Sudden GERD after Antibiotic

Thank you for your advice, dalukas. You may have a good point for me. I am presently taking the H PAC for h-pylori. It is a triple treatment one is an antacid and two strong antibiotics. Tonight I had such severe heartburn, which I hadn't experienced for a few months. It seemed to happen after taking the Metamucil I find that when I use Apple Cider Vinegar, I can control my heartburn. I took two TUMS which helped a bit. I still have burning in the chest but the pain is gone. I am so nervous about taking anything while on the H PAC. However, I have such severe hemorrhoids and constipation, that I take a Preparation H to help the hemorrhoids and allow me to have a bowel movement sometimes. Today, I used a corticoid suppository from a past prescription. It didn't help. I take Metamucil but it doesn't seem to help the constipation. I keep wondering if I may be interfering with the treatment of the H PAC. I don't know what to do. I have become paranoid of bacteria. I can't sleep and I worry about everything that I take.

Crlannb1

It was probably from the extended dosage of diflucan that made you nauseous. Although, I can't take augmentin because of stomach upset. I would have the endoscopy done before I would consider taking any medicine for your symptoms. I know there are a lot of people that get relief from carafate, but it didn't help with my symptoms. I know two months seems like a long time, but your stomach may need some more time to heal from your antibiotic treatment. If after your endoscopy you decide to try PPIs again, remember that they more than likely won't give you immediate relief.

Sharon

I think that you all have a point. Do you eat a lot of yoghurt? I try to have some every day.

Hi Hester,
It took me a long time to get back to "Normal". I don't know if I know normal. But I don't have the acid repeats as often or as severe as I was for al while. I admit that yoghurt helps, I try to eat more sensibly and I try the best that I can to keep regular. That also helps.
Try your best and experiment on what works for you. That is always best.

Heather, the lemon water does not bother me. Do you boil the water and drink it like a tea. I find that best. Keep up the good work, all gets back to "Normal" at some point.

Hi Hester,
I boil my water. Not the same as microwave. I find that even coffee or tea done with water in the microwave is different. Try boiled water. You are lucky to have had a gastro, I only have had my GP.

Hi Mel,

I am going through this at the moment !!

I am 24 years old.

In May I was given Flucloxacillin antibiotics for an ear piercing infection, I had to take them on an empty stomach and after a day or so of taking mine I started getting really really painful indigestion and heartburn so bad that I in fact had to ring the dr 3-4 days into the antibiotics to tell them and they suggested I stopped taking them. I had hoped my symptoms would settle down after stopping them but in my case I seemed to get worse.

Ever since then I have been in a lot of pain with chest and throat pain, I was also feeling breathless and had a bad pain just under my sternum area like a gnawing pain for weeks so my dr said to take omeprazole, but I started getting bad pains in my throat while inhaling and got worried the omeprazole had made it worse so i stopped taking them, my reflux has developed into what appears to be silent reflux my dr believes, I have had a chronic cough for about 12 weeks, sore throat, hoarse voice, burning pains in my throat, I getting really painful sharp pains into my throat when inhaling on and off like the pains you get after you go running, I also get the sensation of a lump in my throat, acid in the throat and have been feeling generally unwell since May which is 3 months now!

I had to have an X-ray and a blood clot test due to the chest pains and chronic cough which came back ok.
I also had a h pylori test which was negative.

I am now being referred to an ENT dr so he can have a look properly at my throat.

I have also just started a low acid diet to see if that helps (Dr Jamie Kaufman's diet found in her cook book) it consists of an induction diet with a small list of foods you can eat during the first 2 weeks to try to combat the acid reflux. It's a small list and you can't eat anything pre packaged really or tinned, oatmeal for breakfast, vegetables excluding tomatoes and peppers, chicken, turkey and fish, brown rice and pasta (with no acidic sauce), no cream or butter or yoghurt, no sugar, the only fruits you're allowed are bananas and melon as other fruits have high acidity, you can drink only water or chamomile tea. It's really strict and really tough, I usually eat healthily but this is hard, but I'm willing to do it if it helps! I'm on day 2 so far.

I have also tried DGL, slippery elm, marshmallow root, aloe vera juice, ginger tea, baking soda, probiotics, manuka honey, chewing gum after meals, not eating 3-4 hours before bed time and have got through many bottles of gaviscon in the last 3 months.

I really really wish i'd never taken the antibiotics because I do think it's what triggered all of my issues I have had over the last few months every day :(

Hello Tu Wang,

I have dealt with anxiety and panic attacks since I was very little and am now housebound with agoraphobia due to it, so I do think my anxiety does make it all worse, from first hand experience anxiety really can make you ill and can make symptoms worse. It makes it difficult for me to have tests as I can't leave the house but a dr came out for some tests and I had to leave my house for the first time in years with the help of lots of diazepam for a chest X-ray at my local hospital.

I am currently just taking lots of gaviscon until I see my ENT dr, which I'm nervous about as il have to leave the house again which i haven't done so since the X-ray.

I don't know how I feel about PPI's, I really think all of my symptoms got worse after taking omeprazole for a week so stopped taking them, I also have b12 deficiency anaemia and have to have injections every few months at home and I have seen that use of PPI's can cause b12 deficiency so seeing as I already have b12 deficiency anaemia I don't particularly want to take something that can cause it as it could make my anaemia much worse.

