carafate or gaviscon?

Which one do you think works best for reflux and GERD---I am currently taking gaviscon but my doctor wrote a script for carafate---if anyone has used these please let me know your preference---thanks so much--lilly

Thanks for answering---I read some of your other posts and I have cancer phobia too and have a pain in my left shoulder blade which radiates to my back ribs---have had it on and off for 5 years and then recently it goes along with my gallblaader problems--read below: You will see how scared I have been anf my doctors say everything has checked out----but this pain worries me--
I am three weeks post gallbladder removal and feel horrible---nausea everyday---losing weight because feel worse after eating---and scared---before surgery, I had CT scan, ultrasound, endoscope and HIDA along with a myriad of blood tests checking liver and pancreatic enzymes amongst other things---My HIDA scan showed a low ejection fraction and my endoscope showed inflammation---my presenting symptoms were no pain except in left ribs and shoulder sometimes but severe nausea and morning bile diarrhea----they took my gallbladder on August 5 and I recovered well and easily but now I am just as nauseated as before---losing weight--unable to eat much``so am still sick---saw surgeon and gastro doctor who did a small bowel study which came back normal and put me on prilosec, gaviscon and xanax to sleep---has anyone else had this experience of the nausea everyday? If so, how long did it last and what helped? Please help me...

I guess that is why my doctor recommended it because I had gallbladder surgery three weeks ago and continue to suffer from daily nausea which was my presenting symptom before surgery. I didn't have gallstones but instead a low functioning one. When he did my endoscope, he found mild inflammation. So if I am having bile reflux, from what you wrote, the carafate would help more than the gaviscon. Gaviscon has helped some so I hate to quit taking it, but you think the carafte would be more effective, right? also---is carafate considered a safe drug? there are so many directions in taking it----if I am having bile reflux, will I have to take it indefinitely?

Post Edited (lillye) : 8/29/2011 10:11:18 PM (GMT-6)

Sorry, after submitting my post I realize I left out a part of the Bible quote.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Old brain I guess! And I forgot also add that along with praying for everyone, I also pray for someone who is going through especially difficult times.

English isn't my first language, please excuse me. :o)

cme

Hi Lilly,

Thank you kindly.

I understand your anxiety and fear. Even though we believe in Jesus, we are only human and will sometimes be overcome with anxiety and of course fear. Don't beat yourself up over this. God does not want us to condemn what He created. Keep praying.

My daughter's condition will not improve. It is progressive and my fear is she will die before me. So no, she isn't and would never be in any condition to take care of me. I pray when the Lord is ready for me, He will do it quickly.

I was always small and my weight loss wasn't too apparent but to answer your question, yes, I did lose weight. After I was healed of the ulcers, I gained weight as I was able to eat much better. Then in the past few months I've lost weight again because of not being able to eat much.

I still have my gallbladder. I had an ultrasound last year that showed a normal gallbladder. If yours isn't a problem, I wouldn't worry about it, it might never be a problem.

No, I haven't been on carafate yet. I'm on Dexilant (PPI) and Gaviscon. I will ask my GI doctor tomorrow if I would benefit from carafate. I will let you know what he says about it.

I'm due for a colonscopy in January of next year (will be five years since my last one) and I will ask my GI doctor to do an endoscope at the same time...well, not exactly the same time but immediately following the colonscopy. :o)

I know I'll be fine as long as I have people like yourself encouraging me. Prayers are what I need the most. You and the other people here have been just wonderful and I appreciate you and them so very much.

Keep posting and asking questions. People here respond and are very considerate. I am fairly new here and was shocked at the great consideration of the people here.

I used to go to another message board and was disappointed that a lot of people asking for someone to help them and no one answered. Even if I didn't know what to say I would reply as best I could so they wouldn't feel alone.

People here are different and I love it.

God bless,
cme

Denise,
I know you addressed this to Lilly but I thank you for this info.
I will certainly ask my doctor for a scrip of carafate.

Lilly,
I see you're from Louisiana. North or south? I am in the New Orleans area. Perhaps we use the same doctor! lol!

Hi Lillye & Cme--two Southern Belles!

Yes, I have my gallbladder, and yes, you can have bile reflux without having it out.

I had the Nissen fundoplication surgery in February 2009. The main symptom that led me to surgery was the way the reflux was causing my asthma to be extremely bad--really uncontrollable.

My PCP started me with Carafate before my surgery...I've taken it for a long time. I don't take it 4 times a day all the time. I only do that when my stomach is really acting up (after taking antibiotics or some other irritating medication).

I don't feel reflux since my surgery, but I continue to take 40mg Protonix before dinner per order of my asthma doc...just in case something slips by the wrap.

Carafate is good for both bile and acid reflux--it protects your stomach and esophagus from either. As I said, it coats and protects. I prefer the suspension formula over the pill form, as it coats my wrap (which was created out of my very reactive stomach), so it's more helpful. It's more expensive, though. I have used the pill form, and put the pill in a little medicine cup, then added a little water and stirred it up with a toothpick. Then I threw it back like a shot (not that I know about shots ) It's not quite as good, but does work better than just taking the pill.

The tricky part about Carafate is that you have to keep it separated from food and medication. Read the directions carefully...if you take it too close to meds, it can interfere with their absorption. It won't coat properly if you take it too soon after you eat.

Hope you feel better soon!
Denise

What a pleasure it is to know both of you Lilly and Denise.

