ok..my PPI taking pals....need input

[SparklyUnicorn]

So...major annoyances gone.  Nausea is gone.  Body aches are gone too.  Feeling good. 

I'm still on the super high dose of Prevacid.  I do have an appointment April 5th.  They kinda borked up because I was supposed to get in sooner, but it is what it is.  I decided I wanted to try tapering myself.  So for now I cut down the high dose in half.  Early this morning I had some reflux (no acid taste or heartburn, but coughing enough to wake me up...gasping..fun times).  I have not had this happen in months. 

 

SO....I know there is the whole rebound reflux issue.  I also know that won't resolve (based on what I read) very quickly.  Based on what I read it may take months to calm down and it was suggested, other than tapering, that one take Zantac if needed.  So far I have not needed that, but at least it is an option (I think).

 

Anyone have any other suggestions for making this suck less?  Or for making my body operate correctly?  Or whatever?  I may never get completely off PPIs (hernia), but I am pretty alarmed by the idea of not being able to get by on a reasonable dose.  I don't think that's really the case.  I do think this is some sort of rebound.  I was taking 15 mg prior and controlling it whereas now I'm taking 60 (which I cut to 30).

 

I read about vinegar, but ohhh that has been NOT GOOD when I've tried it.  Might have to sneak that in with extremely small unnoticeable amounts somehow. 

[Guest]

I don't know if you're up for this, since I know you aren't keen on medical procedures and are already having to endure enough, but have you considered acupuncture?  I've heard a LOT of stories about it helping with reflux.  I don't think it's woo either. I'm pretty anti-woo, but even when I worked at the giant cancer hospital, we offered it because there was a lot of clinical effectiveness for many conditions. 

 

 

[SparklyUnicorn]

I don't know if you're up for this, since I know you aren't keen on medical procedures and are already having to endure enough, but have you considered acupuncture?  I've heard a LOT of stories about it helping with reflux.  I don't think it's woo either. I'm pretty anti-woo, but even when I worked at the giant cancer hospital, we offered it because there was a lot of clinical effectiveness for many conditions. 

 

Hm...I'd almost rather eat an onion than have someone stab me with a bunch of needles.

 

:lol:

 

So now you know the key to torturing me.  Onions and needles...

[Guest]

Hm...I'd almost rather eat an onion than have someone stab me with a bunch of needles.

 

:lol:

 

So now you know the key to torturing me.  Onions and needles...

 

Ha! Duly noted. 

 

I'm all out of ideas then. That was my only inspired one for the day. Man. And I WASTED it!  :laugh: You need to lay out these rules in advance. 

[Scarlett]

Dh is taking 40 mg of Omeprerzol daily.  He has ulcers (no pain or bleeding) and so much reflux that his esophagus is damaged and narrowed.  They have stretched it once but say it needs a couple more times at least.  I am thinking he will be on Omeprezol long term. 

 

Why are you wanting off?

[SparklyUnicorn]

Dh is taking 40 mg of Omeprerzol daily.  He has ulcers (no pain or bleeding) and so much reflux that his esophagus is damaged and narrowed.  They have stretched it once but say it needs a couple more times at least.  I am thinking he will be on Omeprezol long term. 

 

Why are you wanting off?

 

I'm not wanting off.  I'm wanting normal dose.  60 mg is way above normal.  He put me on that short term.  Which I scoffed at, but he assured me it would be short term.  I'm just wondering how he planned to have me deal with the rebound.

[Scarlett]

I'm not wanting off.  I'm wanting normal dose.  60 mg is way above normal.  He put me on that short term.  Which I scoffed at, but he assured me it would be short term.  I'm just wondering how he planned to have me deal with the rebound.

 

 

Oh, ok.  I haven't heard about rebound.  Ugh.  I am going to pretend I didn't hear that may happen to dh.  LOL

[Carol in Cal.]

My NP (naturopath) does this maneuver where she can externally fix a hiatal hernia.  She tried to teach me to do it to myself, but I couldn't feel it well enough.  But maybe you'd have better success.

 

Also, for me making a tea out of fresh ginger and drinking it all day for about 3 days pretty much cures stomach inflammation for a while.  It's not as dramatic as Prilosec, nor is it as reliable in preventing the nighttime trouble, but it's more curative, though slower.

[BarbecueMom]

Ha, I read the other thread with the acupuncture joke then this one. Now it makes sense.

 

Glad you are feeling better, hiatal hernias suck. Zantac works great for me for breakthrough reflux, but it's very short term relief. If I take it about 3:30pm, I actually feel okay through bedtime. I usually wake up dry heaving about 4:30-5:00am though. It hits hard when it comes back, so I try not to use it unless I absolutely need to.

 

I've had some luck with Pepto Bismol caplets, but it's not as great as Zantac. Hard to swallow too.

 

Maybe try switching to a different PPI and a lower dose, then switch back to Prevacid and lower again? I'm just throwing things out there.

 

I'm going back in to deal with this crap on Friday. Reflux, now featuring sharp abdominal pain and a metallic odor from the GI tract! I've half convinced myself that I'm bleeding from a gaping hole in my stomach. Ugh.