My doc put me on strong antiinflammatories and my stomach couldn't tolerate them. Now, I am off them, but my stomach still hurts. Also, I am getting hiccups after I eat, reflux, etc...

This issue along with pain pushed me to go on a diet to treat my AS .

Should I take Omeprazole to heal the gut or heal it naturally through foods? I am taking a probiotic but it is not enough.

Shari

i posted this for someone else here this week:

http://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/ubbthre...true#Post462670

i developed really severe gastritis in 1993. at the time i was only taking an occasional ibuprofen for migraines. i just really can't do nsaids at all. but if i do the things i list in that post, i can manage my gastritis.

we're all different, but for me, i must manage my stomach with diet (see post), herbs like ginger and mint (see post), and meds like prilosec (see post).

you may be able to get away with just one or the other. i need to hit it from all angles just to keep it under control.

do be careful, glad you stopped the nsaids. i'm lucky my gastritis is so painful. i had an aunt that died from a bleeding ulcer. sometimes that can happen without a person having much stomach pain and not realizing the seriousness of the situation.

there is talk about prilosec being linked to osteoporosis. but i just take my Ca/Mg/D supplements and for me, the benefits outweigh the risks.

dying from a bleeding ulcer or stomach cancer like a few of my relatives have, is a real concern for me with gastritis that must be carefully managed. but i am an extreme case i think. still what works for me, could help someone else.

I would suggest going back to your doctor and at the very least letting them know what your reaction to them was. Stomach ulcers and NSAID damage shouldn't be taken lightly, as Sue suggests, and you may need active treatment rather than just stopping the NSAIDs.

Omeprazole is what I take, twice a day sometimes. It is prescription Prilosec.
I am sorry to hear your condition, but you can overcome it.
I have had a spastic stomach my whole life, eventually coming down with Gastritis.
The meds weren't working alone.

I must say that my relief came from fasting, and prayer.
The night after my fast was the the worst, I didn't expect it to cure me, so there was no disappointment. I had never fasted before.
The next day.....after years of suffering from spastic stomach, constant gurgling and groaning, and fermenting sounds.
It went away.....

that's very interesting. i'm glad that helped you. maybe a food allergy was causing you problems? for me, the very worst thing i can do to my stomach is let it go hungry. it needs to be fed every few hours or it gets mighty unhappy. when its bad, it can't even go a whole night of sleep without being medicated in the middle of the night. really does show how different we can be at times.

PPIs can lead to osteoporosis - thinning bones. You can manage reflux/GERD with diet. Many foods will act as a trigger for reflux, one being, starch. I also have reflux/GERD problems and was once on NSAIDs until they rotted out my guts.

Suggest that you have a chat with yr doctor - don't be surprised if he wants to put you on PPIs, but of course you don't have to go there! But see him just to clear up the stomach issues then you can use diet to address the problem. Diet does work - whenever I eat whatever I shouldn't (including having an extra drink) can be sure to throw a blasted reflux...

Take care -

Molly C (France)
Keeping on Keeping on (as we all do)

http://search.mercola.com/search/Pages/results.aspx?sq=1&k=treatment%20for%20acid%20reflux

ALL you'll ever need to know about Acid Reflux including the alarming fact that insufficient acid leads TO acid reflux and that the drug trials into acid reflux were skewered...very interesting.

Good reading - oh yes, and each of the many sections is backed with sound and well researched information. Ant-acids are a huge cash cow for pharma, past accounting showed more than 6 billion just for Prilosec! Present picture :-

(snip...) "The heartburn drug Nexium, the object of a half-billion-dollar marketing campaign to move people off the prescription medications predecessor, Prilosec.
Top 10 Pharmaceuticals
Prilosec slipped from the number-one to the number-two selling prescription drug last year after its patent was about to expire and maker AstraZeneca shifted its promotional muscle to the "new Purple Pill," Nexium.

Drug Treatment U.S. Sales
1 Lipitor Cholesterol
$5.22b
2 Prilosec Heartburn $4.61b
3 Zocor Cholesterol $3.68b
4 Prevacid Heartburn $3.55b
5 Celebrex Arthritis $2.61b
6 Epogen Anemia $2.56b
7 Procrit Anemia $2.55b
8 Zyprexa Schizophrenia $2.51b
9 Zoloft Depression $2.27b
10 Paxil Depression $2.15b

The Life Cycle of the
Purple Pill
Worldwide earnings from the Purple Pill grew annually from the time it was introduced in 1988 until just before its patent expired last year."

