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Stopping Nexium

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Posted 2/27/2011 4:48 PM (GMT 0)

Hi, been reading through the site and appreciate the information. 

I have been on Nexium for close to 6 years, until recently hadn’t noticed any side effects.  In the last 4 months I’ve been to the ER 5 times for what I thought was a heart attack, my symptoms were like the checklist for a heart attack.  The  chest pain has been pretty consistent each time, other symptoms; muscle twitching, light headed, heart racing, anxiety, pain in left arm, numbness left hand fingers (rare), muscle pain in the legs, bad chest gas, overall feeling bad (like flu with no flu symptoms), exhaustion, troubling  sleeping at night (wake up very early in the AM).  Doctors actually told me to increase my daily 40mg dose to 80mg a day, I didn’t feel good about that.  The Doctors have had not answer for the symptoms I was having.  Happen to type them in a search and came up with the long term Nexium issue.

I’ve decided to stop the Nexium based on what I’ve read.  Try low carb as suggested.  I was going to try to go off in a step fashion to hopefully avoid any rebound issues that I read about.  I started Prilosec  20mg  now trying to take myself off slowly.  Figured maybe a week on that then move to lower level every other day.  Any suggestion would be GREAT.  Reason I thought this, I went two days without anything and can feel the heartburn and throat is scratchy after sleeping, assuming that’s the acid kicking up. 

Any food suggestion or other experiences to share would be great to make this easier.

Posted 2/27/2011 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Have you had any testing done to determine if you have any abnormalities in your esophagus? Like Barrett's, hiatal hernia, weak LES, swallowing abnormality?

It would be advisable to go to a gastroenterologist and have these test done as quickly as possible.
Barium swallow
Manometry
pH testing
Endoscopy
stomach emptying
Posted 2/27/2011 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have had all of the following test done over a 4 yr period:

Barium swallow
Manometry
pH testing (was off the charts)
Endoscopy (had 4 over 4 years)
stomach emptying

I just had the TIF surgery done on Friday 2 days ago.

I was a clasic GERD patient.

Hopfully the surgery helps. I had bad reactions to all the ant-acids and PPI's.
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Posted 2/27/2011 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
good catch couchtater-

Yes I do have a hiatal hernia, that was the reason I was put on the Nexium, I had bad belching. I"m scheduled for a bacteria and Manometry next week. The other symptoms have gotten so bad that I'm at a loss and very frustrated with the way I feel.
Posted 2/27/2011 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Are you possibly having panic attacks? For some reason when my gastritis/gerd acts up I get the panic symptoms like the heart racing, lightheaded, shallow breathing, ect.. I also have a history of going to the ER thinking I was having a stroke/heart attack only to be told it is a classic panic attack.
I will also tell you that some of the meds can contribute to anxiety/panic. I had to stop Prevacid because of it. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!
Posted 2/27/2011 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
The manometry is not the most pleasant of the tests but it's the most important one. You do have to put your mind in a happy place during it. They feed a small cathater down your esophagus through your nose. Don't work your nose is numbed and part of your upper throat. You just feel gaggy until they get it adjusted for the test. Then you swallow 10 perfect swallows of water as the computer measures the pressure and actions. It's a little uncomfortable during the swallows. It feels like you've got something stuck in your throat (which you do). :))
Posted 2/28/2011 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
oh yeah the manometry was the worst test of them all, I don't think i would do that again. I have a strong gag relfux and i could barely finish the test. just breathing would make me gag..
Posted 2/28/2011 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Chest pain and some of your other symptoms may be caused by cardioesophageal reflex, aka linked angina. This can be triggered by food intolerances/sensitivities. It can feel as bad as having a heart attack, and in my case did trigger a heart attack from coronary vasospasm!

Another reason for chest pain can be a hiatal hernia. about half of us eventually get a hiatal hernia, but for most people it never causes any symptoms.

Just going low carb is unlikely to stop the stomach from refluxing, but eliminating specific food triggers does work - at least it did for me. The problem is that ingredients in foods can cause a reflux response, but they are not necessarily just in carbohydrates.

To find out what your triggers are you can keep a food log, as my allergist had me do. Write down everything you eat or drink, plus time and reactions especially within a couple of hours. (People who react to food triggers with migraines can have reactions up to 2 days later.) Once you have a list you can google the foods with the words "food alergies" or "food intolerances" or "sensitivities." I found my entire list on several sulfite sensitivity websites. Other people may be sensitive to MSG, wheat, gluten, etc.
Posted 3/1/2011 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Alcie, Great information! I often wondered why my migraines would come up to 2 days after eating/drinking something that would trigger it. Same with food intolerance. I always figured that if I was allergic I would have symptoms right away but now I know why I might not feel horrible until the next day. Thanks!
Posted 3/4/2011 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks JPT!  It appears that PPI's also steals all your B Vitamin, I wonder what else they will fins.  Can't beleive how much better I feel just starting my plan to wind down.
Posted 3/7/2011 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Well i have been off nexium for 2 weeks now. I am glad the surgery is working. I will say though it was a rough 2 weeks prior as i stepped down. i got a lot of phantom burning i guess. but the last 2 weeks i have felt great.. if you can stop cold turkey thats great. but i do recommend stepping down the doses.
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