Stomach acid meds , which one plus chest pain goes on and on

[Gaz227]

Hi All , I was on 2.5mg of Pred , stomach was coping ok, had a flare up and increased to 4.5mg didn’t stop the rib and sternum pain but made it bearable, I have a lot of fluid build up on both ends of my left collarbone hoping that is what is causing the chest pain I was told by the surgeon that repaired my shoulder it could cause it waiting for steroid injection . For my stomach I used ranitidine but all that changed with the scare . Didn’t use anything for a month or so then my stomach started gurgling making crazy noises, not painful just twisting feeling inside . GP gave me esomeprazole 20 Mg within 24 hours headache , bone dry mouth passing lots of water . So I told him and he has given me. Lansoprazole 15mg , 3 days in bone dry mouth again niggly headache on and off . Would you go back for something else or accept the side effects as a play off to save your stomach, catch 22 really , seriously thought of going cold turkey on the pred and seeing while I am locked down at home if I can battle through the pain . Like a lot of people really am a little lost at the moment . Hopefully sunnier days ahead .

[jinasc]

I have sent you a PM.

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[Hidden]

Hi, you can get dry mouth from lansoprazole and all the prazoles, but I found it did ease. I presume you haven't got access to coated pred to bypass the tummy altogether?

Have you considered the pain is Costocondhritis? Mine started in the sternum and my chest felt puffy. I had tramadol that didn't really get rid but paracetamol did help...and I did a week at 10 both times I had it.

nhs.uk/conditions/costochon...

[Gaz227 in reply to Hidden]

2 years now with the chest pain , doc said if it was chondritus it would have cleared by now , had the heart tests they where ok . Large patch of fluid noted on my Left SC joint if that is pressing on nerves could be reason get lots of neck pain also. Thanks for the interest 👍

[Hidden in reply to Gaz227]

Have they mentioned lipoma? I have quite a few in various place and they can press on nerves. Otherwise harmless.

Have got to say that the rib pain I have had that's Costocondhritis has hung around for a couple of years but not always as very painful, but it's there if I do certain movements.

[Gaz227 in reply to Hidden]

I find the back of my ribs on the left side are most painful when I get out of bed in the morning, sitting up straight from lay down is like my sternum is going to break so painful have to roll onto my side to get up .😩

Never heard of Lipoma will have a read up 👍

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Ask your pharmacy if they have famotidine (trade name Pepcid amongst others) - same group of antacid medications as ranitidine but different substance and so not affected by the contamination problem. Some ranitdine is available again in some places - but supply is patchy.

[Gaz227 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks , I am supposed to be having a telephone consultation with a Rhuemy on Thursday , I will hang fire till after that then go to the pharmacy depending on what he says , if you take gastro resistant pred does that eleminate the need for anti acids completely ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gaz227]

Depends - it does for most people but it isn't 100% certain.

[Gaz227 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that , it might by a path to take

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gaz227]

Might well be - some doctors believe the gastric effect is due to the pred in the body in general but there are only a few who don't find it solved by e/c pred. I imagine because they have other issues anyway.

[Gaz227 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks 👍 I’ll let you know how it goes

[Gaz227 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi , just an update on the stomach acid problem and Rhuemy phone conversation , chemist said famitidine was only available on prescription in the uk , as is Pepcid his words not mine. I got the GP to give me gastro resistant pred so fingers crossed that will help started it this morning .

Had a fairly long conversation with the u see study of my Rhuemy at least he sounded a little sympathetic and said face to face appointments aren’t going to be happening this year. At least he was honest, I told him about my chest pain etc and the fact it had been going on so long with all the other stuff neck sore cough and so on . As usual the answer was get off the pred as quickly as possible, then he said as I have been on it so long 5 years i will probably have to use a spairing drug such as methatroxate

To finally get off it . I have a question I will put in a new post see what the general feeling and opinion is on pain killers 👍

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gaz227]

What on earth makes him think methotrexate will get you entirely off pred? It will only happen once the actual underlying disease process is done and dusted ...

[Gaz227 in reply to PMRpro]

As I said his words not mine , my friend who had lupus , went on methatroxate for 6 months and kicked pred , I have refused it in the past when it’s been offered .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gaz227]

Lupus isn't PMR ...

[Gaz227 in reply to PMRpro]

Just using it as an example of escaping steroid withdrawal pains , as she used to say to me how much pain she was in when she reduced her meds , but methatroxate softened her pain as she described it

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gaz227]

I think it may help that in some - but helping tapering isn't getting off pred altogether ...

[Gaz227 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes totally agree there

[Marilyn1959]

If cost of gastro resistant pred is an issue for your Rheumy / GP then try to persuade him / her to trade additional cost against costs for stomach meds. I did this with my GP, he laughed but agreed. I also had gastro resistant bisoprolol for the first time in my repeat prescription. Don't know why but I'm not complaining. Good luck. Hope you get sorted soon.

[Gaz227 in reply to Marilyn1959]

Thanks for the idea 👍

[Gaz227 in reply to Marilyn1959]

I played the cost trick on him and it worked 👍 started them today fingers crossed