I was just wondering if anyone can give me feedback on the results. The doctor recommended it as one option because the meds are not totally controlling my hiatal hernia and GERD symptoms. He agreed, by the way, that the lack of saliva from Sjs contributes to GERD....
I'll be very interested in this thread. I have GERD which is not always controlled by medicine. Never had a problem until Sjogrens so there is no doubt in my mind that the two are related. I'm familiar with the procedure you speak of since I've worked for a general surgeon for years. Make sure you have a top notch surgeon who has done many of these procedures. It has to be done just right or it won't work or you will have swallowing problems. I'm controlled enough with meds that my esophagus is not being damaged but I'm very careful with what I eat.
Anna
babs, I would imagine that you have done everything there is to do for the GERD, elevate bed,etc. I am wondering if you have every taken the medication Carafate. This is a pill that is quite big and can be mixed with some water to make a "slurry" that you drink several times a day as ordered. You do have to make sure that you take it so that it doesn't interfere with absorption of other medications. It really works well for the heartburn. Can be taken long term as far as I know.
Have you been diagnosed with Barretts esophagus??? Just curious as that is when docs get more aggressive. Also, have you had a second opinion? I have not had this surgery, but have a relative that had it done several years ago. I think his was a more complicated surgery though as he had extremely bad GERD. Hopefully, you will find all the information you need to make an informed decision. Good luck. Irish ;D
Thanks, guys. Believe me, this is not something I'm going to jump at. Surgery is a big deal.
To answer your questions: Irish, is Carafate relatively new? The doctor did mention something about a newer drug that he's been prescribing for a couple of months--- so far with good results. One factor for me is that I am on about seven or eight meds---don't like taking so many--- and he said surgery MAY eliminate the need for GERD meds. I have not been dx with Barrett's but I have moderate inflammation of the esophagus, even with taking Nexium twice a day. I still get a gagging sensation when my stomach is empty that is only partially relieved by being upright. Don't know if it's related but I also have malabsorption, which he is still trying to figure out the cause of.
Carafate (sucralfate) has been around since at least the mid-80s. I works differently from most antacids because it's poorly absorbed and acts more as a coating for the stomach lining. You can get it as a tablet to dissolve into a slurry as Irish mentioned, but you can also get it in suspension.
Quote from: Babs659 on April 08, 2009, 04:59:36 AM
The doctor did mention something about a newer drug that he's been prescribing for a couple of months--- so far with good results.
Have you tried Protonix? I liked that one. It helped me more than others...but I can't afford it. I use it when the doc has samples to give. I really like it. Kudos to your doctor for acknowledging that Sjogren's can be a culprit in this. Oh the doctors I've seen that said no!
AG... I take Protonix but I think its the generic version if I'm not mistaken. I know that I only pay the generic copay on my mail order. The pill does say Protonix so I'm confused. I only pay $20 for 90 day supply. You may want to check on that.
Quote from: dbab on April 08, 2009, 09:36:10 AM
AG... I take Protonix but I think its the generic version if I'm not mistaken. I know that I only pay the generic copay on my mail order. The pill does say Protonix so I'm confused. I only pay $20 for 90 day supply. You may want to check on that.
WOW! That's awesome! I had no idea it was even generic. Ugh! Thanks for telling me that. I'm going to talk to my doctor about that tomorrow.
My SIL had the Nissen done last year due to a hiatal hernia and GERD. She had been diagnosed with the hiatal hernia some 10 years previously, but kept making excuses to not have it done. After the procedure, her doctor said that the hiatal hernia was even worse than suspected-probably due to the length of time she put off the procedure.
Although uncomfortable for the first couple weeks, she's much improved and said she'd do it again (but much sooner if she'd known how much better she'd feel afterwards).
The carafate really does help douse the fire in the gut. Sometimes I forget to use it and think of it days later. It really is good though and it is generic now. Also, I don't know that protonix is generic yet. Seems like it hasn't been out long enough. Also, it is strange on different meds work differently on people. When my whole esophagus was all red GI put me on it and I got much worse. It actually made my stomach delay emptying and I could feel what was taking place. By the way, have you tried using a different med on your GERD???? You may improve on a different med.
When I was on the protonix I felt like I had a huge "hairball" in my gut that was not moving plus my heartburn was worse. I have had better luck on the Prilosec 40 mgm at bedtime and this is generic and I get it for 3 months at a time for about twelve dollars when prescribed by my doc. It is really spendy OTC. I have also used the prevacid for several years without not the best luck and I was taking it twice a day and was spendy. I was so surprised when I did better with the omeprazole(prilosec). Hopefully, you will be able to get this under control. Irish ;D
P.S. Sorry I put down prevacid for the omeprazole. Thank goodness LInda saw it.
Just to avoid confusion if anyone is searching these drugs, omeparazol is Losec or Prilosec, and lansoprazole is Prevacid. They all sound so similar, it's not unusual to mix them up.
Protonix is generically known as pantoprazole, but I'm not sure if it can be marketed that way yet in the US, because of the patent drug/copywrite laws. It's only been on the market since 2000, and was "reformulated" since then as a delayed release, which extends the length of time it can be kept as a patent.
I've been getting the pantaprazole generically for several months now. It works way better for me than the others.
Genko
Irish...I've tried prilosec and for some reason it upsets my tummy...even the generic kind...or I should say my digestive track is affected in a whole other way. I'm having to make-do with it right now and avoiding a lot of things that make the GERD worse...which is making me miserable. lol. There is a lot of easter chocolate going around right now. The other GERD meds I've been given a script for are so expensive I haven't tried them....even with my copay it's outrageous. I just can't swing that and the other meds I need, along with all the doc visits lately. Two specialist visits in two weeks and another one next week, along with a visit to my primary on Monday. Ugh...I'd LOVE to move to the UK!
I've never heard of carafate, but I'm going to look into it. Thanks for your post.
These PPIs remind me of NSAIDs... goes to show you how all different we are with our experience, effectiveness, and tolerance of these meds. The Protonix was the only one that didn't casue nausea (or additional nausea in my case) and now with pantaprazole, I'm still satisfied. I'm glad to know the names of them. If the pantaprazole ever stops working, I case ask for something else... Thanks ;D
Hi, Irish. Yes, I've tried Nexium, Aciphex, Prevacid, and OTC famotidine and ---something that starts with R. They all help somewhat, and I can honestly live with the symptoms on the twice a day regimen. It would be nice, however, to completely eliminate the need for a drug, instead of adding more and more to my regimen. I worry about these PPI's, especially.
Babs, if the drug that started with R is Ranitidine, it's not a PPI. Although it has essentially the same effect, it's a histamine H 2-receptor antagonist that inhibits stomach acid production. It seems that the most notable difference is that PPIs contribute to healing, while anti-H2s treat symptoms but don't have as much of a healing effect.
Many of the long term possible side effects of PPIs (like osteoporosis) are also possibilities with anti-H2s, because of the potential for altered absorption of calcium and/or Vitamin D.