Quiting Nexium cold turkey!!!!

I too want to quit it cold turkey. I just can't believe it is a good thing to cut off 90% of your stomach acid. Let me know if you find anything out. I tried switching my dose to a later time this weekend and I am in such pain. I still took the pill but just a few hours later. I have been throwing up in my mouth and it burns and belching all day. I can't believe it. I wonder what it would be like if I actually quit cold turkey. I have been on and off ppis for 2 years but always for just a short period. This time I have been on Nexium for 4 months. The heartburn goes away with the nexium but the other symptoms dont. My doctor keeps saying just give it time. My understanding from all the literature is that this is a short term treatment. That doesn't fit with giving it time. I will tell you I am on probiotics and have ordered something called glucamman fiber since I have heard acid reflux can be connected to stomach constipation caused by narcotic painkillers which is when mine started. I will gladly try some fiber if it will stop this problem. The idea is that your food is not digested and the vapors are what float up and cause the heartburn. I don't know what else to try. Please keep us posted. Let me know if you get off the nexium. Four years...like, every day of the four years? Wow....

Well i sure would love to have support buddies, i'm in!!!!! It's nice to meet you guys! I'll be back soon to talk some more

Hello,

I hope you don't mind that I popped in to see how things are going on Healing Well. This is a great forum providing a wonderful exchange of ideas. I continue to learn a lot from people posting their personal experiences on GERD. I want to provide my support for those that want to try going off Nexium (with the consent of your Primary Care Doc, of course).

While going off PPIs, I recommend significantly limiting your carbs. What are considered the healthy (complex) carbs are actually the worst offenders for reflux. They are complex enough to  not be broken down and absorbed in our intestines efficiently and so the microorganisms that live in our intestines consume more of these carbs and make lots of gas. Thirty grams of carbs can produce 10 liters of hydrogen gas! Did you know that there have been explosions during intestinal surgery? Fiber is the least likely to offend followed by the simplest sugars (watch lactose and fructose is you have intollerance to those) and mid range glycemic index carbs being the worst. This disease requires we look at carbs in terms of how they affect our condition, not the general recommendations (like how great complex carbs are) for people who do not have GERD.

 

Post Edited By Moderator (~Jennifer~) : 1/23/2006 6:22:28 AM (GMT-7)

Nancy,
I could not agree more..... I am happy to be off those drugs as well as antacids. I realize now GERD for most of us is not a disease but rather a condition caused by consuming more carbohydrates than our intestines can absorb. Our ancient ancestors did not have this problem.

Norm

When docs prescribe PPI's, I think it's important to understand that most of the time they are thinking long tem drug therapy.  And by "long term" I mean the rest of our lives.  Physicians won't say this outright, however.  This is b/c there is no satisfactory way to cure GERD.  Studies show that over 3/4 of the people who go off the PPI's start taking them again.  Of course, there are exceptions (Dr. Norm, etc.).  This begs the question, "But Doctor, I am regurgitating my stomach contents into my mouth.  Are you just going to LEAVE me like this?"  Unfortunately, the answer is yes.  However, we run the risk of Barrett's or even esophageal cancer if we discontinue the medication.  I wish there was a better answer.  Even the surgery or endoscopic procedures are not a cure-all.  Studies also show that a majority of people who have had these done also go back to either H2 blockers or PPI's w/in a 6 to 10 year span.  The goal of these procedures is often to REDUCE the amount of medication taken, not to eliminate it.  I know, it sucks.  I hate to be so grim here, but I've spent so much of my time researching GERD . . . something that seems to shock the M.D.'s.  Yes, believe it or not, we patients do have the capacity to research what's going on in our own bodies.  For myself, I am pretty much set on having Endocinch (can't have the surgery due to motility issues). 

For any of you valiant enough to attempt to come off the PPI's, I wish you success.  Keep fighting and I will too. 

Laura

Ok guys i've been off the nexium for 2 days now. the first day was great no rebound. Today i had lite reflux after lunch but i took a tums and all was ok. one trick i use for digestion is that i put a hot water bottle on my stomach. I don't know if the heat really helps for the digestion but for me it sooths me when i feel an ach comming on, try it you got nothing to lose.

