When Nexium doesn't work...

Bland diet is not the key - LOW ACID DIET IS THE KEY. See all my postings about ALKALINE DIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My GI gave me Protonix, and it works sooo well. I love it!
Well, there are certain things that will trigger your acid reflux, so you have to watch for them.
I get really bad acid reflux no matter what, so I talked to my doctor about it.
It was so bad that I felt like I was throwing up in my mouth----eeww!
He prescribed protonix, it seems to work for me

 

I talked to my doc and he said what my problem is was acid hypersensitivity, and that I need to take a PPI in conjunction with a med like Zelnorm

Ok, which threads should I be on the lookout for then Danie?

Closetfire,
What kinds of food are you eating? Are you staying away from foods that cause heartburn? Try to watch what u eat and drink. My doc said not to drink too much liquid during meals. I also don't drink cold water, I read that warm liquids are better. I'm always drinking chamomile tea, nothing with caffeine, not even decaf.
You know if you've been taking these drugs you just can't quit cold-turkey(if you're thinking of it). You will feel miserable for a few weeks. You should taper off until your body adjusts. It's easy for someone taking prilosec to quit after 1 month. Not so if you've been on it for years(or any other PPI for that matter). I still think it's better to talk to a doctor especially if you have other health concersn.

Hope you feel better.

Here's my two cents....I think there's a difference in plain heartburn and GERD. I think heartburn (burning sensation in stomach and lower esophagus) can be controlled with diet changes but when you have persistent reflux (acid liquid rising into your throat) even at night when not eating anything, then I think your LES muscle has been weakened to the point that it opens and closes like a door flapping in the wind. When this happens. diet changes won't completely solve the problem. Has your doctor mentioned anything about your LES being weak.?

Also, your body does get used to these drugs requiring more and more drug to reach the same effect.

Good luck...I really feel for you...and no what your going through.

Closet,

What EXACTLY are you eating? If it's anything processed, or sugary carbs (reg noodles, reg bread, rice, etc) you are doin it wrong. Are you eating 100% whole wheat bread? Keep in mind a lot of packaging says its 100% whole wheat, but you have to read the package.

Seriously, plain chicken breasts, salads, steamed veggies, fruit, Zero soda, beer, spirits and TIME will help dramatically.

Hi c3honey84
I've been drinking hot tea (camomile and ginger) and it helps. Try also bland diet. Try to meditate or relaxation techniques to ease ho stress as per this has contribute a big part of our stomach issue.

If there's anything I've learned over the years of dealing with GERD, gastritis, and esophagitis is that digestive issues can be complex and VERY unique to each individual.

I've been experimenting with different PPIs and different foods and learned that what works for one person might not work for another. In my specific case, when Nexium did not work for me my next gastroenterologist put me on Dexilant and that seemed to help.

But it only dealt with some of my symptoms and did not address the underlying cause, which in my case was diet and lifestyle. Though I do not necessarily recommend this for everyone, for me it was the right decision to get off Dexilant. A bland diet wasn't enough either, it had to be a low-acid and low-inflammation diet.

The first 4-6 weeks were the toughest because I was in agony and a lot of discomfort. I lost a lot of weight because I was only eating homemade baby food, applesauce, and banana and peeled apple slices during that time period.

I stayed away from all processed foods and after a few weeks I added sushi and miso soup and small amounts of steamed rice to my diet. I then added chicken vegetable soup. After two months I added vegetable and protein smoothies. I still have a ways to go but after four years of dealing with trios to the ER, different specialists, and trying lots of different kinds of foods, I'm finally starting to feel better.

My new gastroenterologist was skeptical at first but now she seems to be a believer that what I figured out was working for me.

Closetfire

You sound exactly like me. Honestly, the Nexium isn't going to help, and no PPI is going to take away the pain. You would be better off cutting down to 20mg twice a day so you don't strain your liver on such high doses. That will block virtually all acid.

I am in the same boat, I am in pain all day, varying intensity and eating certain things or drinking too much fluid is just excruciating. We need help but I think you will be wasting your time with gastroenterologists to be honest. They are usually out of their depth with people like us.

I know this is going to be difficult to hear, but I think this is a psychological issue. Now Im NOT saying this is in your head, or caused by stress. Your pain is very real, I know, I am in the same boat. For 4 years I have resisted accepting this, I have seen all sorts of Drs and gastroenterlogists and tried every supplement imaginable. Nothing worked, or it worked temporarily but the pain just blew through it again. You know when I felt best? When I stopped seeing Drs for a year and just got on with life. I still had pain but over that year it did reduce. But I didn't get fixed because I wasn't having proper treatment for psychological issues.

This is an illness, just like a virus or any other, many people will act or tell you that you just need to relax and de-stress. Well I can tell you that it is no where near as simple as that. I have been doing relaxation therapies for years, and whilst they are tremendously helpful with coping, they wont necessarily cure a psychological disease. Because it is an organic disease, your brain cannot interpret things properly, and the nerves in your esophagus are sending signals to the brain which it reads as PAIN, even when there is no real damage being done.

Many people dont even realise they are suffering major depression or anxiety because the pain comes before a lot of psychological effects. But they need to be treated in the right way, which is by a psychiatrist, with anti-depressents and therapy. Many anti-depressents also have the added bonus of reducing pain. I am on one which does this and it has helped take the edge off it.

It has taken me a very very long time to really believe that my pain is a manifestation of psychological issues, 4 years of suffering, and I am still in bad shape. I only started therapy a few months ago and still dont know whether I've found the right medication for me. I am still very depressed and anxious, but I hold out the hope that because there is nothing physically wrong with me, one day my brain may start functioning correctly and stop thinking everything is painful.

There are a couple of things that make me think I have a psychological issue. The first is that I get pain straight after eating. This is not typical of GERD, which is usually painful 30-180 mins after once the stomach has secreted acid etc. The second is that I have never been woken up from pain in the night. Yet I have woken up with reflux and a few seconds after waking the pain appears and then becomes excruciating. These aren't typical GERD symptoms.

Finally I will say this, even though it may be a psychological issue, you NEED to treat it also as real GERD, in that you should figure out what foods work best for you and what to drink etc. Some supplements can help, and following the usual GERD advice can keep the pain manageable.