I've been going on like this for weeks now. I do have a gastro appt on the 29th of November, which was the earliest they had available.
My stomach feels good when eating and for about a half hour after. Then the gnawing feeling, gagging and belching of air starts. I am on pantoprazole sodium, which used to work some, but now I am taking Tums, Mylanta, Gas-X and famotidine as well!!!
They help a little bit and for only a short while.
I have been diagnosed with moderate hiatal hernia, GERD and esophagitis, but I've never felt this rotten.
Any thoughts on possible cause or advice for home remedies?
Plaquenil gives me a tummy ache unless I take it during a heavy meal --- and sometimes even then. That's what I would check first.
If you have GERD, you might have some ulcers going on in your esophagus. I take carafate for ulcers. Great stuff!
I'm glad to know you're going to a gastro. I wish it could be sooner!
Mint tea? Mint Tums? Mint what ever?
Meditation, and tones could be tried. http://www.chakraforce.com/Tonations.html#16.
Hi Babs,
I can sympathise, it is really miserable.
Have you been checked for H pylori? I think this can cause these type of problems.
I too have been having this problem since Christmas (when I seem to have given myself a hiatus hernia) I am only now finding a little bit of relief.
I have changed my diet completely, I am now taking nexium (40mg) morning and evening and I take domperidone 20mg 3 times a day. I find that I have to eat little but often.
I have also purchased a memory foam bed wedge (designed for people with Hiatus Hernias)
I am waiting to go back to the gastro to see if the meds have helped.
Take care
Has your gastro had you do the breathing tests for malabsorption / intolerance?
1. sucrose
2. lactose
3. fructose
4. Bacterial Overgrowth in the Gut
I tested positive for fructose intolerance. Had to eliminate all fructose from my diet. It is in almost everything produced today.
I am wondering about a possible ulcer. I have gastroparesis and I feel better after I eat as well, as long as it is not too much. When my stomach is trying to get rid of food and it doesn't empty like it should, that is when my stomach bothers me too. Nausea, pain ect. I have found DanActive liquid probiotic drinks to really help with the belching. I think it keeps the bacteria in check.
Let us know what your gastro finds at your check up.
Anna
Regular probiotic capsules would be better than Activia and the like because they do not contain sugar.
Buy the good stuff! No shopping at Wal Mart or Walgreen's for probiotics! Either a good health food store or go online.
I take Nexium... have you tried that one?? If I'm not mistaken, peppermint can make acid reflux worse.
Do you have the head of your bed elevated 6 inches? It helps to do this as the gastric juices can't reflux up in the esophagus as much or at all. Might want to try it before you go to the doctor to see if it helps. Irish ;D
Thanks, everyone. I can always count on you guys for good advice
--peppermint does make my symptoms worse, but ginger tea helps some
--my insurance will no longer pay for Nexium or Aciphex or Prevacid, so I'm stuck with the panto
--my symptoms are not worse at night, despite lying flat, but are really bad during the day if I don't have food in my stomach
--I have not tried probiotics except a couple years ago when I had a problem with (sorry, folks) floating stools.
--I have never had the breathing test but did have biopsies and blood work to rule out celiac and h-pylori. The only ulcer he saw was at the top of my small intestine. I imagine he'll want to do another upper endo.
I'll let you all know how it goes. I see my rheumy today and will mention it to him, as well, as Ive also been in a flare for weeks.
I too keep my head elevated in an adjustable bed at night. I couldn't afford nexium any longer either. My doc changed the prescription to omeprazol. It works just as well for me. I've never tried probiotics.
I saw the rheumy on Fri and mentioned to him about my stomach. He gave me samples of Dexilant, which I've never heard of. Seems to be helping a lot. Too bad my insurance doesn't cover it.
I agree with Joe, and also I put ginger in my teas. DO NOT combine mint with chocolate. Stay clear of chocolate anyway. It is tummy disaster. I have cut down. I have GERD, gastroenteritis. Funny how companies make "mint with chocolate" candies....the combo can be destructive to the tummy. Causes terrible heartburn. I take 60 mgs of Dexilant daily. Without it, disaster! If your insurance doesn't cover Dexilant ASK YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST about the $55 off card. (Might be different now.) My insurance charged me $20 for it, the card took OFF $55 so the med is free for me. So you can see WHAT you can get with that....ALSO....my doctor would give me samples everytime if I asked......just tell him how it works, if it does! Reps love giving samples!!!
Dexilant works the best for me and I've tried them all. It does add to my constipation woes though.
Anna
Well, I went to the gastro and he has offered surgery. It's one-day laparoscopic fundiplication to fix the hiatal hernia. It's either that or double the dose of Aciphex (which I tried once before with some relief but not a lot) and risk the long term effects of being on a PPI (I already have osteopenia).
I said yes to surgery and am so looking forward to not having to take that med. It interferes with my Synthroid absorption, too.
First he wants to do a type of upper endo that involves placing a small camera at the base of my esophagus, to make sure that is functioning properly. I have that done on Dec. 20th.
I'm hoping SJS and the dryness issues found in the digestive tract won't make him rule out surgery.
Please keep us informed. I prefer spearmint or wintergreen mint.