Indigestion

[Stifffingers]

Do/ have / any of you suffered severe indigestion since you have had PMR / taking Pred.?

Keep getting .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred can often cause gastric irritation and many doctors automatically hand out medications to help - a PPI such as omeprazole or ranitidine (Zantac) is also effective.

[Stifffingers]

Thank u. I take Omeprazole first thing in the morning, then 30 mins later with my Breakfast I take my Pred.

Just had the most painful pain in just one rib . Thought I was going to keel over

[SnazzyD in reply to Stifffingers]

Hello, I believe it is best for Pred absorption to take it well away from anti acid meds. 30 mins is nothing, a few hours would be better. I ended up on enteric coated Pred because the indigestion didn’t go away for more than a couple of weeks with any medication.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Stifffingers]

That sounds different. Your gallbladder is located below your right rib. Could it have been a gallstone?

[Blearyeyed in reply to Stifffingers]

Which rib did you have pain under , right or left?

Have you tried taking your Omeprazole much earlier than the Pred.

Taking your medication with probiotic yoghurt and eating probiotic yoghurt through the day helps stop gastric issues.

Ginger and green apples in smoothies , juice , even biscuits settles stomach acids and helps digestion.

Turmeric supplements taken in the middle of breakfast reduce stomach issues , it can make your stools loose for a few days but it helps reduce IBS symptoms and intestinal gas.

Start with one capsule a day then two.

I have IBS and have no gall bladder so suffer with a number of these stomach issues and I find these things help.

I no longer take Omeprazole , the food and supplements took its place in time.

Hope this helps , Bee xx

[Stifffingers in reply to Blearyeyed]

No it’s the left. Woke up this morning , feeling average. It’s almost like a bruise pain wise.

To touch it hurts! Certainly never recd a knock at all .

I’ll just chill today and hope it’s trapped wind or something. Been doing so well of late.

Thank you everybody for your reply’s

[Blearyeyed in reply to Stifffingers]

At least it's not on the side of a gallbladder etc.

Sounds like it is stomach acid related , although some people can get some muscle pain in the ribs .

How are you taking your medication , still with something to help line the stomach like yoghurt?

Can't remember if you said you had arranged a visit to the GP but it is worth an appointment and they may decide on an endoscopy if it is continuing.

Does the pain get worse after eating or with certain types of movement?

[Stifffingers in reply to Blearyeyed]

seemed to clear up after a good nights sleep. , but seems be returning.Rib is very sore tho.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Stifffingers]

So the pain isn't just from eating or sitting, moving in certain ways .

Is it rapid onset of does it build slowly through the day?

Does it get worse if you sit back or sit forward?

How low down is it , is it more to the front or side of your body?

Still worth a visit to the GP , could be acid but equally could be muscle strain or weakness , this can happen with or without PMR because of the changes in your muscles from less exercise and the drugs we use.

[Manchild in reply to Stifffingers]

Had the exact same thing before I was diagnosed...had every test which showed nothing! Went away on its own after a few months.

Now I have been on pred for about 7 months, and it has come back! A almost bruise-like pain under/around/ on top of a left frontal rib. What the hell?

[Stifffingers in reply to Manchild]

Bingo : That’s the baby .

[Hidden]

Yup, having an endoscopy in March, after knee surgery, to check out indigestion and heartburn !

[Stifffingers in reply to Hidden]

??

[Hidden in reply to Stifffingers]

Sorry.... I don't understand your "??." "Yes," I suffer from indigestion and heartburn. The doctor ordered an "endoscopy" to check it out. However, I am having a knee replacement surgery and the endoscopy has to wait until Match.

[Stifffingers]

Sorry , I didn’t understand your reply.

I was asking if anyone has started getting indigestion as a result of taking the Pred...or as a result of having PMR

[Hidden in reply to Stifffingers]

Sorry, yes. All my "tummy" issues started after I started taking Pred.

[Patience47]

Yes, prednisone gave me gastrointestinal problems. Omeprazole helps quite a bit. However, Ranitidine doesn't help nearly as much as Omeprazole. Wish it were vice versa as Zantac would be the better option.

Oh, I too experience quite a bit of rib pain.

ATB

[Marilyn1959]

I didn't but do now!

Have tried Lansoprozole issued by hospital, following clear endoscopy as they assumed acid reflux. However symptoms were not controlled. Asked for Ranitidine instead. No difference, in fact symptoms worse. Now am about to try Omeprazole, but now having tests on pancreas.

Is your pain always localised in the same place? If so it may be unrelated to PMR or pred and therefore needs further investigation by GP. We are quick to attribute everything to PMR and / or pred, but if it is localised and persistent, even if spasmodic I would get it checked out.

[SheffieldJane]

Yes, especially lately for no apparent reason. Omeprazole and its like made me feel worse. I always take Pred with natural yoghurt and a little local honey. This has worked well for over 2 years. Ordinary over the counter remedies are effective, like Rennies. Drinking milk can help. If it persists see the doctor, actual damage can occur. Sometimes my whole oesophageal region feels inflamed, stomach, intestines and even bladder. Pred can be very caustic, but not always. Depends on what else you’ve had that day.

[S4ndy]

I have had trouble with the digestion after starting pred. I was originally on pantoprazole but came off it before having an endoscopy.

The endoscopy showed stomach inflammation (gastritis) and my Consultant told me to take Ranitidine every day and 10mls of Gaviscon or Peptac after meals and before bed. It has definitely helped as I no longer feel the pain under my left ribs.

Because I was still having problems with digestion I have had a MRI scan of small intestine which didn't show anything.

To be on the safe side I am having Colonoscopy on 19/2.

I have been doing the FODMAP elimination diet and after my colonoscopy if all is OK I will be starting the reintroduction challenges. This diet is used to control IBS which I was also diagnosed with 20 years ago! It has made things a lot better for me.

So yes Pred did make things worse but as I reduced my digestive system didn't get better which is why I was referred for further tests.

I always take my pred with yoghurt as reccomended by the knowledgeable aunties on here. xxx

[9lives]

Hi ,

Sorry to hear you are suffering, it’s not the best feeling is it.

I suffer from indigestion quite bad sometimes. It comes on for 4-5 days.

Then nothing for months.

I’ve had two endoscopy, a year apart and both were clear . I take opermazole before my pred. Which is quite a low dose now. 2.50. I think also it’s the food sometimes, so I try to avoid too much carbs , any thing stoggy and wine 🍷 x

Also I find excercise helps to get things moving again.

Hope you find some relief.

Carole

[Stifffingers in reply to 9lives]

thank you x

[GOOD_GRIEF]

Oh, yes. Especially in the early days at higher doses. Eliminating coffee, tea, soda and spicy food helped a lot. So did taking pred with a real meal, not just a snack. And plenty of water - at least 8 oz. Bicarbonate, yogurt and ice cream also helped. I rarely took any medication to calm the acid, but I did when nothing else worked. It all calmed down when got under 10 mg.

[Stifffingers in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

interesting ...thankyou x