Can Anyone Help Me Get Off Inexium?

[Rosey]

Hi everyone! I'm new here and have been trying to screw up the courage to post something for a couple of months. Here goes!

I have suffered from digestive problems for over twenty years now and have always been told that I have IBS and must grin and bear it! I found out about Celiac in May and after having done a useless blood test (they only tested for IGE E) I decided to try the diet (I was already dairy and soy-free and had tried to go corn free as well). It immediately helped diminish the terrible gas, bloating and alternating C and D I have been suffering from all this time, but the GERD and sour stomach continued and I still tend to have 'gas attacks' although I'm very strict about the diet and try to follow all the recommendations I've read on this great board about cooking, make-up, soaps etc.

After reading a very interesting post by Burdee about acid blockers ruining your digestion and about people being misdiagnosed as having hyper-acidity, I have been wondering if this might be contributing to my problem. I have been on Inexium (or other similiar medications) for many years now because the GERD led to esophagitis and trouble swallowing (I used to choke on my food all the time and couldn't breathe anymore - has that happened to anyone else?? It terrified me!). I have managed to reduce the dose (I used to take 2 of the strongest a day and I'm down to 1X20mg now), but every time I try to stop, the GERD gets so bad I can't bear it and I'm worried about choking again.

Could those of you who have had a similar experience and who have managed to come off the acid blockers etc. give me some advice please? How do you know if you suffer from hyper or hypo-acidity? What natural cures can you take initially to help calm the GERD?

I would really appreciate any help you can give me!

Take care!

Rosey

[ravenwoodglass]

(I used to choke on my food all the time and couldn't breathe anymore - has that happened to anyone else?? It terrified me!).

What natural cures can you take initially to help calm the GERD?

I would really appreciate any help you can give me!

Take care!

Rosey

Hi Rosey and welcome. I sure can sympathize with the choking. Prediagnosis this happened to me a lot but in my case it was most likely nerve damage and has resolved. It is a very scary thing though and as I now live alone I still cut up my food in very tiny bits even though it hasn't happened since about a year gluten free.

I can not answer with certainty as to your specific med but there can be some rebound effects to stopping these things and hopefully someone with more experience with that will respond.

One thing I do know is that one way to tell if your after eating discomfort is hyper or hypo acid is to take some apple cider vinager after eating. If your discomfort is low acid this will relieve it.

[Jestgar]

Maybe coming off it more slowly would help. Can you not take a pill once a week? Maybe combined with raven's suggestion of vinegar?

[sfm]

Hi everyone! I'm new here and have been trying to screw up the courage to post something for a couple of months. Here goes!

I have suffered from digestive problems for over twenty years now and have always been told that I have IBS and must grin and bear it! I found out about Celiac in May and after having done a useless blood test (they only tested for IGE E) I decided to try the diet (I was already dairy and soy-free and had tried to go corn free as well). It immediately helped diminish the terrible gas, bloating and alternating C and D I have been suffering from all this time, but the GERD and sour stomach continued and I still tend to have 'gas attacks' although I'm very strict about the diet and try to follow all the recommendations I've read on this great board about cooking, make-up, soaps etc.

After reading a very interesting post by Burdee about acid blockers ruining your digestion and about people being misdiagnosed as having hyper-acidity, I have been wondering if this might be contributing to my problem. I have been on Inexium (or other similiar medications) for many years now because the GERD led to esophagitis and trouble swallowing (I used to choke on my food all the time and couldn't breathe anymore - has that happened to anyone else?? It terrified me!). I have managed to reduce the dose (I used to take 2 of the strongest a day and I'm down to 1X20mg now), but every time I try to stop, the GERD gets so bad I can't bear it and I'm worried about choking again.

Could those of you who have had a similar experience and who have managed to come off the acid blockers etc. give me some advice please? How do you know if you suffer from hyper or hypo-acidity? What natural cures can you take initially to help calm the GERD?

I would really appreciate any help you can give me!

Take care!

Rosey

Rosey -

The apple cider vinegar helped a great deal when I was trying to get off prilosec. I would actually take it whenever my reflux acted up (just a small amount). I was the same way - I wanted to stop taking it, but I would get so sick (to the point of vomiting) when I stopped.

