Wellness

[FlowerBear]

Have you talked to your Doctor first?   Have you tried following a very strict reflux (or gerd, not sure the difference) diet?   Some of my family members are trying to get off this medication too!! Best wishes

[cherry]

Everything doesn't work the same ,for everyone. I got off, and it came back. I was suffering so bad, I am back on it again

I am lifting weights to protect my bones. I have slight osteopenia( bone thinning) but not on any meds , because I don't need them yet, and may never need them. I have put more calcium in my diet, which is hard, because milk upsets me again

Do the best you can for yourself. Even the Dr that make the report about side effects said if he needed them he would take them

All of you life is important, today is all we have, tomorrow might not happen, and it is important to feel good, and be able to function

I watch my diet and exercise daily..I am feeling well again

[LTT1]

@Grouchomarx @cherry @FlowerBear @Susan Louise @Kachina624 

I take Omeprazole, but am weaning off of it successfully now because of this Probiotic:

It is fairly new and was recommended to me by a friend who is seen at the Cleveland Clinic.

There are reviews on Amazon.

I have also changed what and when I eat.

[cherry]

 I  am glad it is working for you. I take one everyday, and it does help me. But, I have chronic gastritis, and if I don't take meds I suffer terribly

[NicksmomESQ]

 I too was on Nexium for heartburn. I got off of it .I now take Andrew Lessmans’s Digest Assure before meals & Ultimate Friendly Flora before bed. They have greatly improved my situation. I carry Tums on me for the occasional flare up. Very satisfied. I feel like a new person.

[Vivian]

Yes, I kicked the habit. I had to do it...doctor’s orders. I have chronic sinus and allergy problems. What does this have to do with my gut? PLENTY! Since I had no acid in my stomach, due to the PPI, the bacteria in my nose and sinuses entered my digestive tract and caused a really bad intestinal infection. I never had the other side effects, thank goodness, but they are very serious for those who suffer them. I do, however take an over-the-counter Prilosec when the GERD is bad, e.g., if I have tomato sauce late at night or have a glass of cognac, neither of which I do often. I found low acid tomato sauce on Amazon and take Pepcid every day. I feel safer now, even though nothing works as well as those da**ed PPIs.

[LTT1]

As WE ALL know, I have had some rather weird health concerns over the last two years. Well, these concerns (which have been thoroughly inspected by doctors) 

have “morphed.”

AL digestive products have been part of the solution, and I take them every day, including the friendly flora.

The probiotic shown below was created to deal with the biome barrier. I do not intend to take it forever, but for now it is really solving my IBS issues and maybe others.

[NickNack]

I've been taking omeprazole for years.  Last year I started having breakthrough reflux again, and my doctor added Zantac at night.  My gastroenterologist said it would be worse to quit taking it than to continue.  Reflux can cause Barrett's Esophagus, which is cancer.  I have had no side effects from taking omeprazole.

[Slainte]

@Vivian from a long time GERD sufferer, have you read Dr. Jonathan Aviv's The Acid Watcher's Diet? The diet is strict but does work especially if you take ranitidine along with it. So many things trigger acid reflux, but once you learn to avoid them, it does get easier, coffee, chocolate, citric acid which is in so many food, alcohol, etc. The book also teaches you how to eat foods that help neutralize the acid in the stomach. 

For very severe cases there is a surgery, Nissen fundoplication, http://ddc.musc.edu/public/surgery/laparoscopic/fundoplication.html, which makes a stronger sphincter to the stomach. This surgery is also used in hiatal hermia cases.

Have you been checked for hiatal hernia? This often makes GERD worse.

Good luck. 

[I am still oxox]

I have asthma related reflux and tried to get off Prevacid and my relfux can back with vengeance. It was horrible. I have tried twice and not sure what to do the acid reducers did nothing.

I have to try again and will in the near future