I have been having digestive issues since May, lots of indigestion, acid reflux, belching etc. It comes and goes, sometimes good, sometime not, I would say I feel unwell 50% of the time. I was referred to a gastroenterologist.
I had a colonoscopy last year and all was clear. Gastro decided that I have acid reflux/GERD, but would do an upper endoscopy to check my stomach etc.
I had this on 7 November, and was told biopsies etc all clear but I have some oesphagitis. Because of this, I was prescribed omeparole 40mg for 8 weeks.
Before my gastroscopy, I was well for about 6 weeks with no probs, since the procedure, I have had the constant feeling that I have a lump in my throat, and now feel like I have something stuck. I was told by the gastro that these symptoms were acid reflux. It seems to me that the omeprazole is not working, and does feel like it has made the situation worse.
I have had to ask for a follow up appt with the gastro as they thought the tablets would fix the issue which it hasn't. This is not until end of November!
Is this normal for the omeprazole not to work at all?
I am now worrying that there is something else seriously wrong. I am being by doctors who do not have much knowledge of my history to amend my diet, but I am 56kg, do not eat spicy food nor fattening foods, so I am at a loss as how to improve the situation.
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Basilpie
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Have you looked at any info on feeding your gut microbes? They say that they have an enormous affect on our general well being. Tim Spector with the Zoe project has just done a trial on probiotics, which I did.
Hello, Did you mean to come onto this group? Do you have PMR or GCA and are on steroids? While you’re here though, I have found Omperazole (type of proton pump inhibitor) made matters worse for me and made me feel bloated and peculiar. I was on steroids at the time which can be very irritant on the stomach. I have also had long periods of relapse after covid too.
You could try a different sort of PPI as some people do better after a change. Failing that you could try a different type, namely an H2 receptor antagonist like Famotidine. These were around before PPI’s came on the market. If you do change you may find you get a bit of rebound acid when you withdraw the PPI because they work differently. It took a couple of weeks to settle. Whatever you do, don't stop any anti acid suddenly but tail off slowly.
Prior to this medication were you taking lots of anti acids?
Did they test for Helicobacter pylori infection? Have they ruled out hiatus hernia?
Somewhere I saw figures that suggested that omeprazole does not work for as many as a third of patients and it does often cause unpleasant gastric effects. It is only one of many and you might do better with an H2-inhibitor, does the same slightly less efficiently but the adverse effects are less and different.
Another article based on testing of probiotic supplements suggested that a high proportion of them (12 out of 15 tested) don't actually contain any viable organisms!! It may be worth trying a course of a really good one rather than a daily not so good one. The top option in the study was VSL#3 - I use it for short courses every so often and find it excellent. Not cheap BUT it works.
Cutting carbs is not only recommended here because of pred but it can also make a massive difference to gastric reflux so that may be worth trying. And look at the dietary inclusion of prebiotics, the things the probiotics live on but don'/t introduce them too much at a time as they can give you rotten wind!
Hope we have helped - and be grateful you don't need to be here, we are glad to help if we can.
Hi PMRpro , I invested in the VSL#3 and started one sachet a day last week after reading about it on one of your posts. How long a course is a ‘short’ course? I don’t want to take it daily indefinitely. Thanks!
Look up LPR..it is a bit different to the normal acid refux as it affects the larnyx and oesophagus and affects the voice...gives you the feeling that you must keep clearing the throat..produces some pflegm..gives you the feeling of having a lump in the throat etc..Larynx Pharengeal reflux..so LPR..it is such an annoying uncomfortable feeling..and not so easy to get rid of..using PPIs for this may help with the abrasion in the oesophagus but keeping the acid in the stomach repressed is not good in the long run and does not work for LPR...it seems that it is the peptic gas that escapes as the valve from the stomach is not closing...I have been inv
You can always edit a reply if it gallops away too quickly… just select “More V” then Edit. Once gone you’ll see Edit Response in blue box -press it and it’s done
Please look this up as same thing was my experience had an OGD and everything was clear no pylori ,no ulcers ,nothing wrong.Was put on the PPIs for a couple of weeks with terrible side effects and did t help .
I consulted with a 68 year old GP who after listening to everything prescribed Amitriptyline and a low dose PPI I was surprised because the former was an anti depressant.
I researched further and saw the link between anxiety abd GERD which includes IBS and reflux .I was wondering why the gastroenterologist do not discuss this angle rather than sending patients off with a 2 month course of PPIs with no results.
If you are short of breath, anxious ,not sleeping properly and then sudden onset of reflux after a gastroscopy rules out any gut issues.Then this might be the cause .Stress neuropathy induced gut malfunction
Read it up and see if that helps open a discussion with your GP
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Omeprazole and other drugs
Omeprazole
Prednisolone and Afternoon Colonoscopy 
Breathless and feeling off. PMR symptom? Also coated Prednisolone with omeprazole.
