Indigestion

[Harry8388]

Hi

Has anyone experienced Gastro problems secondary to Prednisolone

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

For completeness and so others can see what’s been covered - have copied some of our Chat-

“DL -Are you on a PPI - Omeprazole or similar? Do you take anything like Gaviscon? ..and what sort of digestive issues in particular? -

Reply -Yes I am on Omeprazole I have been advised to double up on my dose while I have nausea and severe indigestion but nothing seems to help.

As you are on a low dose of steroids it could be adrenal insufficiency - that is one of the symptoms - I think we mentioned in your last post, I know your GP isn’t happy about you getting a cortisol test - but I think that would be more sensible than upping Omeprazole.

Maybe have a look at this re adrenals - those are listed- so perhaps you should try discussing again with GP”

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[m33ary in reply to DorsetLady]

Are you on coated tablets? There is one that's called enteric coated. Its slightly more expensive so your GP wont tell you its available 😠 Its made a big difference to me.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to m33ary]

You have replied to me but no probs - Harry8388 should see it…

Very often happens -if you reply to someone other than original poster there is an curved arrow and their name above your reply

[m33ary in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks I have also answered Harry8388 now. I blame brain fog!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to m33ary]

Don't worry -it happens very often - with or without brain fog...😊

[SnazzyD]

Once I got to low doses of Pred, I had nausea that was particularly bad after I had exerted myself of I had any sort of stress. Along with it went deep fatigue and feeling emotional like everything was too much. My Synacthen test at 4mg gave me the answer that I was already assuming to be the case. This feeling lasted for months but it took more and more to make it worse as my glands came back on line. The Endocrinologist’s advice was to keep slowly reducing in order to keep telling the body there was a shortage of cortisol. Just to be able to function, I had to reduce by 0.5mg over 8-14 weeks. Yes, it was tempting to go back up the dose ladder just to feel human but I couldn’t face rewinding the clock again. If when you have bumped up the dose of Pred and felt quickly better, I think that would put the odds on lack of cortisol. It is hugely disappointing if it happens to you (I know from experience) because one is lead to believe that low doses is back to feeling human as we skip to the golden zero.

Another thing I noticed was that I got food intolerances and allergies once under 10mg which slowly resolved. Others on this forum have complained of the same thing.

So if your GP won’t entertain the diagnosis of steroid induced secondary adrenal insufficiency, then it seems a bit lazy to just bump up your Omeprazole without knowing what they are treating or suppressing. I wouldn’t be happy with that if it were me, especially as the gastro effect of Pred is so much less by now.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Some do and it is why PPIs are handed out. Did the omeprazole help before the nausea started? Some people struggle with omeprazole - and longterm PPIs aren't recommended in older patients so simply doubling the dose is lazy and not to be recommended.

[SheffieldJane]

Have a look at Susy1959’s post about nausea.

[Harry8388 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I can’t

Find Susy 1959 post

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Harry8388]

Here -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

For info - You can always look at someone’s profile to find all their posts …

[SheffieldJane]

sorry Harry8388. I shouldn’t rely on Dorsetlady so much. X

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

🌸

[Lovetobe]

I've just been diagnosed with Barretts oesophagus today. Have been on pred since July 21 now on 2.5mg .....finally got through my years worth of headaches today , adrenals now good. Been taking alendronic acid for 3 years. Now this im gutted.I only really noticed acid reflux burning in my gullet 6 weeks ago 🤷‍♀️

[SheffieldJane in reply to Lovetobe]

Gosh, I bet that was a shock. It’s good that they found it and will be monitoring and treating it.

[Lovetobe in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi Sheffield Jane yes it was I was hoping GORD at the most.....i have to wait for biosy results yet...🤞 4 to 8 week wait.Just sent home with no advice just 2 booklets I was going to put this up as a separate post..

..do you think I should to see if anyone else has the same? X

[SheffieldJane in reply to Lovetobe]

Do you believe that it is linked to PMR/GCA and its treatment/meds? There maybe are more specific HealthUnlocked Forums for GI issues.

