carafate or gaviscon?

Just read your question about PPI. I had severe back pain and pretty sure it was the Dexilant. It also caused more chest pain from gas. I kept a sinus infection from about the second week on that stuff until I came off it as well. When I came off that stuff, the improvement started happening. Again, the PPI supposedly does nothing at all for bile.

I forgot to say I am adding a probiotic today and will get some metamucil as well---someone suggested a probiotic called Digestive Advantage Intensive bowel support---I found it at a local drugstore---

Hi Bethanie
Thank you so much for writing to me----I am four weeks recovery tomorrow and the past three days have been somewhat better in that I have less nausea...I do really watch my diet and have been on prilosec and gaviscon for about two weeks----maybe only a week of gaviscon---I have been advised to switch to Carafate because it is best for bile reflux but am afraid to rock the boat---did you have stones or a dysfunctional gallbladder? My only symptom before surgery was the terrible nausea for three weeks straight----then after CTscans, ultrasounds, endoscopy, small bowel scan, the HIDA scan showed a low ejection fraction----the bile diarrhea was there befor the surgery and seems better noe---I still have it sometimes but usually just once or twice in the morning---
were you waking up everyday nauseated? Luckily, I never actually vomited but nausea is debilitating---and for me the fear that something must be wron----so---
Thank you thank you thank you for sharing your experience-----I have a friend here who said exactly what you did---that it took her two months to really start feeling better---did you lose a lot of weight? I literally hardly ate before surgery and then even leass the first three weeks after---I have lost 13 pounds =---am 5'2" and weighed 118 before (about 2 mmonths ago) and now weigh 105---I will never complain about being a few pounds over again-----Sorry my posts are jumbled ----just talking fast in my head----Blessings---Lilly

Hey lil. Glad it helped you a little.

My story is a long one and I posted it back when I joined. I had problems for probably five years with no one ever checking the function of my GB. The GERD was really noticeable last spring and they started treating me with Nexium then. This spring after going in for my physical they tested me for Hpylori, which was positive. After the treatment for that, I just couldn't get well. I finally broke down and went into the Doctor in tears and ready to die. They ran the HIDA scan this time and I had a low function. I had been told for a couple of years that I didn't have stones but no one ever checked the function. When they removed my GB, my duct work was scarred because it had been so bad for so long. Ended up that I did have stones, no idea why the couldn't see them, sludge, scarring and what the surgeon referred to as "old infection".

I couldn't tell you where one began and the other ended to be honest. During the worst of it all, a four month period, I lost 33lbs! They didn't put me on carafate but some form of a cholesterol med. I think it was called Cholestid or something similar. I took it one day and didn't feel so great so didn't take it again.

I had a weird feeling in my stomach all day everyday for at least 3 or 4 weeks. Burning like I have never felt before in my life as well. Not sure I would call mine nausea but just an unpleasant unwell feeling.

Do have Dexilant but I am staying off it as diet seems to control the GERD now. Feel like the GB made my GERD much more aggravated before surgery.

Try to hang in there and give it some more time.......and yeah I know easier said than done. Truly feel like my life is improving now but I went so long so sick that now I have to deal with the emotional side effects of it all. : ( . Ahh well one thing at a time.

Just treat yourself well and even if you have a good day, stick with your diet and plan ....know this from my own mistakes along the road to recovery lol.

Bethanie

I guess that I just need time too....the weight loss scares me but I know that I literally can't eat much when I am nauseated. Also, I have had a pain under my left shoulder blade and in my left ribs on and off for the past five years---they did more x-rays today for that---however, in those five years, I never had gastro symptoms---
Right now I am just confused as to what to do. My scope showed inflammation also and I can feel the reflux but it causes no pain unless that pain on my left is part of it...I don't know whether to stay on the prilosec and gaviscon (which I think might fianlly be helping) or to try the carafate and get off the other stuff.....
I have emotional side effects too so I just can't imagine going through feeling that sick for as long as you did...do you take something for that? My doctor gave me xanax because I expressed my persistent worry...I take a half.25 in the morning and a half at night---it helps me sleep but doesn't really help the worry except for about an hour....I guess prayer has gotten me through thus far but this is exhausting----without the nausea, i would feel fine...and actually I have felt better since Monday---not perfect but better---less nausea---do you mind me asking how old you are? I am 61 but was so healthy before this started...I ran three miles every day and my husband and I bike ride for miles every weekend---I don't do either of those things right now---I will pray for you too---