I do still occasionally get reflux (I have a minor hiaital hernia), but I haven't taken prilosec for about 5 months - or any antacids. I stopped using the vinegar about 3 months ago. Unfortunately, I also had to give up coffee

The other part of that is that I think I expected all of my digestive symptoms to stop immediately when I went gluten free, because I began to feel so much better in so many ways. But it took a long time for my body to get so screwed up, and I think I have to give it some time to heal completely, too, you know?

Good luck; I hope you can find a way to stop taking the nexium.

Sheryll

[VioletBlue]

I was taking maximum strength over the counter Zantac every night prior to going off gluten. I tried Prilosec at one point with zero effect, LOL.

I went on the gluten-free diet in December 06. It took three or four months of the gluten-free diet before I could stop with the Zantac. I think the small intestine needs time to heal from the gluten damage, so I imagine the effect is not immediate.

As someone else mentioned apple cider can work. I couldn't handle the smell of the cider, so I took apple cider pills that I used to ease myself of Zantec. It did wonders, but then I became too sensitive to the malic acid in that. At any rate I don't take anything anymore. I can now handle foods I couldn't eat before without terrible reflux. The only exception is after an accidental glutening. I found that the acid reflux returns if the glutening is bad enough.

I've also read that acid in the stomach is supposed to be a good thing. I helps keep bacteria, viruses, germs in check within the intestinal tract When you block the acid you can wind up with a higher incidence of stomach bugs, common colds etc.

It sounds like you've got actually physical damage from the reflux though. That may be a whole different story and may take even longer to heal?

Violet

[burdee]

Could those of you who have had a similar experience and who have managed to come off the acid blockers etc. give me some advice please? How do you know if you suffer from hyper or hypo-acidity? What natural cures can you take initially to help calm the GERD?

Rosey

ROSEY:

Read "Why Stomach Acid is Good for You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux and GERD" by Jonathan Wright, MD. You can order that for $8.11 through amazon .com. With shipping charges you may pay about $11. He describes natural ways to relieve hypoacidity symptoms besides taking HCl and which foods exacerbate GERD so you can avoid those.

BURDEE

[Rosey]

Hi Ravenwoodglass!

Thanks so much for your reply. It's really nice to know one is not alone! I eat really slowly and am still afraid of eating with people other than family members in case I have another choking fit although it hasn't happened for some time, thank goodness! How much cider vinegar would you recommend?

Take care!

Rosey

[Rosey]

Hi everyone! I wanted to thank you all so much for your replies - finding them has really made my day!!!

Jestgar, I don't think I can go down to one pill a week because I still have trouble getting through the day with just one (I often have to take a couple of Rennie as well). I'm going to try to take one every two days to see if my body will adapt.

Sheryll, I'm sure you're right about it being necessary to give the body time to heal. It's really nice to know you managed to come off the acid blockers using vinegar even though you have a hernia (I have a small one too). How much vinegar did you take with each meal?

Violet, the cider pills sound like a good alternative. I'll see if it's possible to order them on Internet!

Burdee, thanks for recommending the book. I'll definitely see if I can get a copy!

Sorry I couldn't reply to you individually, but it would have made a long list of posts! (Is there a better way of doing this?)

Take care and thanks once again!!

Rosey

[Jestgar]

Rosey, I meant to say take one less pill each week (sorry, should have worded that better). So go from 7 to six and see how you feel. If everything seems fine for that week go to 5 pills. To give your stomach a chance to remember how to produce the right amount of acid.

[gfpaperdoll]

Rosie, Read the book "Eat Right for your Blood Type".

[burdee]

Hi everyone! I wanted to thank you all so much for your replies - finding them has really made my day!!!

Sheryll, I'm sure you're right about it being necessary to give the body time to heal. It's really nice to know you managed to come off the acid blockers using vinegar even though you have a hernia (I have a small one too). How much vinegar did you take with each meal?

Violet, the cider pills sound like a good alternative. I'll see if it's possible to order them on Internet!

Burdee, thanks for recommending the book. I'll definitely see if I can get a copy!

Rosey

ROSEY:

Dr. Wright's book suggests swallowing 1-2 tablespoons of cider vinegar or lemon juice in as little water as possible during the early part of a meal. If this lessens or eliminates indigestion and/or heartburn, then it's reasonable to conclude that your symptoms are a result of insufficient stomach acid.

I was on Zantac, Tagamet, Maalox and Mylanta for about 10 years. I refluxed after every meal. Abstaining from food allergies helped some, but taking HCl almost completely eliminated reflux. However if I overeat and bend over or consume peppermint, caffeine or chocolate, I can STILL get reflux. So I have to avoid foods that relax my lower esophageal valve and restore my stomach acid.

