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Starting my adventure to give up Nexium after 10 years..

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 4/8/2012 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
I use raw carrot for that, or rice cakes :-)
Posted 4/8/2012 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
A cup of tea might work, licorice would compliment your dgl, or chamomile, or rooibos. I always drink some rooibos tea before putting food in my stomach in the morning.

Post Edited (sunbeam48) : 4/8/2012 4:15:09 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/8/2012 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Wow - tea is instant heartburn for me! All kinds, no exceptions!

MMM
Posted 4/10/2012 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Glad I found this thread to help me with my quest to abandon PPI's. I've been on either Nexium or Dexilant for probably about 2 years. My GI pretty much told me to just stop cold turkey. I tried that and came running back to PPI's after I couldn't sleep feeling the acid rise in my throat, ugh. Now I'm attempting to go from 40mg Nexium to 20.6 mg Omeprazole magnesium. Right now I have some slight burning in my upper chest and I can feel a small lump forming in my throat so I think I'll take some Tums before I lay day for bed. Going to try to change my diet (I admittedly struggle with staying away from fatty and fried foods) immediately to help break my dependence. Might be a bad time to do it considering I have a lot of papers due this month which will undoubtedly lead to stress but I'm determined to make this work. Can you guys tell me more about DGL? Seems helpful for a number of people so I'm thinking about picking some up.
Posted 4/10/2012 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) is a special extract of licorice where the glycyrrhizin component has been removed. GL is most effective in chewable tablet form. It takes salivary enzymes to help break down the healing properties, increase absorption and stimulate healing to relieving stomach discomfort immediately. Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/110565-dgl-licorice-acid-reflux/

You can also search this form for DGL or google DGL. There is a lot of information available on the Internet for DGL.

Having said that, DGL alone might not be enough, or perhaps, DGL might not work for you. Everyone is different, and different supplements work differently on everyone. I have been doing a lot of experimenting. For me diet changes, elimination of soda and tomato, drastic reduction in cheese and fats, reduction in caffeine, adding DGL and slippery elm have helped.

Good luck.
Posted 4/12/2012 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks. Going well so far. Have taken a few Tums before bed time more as a precautionary measure. I haven't eaten any meat today as I felt those options would have been worse on my stomach. I'm actually considering going vegetarian to improve my diet. Has anyone also done so to improve their GERD symptoms and if so how has it worked out? (think im gonna make this its own thread).
Posted 4/12/2012 7:33 AM (GMT 0)
By accident last year I cam across a website about "going Paleo" (stone age diet) and there was a forum thread within that with some guys saying how their GERD had gone since they went "paleo". Of course they may have given up beer and pizza at the same time, but it might be worth googling?

MMM
Posted 4/12/2012 10:40 AM (GMT 0)
steve,
There is also a lot of diet info on the Koufman Diet thread. The Koufman diet has been very helpful to me, gradually bringing my symptoms under control. I am now (finally!) off PPI's.
Posted 4/12/2012 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Alkaline diet (most of what is listed, not everything ) has been helping me greatly. I am also in the process of weening off medication after 7 or so years on it.
Posted 4/13/2012 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys, i've stayed away from meat and its been helpful in avoiding any direct burning symptoms but the night before last I had a bad attack of what I gather is more LPR related. First I had trouble swallowing and then my throat started to hurt a lot. I took some Tums and omeprazole and struggled to fall asleep. When I did awake from bad sleep my throat felt scorched. It felt better as I drank and the day went on but coughed and hacked a lot. The soreness returned again last night and again I had trouble sleeping again. Today I have what feels like a sore throat that possibly could be separate from my GERD (my nose is a bit runny and stuffy too) but it seems unlikely that I caught something just as I decided to make this switch in medications. My main concern is that I've been reading that the symptoms I'm feeling can result in asthma or asthma related symptoms. Does this take a lot of time or can it happen fairly immediately? I can deal with pain but the irritation in my breathing is kind of worrisome. Thanks all
Posted 4/14/2012 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Steve,

I forgot whether you are or were on PPI. If I were you, I would try PPI till I have throat issues and heartburn under control. Once everything is ok, then I would try to experiment with diet change and supplements.....my two cents.
Posted 4/14/2012 9:54 AM (GMT 0)
Another option is an h2 blocker like Zantec, which available Otc. I use this product, and it is just as effective for me now as my ppi was, without the long term side effects. I did go through a week of worse symptoms, about the third week off of the ppi, but I'm better now. This occurred even though I tapered down to 10 Mg of the ppi.

Post Edited (sunbeam48) : 4/14/2012 4:22:15 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/28/2012 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
Gastritis, thanks so much for this post.  Your details are very interesting.  I think I am about week 5 completely off a PPI, and continue to do  well.  I have some belching right after eating, and my ongoing stomach tenderness that I also had on the PPI.  Nothing I can't live with.
Posted 4/28/2012 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Gastritis

Thank you for sharing your story with all of us.  I have been on Prilosec for 6 years now and most of the time I do very well unless I eat something that causes me to have reflux.  I know pretty well what foods will do that. 