I know I should switch to the carafate---My gastro doc wants me to take the PPI and the carafate so I guess it is worth a try---I am also seeing an accupuncturist and had my first treatment on Wednesday----also, seeing an alternative doctor---they took pictures of my left side shoulder blade and ribs---now fearful waiting for results and this morning I did more blood work.....
And I am not even sure what GERD or reflux is---I guess I have it because I get periods of nausea and it feels like it is in my throat but no burning pain-----and my scope showed inflammation---I had so many tests ---CT scan, ultrasound, HIDA, endoscope, small bowel scan, x-rays---my doctor says he doesn't believe it is anything serious because all the tests are okay except for the inflammation---oh well---you are right---I just need to hang in with a positive attitude--
What causes the gallbladder to malfunction?

Well--mine hit at 60---I am so skinny---I have aged from this---you are the first person who has said they have the pain in the left ribs---I thought it might be pancreatitis but my enzymes were not elevated and my GI doctor says the CT scan rules out that kind of cancer---he says he wouldn't worry too much because all my tests have been normal except the HIDA and the endoscopy which showed inflammation---did that pain in your left ribs and shoulder scare you---I have done so many neurotic posts now---I feel like a hypochondriac....

I had the endoscope---wouldn't that have shown a hiatel hernia? The gastro doctor said all he saw was inflammation thus gastritus---and I know I have reflux because I awaken feeling like it is in my throat---although no burning or pain in the chest----just right below my shoulder blade and into my ribs---some days worse than others---I have had this pain on and off for about 5 years but never before accompanied by gastro symptoms----
I began taking the carafate yesterday so hopefully, if it is bile reflux, I will feel some relief---thank you so much for writing and trying to help---
perhaps the GERd and gastritus can cause the pain---I can handle the pain---it is the bouts of nausea which are so difficult and the loss of much appetite---and mostly, the fear that i won't get better---however, I am visualizing healing, doing affirmations and going to an accupuncturist---and mostly, praying---again, thank you---lilly

I took the carafate yesterday and maybe it is my imagination but the pain seems better----I have the fingers crossed and the prayers going---if the pain and nausea go away, i am free from most of this---the diarrhea I can handle----so many people have so much more so I am trying to be patient.....

I know something is different but I have only had three doses----can I still take the gaviscon in between---what do you think caused this gastritis? Do you think my underfunctioning gallbladder did it? What made the gallbladder begin malfunctioning? Truly, I always thought I had a cast iron stomach until this... I have had the pain under my shoulder and in my ribs for some time--like five years on and off with no nausea or diarrhea-----could the pain have been gastritis or gerd without the feelings of nausea and the rest? Even though my pain is better today, and my nausea may be a little less, I still don't feel like eating although my stomach feels empty so I make myself eat....not much at one time---do you think the carafate will heal it? how long does it generally take? Also, I have what feels like some constipation today(I usually have that bile everymorning)---does the carafate do that?

how do they diagnose bile pooling in the stomach?

Well---I was a psychotherapist who specialized in anxiety disorders and now I am totally into my anxiety---I can't believe anyone could get through these symptoms with no anxiety---I have had two CT scans in three years so now I am afraid of radiation----see---I am obsessed-----Another good friend came by the other day and told me I should see her psychiatrist and get anti-depressants---I think I am sticking with the xanax---even that I don't like to take much but have needed it to get through this---i wouldn't sleep without it---I am looking forward to my accupuctiure this week and I also have an energy session with a guy who is coming from Austin suggested by the alternative doctor I saw...

Hi Bethanie,

My surgeon said that adhesions are not always visable on scans or scopes & they are usually only found during an operation. My hernia was also only small but it gave me plenty of grief & caused major pain.

My surgeon has been away & I haven't seen him since I left hospital until I went for a check up last week. He said my insides were a mess & it wasn't an easy operation (I was in theatre almost 4 hours). I had a stomach drain in for 3 days. My surgeon said he doesn't usually put one in but that I had a lot of bile in my stomach. At 9 weeks post op I'm doing ok. Still have the odd bad day but now knowing what they did to my insides I am happy to continue taking things easy for awhile longer.

Best wishes & take care

Lynda

I think they would have seen a hernia in your endiscope---that is what someone told me---and in your scope all they saw was inflammation-----