BURDEE

[confused]

Rosie, Read the book "Eat Right for your Blood Type".

What all does that book talk about, it sounds very interesting. I think i had an neice talk to me many years ago about being on a diet that correllated to her blood type and she lost weight. But is the diet good for celiacs. I am really interested in knowing more about this book.

paula

[sfm]

Sheryll, I'm sure you're right about it being necessary to give the body time to heal. It's really nice to know you managed to come off the acid blockers using vinegar even though you have a hernia (I have a small one too). How much vinegar did you take with each meal?

Rosey

Hi Rosey-

I started with about 1 tsp with each meal. I found eventually that about 2 tsp after I ate seemed to help a lot. After awhile I began taking it only when I felt the onset of heartburn. There's no getting around the taste - it's awful. I used a medicine cup because I could drink it like a shot of whiskey!

One thing about the pills - some of them say apple cider vinegar, but actually contain mostly white vinegar with a trace of apple cider vinegar plus fragrance/flavoring. While I guess the acid would help, my understanding is that apple cider vinegar actually has other health benefits. Braggs brand is the one that's best known, but I think Heinz makes it as well.

I also still get reflux when I get glutened, and for several days afterward, and when I drink too much tea (my coffee substitute), or eat dairy (I am also casein intolerant, but I indulge once in awhile).

Sheryll

[gfpaperdoll]

Eat Right for Your Blood Type is a book about the Lectins in food & how that affects your digestion of that food depending on the reaction of each blood type. It also goes into the information on each blood type, it has been awhile since I had biology, so I liked the refresher on that.

It is not a Gluten free book, although the author does go into how bad wheat & dairy is for almost all blood types. It was recommended to me by a friend several years ago, I have recommended it to a lot of people & know several that are using it. Since I have had a lifelong problem with food allergies (although everyone told me that was not so, food could never cause a bladder infection on & on, I knew I was right) I am always interested to read what the "authorities" are saying about food. My personal belief is that food is the most powerful medicine that we have, that we just do not know how to use it properly. Anyway, this book was mostly right on for my blood type, I had to laugh when I would read some of the stuff that applied to me because it was so true. I cannot eat lima beans for instance, although of course I loved them, reading this book gave me a better understanding of the whole food situation. I added in some foods that were suggested for me & eliminated some that the book said was not good for me & it has made a huge difference for me. I was able to see that although I cannot eat the nighshade foods that I can eat tomatoes, which I could never figure out before, why everyone else could not eat tomatoes & I could. There were some foods that were suggested for me that I do not eat because I have had a lifelong allergy to, for instance mushrooms & white potatoes are supposed to be neutral for me but I can only eat potatoes about once a month or so. (usually when I eat out at an unfamiliar place I will have a baked potato & salad). I never liked mushrooms that much anyway so I have not been interested in trying to add them back to my diet. Although White corn is on my avoid list I seem to tolerate it very well, maybe I think because I am completely gluten free & dairy free.

It is not a complete tool, but I do not think that anything is, I think you have to read the books, learn about gluten free, get tested for gluten, dairy, soy & egg thru enterolab.com. Get other food allergy testing, read about the grain free diets (I try to stay to that as much as possible with the exception of some cooked rice, which I wash first, & white corn tortillas & cornmeal for cornbread and that is not everyday much less every meal. I eat a lot of fruits & veggies & try for one cooked meal a day. Also I think that once you are gluten free it is easier to identify a food that you are having a problem with. People that never feel well do not know when a food bothers them, but once you are gluten free & feeling like a new person you will notice if you eat something & afterwards get pains or a headache or a tummy ache or just feel "off". With me I know that everything that I feel is caused by food, so I am attune & if I get a reaction i do not eat that food again. Awhile back I ate some gluten free, dairy free, Junior Mints which used to be my favorite candy, well wowee, let me tell you that I had a tremendous weird brain buzz that was almost down right scarry, I did not even check to see what was in the ingredients, but I will not be eating them ever again.

Everyone is so different in their symptoms & in what foods that they can tolerate & I think one of the big dividers is your blood type & the "celiac" gluten intolerant genes that you have. I am sure that in 100 years this will all be figured out at the time we are born...

[Rosey]

Thank you all for all this information! I've already got some organic cider vinegar and will try to use your doses to see how it works. I had actually tried once before a long time ago, but I stopped because it seemed to cause nasty bouts of D . I guess I took too much too quickly, or maybe it was just the wrong time to try. If it happens again I'll try the lemon juice!!

