Indigestion

[Thelmarina]

Hi

I’m two and a half years into PMR and now tapered to 9.5 mg Pred. Quite suddenly I am getting attacks of quite fierce indigestion which seem to come after taking AdCal. Is it that or my body getting as fed up with Pred as I am (😀)? Has anyone else found this an issue?

[Grants148]

I find Adcal hard to take,it causes my stomach to swell ,my GP said to take just one on alternate days which has helped but l still get indigestion from pred and take over the counter remedies for that . I find that if l eat regular meals and take the pred with porridge or yogurt, it helps to prevent acid reflux. I am only on 5 mg of pred now but your dose is higher so l would speak to your GP about your Adcal side effects .ATB

[SheffieldJane]

Hi Thelmarina, you seem to have been experiencing digestive discomfort for a while now. Did any of the advice from your last post help at all?

Presumably the investigations you had showed nothing?

I have been through phases of indigestion occasionally . I think of myself as having a delicate digestive system now and it influences my food choices and chewing properly and actually not eating whilst stress is around me. Currently I find over the counter remedies work immediately, like Rennies.

My worst phase involved Oesophageal spasms - frightening and painful - mimicking a heart attack. This involved one trip in the ambulance. The doctors were not too excited by it once heart tests were all clear. I no longer take Adcal due to chronic urinary discomfort. I do eat a calcium rich diet and take vitamin D. At 5 mgs and under of Pred. These symptoms have lessened but I still take precautions and am not good with spicy acidic foods or carbs. I do think my treatment for PMR has set up these sensitivities. I have always taken Pred with organic Greek live yoghurt and a little honey, or Kefir. Good luck!

[Thelmarina in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks. I’m seeing a gastroenterologist next month as these symptoms seem to be increasing stealthily! Yes, the advice undoubtedly helped. I’m keeping hydrated and careful over diet, certainly taking Pred with yoghurt. I’ll drop Adcal for a while and see what happens! 😀

[Blearyeyed in reply to Thelmarina]

Definitely , think about when you take it and if it could be reacting with any other medications you take at the same time or the foods you eat after it.

Using the yoghurt honey trick works , and more cool fluids during the day and ginger tea ( if you can have ginger) for the bloating .

Peppermint tea after meals can also help.

Also try using more pillows at night in a sort of triangle shape , that cushion you from your shoulders and raise your head higher than the stomach , if any acid reflux is going on it prevents acid leaving the stomach during the night and causing indigestion and heart burn .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it is obviously linked to having taken AdCal it MAY be a lack of acid that is causing your indigestion - it is just the same as taking Tums or another similar type of antacid product. And sometimes that can encourage your body to produce MORE acid.

But a sudden appearance of indigestion does really need some investigation - speak to your doctor if stopping the AdCal for a while doesn't help.

[Thelmarina in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks 🌺

[Christophene]

Hello Thelmalina,

Sorry to hear of your sudden troubles. We do not hear of AdCal or other acidic meds in the US often. Omezeopole(sp)? called Nexium in the US is available over the counter and some people take it indiscrimitely. These antacids make the stomach "forget " how to produce natural acids.

They are OK once in awhile for an occasional bout of so-called heartburn or gastritis in which case I prefer PeptoBismol, yucky as it is.

So in the long run, they harm. I have been on Pred for 3 years this very week and have never had indigestion from it and I usually take it on an empty stomach as soon as I wake up so I can hobble downstairs; no problems. There is always time for it to start so don't want to speak too soon.

You didn't really say what is the nature of your indigestion. Stomach, intestines, upper, lower. I would cut out the AdCal for sure.

Sometimes these symptoms are little viruses too. But if the symptoms return or persist, see a gastroenterologist.

Hope you feel better Thelmalina.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Christophene]

AdCal isn't sold as an antacid medication - it is sold as a calcium and vit D supplement.

[Lee1945]

Try stopping the Adcal and get your Calcium from natural sources.

It is far better because the calcium from food is natural and does not contain all the 'fillers' and junk added to so-called meds.

Eat plenty of yogurt, skimmed milk, cheese, nuts, broccoli etc

[Daffodilia]

I take adcal after meals to help with indigestion