HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Alternatives to PPI's Part 2

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic locked
1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/5/2014 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning everyone,

Haley, I also have fruit and natural almonds for my morning meal, I find that the melon really helps my throat if I have any burning, I have been eating watermelon every morning and my throat has been so much better these last few days.

Javery, I will be checking out your blog soon, glad you're feeling good today.

Lily, sorry you are still having a rough time, one would think you should be feeling a little bit better by now. I would think if you had went cold turkey that you would still be in the rebound as they say it could take months. But you are still taking 20mg right? If so I would have thought you would have adjusted and level out some, could it be the current ppi is not working for you? I just hate that you are suffering, and suffering while still taking 20mg of a ppi. (Hugs)
Posted 5/5/2014 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
For those of you who have a hard time of finding different foods to eat that don't give you any problems, I've posted a new blog post that contains the different meats, fruits, and vegetables that I have narrowed down that don't give me any problems. I tend to eat a different variety of things from the lists from week to week so one week I may have some pork and then not have any the next week. I really like it as I don't feel like I'm limited to just a couple of things to have day after day. I know for some they like to keep things simple so they just eat the same things over and over. But for me I get bored with that quickly and when that happens I start to eat bad.

I hope that this is helpful for some of you. 7 months ago I started off with just a bland diet but it has gradually grown and I think it'll just stay where it's at as I am happy with it. I also believe a good variety is much healthier as it is not possible to get all the nutrients your body needs in just a couple food items.
Posted 5/5/2014 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Javery, I think it is great that you can eat at Mcdonalds and have Pizza. I would kill for a piece of pizza about now. I know it would not sit well with me and I wonder if I will ever be able to eat anything really appetizing again.
I went to your blog but I am not sure what to do. Do I have to sign into it then how do I navigate to get to what you are writing. Sorry I am a bit dim when it comes to anything much on the computer that isn't really straight forward.
Did you deal with nausea when you were struggling with the switch from 40mgs to 20mgs and how long did it last if you had it. On the days I feel nausea I think it will never end and I will never be better. Today I have pain in my lower stomach. Now starting my 8th week into this. Shouldn't I feel more balanced by now? I am so sick of feeling sick it just gets me down. Sorry to moan on all the time. I hope one day I will have several days in a row of feeling well and be able to look at food and want it.
Posted 5/5/2014 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Mouche for your concern. yes, I thought I should be feeling much better by now. Yes, I am still on the 20mgs of Prilosec. I did a big jump for the 40mgs nexium to the 20mgs of Prilosec so maybe I am still adjusting to it I don't know. I was on Nexium for about 5 years and before that I was on 20mgs of different PPI's, all told for 10 years. I wish I had paid more attention to what the doctor was giving me when I went to the 40mgs Nexium and I wish I had paid more attention to the side effects. I have only made small improvements since my switch but at least they are improvements because I was really sick on the Nexium it was causing side effects. I was in a really dark place and sick all day every day. I couldn't drive or go anywhere on my own. So at least now I do have a day or two of feeling 'normal' now and again. It is the nausea that kills me because it also makes me feel off balance and everything is off kilter with it. Hoping for better days to come.
Posted 5/6/2014 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
Lily,

I wasn't able to eat that stuff without consequences. I had heartburn and a lot of gas from the pizza so I won't be doing that again anytime soon. I think I only had slight nausea when I first came off the PPI's and that was only for a day or two the first week. I'm wondering if the nausea is a side effect to the Prilosec you are taking. Are you still experiencing any heartburn or just the nausea? I would say that when you experience no more heartburn for about a week or two then to drop down your dose as this may help with the nausea more if it is a side effect. For my blog all you have to do is go to this url: http://healthyeatingandlivingblog.wordpress.com/ and it shows the newest post on top. You can scroll to the bottom to see the oldest post if you want.

BTW, I did a quick search and one of the side effects of the Prilosec is nausea.
http://www.rxlist.com/prilosec-side-effects-drug-center.htm
Posted 5/6/2014 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Javery, I just checked out your blog and think it's very helpful and I look forward to reading it each day. Thanks for taking the time :)

Lily, Mouche how are you guys doing today? Keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers for healing and feeling well again.
Posted 5/6/2014 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning everyone,

@Haley, all is well and I can say I feel really good this morning, just had my watermelon and almonds. Before all this reflux started I never ate breakfast but would have a good size lunch and a even bigger dinner, boy have things change.:) I have not had the constant burning in my throat for the last few days (thank you Lord) and have only had a little bit of belching every now and then. The headaches that I was having are now gone too, believing all will be well with my next step down.

