I quit the PPI's and I feel better!!!

I have been off of the PPI's for 5 days and I am feeling beter!!!  The last two days I have had more energy and I have been able to eat with out feeling like hell afterwards. 

Was it the PPI's that were casuing most of my pain???

I have tried to stop them before, but after a week I had an episode with a lot of pain and reflux, so I just gave up and went back on the meds.  I've now learned (from this forum and then asked my doctor) that when you stop taking the PPI's you get acid rebound.  Your stomach produces too much acid for a while so you can feel like you getting worse at first.  I plan to stick it out this time and see if I get back to normal.

When I say normal I mean back to the way I was before I started taking the PPI's.  When my heartburn first started it was pretty mild.  I had a slight pain in my chest, but nothing to serious.  I still wanted to know if I had a problem, so I went to the DR.  The determined after some testes (chest x-ray and EKG) that I had GERD.  They put me on acipex.  It worked for a bit, but then I had more pain so they put me on a double does of previcid and sent me to the GI for an endoscopy.  The endoscopy showed that I had refluxing and that my espohagus was a little red, but it didn't look to bad.  They put me on a double does of Prilosec and sent me on my way.  After that is when I really started to feel sick.  I started having pain every day and that was the first time I tried to quit the PPI's.  I felt pretty good for a few days but after a week I gave up and went back on the meds.  The next time I quit the meds was to have a PH bravo study done.  I had to quit the meds 7 days before the test.  By the time the test rolled around I felt almost normal, so of course my esophagus looked fine to when they were down there.  Then about 4 days after the endoscopy/bravo I started having pain again so I went right back on the meds.  I just went back to the GI last week and he said that something else besides GERD is going on and that what is causing my pain.  He said that if it was GERD, the PPI's would have helped.  He tried to put me on anti-depresant and that is when I new it was time to fire him as my doctor.

My plan is to try stopping the meds and getting past the acid rebound.  Maybe I will go back to being normal with only a little heartburn that I can probably fix with diet???  I can only hope and pray!!!

I'm going to try it for at least a month.  The only way I'll go back on the PPI's is if I'm dieing.  If that doesn't work I think I am going to take some time off of work and go to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN.

I will let you all know how it goes!

Good luck, Jason. I'm about four days post-PPI's (on my GI's advice that I didn't need to take them) and am feeling slightly better. I do have some burning and nausea but, on the whole, I'm thinking it's getting a bit better.

I've found that celery works pretty well for me for temporary relief of heartburn. Also, a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in half a glass of water works some as well. It does give you the burpies, though.

Good luck.

I've got to say the low carb way is starting to work for me too. It took over three weeks. I realize that it may not work for some, but by cutting out white flour products and sugar it couldn't hurt. After that ...make a gradual shift to cut back a bit more. White potatoes set me off everytime.

Thanks Norm!

Good for you, Jason.  Those PPIs can kick like a mule, so don't get discouraged. I've read that the rebound effect can last for weeks.  For me, at least, it's worth toughing it out.

Seagal

Blood? Yikes. Think that's something you should check with your doctor?

I have been to see three differnt doctors about the blood. My regular doctor said to go to the ENT and the GI. The ENT did a scope through my nose down to my vocal cords and said every thing looked fine, but said the blood could be coming from my sinuses. (I don't think it is.). The GI said that he thinks the blood could be coming from gastritus as it happens when I have pain, but that they didn't see anything when they did the endoscopy. I had a chest CT a couple months ago and that was negitive. The blood is very concerning to me, but what else can I do?

Jason, you mentioned "a big lunch."  Big meals always do me in.  It's hard to stop, I know, if you're used to eating a lot at once.  Hope you get to the bottom of this blood thing. Shows how little the "experts" know, doesn't it?  You don't need the extra anxiety.