I have been clinging to a hot water bottle for the last 3 months which sometimes helps. I have also been told I have costochondritis an inflammation of the rib cage which can feel like heart attack pains, so all in all anxiety, plus costo pain, plus reflux isn't great and each thing is probably making the other condition worse!

I have been scared to eat in case of feeling the lump sensation I've been having on and off it sometimes feels like my throat is almost closing and as if theres a big piece of food stuck in my throat or chest, I'm also on a really bland diet like you to see if it helps.

I hope your CT scan goes well! Keep me updated I'll check back to see if you've made any progress :)

The gaviscon doesn't really help me as I am not getting the normal heartburn/indigestion anymore those were my first symptoms in month one, but now they are all mainly higher up in my throat and chest, i still do take some because i don't know what else to do, but it doesn't really provide me with relief from the lump feelings I'm getting in my chest and throat and it doesn't help my cough, i take it more because I'm at my wits end and don't really know what to do, I've had symptoms every day now for 3 months and its making me pretty depressed.
I hope i manage to find answers at my ENT appointment. My GP advised me to take the rest of my omeprazole as a trial but after taking it the first time i think it made everything worse so i really don't want to, especially until I've seen the ENT dr and had a real diagnosis.
I too have been taking probiotics.
I hope your CT scan can give you more answers.

Hello, chuckblues!

My naturopath doctor prescribed me the following (and it looks like the formula that you mention):

melatonin - 6 mg
l-tryptophan, -200 mg
vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal 5 phosphate) - 25 mg
folic acid (as L-5- methyl folate) - 10 milligrams
vitamin B12 (as methylcobalamin) - 50 micrograms
betaine (trimethylglycine) - 100 mg

There was also methionine 100 mg - but i can;t take it due to stomach erritation.

I have a complex problem - issues with autoimmune conditions (pancreas, thyroid), lazy gallbladder and estrogen issues - all these make my reflux worse and i have bile reflux.

Also i am 100% gluten free since january and almost grain free (i eat only rice occasionally).

I take these pills for a 1,5 months and they seem to make me feel somewhat better but still not the best. I still have a lot of bad days and take Esophageal Guardian at night.

But i would say that all these worth to try.

Hi Eevie, I had my CT scan done last Thursday and got my result yesterday, Praise God all are normal. I'm now down to one Zantac a day 150mg. I'm taking Yakult 2 to 3 times a day right after my meal. I'm also taking a probiotic pill at night with food. I'm still going to my prayer healing group. This had helped me. I also was using some minty rub oil on my stomach, this helped too. Hope you're feeling better.

Hi Peabs/Paul. I started the GERD issue after antibiotics and Advil. Thank you for the Yogurt advice. I have difficulty taking in cold food. I can take Yakult for now. I will try the Yogurt soon. What other food that works for you? I'm eating rice and steamed fish, eggplant and bitter melon are the only veggies I can eat. Are you taking any GERD medications? I would want to stop taking my one Zantac once a day and replace with a good remedy. Getting headache and lightheaded sometimes from the meds. Totally the PPI (omneprazole and pantoprazole) did not help my situation.
Thank you.

Hi Andy1986,

As my story above. Diagnosed with GERD last June 14. This was because of mixed reasons. My dad passed away in February and I was on and off antibiotics and Advil. Besides i had upper radiation and chemo 8 years ago. That horrible feeling attacked in June without notice, I was feeling horrible every minute of the day. I was so scared and not eating. E.R. and doctor's visit and all test were done. Praise God all were normal but I was feeling horrible. I cried almost everyday and developed anxiety. I was not sleeping at all on those months. Sometimes 2 hrs sleep was the best night. Been on PPI for 6 weeks and Zantac right after. I wean myself (without my doctor's advice). That was my own well, and took some remedies. It was not an easy journey. I fought with acid rebound and delayed gastric emptying after I wean from PPI in July 24 and Zantac August 17 and few occasion (3 incident) took some Tums and Rolaids. I had that globus sensation on my throat, bitter and sour taste in my mouth. I felt so weak since taking PPI and was not able to drive for 2 months. My stomach was in pain all over and the back area. I had difficulty breathing on most part of the day on those months when I was taking PPI (Omneprazole and pantoprazole)

It's been 3 months now not taking PPI and I have been better everyday with diet and no meds. I am taking probiotics and now taking vitamins like Calcium/Magnesium, B12 and Vit D. My throat got so sensitive few weeks back and I just took manuka honey in the morning and before going to bed. It got better after 5 days. We might be different on a lot of ways but my personal testimony is...with prayers and by the blood of Jesus I got healed. I'm sleeping better and can sleep 7 to 8 hrs now. I have to do my part on doing the diet up until now. I'm ok drinking Boost from time to time if I'm on the road. The diet helped me realize that not all food I have to eat but eating is a fun thing to do. I lost 19 lbs but now I'm not losing weight anymore. I thank you all for all your ideas and help to this Forum. Peabs, CAGU, et all you are a big help to my road to recovery.
God bless.

Hi

I have an update, my Gerd is much better now, in fact it rarely bothers me. I think a combination of the meds below and getting psychiatric assistance helped me, as a lot of mine was related to my mental health problems.

I took culturelle probiotic which seemed to help too.