Why am I experiencing such bad refluxes and... - PBC Foundation

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Why am I experiencing such bad refluxes and chest pains, when taking lansoprozole and gaviscon, I've had PBC/AIH for 10 years

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bwswave
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Magnolia profile image
Magnolia

I am having problems with that right now also. I am on Nexium for GERD. Sometimes I have to take Carafate ( Sucarafate) because of esophagitis. Lately I get nausea every time I eat, no matter what it is. I am having to use tums along with this all. Eating soda crackers helps the nauesa a little bit. I'm sure it's the soda in them. It seem the pain and burning is right where the esophagus ends and the stomach begans. The Carafate is a treatment for peptic ulcers.I was told I could take Nexium twice a day. But they are so expensive I try not to, even with my insurance. I hope you get better!

Magnolia

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toMagnolia

THank you Magnolia, I will be ringing my doctor tomorrow, because I don't have to pay for meds here in England, I get all my medication on the NHS. but, I cannot ask for anything specific, they decide what they give to patients.

What is GERD I've never heard of it.

Magnolia profile image
Magnolia in reply tobwswave

Gerd means gastroesophageal reflux.Stomach acids and enzymes flow backward from the stomach into the esophagus. causing inflammation and pain in the esophagus. I feel the pain and burning, about at the top of the breast bone too. I have been diagnosed with erosions in the esophagus.This needs to be treated, because it can keep burning the esophagus and become serious.

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toMagnolia

I did have a camera put down in December, and saw my consultant in May, he said that there was a slight change but nothing too serious, but, if I experience frequent refluxes, I should have the camera down again. That's what I will be talking to my GP about tomorrow, he then should get in touch with my consultant at the hospital. Things can take a long time over here on the NHS, but, if it is very serious, then they would send me to A&E. I will let you know how I got on.

ps tried to put my photo on here but, it wont let me do it. I manage ok on other things I use like Ancestry etc., I'll keep trying.

Magnolia profile image
Magnolia in reply tobwswave

I think since 2003 I've had 4 endoscopies. Twice the Dr. stretched the esophagus, as I have gotten choked once, and some pills are hard to swallow. I had erosions in 2003 and still this year they were there, plus the esophagitis.Look forward to you getting your photo up! Here we can buy some of the proton pump inhibitors over the counter, without a prescription, but not Nexium.

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toMagnolia

Hi, I managed to get my photo here, no doubt you've seen it.

I went to my GP and was told to ring the hospital, which I have done now waiting for a call back from my consultant, not expecting it today though, as he has his clinic this afternoon. My GP gave me some pills called DOMPERIDONE to help with the sickness, and the refluxes, to be taken along with lansoprozole and also told me that I would need to have the camera down again to check what's happening.

Magnolia profile image
Magnolia in reply tobwswave

I forgot to mention that I also have a mild Hiatus hernia. I took a trip which was about 70 miles, around mountains to go to my hometown. The bitter acid stuff actually came up into my mouth, with all the movement of the curves. ( yuk )

Junolee profile image
Junolee in reply tobwswave

I can see your photo. Hope you get on ok with GP. In Ireland I have to pay the first €130 per month for medication, anything over that the health board pays. So far steroids, urso, calcium, iron etc always seems to come in bang on the 130 or under :). Seems I get nothing for nothing..

Alley27 profile image
Alley27

Hi I had serious problems with GERD before my diagnosis of PBC/AIH in March. The hospital consultant chaned my medication from lanzoprazoleto omeprazole..this is the better of the two medications.So farit is working and I have not had any propblems, or rather,not so much since changing medications..i have nly had one very small bout of acis reflux but I did have a madras curry.

xxconniefused.

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toAlley27

Thank you for your message, I hope I can get sorted soon. It's driving me mad, eating is becoming a bit of a problem too, gives me more chest pains.

I wont be eating any curry's that's for sure, I'm glad I don't like them ha ha.

I seem to be better with soft food now.

Brenda W S. xx

Magnolia profile image
Magnolia

The first med given to me was Prevacid, then later I was put on Nexium. I have tried other, cheaper, proton pump inhibitors, but they didn't work for me.These meds reduce the acid production in the stomach

zipitydoo profile image
zipitydoo

Hi,

I was on lanzprazole and gaviscon for my acid reflux but it was not really helping, the nighttime was the worst. Now i have changed over to omerprazole which have worked wonders for me. i would tell your GP about it not doing much for you as there are other options out there that they can change you over to. they found mine is mainly due to a hytus hernia.

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply tozipitydoo

Hi,

Thank you, I also have an hyatus hernia, which was noticed 2 years ago, on my ususal check up in endoscopy, maybe that's making it worse too. I'll keep it in mind when I visit the GP tomorrow.

zipitydoo profile image
zipitydoo in reply tobwswave

Let us know how you go on please.

