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On PPIs for 10 years and getting worse

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 4/18/2017 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
I started PPIs about 10 years ago because I had trouble swallowing. My dr started me on Omperazole, I think. Can't remember. about 4 years ago I started getting reflux and heartburn. Gastroenerologist did an Endoscopy and a Colenescopy 3 years ago, found nothing..upped my Omperzole to 40 mg and that worked.. it took about a month for all the heartburn to go away. I later was able to down my dosage to 20 mg.

He removed several polyps which are caused by taking PPIs but are never cancerous. I thought I was just healing.. Last year the heartburn got much worse and I thought I was having heart problems. Cardiologist scheduled tests.. It got so bad that I went to the hospital with heartburn. Tests were all negative. Cardiologist told me that calcium in my arteries had increased, I have coronary artery disease, but still in normal limits..said conditon COULD be caused by blocked arteries that could be stented and condition would go away like magic.

Did not really want to do the angiogram as I am on the treadmill for 45 minutes a day with no pain. Went back to Gastro dr and had Endoscopy..normal biopsies showed spincter muscle a little enlarged.. started me on Dexiant 60 mg which did not work for the first 15 days, on the 15th day I got relief... it was like a blessing. I ran out of the samples but was scheduled for a Colonoscopy. Colonoscopy showed all was well..a little diverticulosos same as the last one. Gave me more samples. Insurance just approved the Dexiant so I hope it will work again this time otherwise dr wants to schedule me for another test to be done at Cedars Siani in Los Angeles involving a tube inserted through your nose running down your esophogas and your stomach...to find out what the problem is.

My question is, has anybody had this test. I am also taking tums after every meal and Gaviscon before bedtime which has been wonderful as it forms a barrier at your splicter muscle stopping the acid getting through. It took two weeks for the Dexiant to work last time and I am wondering if this is normal..It seems like a long time for the drug to work.
Posted 4/18/2017 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
You are doing everything right! Getting the tests is important. Find out the cause and don't just keep treating.

The tube in the nose isn't fun but it's lots better than a tube down the throat. I had to have a really big tube (Pediatric endoscopic) down my nose because the little one just kept curling up, but that was from having had a bad nose break and passages were twisted. Even that was tolerable because they put a little lidocaine gel in the nose so I didn't feel it.

Diverticulosis isn't fun, but you're keeping on top of it.

Trust the cardiologist. I've had angiogram, and it isn't bad at all. Doesn't hurt at all! I refused to be sedated (they don't put you to sleep) because I wanted to watch the video screen. It was so interesting seeing where my blockage was. It helped me visualize that I really needed to make changes in my diet to get my cholesterol down, and I did! I had a little stent put in. Then I cut out all my bread (your liver takes the carbs and changes it into cholesterol). You can reverse blockage, over time, by cutting your cholesterol! Sure beats taking statins!

I didn't get any relief from Gaviscon. PPIs have to be taken properly (see search box at the top of the page) and tailored to the individual. I didn't get relief from several of them, but others were good. Beats surgery!

Best wishes!
Posted 4/19/2017 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
Like Alcie said, they put a numbing gel in your nose so you can tolerate the tube insertion. Honestly, I didn't think the test was that bad.

Just remember, it may take a while for the Dexilant to take effect - just like before. Gaviscon did absolutely nothing for me.

I would definitely have the angiogram done.
Posted 4/19/2017 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your responses.. I have coronary artery disease, I have had 4 angiograms, the first because the cardiologist thought that my fatigue was caused by stress, after 2 more visits to the ER he decided to give me an angiogram to "relieve my mind"..that is until I got on the table and heard.."look at that, it's 92% blocked"..then I had a balloon angiplasty..so..my cardiologist now feels that any more blockage I have would not be in places where he could insert a stent. I am just waiting for the Dexilant to take effect.

Now, a few tips about the Gaviscon. I first got generic gaviscon from Walgreens, then read on another blog that you need to take the brand, the generics don't work. The generic did not work for me. I am taking the extra strength tablet..2 of them, you have to chew them up totally so there is no grit, it foams up in your mouth, swallow that and then drink about 1/3rd of a cup of water, but not all at once. Before you start make sure you don't drink any water for 15 minutes. Do not lie down for about 15 minutes...walk around or just stand up so the mixture can get down there. It is time consuming but it works for me. When I try to rush it it doesn't work for as long. I only take it at night because if you drink any amount of liquid except a few sips it washes the Gaviscon away... so if it isn't there it's not going to work.. I tried not taking it at night once but the acid came back up so I got up in the middle of the night and took it then..

I don't understand why a stent would stop the acid from getting up into my neck and stopping the reflux backing up into my mouth.... my cardiologist was just talking about the chest pressure which he said could be caused by either the reflux or the blockage, he said I could have both but all of my tests, including a stress test showed that my heart function is acceptable.. He said get the gastro tests first and then we would talk about it..
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