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Stopped taking PPIs for test but now in non stop pain

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/24/2014 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
I had an h pylori infection. Need to be off PPIs for the endoscopy where they retest for infection. GI dr said stop now, the next is June 16. The 20 mg of omperazole wasn't even working for me any more anyway.

GI says take gaviscon to deal with heartburn. But it doesn't work! Nothing I am taking works. I have throat pain all night and when I wake up, even before eating. Difficulty swallowing, feels like razor blades are in my throat, lump/stuck feeling in the middle of my chest, my ears are popping, my tongue is coated white, my voice gets very hoarse, my gums and teeth are sore. How can I deal with constant pain til June 16? Do you think I need to go to the ER to see if something is severely damaged in my esophagus?
Posted 5/24/2014 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
Well you should definitely go to the ER if the pain gets unbearable. The acid can severely damage your esophagus and create ulcers. Rare and extreme ulcers can be fatal. Dont panic though.. Those are extremely rare cases.

Dont you have some specific foods that dont aggravate your gerd? Boiled potatoes seem to work best for me. I barely have symptoms after i eat boiled potatoes.

Also i found that sleeping on my right side has helped me a lot. My throat does not hurt that much. Try and find a position you are comfortable in. The lumps in your throat are probably cause by air that you waren't able to belch. At least mine are always caused by air. Try and move a bit, sit, stand back up again, twist a bit but not too much so you dont cause yourself more pain. Drinking water should help, but not big gulps. You should feel better after you belch. Also belch as often as you can, even a small one with a little bit of extra liquid in it can save you hours of pain. All these things seem to work for me...

One last thing. Call the ER asap if you spot any blood in your spit or you start vomiting/regurgitating blood. This should't happen though... It takes a really LONG time to create a bleeding ulcer. You should be fine till june 16.

P.s. Check your magnesium levels if you can. Long term ppi usage will lower your magnesium levels and cause pains exactly as you describe them. Just google "low magnesium symptoms" .
Posted 5/24/2014 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
I'm the same I just couldn't tolerate being off PPIs for my endoscopy, not only did i have heartburn but my stomach was in agony.

Do you sleep on a wedge? That could help with nighttime reflux. Try sitting up and still after eating for an hour, that really helps me. Also eat low fat and low protein foods, mainly carbs as this stimulates the least amount of acid production.

You have come off PPIs really early, most doctors say 2 weeks so not sure why you've been told 3.

Being off PPIs is advised for the retest of h-pylori, but the endoscopy will show any damage to esophagus and stomach whether you're on PPIs or not. So if you really cant take the pain then just go back on the PPI's and tell the dr. They will just have to wait until your symptoms have settled down to retest for h-pylori.
Posted 5/24/2014 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I was on 20 mg of omperazole and even on I was developing these symptoms it wasn't working so I figured I should stop now anyway
Posted 5/24/2014 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
20mg is quite a low dose, Im on 40mg Nexium atm which is equivalent to about 80mg of omeprazole. I found 20mg of omeprazole barely worked for my reflux.
Posted 5/24/2014 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Elle,

Sorry to hear you're struggling. I agree with Andy...20mg omeprazole is nothing, if you've got bad reflux. I took 40mg Nexium...then was switched to 40mg Protonix an hour before breakfast and an hour before dinner, with Zantac 300mg at bedtime, before I had my Nissen surgery. Even with all that, if my reactive stomach flared, I'd get horrible reflux and esophagitis with pain like you're describing.

When I had that kind of pain (even on meds), I'd always lose about 20 pounds, and couldn't eat most foods without pain. One food I could manage even at my worst was egg custard, which I lived on during these times. Even mashed potato caused excruciating pain on swallowing.

Be sure you're not eating anything that is not a smooth consistency before you swallow it. Take small bites and chew, chew, chew until it's no longer at all rough.

Whenever I had to stop PPIs for testing, it was only for a week, which was bad enough. I was able to supplement with Zantac up until the last three days, I believe, then take Maalox etc. until 24 hrs before thet test.

Please call your GI doc and report the pain you're in. It is his/her responsibility to ensure that you don't get esophageal damage from the reflux you're experiencing.

Be sure to put blocks/risers under the legs at the head of your bed (7-8"), or sleep in a recliner, to allow gravity to help keep the acid in your stomach.

Hang in there! Let us know how it goes.
Best wishes,
Denise
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