I looked into Barrett’s Oesophagus symptoms when I suffered fairly regular oesophageal spasms when on a higher dose Pred. My camera endoscopy showed a little blood on my oesophagus which I saw too. This was not deemed particularly relevant ! The spasms were as if I had swallowed a large pebble. Painful and scary. Lamentable the way GI issues are regarded ie without the seriousness they warrant, in my view. Do you have a gastroenterologist? You need on going support with this. It can be a pre-cancerous condition.

[Lovetobe in reply to SheffieldJane]

I really don't know if its connected to PMR I doubt it but wondered re meds as was put on omperozole when first started pred.I just don't understand how it has got to this stage with no symptoms until 6 weeks ago. I was hoping it was due to not taking enough water with meds and just oesophagus irritation. Sadly not.

I know its a pre cancerous condition hence so worried re biopsy results.

Could be my bad choc cake binges in my past life and my daily wine.

I'm just so upset.

Anyways yes im going to ask to see a gastro consultant if its a long wait will see one privately .

I will try and fund a Gastro site on health unlocked.

Thanks so much x

[Missus835 in reply to Lovetobe]

Sorry to hear you're going through this after everything else. Have a lot of gastro problems myself. Best of luck with the biopsy. Please keep us informed.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Lovetobe]

I would do all of that and stay here too, because you are welcome. We will be interested in how you get on, I definitely want to know, I am far more symptomatic than you and they found Diverticular disease and a small hiatus hernia. Then it’s a dead end for me. I doubt it’s cake and wine, more likely to be the drugs we have to take and or a genetic disposition. My dad never talked about his health but his bedside table was laden with GI remedies before he died of heart failure with no doctors seeing him. I follow up on everything.

[Missus835 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Oh my. Esophageal spasms. Mine seemed to have settled but two days ago I had the worst ever. Such pain. Also have had a lot of gastric burning and regurgitation of food, even though on a double dose of ppi. I attribute this a lot to the stomach muscle tightness and spasms caused by my back issues. Going to discuss with my NEW GP next week. An actual in-person.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Missus835]

My husband called an ambulance he was so alarmed by my first one. I am calm now, sip water and take paracetamol of all things and it all settles down.

[Missus835 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes they are very alarming SJ. I do the same with water. 🌹Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lovetobe]

Yes, post about it - valuable info. I imagine the AA isn't an innocent bystander either.

And absolutely no more AA now!

[Lovetobe in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou PMR pro I agree re AA have been reading up on Dr Google it doesn't read well 😪

I will put a separate post up today now I've calmed down a bit x

[random901]

Yes! Sudden indigestion again at 3 o'clock this morning. Gulped back some Gavescon! Just reduced preds from 40 to 30 so hoping digestion will improve. I find kefir soothing.

[Flivoless]

I have recently developed Silent Reflux recently. Now on 2.5mg Pred, down from 25mg over 2 and a bit years, but cant say whether or not it's caused by the Pred.

[m33ary]

Are you on coated tablets? There is one that's called enteric coated. Its slightly more expensive so your GP wont tell you its available 😠 Its made a big difference to me.

[redyrun]

I experienced stomach discomfort when I started taking prednisolone and was unable to get the coated tablets , my GP suggested I take PPI’s which I was adamant to avoid . What was I to do ? Well , I experimented by wrapping my daily tablet in a small piece of cheese and rolling it into a little ball that was easy to swallow and was pleasantly surprised that it worked for me . I continued doing this until I tapered off the Pred completely . I would like to add that this may not work for everyone but I wanted to share my personal experience . I wish you well . Phil

[Harry8388 in reply to redyrun]

Thank you so much

[Sharitone]

Yes, and I was automatically given omeprazole when I started steroids. However, now I have a number of benign gastric polyps which the consultant said was probably due to the use of omeprazole, and to use the minimum dose necessary. However, reducing the dose after several years is not that easy!

In short: it's brilliant when you need it, but better left if you don't.