Posted 4/27/2012 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on omeprazole at 20mg 1x a day, 20mg 2x a day, and have also tried ranitidine twice a day. Also tried using Omeprazole and ranitidine together.
When I am using them, my main side effect is a sour bitter taste all day to various levels, except of course when I'm actually eating. When I am off them, within a few days my old symptom returns which is a very tight throat and lots of swallowing. I think probably all the swallowing I was doing was keeping the reflux down so I don't have as much of the sour taste then.
My only real symptom of GERD, and the reason I went to the dr. in the first place, was the constant throat tightness and swallowing, I really never had heartburn or any other pain so I was surprised by a diagnosis of GERD. When on acid blockers, the throat is much less tight and I am swallowing at a much more normal rate but I believe the throat is still irritated even with months of taking PPIs, and whatever is causing the sour taste is wearing away at the esophagus or not letting it heal. Plus whatever it's doing to my mouth/teeth.
I did have endoscopy and they found inflamed esophagus and squamocolumnar(sp) junction consistent with acid reflux, and a hiatal hernia, and a 24 hr PH test off acid blockers showed sour taste associated with "weakly acidic" reflux and 120 belching episodes mostly related to "acid" reflux episodes. But I'm thinking now that the excessive belching is from the hernia.
Has anyone else dealt with this while on PPIs? And the big question, is there anything one can do besides surgery (other than the common lifestyle advice related to heartburn)? I'm frustrated with this because I haven't found lifestyle changes to make any difference for me (I'm thin, 34, no smoke no drink, no coffee, small lowfat meals, etc.).
Thanks for reading and for any ideas.