I think will refilled my next script for the 20mg and then after that months supply I will go to the 10mg granulated Nexium packets. I need to figure out what I will pour them into. I know a lot of people use apple sauce but I can't stand the taste of it. I'll figure something out.
Posted 5/6/2014 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
Yay, that's wonderful news Mouche! As far as what to pour the granules into if you don't care for applesauce you could always get empty capsules and just put them in that and swallow them. Personally I love fresh applesauce no sugar added and buy it every week from the farmer's market on Saturdays in our neighborhood. But if you have no issues swallowing pills capsules are the way to go I think. Keep on feeling well!
Posted 5/6/2014 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Haley, I tried to get the empty capsules from the drug store when I was going to split my 40mg dosage in half. My phamacist told me they no longer sell them and I had to have a script for them. I tried looking in Walmart as someone said they have them but with no luck. Not sure when to look next, unless I order online.
Posted 5/6/2014 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
@javery, just read your blog, wonderful job and full of helpful info, I applaud you for taking the time to do it. I believe it will help so many suffering and not really sure what to do.
Posted 5/6/2014 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning everyone! Javery thank you for going to the trouble of sending me the link directly to your blog. I have read it and have found it very informative and helpful. I also went to the Prilosec website and read that too. I can't wait to try to reduce this medication. However, I think I am waiting until after I have the endo and colonoscopy in 2 weeks. I had nausea 10 years ago when I started this which was 'unexplained nausea' on the report. Eventually it did go away. I think a lot of my problems will go away once I can get off this medication. it long since served it's purpose and although I am somewhat nervous to be without it after 10 years I am ready. I don't have nausea all the time but when it is here, it is here to stay a while.
Mouche I think you are one of the lucky ones that can get off this stuff easily. Keep on moving forward and keeping us informed of your progress. Hayley how are you doing, have you decided on the tests yet? Keep on posting everyone I find the support is what I need. Thanks to all
Posted 5/6/2014 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'm doing better today but have been eating left over biscuits and gravy in the mornings. There's 2 more to go and I don't want to throw it away. They don't seem to be giving me as many problems as the eggs but I don't think I want to continue after they are gone. Need to make smaller amounts when we decide to have them but it's impossible to find 1/2 lb. packages of sausage. I think starting next week I'll go with fruit for breakfast. Possibly melon and banana. Although bananas gave me some problems in the beginning, but that was after quitting the PPI and not taking anything else so I may give that a try. I am adding strawberries to my juices but I hate buying them as they go bad so quickly. I'll probably just leave them out.

I am glad you all like my blog. It makes me happy and keeps me motivated to put more things on it. It's really tough trying to think of things to put on a blog sometimes and trying to find the time to do so. I have my photography blog but that's easier as it's just posting a photo and that's it. I don't have to think about what to write. I just go out and take photos, edit them, then post. I think for my next few posts I'll post information on different food types and what someone may want to stay away from due to what's in the foods. I'm also wanting to do some research on different vitamins and nutrients so I think it would be good to create some posts on those as well. The good thing is that I have stuff to blog about, but just trying to find the time is going to be the tough part. I probably won't be able to do a new post every day but I'm going to try. Hope you all have a good day.
Posted 5/6/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Javery, I will look forward to reading more on your blog. Food is a big issue with me. First of all, what to eat and will I be Ok after eating it as this nausea thing is awful. I have just been thinking and going back to my start of being on a PPI. I am going to write this so that I can get it straight in my mind. Back to 10years ago after taking Aleve and having awful heartburn that sent me to the hospital because I thought I was having a heart attack. My GP put me on Aciphex (thinking back) I started having overwhelming nausea on and off, off balance sweating etc. This went on for a couple of months and I was back and forth to see my GP. He didn't know what was up, so sent me to a Gastro Doctor. No mention from either doctors that the Aciphex might be causing it. I had the endoscopy the report said 'inflammation, mild gerd and unexplained nausea'. Keep on the Aciphex the doctor said it will help you. Since then the nausea has popped up several times with medicine changes. about 5 years ago along came the Nexium 40mgs. I didn't register that it was stronger than the 20mgs I had been on (stupid me). Most all the PPI's have a side effect of possible nausea. Even my current gastro doctor has not acknowledged that it could be the medicine that is causing it. At least he gave me the 20mgs Prilosec to switch to so that I have in effect cut the medicine in half. However, now that I have sort of seen the light I believe it is the PPI causing the nausea and without it I would probably be ok with the right foods and being careful. I really want to start to reduce and might start tomorrow even though I am having those 2 tests in less than 2 weeks. I just can't wait to get off this medicine but I have to do it slowly as I have a lot of ground to make up after 10 years. Sorry to ramble on but I wanted to have a sounding board to see what you think. Any thoughts would be appreciated - thank you
Posted 5/6/2014 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Lily,