Jestgar, your suggestion is great - I hadn't thought of that! I'll try that as soon as I can get my stomach stable on 1x20mg Inexium a day!

Thanks for recommending the book Paperdoll. If it's available through Amazon I'll get it at the same time I order the one Burdee advised me to buy!

Burdee, when you stopped the acid blockers, did you do it gradually or just go 'cold turkey', so to speak? I haven't drunk coffee for about 10 years and I stopped black tea this year when I started getting bad palpitations. I drink 1 green tea a day and peppermint herb tea (peppermint doesn't seem to bother me, I must be lucky ). Having to cut down on chocolate is a real heartbreak, isn't it?! I've done that too, but can't bring myself to stop eating it entirely!!

Sheryll, thanks for the extra info! Did you find the pills are easier on the stomach? I'm going to Canada this summer- I'll see if I can find the Bragg pills there!

Thanks again for all your support!

Take care all!

Rosey

[ravenwoodglass]

Thank you all for all this information! I've already got some organic cider vinegar and will try to use your doses to see how it works. I had actually tried once before a long time ago, but I stopped because it seemed to cause nasty bouts of D . I guess I took too much too quickly, or maybe it was just the wrong time to try. If it happens again I'll try the lemon juice!!

Rosey

Hi Rosey I am glad there was some useful info for you. I hope it helps. One last note, you may want to double check the organic vinager you refer to and make certain it was gluten-free. I also have heard really good things about the Braggs liquid, we have a number of stores that sell it around here, but be really careful to check pills that are cider vinager you want to be certain that the binders they use in them are safe for us. Braggs may be safe, probably are but it is a good idea to get in the habit of checking.

[sfm]

Hi Rosey I am glad there was some useful info for you. I hope it helps. One last note, you may want to double check the organic vinager you refer to and make certain it was gluten-free. I also have heard really good things about the Braggs liquid, we have a number of stores that sell it around here, but be really careful to check pills that are cider vinager you want to be certain that the binders they use in them are safe for us. Braggs may be safe, probably are but it is a good idea to get in the habit of checking.

Good point - I know the Braggs liquid is safe because I contacted the company directly.

Rosey, I meant the liquid - I don't think Braggs makes pills. Drinking the liquid (if you have the same reflux issues I did) - does feel a little harsh on the stomach at the first gulp, but then it calms down. It's supposed to balance the stomach acid - but like a few people have mentioned, that is IF you are hypo-acidic. I did a lot of research and discovered that more people have this problem than too much stomach acid (and yet doctors continue to put everyone on acid reducers.... )

I just don't know about the pills, I've heard that a lot of times they're not really effective.

[Di-gfree]

Hi Rosey, I

[Rosey]

Hi Rosey I am glad there was some useful info for you. I hope it helps. One last note, you may want to double check the organic vinager you refer to and make certain it was gluten-free. I also have heard really good things about the Braggs liquid, we have a number of stores that sell it around here, but be really careful to check pills that are cider vinager you want to be certain that the binders they use in them are safe for us. Braggs may be safe, probably are but it is a good idea to get in the habit of checking.

Thanks Ravenwoodglass - I'll try and check. It seems gluten can be hidden in just about anything! I wouldn't have suspected the vinegar though! I hope I will be able to find the Braggs during my vacation. Take care!

[Rosey]

Hi Sheryll!

I'll go for the liquid then! Thanks a lot for all your help!

Rosey

[Rosey]

Hi Di-Gluten-Free!

Sounds like you've really had a tough time of it. When I had the choking problem (it's really frightening when you just can't breathe anymore, isn't it? I went to see a specialist and he said "Don't worry- if you're just swallowing the wrong way you won't lose consciousness". Now that was a great help ) I was already on acid blockers, but apparently my body had accustomed itself to them and I was getting acid reflux in the night. I changed to Inexium, which did eventually clear up the esophagitis, but since then I have never been able to come off it.

So you managed to get your heartburn more or less under control by eating alkaline foods? That's very interesting! I'll definitely have a look on Internet! Is there a special site you can recommend?

It's too bad about the coffee, but I know it's a real killer! I mainly drink herb tea and green tea (that's alkaline, isn't it??).

I hope you soon manage to get back to feeling as close to 100% as possible!

Thanks again for the advice and take care!

Rosey