special pillow to sit up at night, don't eat after 6.00 and only have sips of water during the evening. It is very depressing. I hope you get some relief soon. Regards.

[Janouska in reply to ParkSchool5]

thank you. I wish you well too. Have you or do you see a gastroenterologist? I know PPIs work for some although as reflux is mechanical they don’t seem to stop that part of it. Until recently I did not taste acid with mine and wasn’t even conscious of reflux ( except think it cause of night time cough). Using bed risers and pillows helps. It doesn’t seem to matter what I eat but am better just staying hungry! I am frustrated that I was put on pills without any proper test or diagnosis. It seems to be a way of testing. The Gastro endoscopy was clear but he said I could still have silent reflux. But I don’t know if I produce a lot of acid or not enough or whether something else is going on but now think it’s not enough so that by the evening my food from earlier in the day is taking too long to digest. The only thing I do know is that I had no stomach problems in October when mentioned my chest tightness to the cardiologist and I wish I had never touched the PPIs! I really feel for you struggling for so long and hope you can find some way of getting better. I think I will end up paying to see someone as GP view is it’s anxiety over my eye problems. I don’t think it is although I know stress makes it worse. I will keep looking for help and reporting back if I discover something that works. Take care

[Hidden in reply to Janouska]

I have silent reflux. I takes PPIs, which reduces acid but it is Gaviscon which seems to help with preventing the reflux coming back up. It sits in a layer on top of the food. I am prescribed Peptac which is the NHS version, though is half the strength of Gaviscon. Taking a lot of Gaviscon caused constipation for me, not good because of other problems, but doesn't happen for everyone.

[ParkSchool5 in reply to ParkSchool5]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I had fairly mild indigestion in 2015 and my GP put me on Omeprazole, which to be honest was too strong, I was managing on Zantac at that time. Then she sent me for an endoscopy which revealed mild gastritis and Celiac disease. It went downhill from there really. I was on the PPI's that you become addicted to and had to change my diet because of Celiac, so found it hard to get fibre into my diet. I also have a 2cm Hiatus hernia, which I think caused the acid reflux. I was managing OK, but had another endoscopy in2019 which really messed me up. Things have been ten times worse since then, I believe some damage was done. It has really affected my quality of life since then. I am under a Gastro Consultant who offered me another endoscopy but I am too scared after all the damage from the last one. I am on Omeprazole 10mg twice a day and Gaviscon Advance at night (I sleep sitting up). You could ask your GP to try Famotidine, it is not as strong or addictive as PPI's. I also take a Yakult and Activimel every day. Citrus fruits are out and alcohol and most soda drinks, so it's just water and tea unfortunately. I hope you get back to normal soon. This horrible illness really affects your social life and can easily make you depressed but hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel. Regards.

[Janouska in reply to ParkSchool5]

thank you for going to the trouble of explaining what have you been through. My heart goes out to you. I do wonder whether the endoscopy did more harm than good as it hurt and I’ve been suffering ever since. I get that at moment all the nhs seems to be doing is checking for cancers as under pressure but I wish I had not taken advice from cardiologist to experiment with drugs. I have several friends popping PPIs bought from pharmacy and taking them when gave indigestion and then taking more because not working! I am going to venture out for the day - should be ok if not tempted to eat. At least my stomach issue takes my mind off my vision problems😂 You just have to keep trying. Take care