Many blood pressure and heart disease medicines, including calcium channel blockers and nitrates, relax the LES muscle, making it easy for your stomach acids to retreat backwards. I am a several of these meds so watching my diet is high on my list.  For me using Prilosec has been a good thing but I know many of the members here are concerned about taking PPIs and I respect each person's reasons for choosing to stop PPIs.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 4/30/2012 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Gastritis,

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. In my case, controlling diet and avoiding trigger foods have been key factor in reducing GERD symptoms. I have been able to switch from 40 mg Nexium to 20 mg Prilosec. In addition, chewing gum when I get little heartburn sensation has been really helpful. I also nibble on almonds in between meals as snacks, and almonds seem to help too.

Once in a while, I take only 10 mg of Prilosec without many issues. My next step is to take 10 mg Prilosec for a while before I try to close the loop on PPIs.

Since I have started my adventure to come off PPIs, I have lost 14 lbs, and my cholesterol numbers are way better. I guess most of those things that are bad for GERD are also bad for you anyway (except onion and tomato).

I have also tried DGL, Slippery Elm, Aloe vera juice, marshmallow root, and mastic gum. DGL always helps, so I take DGL before meals ( if I remember to take one). Slippery elm seemed to help, but I got tired of taking 3 pills 3 times a day. I replaced slippery elm with gum and almonds. After reading side effects of aloe vera juice and the fact that it didn't help much, I stopped taking aloe vera juice. Marshmallow root does the same thing as slippery elm. I couldn't go past the smell of mastic gum.

I also tried manuka honey. It was soothing, but it did not help much.
Posted 4/30/2012 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Sunbeam48: I know is not easy but does go eventually hang in there your doing well.

Adam77: Manuka honey is good for pylori bacteria and works well but can take months to work it magic. But is no side affects with honey.

stkitt: Thanks for leaving links in my post here all the best to you.

Also am guessing you know acid reflux can be caused by too much AND to little acid. As we age acid decreases with maximum acid production in our 20's then starts decreasing, so taking PPI's that reduce acid could actually be making things worse. I found ACV worked for me when coming off Nexium am also thinking my reflux was actually caused by the Nexium as i had no symptoms except lump like feeling in throat with a gagging cough. After ENDO i was told i had a small piece of throat lining about 1cm long flopping around in my throat the specialist took a biopsy and after ENDO have never had that cough again. And more importantly no reflux Hmmm TC everyone.
Posted 5/9/2012 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
I was trying to take 10 mg Prilosec (half of OTC 20 mg), but it did not go well. I kept getting heartburn and belches. I am back to 20 mg Prilosec. I think I need to try to come off 20 mg by taking Zantac.
Posted 5/9/2012 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Adam77

Yes try Zantac I used 150mg OTC works the same as PPI's just does not have the long withdrawals so is easier to get off of and wean yourself.
Posted 5/9/2012 7:11 AM (GMT 0)
I am currently withdrawing my PPI due to side effects - am taking 300 mg Zantac twice a day and half my ppi. Side effects have gone so I may plateau on that dose until I see the GP, which we should all do if we're changing our medication doses of course!!

MMM
Posted 5/9/2012 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Zantac is an H2 blocker where as PPI's shut down the pumps in your stomache. From what I have heard, H2 blockers has less long term side effects than PPIs but they are also not as strong.
Posted 5/9/2012 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
has=have
Posted 5/9/2012 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks ericapeace2000, I think I will buy Zantac on the way home tonight to try. Also one more question can I take PPI as I need it?
Posted 5/9/2012 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
With PPIs there is a rebound effect, so if you take them for a period of time, you should ween yourself off of them not just cold turkey. Also, some PPI drugs take 1-4 days to get in your system so you most likely will not g et immediate relief using them. Non mint gum does help immediately as some other things do such as tums and gaviscon.
Posted 5/9/2012 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
PPIs don't work so well for occasional relief - they can take a week to kick in and then it's very hard to stop them because of acid rebound (though if you came off them before without that then you needn't worry about it). Over the counter Zantac is quite low dose at 75 mg - I need around 300 mg twice a day to get anywhere close to what a PPI can do.

Bloating isn't a particularly prominent GERD symptom usually - did the PPI usually relieve that symptom?

Hope you feel better soon,

MMM
Posted 5/9/2012 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ericapeace2000 and MMM,
I think my GERD has something to do with perimemopause as well. I think mine came on because of stress and anxiety. I will definitely try Zantac since I am worry about loosing hair again if I get back on the PPI. When I got off the PPI in October it was bad but it was bearable. The last few days were so different for me as I could feel the heartburn, the lump in my throat like the way it was before.

MMM: If I didn't loose so much hair, I would be still taking the PPI. Thanks for your input.
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