Just a short story of my heartburn begings i'm sure you will find this interesting. Please read on. I first got the symptoms about 7 years ago. I am a singer and i started to lose my voice when i was on stage only after one song. Two weeks to a month befor that i had my fillings put in. 8 in all. I had never had a cavity in my life. Well that same summer befor having them put in i was watching a tv show. The guy was talking about how mercury in your teeth causes acide reflux. Not cause we have too much acid in our stomach but that the mercury causes us to have low acid and that it is the acid vapors that are giving us this reflux. So i just pushed it aside and didn't believe it but ever since it has been in the back of my mind. I joind a forum about this about a few weeks ago and saw many others that talk about how your heath changes when you replace your fillings. Right now i do not have my computer, it's getting fixed as we speak and i do not have the address to the site i will find it and get you the link as soon as i can. Look, we all have different reasons for our reflux, some of us are worse off than others. I'm not saying that getting rid of yor filligs will totally cure you, maybe it will totally cure you !!!!! but i've read enough that i have decided that i have nothing to lose. By the way, when i asked my dentist about the relation between acid reflux and mercury he laughed in my face. I took 4 appointements with another dentist and told him that i wanted al filigs reoved and replaced in white! He said that he didn't see the need to remove the upper back ones and i said just remove them!!!! Till then, try to do as doctor Norm mentions "low carbs." See it all makes sense, if their is not enough acid in your stomach you will not be able to digest the carbs! But remain concious that maybe you do have too much acid in your stomach. Hmmm i wonder if their is a test out there to see how much acid is in our stomachs. I suggest that you type in google "silver fillings and acid reflux" you will see so many stories on this.

I truley believe that if there was a way we got tis problem that there's a true way out we individually just have different doors to to exit!
LOts of love
Jarah.
XxX

Post Edited (Lixxy) : 1/29/2006 1:27:20 PM (GMT-7)

good for you!

Today is day 1 of me trying to get off PPI's, so far not going so well, I feel sick...
But this has happened anytime I have ever tried to get off them.
I feel like my life is worse because of them and want to rid them from my body for good!
I've just never been able to do it for fear of feeling sick for even a day...

Danielle

Hey there.  I tapered off the prilosec.  Kill me now!!!  The rebound has been bad.  I am taking zantac when necessary.  Im determined too.  I won't let these PPI's ruin my system for good!!

How are you doing today Lixxy??

Nancy

Hello to all!! It's Saturday morning and i'm feeling great1!! I'm on day 8 Nexium free and doing great! I have not had any heart burn since the last time i posted. I hope everyone is doing well and i hope to hear from you soon!!!

Till then, take care
Jarah
XxX

Hi Nancy. I too agree with Jennifer. One of the major reasons i am getting off Nexium is that my doctor told me to try it out. If you have a more serriouse condition you should make sure you get a good diagnossis. Do you know what is causing your heartburn, Is it an ulcer, Low acidity, hernia any other cause? You definately need to know where all this is comming from. I hope you will be ok.

Well you guys it has now been 12 days off the Nexium. It's not so bad. I don't get reflux in the day, i get some at night. I don't know why though All is going well. As i also mentionned i'm getting rid of my silver fillings and that i am more than sure that it will make a huge difference in my digestion. My first appointement is on the 13th of this month (feb) and two more appointements followiing that, the 23rd and 28th. I still havn't gone to see for natural products yet, i just want to see what happens after a few weeks after being off the meds . It'ds not easy, i still get some rebound but i take a few tums to settle it down and it works instantly. I'm carefull on what i eat, drink and don't lay down at least 3 hours after eating. I tell you that i am on a stricked diet. No sugar at all, no coffee, no pop no fun stuff at all but i am more than determined!!!!! My prayers are with you all. I'll be back in a few days or so

Hi Niki! Nice to see that you are taking a step foward. I know that weening off the meds dont usually work because taking the meds and stopping right after actually gives you heartburn rebound, so i figure if taking the meds every other day actually causes one to start over every single time. You mention papaya enzimes, do you think that the fruit itself would act the same. Well all the luck to you!!!!!!! I'm here anytime you need to talk