Tips for getting through PPI rebound

jthn

New Member

Joined : Jun 2015

Posts : 1

Posted 8/30/2015 5:50 PM (GMT 0)

Hi folks, I've been reading this blog extensively for a few months as I've gone through my own ordeal with GERD. It's amazing to see how many other people there are out there who have the same issues. I've dealt with GERD since 2008 but it's intensified this year to a point that I'm barely controlling it with 40mg protonix. For 5 years I took 20mg prilosec once a day and was okay, but I started having to watch what I ate, avoid alcohol completely, and still had some occasional heartburn. Then when I tried to quit in April I only got 72 hours out before severe chest/abdominal pain overwhelmed me, and I haven't been able to get back to normal since. In July I went on protonix for good and finally got better, but every time I try to go back down to 20mg prilosec I start to develop chest pain/back pain and feelings of mucous or chest irritation that resembles asthma, but I don't have impaired breathing. It's very scary when it happens and I have a hard time keeping my anxiety response in check.

Long story short, I've gotten to the point of having a surgical consult, where I've had two tests proving my GERD diagnosis (EGD showed inflammation and damage in my lower esophagus, and the manometry showed a small hiatal hernia and average pressure of 6, low of 2!). And then I had a barium swallow which contradicted those two, showing only a "very small amount of reflux." After reading this blog, it appears the only way I can get the surgery I know I need for the condition I know I have is to undergo a Ph test. However, I don't know how I can go a full week off meds with the kind of chest pain/back pain I've experienced while just trying to taper dosage.

Does anyone who has experienced severe PPI rebound have suggestions for getting through the first few days of awful symptoms? I've wondered if carafate would help, but that's the only idea I have. Zantac is not very effective for me. I also wonder why I cannot just do the test on meds, if I'm having all these symptoms while on meds. Why have your patient risk going back to the ER when there's already proof of hypotensive LES and esopagheal damage?

Tu Wang

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2015

Posts : 236

Posted 8/30/2015 9:08 PM (GMT 0)

Hi jthn, it's been a long time you had PPI and sometimes the rebound is tougher to battle. Please check with you GI.
My experience was that been to ER June 14, and did all test, heart stress test, CT scan and blood test. All were normal, praise God for that. Even though all my test were normal, I was feeling so horrible with GERD. I was taking PPI for 6 weeks and nothing had worked. Then was taking protonix 40 mg. I have few trips to Urgent care and my doctors, but what they were telling me is to keep taking the PPI. Gave me few anxiety meds, which had worsen my reflux. I lost 14 lbs for the first few weeks and kept losing. Since my test were all ok, I took my step and wean from PPI on my own. It was tough. My experience might be different than yours. I wean from PPI, then was taking H2 blocker (Zantac) 3 x 150mg for 6 days, but after that it seems nothing worked. My acid rebound was bad. I did attend a prayer healing to make my anxiety go away. Then I did changed my diet to just white rice and fish. I was taking probiotics, Yakult after each meal. It took a lot of prayers and meditation for me. Now, no more PPI and going 2 weeks Zantac free. I kept reading this site as it helped me tackle some obstacles along the way. I keep a journal for my food intake. I watch what I ate and eating small portion. A lot of post on this site that tells you what food works for them.
I followed some and some did not work. Organic apple become my best snacks but banana was giving me some reflux. Hope you feel better. God bless.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply