This is a bit of a long story. I have had IBS for years and had it well under control with diet and Laxido. In September I suddenly started having a very sore, gritty throat, a bit of trouble swallowing and burning mouth. The GP wasn’t too helpful and told me it was probably stress making my reflux worse (I do have Anxiety Disorder, and pandemic aside, I had been though a very stressful event). She told me up my usual dose of 20mg Nexium once daily to 20mg twice daily. Symptoms got really bad and because I wasn’t raising any red flags, my GP refused to send me to the gastro on the NHS as an urgent case. So I ended up going privately. Had one telephone consultation with him (really nice) and he felt I had a very unusual and complex set of symptoms. He told me to take 40mg Nexium twice daily and also Gaviscon Advance 4 times daily.
So the symptoms in the Upper GI tract improved quite quickly, but in the last 12 days, I am really suffering with terrible abdominal pain (where I used to have it when I had IBS-D many moons ago before I gave up gluten and went on Laxido). The pains are happening every single day and I nearly fainted last week with the pain. The reason I had all those pains in the past was because I had IBS-C with overflow diarrhoea. I’m wondering if all the Nexium and Gaviscon Advance are causing me to have all those pains? Like maybe they’re making me constipated?
I also have to consider that we have had covid in the house too. My daughter is a first year nursing student and was mistakenly placed in a covid ward for her first ever day of placement (we are taking this further with the uni). She caught covid on that first day and wasn’t too ill with it, but I didn’t cope very well with it. My husband got it too and me and my other daughter managed to avoid it and both youngest daughter and hubby are well out of isolation now. When my husband had to isolate, I kinda fell apart, because I’ve been relying on him a lot because I have been feeling so unwell and also unwell mentally,
So, question is - do you guys think this is the meds or the stress? Or a mixture of both? I have a follow up appointment with the gastro on 12th Feb and I really wondering if I should reduce some of the meds to see if that helps? Just wondered if anyone else had experienced constipation and stomach pains with these meds. Sorry for the novel! Xx
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weegmack
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Crikey what a terrible time you’ve had! I’d say stress was playing a major role in all this. I’ve had two major flare ups in the last year - one last April when diagnosed with early breast cancer and the second just after dealing with a family death so stress related indeed. I’ve been diagnosed years back with IBSC, diverticulosis and chronic gastritis rearing it’s head plus now, the worst acid reflux ever and it’s been going on since Oct. No medicine including Esomeprazole does anything. I’m also lucky enough to be able to see a private consultant who was very reassuring and prescribed a number of things to hit everything hard which helped first time round but not second. Mebeverine was a good one that stopped the colon spasms which cause the pain.
I’ve stopped all the meds now and seen a homeopath who is treating my whole nervous system which needs recalibrating. It worked well last year so hoping it will again now as I’ve been in pain for three months +
I’m on FODMAPS diet, no dairy, no acid producing food, in fact I’ve stopped eating except for some soup to let my intestines heal. Try meditation - YouTube a 20 minute relaxation clip. Good luck.
Hi Cats15 I replied to weegmack without reading the other posts first. I am also on the Fod map diet. You said you have cut out all acid forming foods and only have soups. I am practically at that stage at the moment as I am trying to get myself right after flares and supplements that the dietician recommended. I am losing weight and I wonder if you are ? Every time I have a flare I cannot eat much and I lose weight rather quickly. I might spend 2+ days just having rice and soups. Also I am not sure about some of the acid forming foods. I think there may be some on the Fod diet? Any advise would be appreciated. I so love this site. I would have gone mad without it.
Well that’s a good point. I follow FODMAPS but have to be aware that some foods are strictly no no as acid related like tomatoes sadly, clematines, lemons, pineapple etc. It’s a real pain. I hardly am left with anything to eat. So yes, have lost a lot of weight. I’m trying to let my inflamed system heal so making great soups like carrot, sweet potato and ginger with turmeric soup which is delicious. Tried some rice the other day and that went down well. Have been eating virtually nothing for two weeks but sadly the acid reflux is still horrendous. I’ve had burnt tongue syndrome for months. I see a gastroenterologist in 10 days so will have more to report. I need help on how to manage flare ups as nothing is working and clearly can’t continue to live on soup. My flare up has been 3 months! I’m as miserable as you and everyone else on here. I’m speaking to doc next week to take some low dose anti depressants as I think it will help. I’m also talking to a herbal practitioner to get some Slippery Elm as apparently it lines your intestines to stop acid erosion.
Hi, thank you for your reply. I like your soup recipe, I will be trying that. I usually just put all the veg I can eat into it and perhaps some rice. Sometimes chicken and coconut milk for flavoring. I have lost about 5 kilos. It is not nice and hard to try and put it back on whilst having flares all the time. Ibs does get you down but we must not let it rule us. It is difficult to remain positive at times thou. Quinoa is ok for us too. I have just started to put it into stir frys etc. It is a really good food. I have recently introduced plant based protein powder into my smoothies. Seems Whey proteins are not for me! I add 1 teasp of brown rice protein powder to coconut milk/water and blueberries and slippery elm. Its awful tasting stuff but in a smoothie its hidden. It does help with the stomach lining. I add a few other ingredients and its delicious. Just trying everything to put the weight back on. Too soon as yet and my stomach/gut it still not that settled. but no really deep pa
Acid reflux is awful, I have had a few bouts of it but I think yours is worse. I try to stick to natural ingredients and bicarb soda in 1/2 a glass of water drunk slowly can help as well as raising the head of the bed. I propped mine up with bricks. I used my car jack to lift the bed then pushed the bricks under the legs, mine is about 15cms higher. I think it helps. I have bedside tables so they cannot be seen and the bed really does not look much different. Also propping yourself up on pillows overnight, it takes a bit to get them right and be comfortable but can help to keep the acid down. I seem to have a bit of gurgling etc in that upper stomach area but no real burning at the moment.
Good luck with it all and hope the gastroenterologist goes well.
Thanks for all your advice. I used to use quinoa a lot but with herbs spices onions etc which is why it’s no longer on my radar but as a superfood, I should bring it back. I never thought about adding it to stir fry. I’ve stopped stir fries for a while as it prob wouldn’t sit well as roughage on my inflamed intestines. I have already propped the head of my bed up. Unsure if it helps but nothing is doing the trick right now so who knows. I probably should find myself a dietician who specialises in this. Where did you find yours? It’s also good to know about slippery elm and that it helped you a bit. I’ll get that ordered this week. I have a herbal practitioner on my high road.
Thanks for your positive words on letting it rule your life. It’s true we must not let this happen. It’s very hard when the only thing happening in our day is the next meal and for many of us, it’s not something we can look forward too. I was a great cook, making curries, Thai, etc. All that enjoyment has gone :/
Hi just had my dinner an hour ago its not sitting well. I must be so inflamed also. I am in Melbourne Australia. My Dr told me that a new dietician had started in my local community clinic and she had an interest in gut disorders. She is only young and I would say not long out of uni. I only pay $10 (5 pounds) each time we meet up on the phone. She is always giving me tips etc. When I spoke to her last week she said to have lacteeze tablets on hand in case dairy is in some food I may eat when eating out. Good idea. I have not eaten out in such a long time though as I am frightened of what is in the food. However tomorrow night I have to.
You are up with it all. I do take the advise of different people and Dr's on here and read things here etc. But it still does not find us a cure to reflux and ibs. I was also a big curry and stir fry eater etc. Loved cooking but now I still like to eat but its afterwards that's the killer! I think I have always had some food intolerance's but once I turned about 64. ibs really came on. It was also my Dr that told me about the FOD map diet and to look it up online and work it out. Which I have been doing for a few years without any investigations etc. The past year it has got a lot worse with the flare always in the background ready to strike again! I am probably not doing the right things I still cannot go without some sugar. (I was a big cake and sweet eater) I think some foods do not go well together within a meal also. Has the herbalist told you about the inflammation foods etc. Did they recommend any herbs? I guess the dietician could help me, it would be better face to face though. The phone calls are so quick as she has so many patients. I am very lucky to have her though. It is not easy to find a good dietician with an understanding of IBS and the FOD diet.
Good Luck I think with your perseverance your are helping your gut. I am going to get some turmeric tomorrow it also had great properties in it. I can eat cold rice on its own if really bad it is so soothing and it calms everything. It is meant to be the best thing for any gut problem. But we are all different and until we try it out do we know.
Goodness, I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through. You have certainly been through too much for one person. I hope you’re doing ok. I’m on a forum on Reddit and the amount of people who are suffering with reflux since the pandemic started is astonishing.
I haven’t had anymore terrible pains since I posted this, but I’ve cut my nexium back a bit. Also, husband is out of isolation, so I feel a bit calmer. I’m having a phone consultation with the gastro this Friday and I suspect it’ll be another endoscopy for me and perhaps a colonoscopy. I’ve had so many over the years - diagnosis of IBS, mild gastritis and oesophegitis. Xx
Just read your post, sounds like me! I was diagnosed with IBS years ago when they couldn't find anything definite, it flares up from time to time when I get depressed (like now) and have since been diagnosed with an hiatus hernia which has also just started causing problems with acid reflux, sore throat, roof of mouth, tongue feeling rough and feeling sick. I was prescribed Esomeprazole which made the burning and sickness worse, then Omeprazole which I have been too frightened to take in case that caused problems, I have been taking Gaviscon Advance which has helped and I thought things were settling then I got a bit of mucus with blood which the GP said couldn't be piles and is sending me two stool tests despite me saying I had just had a clear NHS test in December, just to be sure. Now my anxiety is off the scale, as I had a red flag cancer screen (which was OK) in January, so I know what you are feeling and my heart goes out to you. This is a great site to prove you are not alone. Nerves are strange despite good news I now look for the slight ache and I am off again. Also take antidepressant which seems to have stopped working. Love to you.
I’m really sorry for what you’re going through - I can totally understand why you’re so anxious. Gastritis can cause blood in the poop, so hopefully it’s just that. My daughter takes Omeprazole without any sickness or tummy upset, if that’s any help, and she has IBS.
It’s such a worrying time as it is, without chronic health problems.
I have no red flags but I’m still very anxious and kinda losing the will to keep going, xx
Hello thanks for taking the trouble to post. Just back from doc, had rectal exam and have been put on two week colonoscopy referral as she found blood. I had been put on the eight week one but now have less time to wait, only two weeks to worry! Thank you for your support and keep safe x
HI weegmack, I was prescribed Nexium recently and it made me have so many gut pains but I assumed it was my ibs. After 2 weeks and no let up I stopped taking them and my pains went away after 2 days. A few weeks later I had to go to the Dr for another matter and he asked me how the Nexium was going, I said I couldn't take them as they gave me so much pain he just said 'Oh Nexium does that!' I guess most people are not as sensitive to Nexium as I am. So then he gave me a script for Somac, they made me even worse and are meant to be the most tolerable. I had a telphone consult this time and he said ok stop taking them I don't think I suffer that much with reflux, but I was having a sore throat and he put it down to reflux. I am not sure what I will do if I do have reflux as my gut does not tolerate PPI's it seems. Having an endoscopy soon. I am on the waiting list.
You have been living with a lot of stress. It could be a result of both. It must be so difficult to have had covid in the house. It's the one place where we want to relax. The Nexium/Gaviscon could clash with the Laxido? I am not sure. But your poor tum with all that stuff inside it. I did not have constipation with the Nexium or the Somac I try very hard to keep myself on the straight and narrow, I hate getting blocked up. Perhaps the meds are making you so constipated and that is the pain. You possibly need to take a fibre supplement. I sprinkle 1/8th of a teaspoon of flax meal on my breakfast cereal. that keeps everything working reasonably well. But there are a few other things. I get mine at the supermarket it is ground sesame seeds. It was recommended by my dietician. No side effects etc. Good Luck the UK is very worrying at the moment. Take care and try to relax .
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