Alternatives to PPI's Part 3

Lily, My throat's slightly better today, but yesterday my mucous were thick and so annoying! I had to clear my throat with more pressure which made everything worse. Good thing it's better now.
Hayley! Thank goodness the surgery went well. Praying for your continues recovery! I'm so glad that you're still feeling upbeat. That's good news for everyone!
Javery, wow I'm really glad that you're feeling better despite of reducing your medications! Keep it up!
Mouche, I'm inspired by your enthusiasm! I'll continue to pray for your successful treatment! Keep us posted!
Pazshalom, how are your symptoms lately? Are you feeling better now?

My moods are up and down lately, and I downloaded an app called Moodtracker where I could track my anxiety and mood levels! It's kinda entertaining-- going back to my previous thoughts and feelings. :))

Anyway, Take care everyone and God bless!

Dear Family!

I feel we are all like a family here.

Hayley,  I was praying for you  the 7th, I am so happy everything went well. You will recover pretty soon because you are a strong person.

Mouche,  I am so happy to hear that all is going well, You are really an inspiration, the Lord is with you and He will heal you, my friend.

Hello, Javery, Imilly, Mouche, Angel, Hayley, and everybody else.

I have been busy, but All of you are always in my prayers.

I have been reading the posts, and everyone of you have what I have!

The throat thing!!

I will tell you my journey:

I have been taking Zantac 150 mg twice a day, since I reduced the 40mg Omeprazol twice a day, I have been feeling better, not there yet , but better. In my trip, I run out of Zantac 150, so I took Zantac 75 twice a day, with not much difference of symptoms. In my trip in the evenings, I did not feel any symptoms, but I took the zantac anyway. BUT coming home, the symptoms came back!! Maybe I was more concentrated in them, I do not know.

One day in the morning, I had my smoothy and I took 8 pills, vitamins and the zantac, and later on I had NAUSEA and some stomach pain. Next day I did the same thing! and the NAUSEA was worse!  I stopped taking so many vitamins, and it seems like the nausea is gone and the pain is getting better, I hope.. I am crazy, I know.

I went back to zantac 150 mg twice a day.

I am taking the DGL 2 tablets before meals, and 1 after eating. Sometimes I just suck on one when my throat feels dry or sore.  I also take the SLIPPERY ELM, CHEWABLE.  These have help. Chewing gum for a little while after meals, seems like it heps, just for a little while. if not bups..

One more thing that I am taking and seems like it is helping is PEPZIN GI. Twice with meals.  This is suppoused to sooth the stomach linning and environment. Check the comments in AMA....

I am trying to drinK cammomile tea, it is supposed to get rid of inflammation. Good for the tummy.

And finnally,  I AM TRYING TO RELAX MY STOMACH MUSCLES, MY inside GUTS..It is a struggle, because I am always tense, even drinking water, I have to breath deep before drinking or eating and relax throat and stomach.

I see a difference when I relax all my muscles , but most importantly when  relax my stomach and my abdomen muscles, also  when I  relax  my mind!! Hahaha.

This is my story.

I hope all are doing well today, better and better, we are all together in this.

I send everyone a big HUG.

Pazshalom

 

Post Edited (pazshalom) : 7/12/2014 1:16:31 PM (GMT-6)

luvflowers said...
pazshalom

Thank You for your concern. I had the endoscopy on April 29. Started on the Omeprazole the next day. I did not get my diagnosis until about a week later which is when I began the Pylera for the H-Pylori. No, I think I am worse since I had it. I did not have these symptoms before.

How and when do you take the DGL Tablets. is it o.k. to take them while taking Zantac?

I really do appreciate all of you on this site, most comforting!

Blessings to all!

 

Dear Luvflowers,

 

I am sorry for the late answer.

 

I am taking the DGL chewables ith the Zantac.   I think everybdy is doing it,  I am not an expert, but maybe the other members can give their opinion.

 

You are not alone in this, you have all of us now. I was feeling so alone befire this Forum, but now I feel like we are all like family.

 

You are going to feel so much better after the bacteria PILORY is gone.

Blessings to you.

