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How long has anyone been taking Nexium

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Posted 3/30/2007 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Christo,

I am sorry you are having such a hard time of it. Since this is still so new to you, it is likely that you are feeling the changes and problems more acutely. I've been dealing with this for nearly 5 months now and my attitude has gotten better, even if my GERD hasn't. Keep experimenting with foods and drinks and different solutions and you will learn more about what you can and can't do. I've had many lifestyle changes to make as well but I haven't given in to some of them. I still enjoy a beer a couple of times a week and the heck with the acid. It has changed my exercise regime to walking which doesn't stir the stuff up into my throat, and I have changed my diet. In regards to what I eat and don't eat now . . . the up side is that my diet is much healthier. This thing has forced me to take better care of myself and to take each day as it comes; both of which are good things to do. One CAN take other reflux meds with the Nexium (I actually stopped taking my Nexium because it stopped working for me after about 4 months). Gaviscon works pretty well before you exercise because it goes into your stomach and forms a foam barrier that sits on top of the liquids in your stomach (you take the pills with some water) and the foam barrier keeps the stuff from coming up. There are other things I have used in tandem when the reflux has been particularly bad. I am currently trying some of the natural methods and so far seem to be having pretty good luck with them. There is something you can get in the health food store called DGL licorice (read about it on the web) that you take before meals and so far it seems to be doing me some good. Apparently it the effects are better over time. And I am drinking aloe vera juice - 2 oz. twice a day - which tastes REALLY bad but I must say is really helping. I have a small hiatal hernia so I know this won't ever go away so I am doing my best to live well with it.

Good luck to you. Check back through some of the old posts here to learn more about the DGL and other natural remedies. There are some on the board who swear it has almost cured their GERD.

Tummytuck
Posted 3/30/2007 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I forgot to mention that to help with my bad breath, I chew Big Red gum. The flavor stays around, the spicyness of the cinnamon actually disguises any acid feeling I might have in my throat and I swear that chewing gum helps keep the acid at a minimum.

Tummytuck
Posted 3/30/2007 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
I actually read an article on MSN that states that Saliva nuetralizes Acid, and chewing gum makes you produce and swallow more saliva which nuetralizes more acid!

I read about it, but its really cool that you discovered it on your own.

Posted 3/30/2007 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Gee, then maybe it's not just my imagination that it seems to help.

Tummytuck
Posted 3/30/2007 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I haven't seen the big red gum here, but I'll look out for it next time I'm in the supermarket. You are right about this forum. There's a lot of very good information and many others I can learn from. It is still very early days for me, but I suppose at least I have a diagnosis - although it might not be complete.

I really appreciate your honesty about the beer. Coping with restrictions and then seeing no real improvement is the hardest part of this illness (or so it seems). That said, there probably is improvement and I'd be a great deal worse if I was doing nothing and taking no medication.
Posted 4/2/2007 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hang in there, Christo. It will get better. Just keep experimenting with different foods and different solutions. Keep a diary if you have to and don't let it control your life. It's mostly just a huge pain in the
a * * .

Tummytuck
Posted 4/3/2007 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Christo,

One summer, when I had the beginning of GERD, I felt I cured myself of it by all the cycling I did. Of course, I am not a racer, and I have an old Raleigh 3-speed that I sit upright on. I'm sure it wouldn't be the same, but you might enjoy this type of cycling.
Posted 4/3/2007 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tummy Tuck and Bobby, I will try riding, sitting upright. At present, the only exercise I do is a 45 minute brisk walk in the morning before breakfast. I might incorpoate a half hour ride before my evening meal.

My day is now so regualted by the clock and meal times, but I am sure we all face this. I would love to read reprts of individuals who have actually beaten this curse. How nice it used to be to come home and sip a wine with my evening meal. How I long for a beer or two on a hot summer's day. How I miss Thai spicy seafood salads

Anyway, I realise my emotional support will come from sites like this. I cannot expect too much help (and certainly no sympathy) from the doctors. I will keep taking nexium and put up with most of the restrictions for the next 3 months. After that, I'll reassess everything.