Lilly, I have microscopic hematuria which is blood in the urine. It started about 8 years ago right after taking antibiotics for a UTI.

A urologist did a cystoscope and I was checked every six months until 4 years ago. Now I am checked by a urologist once a year. He explained to me that this is not uncommon in women. I was surprised.

So if the blood is still there, don't worry. If you can't see it, that's very, very good!!! And especially since all other kidney tests are good.

If the second test still shows blood, they will probably want to do a cysto. It's simple and you won't feel a thing.

I live in the New Orleans area but I was born and raised in the country, just outside Mamou. Yes, full-bloodied Cajun.

My mom and dad didn't speak a word of English and French is all I knew until I started school. Mom and dad used to call English speaking people, "Americans." I was fearful of 'them.' It is funny now but not at the time.

I did not wish to learn English until the tip of my nose was worn out from being sent to the chalk board at school! Oh what a horrible memories of my elementary school days!

I had a terrible time! Then I learned to pronounce my name in English but I did not like it and refused to say it so back to the board I went!

In my mind, I still must convert French into English before I speak. And I know sometimes I say things 'backwards' as we do in French, but, I manage to get my point across! I hope!

We are the same height but I have 5 pound on you.

My relatives are all deceased now but if I ever go back home, I will let you know when I will be on I-10 near Lafayette. Maybe we could meet at Mulate's.


God bless both of you. And Lilly, thank you for the prayers and please let us know how the carafate works for you.

Cme

I really like all the love flowing on this post. I have a lot of love for everyone who is suffering from this mystery wrapped in an enigma, and sometimes I feel a little strange expressing it (since it might be a little creepy coming from a stranger).

But I send love and healing thoughts to you all :)
Ashley

Thanks Ashley Rose for the post---You know I think when one is sick, or for that matter vulnerable for any reason, ones' defenses go down and we really kind of "intuitively" know who to trust....I don't know what I would have done without this forum for the past maonth and a half. I have lots of friends, but others who are frustrated and scared about their own health issues are much more willing to communicate...Actually, I know we are all here to be vehicles to extend God's love to others----He puts these people right in front of us and we choose to extend or not----many blessings to you---hope to hear feom you again---lilly

You're too kind Ashley.

My spirit comes from the Lord. I did not always have a good spirit. I made a lot of mistakes because I was not a Christian. I thought I was because I believed in Jesus and tried to live right. I learned the hard way that I really wasn't. Now...I'm a different person because as the saying goes, "I saw the light!" And how! :o)

And as far as Katrina, well, I've seen the time when Katrina was just an inconvenience compared to what I was going through. It is amazing what the human spirit can endure. But I learned that the Lord is always there by my side. I don't look back.

Today I went to my doctor and discussed carafate. He said the same thing Denise's doctor told her. So needless to say I got a scrip. I don't like the way it has to be taken but it will be worth it if it works for me. He also told me that I might be able to eventually get off the PPI if it does work. I would love that! Of course he said I would have to taper off.

I chose the pill (sucralfate 1 gm tablet) as my budget is bulging now. I told him I dissolve my calcium citrate tablet so I'll do the same with this pill.

I asked him it the PPI could be causing my back to hurt. He said he had never heard this before. (He has been a GI for 38 years.) Could it be that none of his patients ever associated back pain with the PPI before? If not for this site, I would not have either.

I hope you all had a wonderful GERDless day!

Hugs and may God bless you!
Cme

My main problem is the persistent nausea---my reflux doesn't hurt---I am a bit scared to change from the gaviscon because I have had two nausea free days---but I will because I am almost sure I am having bile reflux---before this gallbladder thing, I never had that feeling of reflux in my throat---i could even handle that feeling but the nausea just does me in---I can't hardly function it gets so bad---will let you know when i start carafate---lilly

Hope this will help.

I had my GB removed on July 8. I didn't even feel like I was remotely recovering until day 9. I vomited the last time about 2 weeks ago/5.5 weeks out from surgery. Ended up in the ER twice after my removal because I was so sick and sure they had screwed something up. Even had to go in for a scope two weeks ago.

Suggestions I have, add in some extra fiber, it helps soak up bile. I did 3 doses of Metamucil a day. Take a Probiotic. Avoid fats at all cost, so that more bile isn't produced. I couldn't do salads until about a week ago, they got my stomach going something fierce....no idea why. I actually found that Mylanta worked better than anything else. My surgeon told me that no PPI in the world will help with bile refluxing. Elevate yourself, sleep on your left side only. You probably know the GERD routine already. Pretty much eat as you would for the reflux, no sodas, coffee, tea, dairy etc. I was given Phenagren for the nausea but honestly my vomiting would hit so quick, that I didn't even have time to take the stuff.

I will be at 8 weeks recovery on Friday and can still tell if I eat to much fat, my stomach acts up. Still having bile stools and the bile can set my innards on fire! Good thing is my reflux seems to have improved now. Have had it a couple of times in the last few weeks but that is all. I can say that I am at least 80 % better than I was this time a month ago. It just takes time. My Doctors (all three of them) told me to expect 6 months to a year for it all to be normal again. Happy that the improvement seems to be going better the last two weeks.

Just try to remember that you didn't have this before removal and that it will pass eventually. The problem is that so many people go through the procedure and are up and back to life in a couple of days. It isn't that way for all of us, so don't expect what someone you know went through, to be your case. I can tell I am still healing even at 8 weeks. Be good to your tummy and it will get better.

Bethanie