[Tapemeasure]

I have been on Omeprazole for nine weeks now and I still get reflux problems. The valve inmy stomac opens and its like being sick but happens when I bend over. I get very stressed about it as I think its going to go on forever. Will the doctors suggest an operation as I can't go on like this and am hardly going out. Any doctors think this will get better and can advise me? I don't see the gastroenterologist until March. Thanks

[J_9]

We aren't doctors, but I am a RN, AND I suffer from GERD. The only thing that has helped me is Nexium. It's a lifesaver!

[Clough]

Hi, Tapemeasure!

Are you a nervous person who might also suffer from anxiety?

Thanks!

[Wondergirl]

I was on Nexium (and loved its positive effects), switched to the generic Omeprazole because of cost, had no good relief with it, and two weeks later returned to Nexium. The OTC version of Nexium is Prilosec. My gastro doctor didn't care which version I took, just that it agreed with me.

[J_9]

Omeprazole is Prilosec.

[Wondergirl]

Omeprazole is Prilosec.

So it's the generic for Prilosec? Since the generic didn't work, then Prilosec wouldn't work either? (I haven't tried Prilosec.)

[J_9]

I was on Nexium (and loved its positive effects), switched to the generic Omeprazole because of cost, had no good relief with it, and two weeks later returned to Nexium. The OTC version of Nexium is Prilosec. My gastro doctor didn't care which version I took, just that it agreed with me.

There is no current OTC for Nexium. That's why it's so expensive.

This post right here says that you DID take Prilosec.

Oh... I'm so confuzzled! :o

[Wondergirl]

Oh...I'm so confuzzled!! :o

Now, wait a minute! I count on YOU to keep me (and all of the rest of us) straightened out. You're our medical professional.

So Nexium = Prilosec = Omeprazole? Why does Nexium work for me but Omeprazole doesn't?

[J_9]

Nexium = Esomeprazole

Prilosec = Omeprazole

They are two different medications.

Prilosec used to be prescription, but is now OTC.

Nexium is still prescription and has no OTC at the moment.

Prilosec can be used in children as young as 2. Nexium is only for adults. Though they are very similar, there are a great number of differences.

Here's a great website that describes the differences. Prilosec vs. Nexium

[thisisit]

Tapemeasure: Gastric Reflux Disease does not go away. There are some operations some doctors use on some patients who cannot tolerate any of the medications or for those who still have symptoms not relieved by medications. If your doctor suggests surgery, be sure to do your research and pick a surgeon who does a lot of that kind of surgery.

[0rphan]

Hi tapemeasure,
I have suffered with this for several years and I also take omeprazole.

It takes the edge off the problem,but is no where near as effective as it used to be.

I have found that watching what I eat helps... nothing high acid content like pickled onions or oranges or various sauces... especially hot ones.

Don't over fill your stomach,eat several smaller meals during the day rather than one big evening meal.

When you do have a severe about of it, don't push or pull heavy objects, this sqeezes the stomach in causing the acid to escape into the gullet.

Finally the biggest and best help I have found is a heartburn liquid, that I take every night as the last thing I put into my stomach before going to bed,it cools the stomach lining sitting on the top of the stomach acid preventing it from reflux.

I buy a cheap one at our local supermarket or you can buy the well known brand called GAVISCON, they do aniseed flavour or mint.

Hope this helps,I know how painfull this can be.

[Tapemeasure]

Thanks folks. I see what you are saying but I have also tried Lansoprozole and then went on to Omeprazole because the other one was no good. I have just been in hospital due to chest pain and vomiting. It wasn't my heart and was put down to depression and anxiety! I think it must have been oesophagus spasm. The hospital don't want to do any more tests so what do I do? I'm sure it is GERD and if medicines don't work they should do the operation. Why won't they listen? I can't go on like this but they don't take me seriously. Honstly I am suffering and won't be going far this year with the looks of it. A and E said it was proberly indigestion but nothing is done about it. Any ideas because this is doing me in and of course I can't work. My life is ruined by it.

[Tapemeasure]

I have tried Gaviscon of course and find that makes me more sick. I really find it difficult because all the remeies don't work. Even the anti emetics don't really work and a lot of days I am really sick. Christopher Sands had to have an op to cure his stomach problem,did he have to go on the programme first to get it? Any gastros on this from Sheffield? If my local hospital won't help me then I would consider going there. I'm at my wits end and know that taking the meds on and on isn't the answer because I have had it several months now.

[J_9]

Any gastros on this from Sheffield?

Unfortunately there are no doctors on this site currently. This is a worldwide website, so while I understand you are talking about England, others may not.

What operation are you talking about?

[thisisit]

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble. There are a various surgerical options, but none is without its own problems and often they are difficult to recover from. GERD is not something that goes away. There are things you can do to reduce the symptoms, but there is no cure. If you are overweight, lose weight. Don't wear restrictive clothing, eat small frequent meals rather than 3 larger meals a day. Eat a diet that has less acidic foods. Take antacids, or Histamine 2 blockers or Proton Pump Inhibitors, if you can tolerate them. Stop smoking if you smoke.