Speaking of restrictions, how many of you break the so called rules? And what rules are safe from time to time to break? For example, who still sneaks the odd coffee in the morning? Who still drinks 3 o4 4 alcoholic drinks one day of the week? For me it's only early days, but if I cannot eat or drink more freely after 8 months, I am going to seriously consider surgery. However, I don't even know whether that will ease the restrictions on diet/ lifestyle etc
Posted 4/3/2007 1:21 PM (GMT 0)

Christo,

Please read about the surgery before you consider doing it.  The success rates aren't very good and the results don't last long.  Doctors are VERY reluctant to do the surgery and I think will only do it if a person has had alot of problems with esophagitis and is refractory to treatment.  I don't mean to discourage you, but be prepared to accept that surgery might not be the answer.  I wish it were that simple because I would pursue it as would most of the people on this board.

I break the rules sometimes and suffer the consequences but I find that most of the time I can deal with the consequences.  For example, my husband is the king of the grill cooks - no gas for him, he is a purist and uses only charcoal.  Well, he made this great chicken Sunday night with an orange/tangerine sauce and boy did it hurt afterwards.  So, I took some Gaviscon and felt much better though not perfect.  He plans on using the leftovers for sandwiches tonight and I will probably partake but will have my Gaviscon ready to go.  I'll have a couple of beers a week or a margarita but I try not to have more than one at a time, a good thing all the way around. 

I encourage you to try some of the natural methods.  I find that they are helping me quite a bit.  Start with the aloe vera juice.  The stuff tastes absolutely awful but it really soothes the burn.  Drink about 2 ounces in the morning after breakfast and another 2 ounces after supper.  You can get it at any health food store.  The jury is still out for me on DGL licorice but at least it isn't doing any harm.

Heck, at this point, what have you got to lose?    Tummytuck

Posted 4/5/2007 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I certainly won't be having surgery yet - it's really just a hope this horrible period will end and that I can one day resume life as it once was. Are there any threads on life post surgery? I would still like to read them even just to pass the time.

I have had pretty bad asthma (possibly triggered by Gerd) so I really do have to find a workable solution. I am not really happy with either my Gastro or GP, but the astma specialist might be able to help me. I have a pretty difficult road ahead!
Posted 4/5/2007 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you find some solutions. Hang in there and keep us posted.

Tummytuck
Posted 4/9/2007 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
My dose of Nexium has just been upped to 80 mg and I was told by the the Doctor and pharmist that it was safe to take. Just a thought - perhaps a smaller (or insufficient dose) might build up resistance and actually be more harmful. Anyway, I need a bigger dose. I have just come down with reflux related laryngitis.

12 months I'll give this and then it's surgery for me.
Posted 4/10/2007 6:51 AM (GMT 0)

Dee75 said...
I have been taking Nexium for two weeks and they say it will take two more weeks before it kicks in. They think I have LPR. If the Nexium doesn't help then they'll start me on allergy shots. I've been sent to an allergy specialist.
Hope I'm doing the right thing. Dee

Hi, this is pretty interesting. Why do they suspect allergy? {I've never actually heard of an allergy shot} What is the relationship between allergy and LPR? And what medications besides PPIs are used to treat LPR?

I will be interested to see how you go. Maybe you can help us all if your doctors are on the right track.
Posted 4/10/2007 11:26 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Christo.  i currently take 40 mg aciphex/day, and I certainly could use  more.  My problem is the insurance won't pay for more.  I have to fight to get them to pay for 40 mg--they only want to pay for 20 mg.  My GI doctor has to get preauthorization to up it by 20  mg.  Instead of taking more aciphex, my GI told me to take zantac right before bed (when you're lying down is when the damage from reflux occurs), and I supplement throughout the day with rolaids.  It's not a perfect regimen by any means, but it keeps the symptoms at bay most of the time.  I'm reluctant to do the surgery because I've heard it can lead to other GI problems and I've got enough of those.  GI said it was safe to take any of the OTC antacids (and acid blockers) in combination with the PPIs.

Elcamino

Posted 4/10/2007 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
indersonu,

The aloe vera juice doesn't bother me one bit, except that the taste is awful.

Tummytuck
Posted 4/11/2007 11:51 AM (GMT 0)

elcamino said...
Hey Christo. i currently take 40 mg aciphex/day, and I certainly could use more. My problem is the insurance won't pay for more. I have to fight to get them to pay for 40 mg--they only want to pay for 20 mg. My GI doctor has to get preauthorization to up it by 20 mg. Instead of taking more aciphex, my GI told me to take zantac right before bed (when you're lying down is when the damage from reflux occurs), and I supplement throughout the day with rolaids. It's not a perfect regimen by any means, but it keeps the symptoms at bay most of the time. I'm reluctant to do the surgery because I've heard it can lead to other GI problems and I've got enough of those. GI said it was safe to take any of the OTC antacids (and acid blockers) in combination with the PPIs.



