I haven't posted in this forum for a while, but wanted to update everyone on my situation.
For those who don't know me:
In March 2011, I started to experience terrible symptoms from LPR/GERD - and found out soon after that - that I could not tolerate the PPIs or H2s (they used to give me terrible side effects: tingling, insomina, knee aches and so on). I tried a lot of natural things (including probiotics, DGL, juicing, breathing exercises, acupuncture, homeopathy) - saw many many doctors (including Dr. Kaufman in NYC who did neuro tests on me etc.), learnt so much from you all on this and other forums. Some Drs. also had me try neuro-drugs (gabapentin, SSRIs, wellbutrin etc.), to see if they can offset my side effects but back then - they would give me other side effects, so I abandoned those plans then. I was pretty much convinced that without getting the surgery, I'll have to live with these symptoms forever.
I continued to struggle with my symptoms through the summer of last year and had been evaluating TIF, Nissen and LINX etc. ... and even though I came very close to getting the surgery, I did not pull the trigger.
Then some time later in the summer, I changed my GI and the new GI put me on a combination of Elavil and a higher dose of Aciphex. Elavil used to make me groggy in the mornings and also make my hands and feet a little achy ... but I continued on it for a couple of months. I was also taking Gavison Advance (Liquid Aniseed Flavor from UK) as well. Then, on the direction of my GI, I tapered off of Elavil by November and was also able to reduce Aciphex down to 20mg/day - and recently to 20mg/every-other-day.
In the last 2 months, I've continued to feel better.
So, in the last 2 years of this saga - I can safely say that I am now feeling my best on the regimen of:
1) 20mg Aciphex every other day and
2) Gavison Advance the night of the days when I don't take Aciphex.
Of course I am not fully cured and don't expect to be - as I do continue to experience some reflux symptoms (they are more of GERDish symptoms now .. not LPRish symptoms at all) and at times, I also feel some side effects from Aciphex - but they are minor and are much more manageable now.
At this time, I feel I have my life back - I am fully engaged both at work and at home with the kids and family, am able to eat and drink in a pretty much normal way and hope to start back on my running schedule this spring.
So, I do want everyone to stay hopeful .. this beast is manageable .. so hang in there and continue to find a solution that can tame it!
My username is not really accurate here anymore though :) as I've been on Aciphex for the last several months now!
Post Edited (PPI-LESS) : 1/26/2013 6:36:52 PM (GMT-7)