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply tozipitydoo

My GP has given me some pills called Domperidone, to help with the sickness and the refluxes, to be taken along with lansoprozole.

I have rang the hospital, but, my consultant is busy in clinic today, so they will tell him tomorrow, then will be called, hopefully not too long to wait, I will need the camera down again to check what's going on.

Thank you for asking.

Brenda.

Wendom profile image
Wendom

Hi bwswave I to have hiatus hernia and was put on nexium.I suffered constant nausea and was often sick after meals for which the doctors gave me domperidone which didn't really help me so I stopped the nexium and the sickness and nausea went away I tried it again a few months later and low and behold the sickness and nausea came right back I now just drink a lot of milk and take antacid pills my partner also suffers persistent daily acid he also tried nexium and he said they made him feel sick I'm not saying this is what is causing your sickness and nausea but maybe you can come of them for a while and see if it improves for me it stopped completely once i stopped the pills I just have the acid now hope this helps x

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toWendom

HI Wendom,

I have today been put on domperidone, had 2 pills so far not a lot of change as yet, but, will keep trying. Waiting to here from the hospital too, regarding the camera going down. xx

Magnolia profile image
Magnolia

The first Dr. that put me on a proton pump inhibitor, said he had taken something since he was 10 yrs old! He said his father had died of Esophageal cancer ( Barretts esophagus ). He said anything that keeps wearing away, burning like this can cause cancer. That acid belongs in our stomach, it can withstand it, but the esphagus cannot. I am sick this very moment, and I feel for all of you that have to deal with this.

Magnolia

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toMagnolia

I do hope you feel better soon dear, it is so hard all this suffering we have, I will be thinking of you. xxx

Magnolia profile image
Magnolia

BWSWAVE, I was reading your profile and I saw where you said, you were too old for a transplant. I just was reading on the facebook site where a lady was 64 and could have one. I haven't read about a limit on age, is there one? When I was diagnosed in 2003, I read that people could live for 20 to 30 years. I have a lab test, where in 1987 I had a high GGT number. By 1993 I had an elevated alkaline phosphate number of 203 and a Gamma GT of 150. So there is 19 years I probably had this or more. Had a biopsy in 2003, but the Dr. didn't know what disease it was then, and finally in 2003 the Mayo clinic gave an abolute diagnosis of PBC. I didn't have symptoms until about two years ago with the sickness, and this year with the itching and fatigue. So I don't think your time is up. Wishing you were well also.

Magnolia

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toMagnolia

Oh thank you Magnolia, I don't get told much by our doctors, and dont know anything about all my tests, they have only told me about all my liver function tests, which supposed to be 40 as normal, but at the start of all my problems in 2002 it was over 800.

I was looking on the internet regarding age limits for transplants, and mortality rates for PBC. That's where I got that from.

Jtxx profile image
Jtxx

I take Omeprazole for reflux and indigestion, symptoms started after taking Azathioprine, and touch wood, it has worked a treat. Xx

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toJtxx

Hi, I haven't had Omeprazole before, but, 2004 put on to Azathioprine, and was really ill with diorea and sickness, my consultant took me off that straight away, and put me on Mycophenolate, which was ok with me still on that now. Thank you for your message x

Val02 profile image
Val02

Hi I take Omeprazole for reflux - it seems to work well.

Magnolia profile image
Magnolia

Bwswave, What was high as 800 at one time? Was it your alkaline phosphatase?

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply toMagnolia

The consultant told me when I was very ill in 2002 that my liver function was over 800 normal liver function should be 40. I don't know what the medical term is though. It was at the time when I was jaundice, and felt so ill, I was in hospital for 2 weeks, and after my liver biopsy, the findings were that I had Autoimmune Hepatitis, I was given lots of medication, but, it wasn't until a few years later that they mentioned that I had PBC, as well. Overlap syndrome they called it. Our doctors over here do not explain things very well, they are in a hurry to get rid of us, and get to the next patient, there are also very long waiting times to be seen. The NHS struggles with lack of staff, and money cutbacks. However if the problem is serious, and you need emergency help, they are quick.

I still haven't heard from the hospital yet, I'm phoning them tomorrow, but those pills that the gp gave me on Monday have helped a bit.

I hope you are feeling better today.

Hi, a person called peridot posted this page on another question on here and she posted this site liverfoundation.org/chapter... watch the video and the doctor explains about all the associated diseases that can occur with PBC. One of them is Scleroderma (CREST), it effects the oesophagus. The video is 40 mins long but very good. Maybe it will throw some light on your trouble with reflux.

bwswave profile image
bwswave in reply to

Thank you, I am going to watch the video, when I'm on my own, and it's a bit more peaceful here. I did try, but, my husband kept speaking to me.

Magnolia profile image
Magnolia in reply to

Thankyou Prades, for posting the site for that video. I had never saw this one. I think it's the best I have ever seen! I'm going to try and download from Youtube.

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