need some support...first time poster - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

tlily · 05-31-2006, 11:33 PM

Hi All

This is the first time posting on this fourm. However, I have been suffering from acid reflex for a long time. currently I have been suffering for 4 months with no end in sight. I have also have a lump feeling in my throat. I sometimes have hot flashes and dizziness. The feeling of acid is just horrible and I cn not take this much longer. I also suffer from IBS so yep I am a walking ball of stress.

I have been taking protonix for about 3 months every day. Dr. just added 300mg of zantic to. I have had stomach and pelvic cat scans, upper GI series, stool and blood test. Two years ago I had a colon scope. Noting was found. Dr. says stress.

He said that if the zantac does not help then it is the Endo...scope. I have been trying to advoid this as I am a real baby when it comes to this test. The meds for the twight light sleep soes not do much for me and I seem to be up through all the colon precedure taling and watching what was going on. I think I am going to have to have the Endo but i am very afraid to the point that I shake and can not stop. I have read that it is not as bad as everyone thinks, but having a difficult time believing this.

I am so tierd of feeling like this as like many of you, I can not take this any more. Just looking at all your experiences and trying to convinvce myself while trying to get strong. I am shaking just talking about it.

thank you ahead for any info or feed back.

lily

aswander · 06-01-2006, 05:07 AM

Are you on 1 dose or 2 doses of Protonix each day?

It sounds like you have larygopharyngeal reflux (LPR), and not so much the GERD form. To treat LPR, you need 2 doses of a PPI each day. Sorry to have to tell you this, but I don't know of a single other person with LPR on this board who has been helped by Protonix, including myself. The 3 other prescription PPIs have a better rep for fixing the problem. They are Nexium, Aciphex and Prevacid.

I take 2 doses of Nexium each morning, together. About half the people with LPR on this board take their 2 doses split apart (1 in the morning, 1 at night) and half take them together. You have to find what works for you by experimentation. Also, most people here have found, through experimenation, that 1 drug is particularly useful to them, much more so than the others. You have to experiment with all 3 to find out.

If any other LPR patients are reading this, and have had a postive experience with Protonix, please speak out!

lynniebellz · 06-01-2006, 05:30 AM

Hi
I have tried aciphex, zegerid, and now prevacid but to no avail. I don't know if I will try nexium or maybe just get off them all together. These drugs, I believe, can make things worse sometimes. I am going to try a homeopathic remedy. I am waiting for it to come in by UPS. I will keep everyone posted. It seems that it really works for 80% of the people who have used it.(who knows if we believe these statistics). well I will give it a try. I am so sick of all the money for the PPI's and for what?

I am so diheartened with this whole situation. I haven't actually heard of one person who is feeling better and can resume a normal life.

aswander · 06-01-2006, 05:59 AM

There are lots of people on this board with LPR who have been successfully treated!

My LPR was so bad I was losing all hope and began thinking that life wasn't even worth living with the symptoms. But right as I was reaching my breaking point, I was diagnosed and put on 2 doses of Nexium a day, and 95% of my symptoms disappeared. I now have a virtually normal life, and I've gotten teh situation under control so well that I am even looking forward to having children.

You really ought to try Nexium. It has significant structural differences than the other 3 PPIs. It also the most recent one out on the market (2002).

I'd still like to know, gave you been taking 1 pill a day or 2 pills a day of your meds? I know I'm a bit like a sledgehammer, but LPR patients MUST take 2 doses per day of a PPI.

tlily · 06-01-2006, 07:19 AM

Thank you fro your replies. I have been taking 1 protonix daily. The doctor said that I should take two but my stomach feels weird. I use to take that other purple pill that starts with a P and everything went right through me. that was a cuple of years ago. I also have IBS. So I am afraid of taking nexim because the doc said that it may happen with nexum.

Right now I am shaking and feeling very sick. I have the sweats and am weak. I just don't know what to do. The doc does not seem to help. I never felt this sick.

lily