Seagal

Jason

I too have kicked the Nexium.  It's been about 2 weeks for me.  I was diagnosed with acid reflux about 8 years ago and took Prevacid for a while and then I stopped taking it because I didn't need it.  Then last summer, I was having a sore throat and felt short of breath.  Both the ENT doctor and the lung specialist said I had acid reflux that was causing both problems.  They prescribed Prevacid again but I switched to Prilosec because it didn't seem to work after a while and then I went back to Prevacid.  When that didn't seem to work, I suggested Nexium and they switched me to that.  After 2 weeks and no results, I called the GI and he suggested the Bravo test because he said the medicine should be working.  I had already had a stomach scope which he said didn't look too bad.  I just really didn't want to do another procedure and take a day off work and bother someone to drive me.  The doctor didn't even speak to me.  I called and talked to the receptionist and she talked to him and called me back to say I needed another test.  It just seems so impersonal.

I went to the GNC store and got some Papaya Enzyme and Apple Cider Vinegar to help with digestion.  Some days have been rough but I'm going to keep trying.  I've switched to Apple Cider Vinegar Complete tablets because the vinegar itself burns my throat.  I've heard that honey and Aloe Vera Gel both help to soothe and heal your esophagus and calm your stomach so I've been trying both of them. 

I also agree that some carbs have a bad affect on me, such as potatoes and bread.

By reading through this forum and from my own experience, I've decided that PPI's should only be taken for a short-term solution and then they just have negative affects after that.  I was taking the medication but not feeling well doing it so why take it?

Keep trying!

LFA

That's interesting. Papaya enzymes helped get me through the rough patches after I quit my PPI. I still take them occasionally if I eat a heavier meal. Some papaya pills contain calcium carbonate though and that neutralizes stomach acid, so I can see how they could cause problems. I stopped taking Tums for that reason. I use a papaya enzyme without the added calcium carbonate.

Well, tomorrow will be two weeks off the PPI's. I have had some heartburn, but it sems that white bread or anything with Wheat Flour really sets me off. I'm not sure if it's cieliac or my stomach just pumps out a lot of acid to digest that stuff. However, I still feel better than when I as taking the medicine. I've gained a little weight back which makes me feel better. I got the results back of the abdominal ultrasound I had last firday. Of course they didn't find anything. I have an appointement to go see a GI doctor at the University of Minnesota in a few weeks. Appearently the doctor has been there for over 10 years and is extreamly good. I'm hoping he can shed some light on what is going on, especially with the blood in my spit problem.

Interesting about the irregular heartbeat connection. I was diagnosed with GERD in early February. I've had irregular heartbeat (PVC's) for at least 10 years. Have had echo's, ekg's, nuclear stress tests & holter moniter, been told my PVC's (ectopic, or premature beats) are harmless. Anyways, they became much worse recently and my doc thinks there is a connection having to do with the GERD irritating the Vagus nerve (sp?) which gives me the more frequent PVC's.

Jason- you mention you gained some weight back? Did you lose alot on the PPI's? I've lost 17 lbs since this all started. I couldn't deal with the PPI's, either. I take Pepcid now, but still have problems, and am still losing weight. I wonder if my poor digestive system will ever be normal again.

Sami

Sami,

about a year and a half ago I was 223lbs. I'm was down to 170, but have came back up to 181lbs. I think I lost the weight for a couple differnt reasons. I think the PPI's were hampering my system from digesting the food well enough for my body to use it. Not to be gross, but I would see leaf lettuce and other veggies in my stool. I never had that probelm before I was on the PPI's. They made my stomach feel full for a long time after eating. Also, for the last year i have been eatting a lot less fat and calories and not nearly as much food at one time. I stopped drinking beer and pop and going out for burgers and pizza. I don't have 3 plates of spaggetti for dinner anymore. Lately I have been able to eat more becasue I have been feeling better. Today I have felt almost no chest pain and I went to the Chineese buffet for lunch!!! I have been off the PPI's for two weeks and am taking Acidolfolus before meals and Pepcid AC extra strength in the mornings. I have my bed proped up and use a wedge pillow when my back can handle it. Right before I go to bed I chew up a couple gaviscons to help hold every thing down for the night. I'm avoiding anything with wheat glutten and am watching my carb intake.

Seems like a lot of crap to worry about, but it worth it for days like today!!!

Haven't posted for a while because I have been busy and also feeling so well.  I have now been off the PPIs for over a month and I am feeling really good.  The last week I have been able to eat pretty much what ever I wanted with out a problem.  I feel like I did a year ago when the pain wasn't too bad at all.