I have something you can try to determine why you get nausea. I find it hard to think that you get it directly from the Prilosec as it is just reducing the amount of acid you have. Low stomach acid on its own shouldn't cause nausea, but what may be causing it is when your body needs to produce it, it's not there if that makes any sense. I found this article that has a little information in there about how someone can feel nauseous after eating protein because there's not enough acid to digest it. Taking this into consideration, do you get nauseous after eating everything? You should try to eat some foods with little to no fiber and no protein and see how that makes you feel. If that works then I would limit the amount of things that takes more acid to digest as that may be where the nausea comes into play. If this is the case it would be helpful to remove the skin from fruits and vegetables as that's where most of the fiber is. It would also be helpful to lower the amount of protein you take in to a minimum. I only eat 2-4 servings of protein a day. Try eating 1 serving of protein at lunch and 1 serving at dinner. Don't eat any protein for breakfast or snacks. Eat low fiber fruits and vegetables throughout the rest of the day. Bananas are high in carbs as well so they would also be good for energy throughout the day. If you eat complex carb items such whole grains, then that could cause it as well as they would need more acid to break down. I would do this for a couple days and see how things go.
Posted 5/6/2014 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone!

I am pazshalom, and I would love to be in this Forum. Everyone seems so nice. I have to go now, but I will write my journey with acid reflux soon. Have a good day everyone!
Posted 5/6/2014 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Javery, Thanks so much for trying to help out with this nausea problem I have. I have tried and tried to figure it out myself but so far can't find any sort of connection. I don't have it all the time just sometimes. I can get up in a morning and be nauseous and it might last until after I eat lunch. Sometimes it happens after I have eaten. Sometimes not at all and I feel fine. I don't really want food at all and seldom feel hungry these days. I don't eat protein for breakfast and always peel fruits and veg because I have never liked skin on anything. I haven't eaten any oatmeal in a few days and so have not had the 'something stuck in the throat' feeling. I do however love carbs and find I miss eating that English muffin, bagle or waffle along with my fruit. Mini-wheats were another favorite but I haven't eaten any of those either for a long time. I have always been a good breakfast eater. This is a complex situation and I am having a hard time figuring it out. I still get the weird feeling in my chest from time to time but other than that and the nausea of course I feel like I could start to reduce the meds. I bought some ensure yesterday to try to supplement my lack of interest in food but I am not sure that is the right thing either as it has a lot of stuff in it so I just drink a little at a time. I hope when I do the tests they find nothing then I can move forward and hope to get off the PPI. It is going to be a big change for me after 10 years. Thanks again for taking the time and looking into this for me I do appreciate it very much and will take your advice.
Posted 5/6/2014 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
I understand where you are coming from with being on the med for so many years and then having to make big changes in order to come off. When I first got put on them 8 years ago I thought it was the best thing ever. I was able to eat anything and everything and just toss the TUMS to the side. I ate like it was thanksgiving for just about every meal. I didn't have any specific times of the day I would eat or a set schedule. I just ate when I felt hungry for something and only ate what I felt hungry for. I would also often eat right before I went to bed. Over many years of doing that I started realizing that the PPIs were actually causing me more harm even though I didn't feel anything. I am happy I chose to get off them even though I didn't have the same side effects a lot of other people have. The only benefits I see to being off them is more energy and feeling my food empty from my stomach faster. That could also be due to how I am eating now vs. before I got off them as well. In any case, I do feel much better being off them in general. Sometimes I wish I was in the boat of only being on them for a few months then getting off, it would seem that would be easier than after years. I'm not entirely sure if I will ever get off the H2-blockers completely, but at least those don't block as much acid and are a little cheaper. I buy them from Sams Club and it's 100 tablets for about $24. So with 2 a day it comes out to be a little over $12 a month and 1 a day would be a little less than $8 a month.
Posted 5/6/2014 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
I think you have done remarkably well to get to the stage where you are now and I envy you your determination and the changes you have made. I too ate what I wanted while taking the nexium and thought it was wonderful and that I needed to be on it for the rest of my life. How stupid I was and wonder why I waited until this year when things started to go awry that I started to do some research only a little late in life really.
At the start of things years ago I only had a little heartburn from taking the Aleve which I popped like candy. I think the doctor on his report after the endoscopy put 'mild gerd' for lack of anything else to say. Nobody ever told me to stop taking the meds although over the years I had tried but always went back on them because I didn't know to 'wean' myself off them. At least on the positive side I am now only on half the dosage and the Prilosec is way cheaper than the Nexium ever was. I hope at some point I will be about where you are at. how long has it taken you to get where you are now?
I sort of lean to a more vegetarian diet in many ways although I do eat some chicken and fish. Rarely beef or pork. In fact I don't remember the last time I ate Beef. Do you ever eat beans? I love black beans and rice. Wondering if that would not be a smart move? Just ate hummus on cucumber slices. Not exciting but filling.
Posted 5/6/2014 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am at 8 months now of being off the PPI's. It took me about 6-7 months to get down to 1 pepcid, but now I'm back up to 2 a day. I'm hoping to be back down to 1 within a couple more weeks. It seems like it's much easier to go up in medications than to go down. Just shows how long it takes the body to heal itself.