(Interesting stats.)

"I can assure you the number of people who actually need this drug is less than one in 100 of those taking it. In other words, people are being prescribed drugs for heartburn when it is one of the easiest medical problems to treat. Most people ignore that heartburn is an important clue from their body and rely on a drug to suppress the symptoms.

"This is the equivalent of driving your car and ignoring the engine light that comes on on your dashboard to warn you of a problem. Using a Band-Aid like Prilosec to cover the light allows you to ignore the problem and, although it may solve the problem in the short-term, the implications for ignoring this important clue are quite obvious. You could be looking at more costly repairs by not acknowledging the symptom.

So what is the solution for heartburn?

There are several key points:

1. Drink adequate amounts of clean water.
2. Follow the nutrition plan being careful to avoid sugar.
3. Use one to two cloves of raw fresh garlic per day to eradicate H. pylori, which is a factor for many with heartburn.
4. Use high-quality probiotics.

And what is the solution for not getting burned by the pharmaceutical companies any more?

Knowledge.

"You can start with some of the "Related Articles" below, and I also strongly recommend you read "Trust Us, We're Experts." This accessible and often startling book blows the lid right off the industries who manipulate "scientific fact" to ridiculous (but, sadly, effective) ends to sell gobs of their harmful products. It truly belongs on every American's bookshelf.

Related Articles:

Why Inhibiting Acid Production With Prilosec and Prevacid Could Make Ulcers Worse

Prilosec and Prevacid Natural Alternatives

How to Cure Your Heartburn Now That Prilosec Will Go Over the Counter (OTC)

Dissatisfaction with Heartburn Drugs Common (more...more...more...)

Molly C

My GI put me on Nexium after he did a scope. I have never has any Acid Reflux, just gastritis. As long as I take the Nexium, I am fine, but if I skip it for a few days, I start getting nauseous. Also, like Sue, I need to eat something every few hours. If I get empty, I get uncomfortable.

This is not something that should be treated without having it checked out by a GI first. For many people, it is nothing serious, but it can be dangerous if you are one of the people with an ulcer. Have it checked out.

Another of the big problems with the PPIs is that the stomach becomes addicted and then cannot manage without... I posted on them a few years back now, mebbe 4 yrs ago? When 'addicted' can take a year and plus to get off the PPIs. It is quite an involved subject, but one well worth checking out in all its complexities.

Here's a bit of info -

Proton pump inhibitors drugs benefits and side effects
www.raysahelian.com/protonpumpinhibitor.html - Similarto Proton pump inhibitors drugs benefits and side effects
Proton pump inhibitor drugs benefits and side effects, danger.

Side Effects of Antacids and Acid Blockers
refluxdefense.com/heartburn_GERD_articles/side-effects-antacids... - Similarto http://refluxdefense.com/heartburn_GERD_articles/side-effects-antacids-and-acid-blockers.html (this guy is good - everyone on PPIs should have knowledge of this information)

Side Effects of Antacids and Acid Blockers
The side effects of antacids, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 antagonists, omeprazole and other acid blocking drugs. Stomach acid is an essential part of the ...
The Side Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors | Are PPIs Safe? | ...
stopacidrefluxpro.com/ppis-side-effects/
Are PPIs safe? Beware of over-the-counter ppis. Your stomach needs good acids as well as bad acids in order for it to digest food. The side effects of proton ...

---------------

Ray Sahelian is balanced , here's a snippet - but read his whole input, this is just a snippet from 'one' observation -
"Even in those without previous heartburn symptoms, proton pump inhibitors can give rise to such symptoms after the drugs are stopped. "It thus seems that the drugs induce the symptoms they are used to treat, which might lead to dependency on such drugs," says co-author Dr. Christina Reimer, from Køge University Hospital, Denmark. Such dependency might explain why use of the medications is increasing. Gastroenterology, July 2009."

Here's a longer section from

http://stopacidrefluxpro.com/ppis-side-effects/

PPIs or proton pump inhibitors are a group of drugs which are prescribed to regulate the flow of gastric acids in the stomach. It is essential to learn about the ailments for which these drugs are used and their mode of functioning to understand proton pump inhibitors side effects.