 

BIG HUG

Decided to drop in for another update. Yesterday was the first day I didn't have any TUMS at all. Went to bed just fine and woke up this morning with slight acid in my throat but less than when I first came off the pepcid about a week and a half ago. Since taking 1 DGL tablet this morning and juicing I haven't had any heartburn symptoms. The weekend is coming up quick though so we'll see how that goes. I'm very hopeful though because the DGL is now giving me just as much relief as the TUMS and I'd rather be taking DGL as it is a natural supplement. Based on how things are going right now I'm hoping that I'll be where I want to be in about a month or so where I won't get any more symptoms with GERD or LPR again as long as I continue with the way I am eating. I'm fine with that though as I like the foods I eat.

I hope each one of you are continuing to improve with your situations. All I've got to say about this is that persistence and patience are the key. If you find something that seems to be working then stick with it even if you have a few bad days here and there. It takes time for the body to heal and you need to give it that time. Giving the body the proper nutrients helps out greatly as it needs them to heal from the inside out.

Hi everyone, Hayley how are you doing? I hope you are not going crazy being immobile.
Javery, you seem to have been doing very well and now seem to be medicine free. Give yourself a big pat on the back. It has been along difficult journey but at last success. Have you been able to try different foods?
Anglecat, keep on going you will eventually get there.

I have been on 10mgs of omeprazole now for the last three weeks. A far cry from the 40mgs nexium I was on a few months ago. I am still having up and down days. I think I get overconfident on the good days sometimes then it all goes back to square one. I still have the throat clearing sometimes but so far the feeling of something in the throat seemed to go away for the most part after the first week on the reduced dose. I am almost nervous to get down to 5mgs and then completely off the PPI. I will use some famotidine that I can cut in half if I need it. Keep on posting everyone as it is always good to hear about the end results.

Yes, it is very hard to not have foods that everyone else is eating. I get very disheartened some times and wonder if I will ever stop feeling miserable and be normal. For the last 2 days I have had the sore throat and the something stuck feeling is back today. I think the problem was I made some very good stuffed zucchini and topped it with the French's fried onions without thinking. Last night I took a half a famotidine and today I have had the chewable alker selters. But nothing has taken that feeling away and my throat is still sore. I don't feel like I have heartburn just the throat thing which worries me.
Do you find when you take Pepsid or tums that the soreness goes away?

I also have throat issues. My throat (left side) has been sored for about 3 days. It's really hard to avoid the trigger foods especially when someone cooked for you or treat you outside. I had days of going out shopping and paying bills this past few days, and usually my sister picks the restaurant we eat to, which is always fastfood or italian. I don't take tums or anything. I'm afraid to take anything because I don't want to rely on medication! :( but im also considering the fact that meds can heal...right?

Javery, Thank you it is reassuring to know that the symptoms will eventually go away with attention paid to the correct food.
I feel sure my problem this last couple of days was the topping of onions. I did read somewhere that onions weaken the les allowing acid to flow upward. So based on that I think that is what happened. I didn't take any acid reducer last night except licorice which really helped. Today I have no symptoms so no more onions for me but they taste soooo good. I will just have to be very firm with myself. I do think we have to be so aware of the damage acid can cause and try to avoid the trigger foods.
I have just read an article that discussed the benefits of squeezing a 1/4 of a lemon into a room temperature glass of water and drinking it on waking in a morning. It seems that although lemons appear to be very acidic once in the body becomes alkaline and the drinking of lemon water first thing will aid in digestion for the rest of the day. Interesting don't you think?
Angelcat, if you know you will be eating out at places that don't really have the kind of food you should be eating then take tums or some acid reducer to help you. It isn't like you will become addicted to them like the PPI but it will help you so don't deprive yourself of some help.

Haley,

I am sorry to hear about the unfortunate news about your job. I know that is something that must be hard to cope with as our daily lives seems to revolve around your working lives. I'm hoping that your company has some understanding. I'm not sure what your daily activities at work consist of but I would imagine if it involves you to be on your feet a lot then it looks like there's not much you can do. If this isn't the case then I hope your company allows you to keep your job as it was an accident and I wouldn't think it's fair to you to be let go because of that.

As far as your leg goes, I hope that everything heals properly and you'll be as close to normal as possible once everything has healed. I know its hard to keep up with multiple things, especially when they are all not good. I hope you are able to find something to keep you motivated to be happy and you are able to find some new hobbies that can help take your mind off of things and make this all a little easier. I'm sure you'll find a way through all this and it'll make you stronger because of it. It is human nature to adapt and overcome these types of obstacles.