[Tapemeasure]

I meant the stomach operation fundoplication. I don't know if my gastroenterologist will suggest it. I would be scared but some people have had good results from it as they say on some websites. I know I may have other problems because I have to see a specialist about hormones. Does anyone know how they affect you and make you sick? I have constant pain round my chest and discharge from my breasts and I feel very run down.

[thisisit]

I'm trying really hard to avoid a fundoplication surgery myself... I read about a newer less drastic surgery where some kind of stapling is done through the esophagus, though I'm very hesitant to do that either. I've already had 2 surgeries, extremely difficult to recover from and the last one had the complication of anesthesia failure, which can happen. Who knows how often? But now I know what it feels like to be cut open with a knife while awake.

I don't think discharge from your breasts is related to the reflux. Problems with a hormone called prolactin can cause discharge from the breast.

[Tapemeasure]

We could do with talking to someone who has had this op. I feel really desperate now with my condition. The doctors want to try different meds but I have tred them for so long and still feel really ill. On webMD there as a lot of people who have problems now they have had their gallbladder out,to do with reflux mainly. They have had pain and been sick for ages. There has been odd days when I have been fine but the last time felt OK was before Christmas. Its very hard to cope with this especially the pain whatever causes it. What were your surgeries thisisit? Its amazing how many young people ar going into hospital with nasty things. I have just been in and everyone was young in there with me.

[thisisit]

My sister's granddaughter had fundoplacation surgery as a baby. She also got a PEG tube at the same time. I can remember giving her feedings and all the problems she had, poor baby was miserable. Still to this day (she's a teenager now) she cannot throw up and only burps with great difficulty. I have had GERD for many years, and I've never had a period that I didn't have stomach medicine prescribed, most of it I could not take because of side effects or it just did not work at all. I developed Barrett's esophagus and repeated esophagus infections and esophagitis and hiatal hernia from all the reflux. I lost a lot of weight because I had such terrible pain in my esophagus that I couldn't eat enough, often could not swallow at all because my esophagus was too swollen and painful from reflux. I got a PEG tube placed into my lower stomach, then after 1 1/2 yr I had to have another one because the first one was infected from the first day. I fought the infection for a year and a half. The tube eventually grew mold inside it and I lost a lot more weight. I had a new tube put in my upper stomach a little over a year ago, then a week later had the first one removed. I know that sounds complicated and it doesn't sound right, but that is how it happened and in that order. It was during the second surgery that the anesthesia failed completely, but there was nothing I could do. I kept thinking as each second passed that I was going to be unconscious any moment, but I never lost consciousness. I felt my whole body convulse with the pain worst than pain I could ever imagine as the doctor cut into and through my upper abdomen, through my diaphragm and into my stomach. It is hard to believe someone can survive that much pain, but I did, though I admit I was traumatized by it. But anyway, it was very hard to recover physically from the that surgery. Everything I read says it is minor surgery, but I've had 2 C-sections that were not as painful as the feeding tube surgeries. That was a little over a year ago and I took Zantac every day after that for over a year and had a migraine from the Zantac that I had to take Relpax for, which gave me high blood pressure. Zantac alone was not enough and I got a really big ulcer in August because I was also taking a lot of aspirin for RA. My esophagus is healed now, because I took Zantac so long. But I can't take it anymore. I can't take any of the medicines without intolerable side effects.

I've read patient stories about the fundoplucation. I don't think it is something I want to do, though eventually I might not have a choice. Now that my esophagus is healed (no more Barrett's esophagus), I can have the tube removed... but I also can't take any of the stomach meds anymore either so, yes, I'm desperate also and feel GERD has pretty much ruined my life.

Not everyone has so much trouble with GERD. What happened to me will not necessarily happen to you.

[Tapemeasure]

Poor you thisisit. I sympathise with you.Good grief its terrible what you have been through and I thought I had problems. So I will tell my story. I was fine until the end of June last year and ate the hottest curries. My stomach was good then. I got some rib pain really bad and took Naproxen because I was in agony. I started to be sick and ended up having an endoscopy. It was a stomach ulcer. This continued with being constantly sick for 3 months. It was awful running to the loo all day to be sick. I ended up in hospital because I couldn't keep anything down. I was on drip. Twice in there. Then I got terrific pain and eventually had a scan where gallstones were found. I was in hospital the end of September because of the pain and vomiting. The gallbladder was removed in early October. I was fine for a few weeks,stopped taking Lansprozole and had a massive acid reflux. Vomit again.It carries on and more pain in chest as well. I went to see a hormone specialist and need to get my blood checked maybe a MRI scan. The chest pain gets so bad and I have recently been in hospital with it. Now thinking of changing ant acid again. Still no proper diagnosis.