I tried to eat beans for the higher carb content but they tend to give me problems so I stay away from them now. I'm not too worried about carbs. I find that if I eat 1-3 servings of a high carb item such as potatoes or rice then I tend to keep my current weight. I also get a lot of energy from fats from fish and beef for the most part so that needs to be taken into consideration. I'm getting a little bored with the fruits I've been eating but when it comes down to it, when I'm hungry, I don't really care what I eat as long as I get something to keep my satisfied. Every once and awhile I'll go for something I really want like ice cream. As long as I don't eat those items every day they don't seem to give me any issues, only when I eat them everyday.
Posted 5/6/2014 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Pazshalom!!!
Posted 5/6/2014 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
After reading it has taken you around 8 months then I don't feel so desperate. I will continue going slowly and hope I can manage it. Some people seem to have no problems getting off the PPI's but I knew I would after I had tried numerous times to just stop it.
I have not had ice cream in a long time. I have used lactose free products for years as dairy always made me feel bloated. I miss cookies and candy and crave them usually in the afternoons and evenings. I always thought for years it was mandatory when watching tv to eat tons of candy and chips - lol.
You are really helping me to stay positive on this journey and giving me ideas regarding foods. It also helps so much to see that I am not as abnormal and slow to recover as I thought I was so thanks again for your support.
Posted 5/6/2014 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lily, I eat mainly a vegan diet and I love black beans. They key is to use dried beans and make them yourself. That is no canned beans because there is too much sodium and preservatives in many canned foods. I take dried beans, (whether it be black beans or chickpeas etc) rinse them and soak them overnight and rinse them again and then bring the pot to a boil and then cook them for about an hour to an hour and a half to your taste preference. I add them to salads with vegetables (I love grilled veggies) and they are delicious.

Instead of rice (with the black beans) you should try Quinoa. It is very tasty and has more protein than other whole grains and is actually a seed. It provides all 9 essential amino acids making it a complete protein and it is a gluten-free. Another recommendation I have (but have not yet tried-it's been on my list of things to try for months) is something called Kaniwa which is a gluten free super grain...more protein and fiber than quinoa.

Glad you are feeling a bit better and more positive. Slow and steady that's the way to go. (((Hugs)))
Posted 5/6/2014 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hayley thank so much for the info regarding beans. I was going to open a can of black beans but now I will get some dried and cook them myself. I am the only one that will eat them my husband won't go near a bean he is a meat potato and veg man. I love chickpeas and red beans and rice (Louisiana style). do you add anything else to your beans except the water.
I read somewhere to avoid quinoa as it is acidic as are the beans really. But, then everyone tolerates things differently don't they. I need something different and tasty and that might do it. Thanks again.
Posted 5/6/2014 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lily, you're very welcome. I don't add anything to the beans as I am cooking them but I do add grilled veggies to the salad I put them in which makes it very tasty. My dh does all the cooking for me (except for the beans as it is the one thing I can cook lol) so he grills different things for me each week though my favorites are portobello mushrooms and grilled sweet onions. It adds just the right zing to the salads IMO. I don't find I react to any of that but as you said we are all different.

I just hope something I am sharing can be helpful to you. I will have to check the quinoa acidity as I have no clue. I find those lists stressful because some of my favorite (supposedly healthy) foods are on those lists:( However what I am eating so far doesn't seem to make me worse. What I am noticing right now is that I cannot tolerate any cold fluids. They cause my chest to hurt and get that uncomfortable squeezing sensation.
Posted 5/7/2014 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning everyone, how is everyone?

I had a episode of reflux waking me up last night:( I haven't had that happen in months, it wasn't as bad as others I have had but none the less it happen. I chewed two Gaviscon tablets and laid back down on my wedge pillow feeling anxious about it and praying it didn't happen again. It is such a terrible feeling bolting straight up out of a sleep not being able to breathe. I slept the rest of the night with out any problems.

This morning I woke up and the headache started and I'm feeling a little uneasy or I should say queasy. It is no where as bad as the first time I tried to reduce but I feel it none the less, trying to think what I did different the last couple of days. The only thing I can think of is I didn't eat a whole lot yesterday, now that I think about it I only had watermelon morning and evening, a piece of baked chicken, almonds and a small salad. Sometimes when I don't eat enough I feel like this, but that doesn't account for the reflux episode last night. Oh well I'm just praying that it will past and I can get back to having days like I had yesterday. I'm headed to the beach on Friday morning for Mother's Day and I know I will need to be careful when eating out and praying this feeling will pass so I can enjoy the time there.
✚ New Topic locked
123456789