Elcamino


My normal doctor has changed my script again: Nexium back to 40 mg; Tazac 150mg morning and night. Cathe is right - 40 mg of Nexium is the maximum you should be taking daily. My doctor has also ordered upper abdominal ultrasound.

Question: does anyone know of any negative interaction between Nexium PPI and Tazac (nizatidine) a H2 blocker?

80 mgs of Nexium nearly burnt a hole in my mouth.
So far I have had an endoscopy and it showed that my stomach is clear. Are there any short or long term dangers taking either H2 blockers or PPIs?
Posted 3/12/2009 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Cathe, would you please post the link to the study that shows Nexium caused stomach cancer in mice?
Posted 3/14/2009 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know if this helps...I started Prilosec about 20 yrs ago, then moved to Nexium for probably 7 or 8 years. Four years ago I was switched to Protonix. The Protonix seemed to work better, but still (at 40mg twice a day) didn't solve the problem for me. I didn't like taking PPI's all those years, but I didn't really have a choice...the reflux was bad, and affecting my asthma.

Finally, I'd had enough. The PPI's weren't really working for me (luckily I didn't have any obvious side effects--of course I always worried about the changes it made in my stomach and body), so I finally had to consider the lap Nissen surgery.

Hopefully it'll work.
Good luck in your search for an answer.
Denise
Posted 3/16/2009 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
40mg 2xdaily for 2+ years. I have been on nexium 1x daily and others (zegrid, aciphex, protonix, prilosec, prevacid) for 10 years or so...I'm only 25 years old.
I, w/ the advice of my doctor, tried stopping nexium cold turkey and it was awful. I would suggest tapering off the medication if you plan on quitting. I am trying to only take 1/day when I can but mostly take 2/day. I also had an insurance scare earlier this year that made me worry if I could be covered for 60 40mg's / month. One month, I was only able to take 1/day and was forced to buy a bunch of prilosec to supplement the nexium. My insurance has since accepted the 2x40mg. Thank God.
Posted 5/29/2009 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on prilosec for over 12 yrs. and have felt really good. I have gerd relating to a hiatal hernia. No side effects or ill feelings from it. It has been the best thing I've ever done to keep my gerd under control.
Posted 5/29/2009 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
gentleman k

Welcome to HealingWell and the GERD/Heartburn Forum.

Thank you for your input and please do stick with us. We love new members here in HW.

Kitt

 

Posted 5/15/2013 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
hello,

     IM 26 YEARS OLD IVE HAD H-PYLORI about A YEAR AGO AND TOOK ANTI-BIOTICS AND GOT RID OF IT BUT NOW IVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH GERD AND IM ALWAYS BURPING STOMACH BLOATING EVERYDAY AND COMETIME HAVE CHEST DISCOMFORT FEEL LIKE AIR PASSING THRU MY HEASRT PRETTY SCARY... IVE BEEN TAKING NEXIUM FOR A MONTH IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS WORKING A LITTLE BUT THEN STOPPED AND MY SYMPTOMS GOT WORSE.... I DRINK ON THE WEEKEN WHEN I GO TO THE CLUB TRY TO AVOID THAT I USED TO SMOKE WEED EVERYDAY SINCE I WAS 13 AND I STOPPED BUT OCCASIONAL STILL HIT IT VIEW IMAGE..

IM ALSO RAPPER/MUSICIAN AND USE MY VOICE ALOT AND TEND TO HAVE PROBLEMS SOMETIMES WHEN RECORDING THIS HAS EFFECTED MY LIFE DRASTICALLY BUT I REFUSE FOR IT TO TAKE OVER...NOT TO MENTION IM SKINNY ALREADY AND CANT EAT CERTAIN FOODS FML....SUXXX BUT W.E IM HANKFUL TO BE ALIVE...DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS CURABLE???

Posted 5/15/2013 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on 40mg once a day for 13 years. I went for Pre-op testing last month for Linx but my motility is weak. So until something new comes out I will be on Nexium for the rest of my life.

 

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