The acids of the stomach have a digestive as well as an immunological function. They aid digestion and kill certain harmful bacteria. However, there are times when the flow of these acids gets affected, leading to situations of over-secretion (gastritis, usually stress induced) or the acid backing up into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux).

This causes the inflammation and even damage to the stomach lining (peptic ulcers) and esophageal walls. PPIs, through clinical forms such as Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, Dexlansoprazole, Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole and Rabeprazole, control the flow of stomach acids, thus allowing ulcers more time to heal and preventing the acid from entering the esophagus.

PPIs may have both short term side effects as well as more serious and long term ones. The short term ones the ones which are, in part, due to the body adjusting to a new drug. Nausea, rashes, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, abdominal pain and diarrhea are sometimes reported. In very rare cases, there have been complaints about depression and anxiety.

Dangers of PPIs Side Effects (Proton Pump Inhibitors Side Effects)

The trouble really is for people who use the drug for very long terms and in very large doses. Then, the side effects might turn out to be a little more problematic. Areas of the body which are prone to bacterial invasion are protected partially by having an acidic environment in those parts. The creation of such a system is one of the main uses of gastric acids.

Though the esophagus is a link to the digestive system and the trachea, the link to the respiratory system, they have a common opening in the mouth. When we are lying down, food particles sometimes travel up the esophagus and enter the trachea. This is a totally normal thing. However, when a patient is under PPI medication, he has a relatively greater incidence of bacteria in his stomach.

Remember, due to the lower acid flow in his or her stomach, it is a less acidic and thus, a more bacteria-ridden place. This means that along with the food particles, a greater number of prospective disease carrying germs might travel into his lungs. Thus, he or she runs a far greater chance of contracting bacterial pneumonia.

Special mention must be made of the Clostridium difficile bacterium. These bacteria are transmitted orally through ingestion. They can cause serious internal damage in the forms of colitis, inflammation of colon walls and near fatal diarrhea. Our immune system, in general, is equipped to tackle this. However, changes in the ecology of the gut, due to PPIs, put us at risk from these bacteria.

Lowered acid secretion also takes its toll on bone health. Stomach acids help in the absorption of calcium and vitamin B12. Both these minerals are absolutely crucial to the development and strengthening of bones. By reducing the flow of these acids PPIs make people far more susceptible to fractures, especially of the hip bone. Special care is advised for osteoporosis patients. Their use of the drug should always be supervised.

Other serious proton pump inhibitors side effects include rebound hyperacidity in the form of accentuated dyspepsia in the few weeks after one stops taking PPIs. PPIs can also fluctuations in the absorption and concentration of other drugs. For example, ketoconazole absorption is decreased and digoxin concentration is increased.

The wise thing to do is to take PPIs under able supervision. Dosages should be specific to every case and varied depending on the changes in health status. Any unwarranted reaction, however minor, should be reported immediately.
Proton pump inhibitors, in fact, are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the entire U.S. In 2009, they were the third-largest class of drug in the country with $13.6 billion in sales, representing more than 110 million prescriptions. *

Unfortunately, taking these drugs or OTC remedies like Tums and Maalox, although they can provide relief, can be very dangerous, especially if taken for too long. The proton pump inhibitors like Prevacid and Prilosec and the H2 blocker agents like Tagament, Pepcid, and Zantac are some of the worst drugs that you could possibly take, despite being extremely over prescribed.

“For most patients, the adverse effects of [proton pump inhibitors] outweigh the benefits…Between 53% and 69% of PPI prescriptions are for inappropriate indications.”
- Dr. Mitchell H. Katz of the San Francisco Department of Public Health

Avoid the side effects of PPIs. There are long term effects that can be very damaging.

Don’t spend another day with the pain of acid reflux. Put those antacids down. Don’t fight your body. Nurture it, with Digestive Science Reflux Elimination System. (more...)

IF an ulcer then to ensure not helicobacter pylori - in which case antibiotics...
Helicobacter Pylori and Stomach Pain | Health | Patient UK
www.patient.co.uk/health/Helicobacter-Pylori-and-Stomach-Pain.h... - Similarto Helicobacter Pylori and Stomach Pain | Health | Patient UK
Helicobacter Pylori and Stomach Pain - Infection with H. pylori is the cause of most stomach and duodenal ulcers. H. pylori also causes some cases ...