Thank you so much Javery and Lily for your kind words and good wishes. I really appreciate that.

Javery I am (well I was) on my feet all day and examine the ocular health of the developmentally disabled patient population. I love the challenge of what I do and the satisfaction I get from helping this population but I also know they cannot be without their eye health care clinician for 5 months as I am the only one eye care practitioner at the clinic.

Lily you are right. It is far better I will be able to walk even if with a limp. I don't mean to sound ungrateful. There are many so much worse off than I am. I was just mourning the loss of the active life I loved but hopefully as Javery wrote I will adapt and be happy and content once I heal and work hard at PT. I am very fortunate in that my husband and family and friends are so supportive and there for me. I know I am loved and I know I am not alone no matter what. For that I am forever grateful.

The pain can be intense and when the pain rules it is difficult to maintain my positive and upbeat attitude which is critical to well being and healing. Yesterday and today have been challenging pain days but I am feeling stronger emotionally and though I know there are plenty of more challenges ahead in the upcoming 5 plus months (the doctor said my functioning will continue to slowly improve over many years as well) and I am taking it one day at a time and even one hour at a time when it gets bad. And I am incredibly motivated to work as hard as I can to heal and get as much of my function back as possible. I cannot control what has happened but I can control how I deal with it and how I feel about it all. And I will not let this define me. I am still me no matter what and I will be OK G-d willing.

I hope you guys are doing well and I think of you often too. My orthopedic surgeon told me I have to eat more protein and also gain weight to heal and I have been following his orders and I find that while my burning is still there it is less intense most of the time. I wanted to share that with you just in case it could be helpful. I am not normally a protein person but I am very motivated to heal and do what is necessary so make sure you are all getting enough protein. Though I think that is something you are all doing very well especially Javery.

Continued best wishes and healing vibes to everyone and thank you for your encouragement and support. (((Hugs))).

Thank you Angelcat. I am not brave but just doing what I must because there is no other choice.

I am getting cabin fever because I am a very active person and enjoy outdoor sports and such so this is 180 degree change in my life right now. During the weekday when my dh is working it can be a challenge though I do have friends and family visiting between their work schedules and I am grateful for that. Anything that breaks up the monotony is much appreciated.

The thought of not regaining my active life once I heal and do PT is terrifying but I am going to do the best I can and that is all I can do. And I know attitude is critical so that is why I am determined to be strong and not let it get me down. Though I have moments of weakness. When the pain is intense it is much harder to remain upbeat but as I wrote I am taking it one hour at a time.

Thank you for your encouragement and support. I hope you are doing well and sending hugs and good thoughts your way!

Javery, I am so glad you posted on your progress. This Forum has been very quiet and I have missed watching how people are doing. You have definitely made massive improvements in a year. I am envious that you can eat some barbequed foods. If the one Pepcid you take at night gives you quality of life then it is far better than taking the PPI. Are you still growing sprouts?
I also get the clearing throat and mucus as well although I haven't felt much heartburn lately. I do sometimes get an ache in my chest which scares me. I am still on the 10mgs of omeprazole but I think I might go with the 5mgs in another week or so. It seems for me every time I reduce the PPI I feel fine until around the 3 to 5 weeks mark and then I don't feel well at all. It will be on and off for around 2 weeks then I start to rebalance again and seem to do fairly well. I have the problem though when I do feel well I tend to eat some things I shouldn't and then I think that is what gives me the throat thing. Each time I reduce the medicine it is not as bad as the time before so I know I am rebalancing and not feeling much heartburn. I sometimes chew a couple of the alker seltzer antacids and they seem to help. On occasion I have had to take 20mgs of famotidine but I try not to take them.
I will be going to see my GP next month so it will be interesting to see what he has to say if anything. I haven't seen him since February when I was feeling so bad on 40mgs nexium which I believe caused the stomach inflammation. He didn't have much of a clue and told me to get off the nexium and take 40mgs famotidine. That didn't work as I was as sick as a dog for 3 days only to get back on the nexium again.
I hope everyone else posts once they get notices. I hope Hayley is doing well and would love to read about Mouche angelcat pazshalom and anyone else I have left out (sorry). Lily