---------------------##

One is always thankful to that Australian doctor who identified the stinker causing most of the ulcer problems. He did good.

I have known two people who have died unexpectedly from some type of ulcer. My work partner used to like to go drinking on friday nights so he would usually have enough work done that the boss would let him go. He complained of a stomach ache on friday and the boss let him go home thinking he was going to the bars. He was found dead on the shitter.
Another was my uncle, he recognized the problem, and for religious reasons he refused blood. His family didn't realize the seriousness. They made a short visit, and an hour later he passed away. There are signs and symptoms to be aware of. These are emergency room important.
may be other examples but, a black tarry stool is a trip to the ER.

I feel your pain Shari....
They put me on a drip to try and flush my system earlyer this week when i had that bad reaction to the tremadol....
Maybe try and drink as much water as possable and choose your diet very carefuly for the next few weeks and hopfuly everything will get better...
I realy hope you start to feel better soon..

Hi, Shari:



CAN the gut be healed naturally with food? I don't know but I had the same problem and first had to get rid of the -itisus (proctitis, gastritis, every itis in between). The only way I was able to do that was then through fasting. But now, thanks to Dr. Barry Marshall and his colleague(s), we might be able to use antibiotics.

Then some foods might help. But it is difficult to say; fasting is obviously (to me) still the best medicine. With antibiotics a very close second. Avoiding starches hands down the best therapy, but combining therapies is miles better with this beast.

NSAIDs just create more disease on top of the myriad AS brings. They accelerated my AS, in addition to the problems they directly caused.

HEALTH,
John

i second the going to the doctor to get it checked out. find a good gastroenterologist that takes it seriously.

i've been blessed to have really good GI docs.

when i first developed the severe gastritis in 1993, i went to a gastroenterologist. the first thing he did was have me in for an upper endoscopy to ensure that it was in fact "just gastritis" and not an ulcer. finding that it was gastritis, he tried me first on two of the three zantac or tagamet or pepcid but when they did no good, had me try the prilosec, BINGO! that did the trick. i've tried to see if diet and herbs like ginger would do it alone, but like donna, i also need the med. for me i have to hit it from all angles.

when it flares, i go back to the gastroenterologist, and do not attempt to deal with it on my own; ulcers are far too serious a matter, as ron described! when it flared very bad in 2006, back for another upper endoscopy, once again to make sure it was "just gastritis" and not an ulcer. still, "just gastritis", so i continue to treat it as i've already described in the above post and in that linked post.

like molly stated, i do think a lot of people could get by managing their GERD/Reflux with diet alone (and probably also avoiding things like caffeine and nsaids) but my husband and i are not in that category. his Reflux was bad enough that when he tried to manage it with just diet, he had to have his esophagus scar tissue (from the constant acid irritation) repaired every few years. since being on daily prilosec, he hasn't needed that done in over 5 years now. its so much better than it was.

so do what you need to do, but i urge you to have a GI doc get involved. and make sure its one that takes your symptoms seriously and if it doesn't resolve quickly on its own is willing to do an upper endoscopy to have a look-see.

to heal the gut: probiotics are a good start. for me, not only do i have stomach inflammation, but also ileum inflammation. i'm now taking probiotics for that. avoiding all nsaids. and avoiding the foods that i know i am sensitive too, dairy predominantly, though our food triggers will not all be the same. but once again, tell your GI doc about your intestines as well. my GI doc is also involved in this. he did a colonoscopy all the way up into the ileum to look for the inflammation when i was having bowel issues. then when he found some inflammation, did further testing, gave me the probiotics, etc.

You guys have been very helpful with all the information you have provided me. My stomach is getting better each day, with the diet. I have stopped the NSAIDS and Omperazole. Even though the Omperazole helps my stomach pain, I do not want to risk having a new problem or get addicted to another medication. I am thankful my stomach gave me warning when damage was being done.

I am seeing a Naturopath next week and hoping she can help treat my symptoms better than my Rheumy.

I am having less back pain just cutting out gluten, eggs and dairy this week so there is hope. I may be going no starch soon and switching to extra strength Tylenol versus Tramadol. Just hope withdrawl from Tramadol won't be too hard.

Thank you guys!

Shari