Hi Everyone!

I have tried alot of the prescribed medications for Gerd: Nexium, Aciphex, Protonixs ect. They only seem to make my symptoms worse. I have also tried probiotics and apple cider vinegar ect.

My doctor has insisted that I try Nexium again. He is afraid if I don't use anything I will eventually get cancer of the esophagus. I'm on Nexium now but my throat is on fire and my chest hurts. Sometimes one side of my throat and ear will hurt. My shoulder and back hurt of and on during the day along with other symptoms to numerous to write. Nexium also gives me a daily headache.

I know this question has been asked before, but how long should I continue on Nexium. Has anyone found that after 60 day or more they are okay? I go to the doctor and they just seem to want to keep switching medications. I don't know maybe that is the only answer. But nothing seems to work.

I'm just tired of being in pain. It has been almost 2 years now and I don't feel any better. I feel stressed alot of the time. I'm constantly afraid I am having a heart attack. I do try to watch what I eat and drink in order to avoid making matters worse.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Laurie

Hi, it sounds like you have had GERD for quite a while, so I will pass this on to you...

http://www.drharlanwright.com/qaarchive/acidreflux.htm

it may very well work in your situation...good luck

HI. I'm so sorry you're still suffering after all this time. I have been on Nexium for 4 weeks with no relief. I called my dr. a few days ago to ask if I should continue taking it. He said that I haven't given it enough time and that when he did a scope of my throat it was very red and swollen and it will take time for everything to heal. I am trying to be patient but there are days when I feel worse and since I started taking Nexium I feel like I have the flu. I have the ear pain on one side like you do and some days it's excruciating. Dr. says I have eustathian tube dysfunction and that's why it hurts so much. I have an appt. in 3 weeks with the ENT again. I hope by then I am feeling better. He told me that if I don't improve he'll try different treatment. Probably different meds, who knows!

I don't really have any advice or suggestions for you since I am in the same boat. Just wanted you to know you're not alone. Hang in there.

Thanks Answers 10001, I have not tried the DGL. Anything is worth a try ;) .

Thanks cl84, It is always nice to have someone to listen to you. Sometimes that alone makes you feel better. I appreciate your response.

Laurie

Since April, I've been on Prevacid at first, then Nexium, then Protonix, and now Aciphex. The gastrointerologist told me that I could try Zantag.. and I have heard people say that the only medication that helped them was Pepcid AC. I did try Tagamet years ago, when I had severe chest pains, but I didn't keep taking it because (way back when) I was not convinced my problem was heartburn.

Unfortunately, because I'm on heavy duty abx for Lyme (and probiotics while on those), as well as Iron for anemia, I will probably have to keep taking something (anything) until I stop the abx. :( I have no idea how long that will be..

Hi all, not on this post a whole lot but I do suffer alot so I have tried several meds. also, got all excited when they put me on nexium, but no big relief there, protonix pretty much the same along with the rest, I am currently on a new med. called Zegerid, My doc. said he takes it & according to him you do not have to take it a certain time before eating like some others (just going by what he said) I have had some better days with it, of course still have some bad days to, but I am on alot of meds for other problems so pretty sure that is messing me up some, my new doctor did say Zegerid is pretty good stuff. So just thought I would mention it to you all, don't know if any of you have tried it. Good Luck, Sammy
Ps went through the whole feel like I am having a heart attack thing to, any of you get rapid heart rate when you conditon is really acting up?

I'm on medication for the rapid heart rate. I believe that is why I have GERD.
I never had this problem until I started taking Toprol, it is a beta blocker.

The doctor wanted me to take Nexium so I started taking it again. After just a few days my chest started to hurt worse, I was waking up at night, my stomach is killing me, and my whole digestive system is messed up. Needless to say I have stopped the Nexium after just a week. All the GERD medicines I have tried do the same thing. They make me feel so bad I just don't find it worth taking them. I could pretty much live with every thing if I could just get rid of the chest pain.

Is Zegerid a new GERD med? I don't think I have heard of it before.

Laurie

hi i,m going to post here. i just got out of the hospital monday. last fri. i was rushed to the emg. even then . hospital could not tell. blood work ekg .showed that iwas having a heart attact. after a heart cad. i was told this time it was guerd . i had heart burn just like before . for one month with pain. iwas taking omeprazole 20 mg and now my gp wants me to take pepcid i hope this works its been 3yr without heart problems 3 heart attacts in 5yr i have so much fear.

laurietrib, I take the Zegerid for reflux, look it up or call your pharmacist, it does seem to help(for now), but nothing lasts me all day, I am on so many meds. I think is all contibuting to my problem. I am like everyone else looking for what will work best, I know about the chest pain & it is scary. I am always taking rolaids comlete in the evening if I eat anything that aggravates me. I am sick of it all. all I know is two doctors have told me zegerid is pretty good stuff. I had never heard of it until recently to. That is when the doc. put me on it, back in may. It is worth looking into. I always feel lately like sharp pain right between where my ribs meet in the center of the chest, drives me crazy, do you get that?

Pidypad, I feel so sorry for you, I get the rapid heartrate it scares me like nothing else, doc sent me into ER from office last month because it was so out of control, but cardiac work up came back OK. My heart goes out to you, I know it is the most awful feeling. I can't help getting scared when my heartrate goes bonkers, I wonder if anyone else with gerd or reflux gets that rapid heart rate thing going? I also have alot of pain right know so that does not help. I wish you the best. Sammy

Nexium is the best PPI on the market.

No contest

Glad it seems to work great for you, I know of others who swear by it, but to be honest I had some discomfort with it, I wish it worked great for me but no go. As the pharmacist told me each individual will react different to each one, what works for one may not work for another, how true! Sammy

Glad it seems to work great for you, I know of others who swear by it, but to be honest I had some discomfort with it, I wish it worked great for me but no go. As the pharmacist told me each individual will react different to each one, what works for one may not work for another, how true! Sammy

Sammy,

That is very true. What works for one person may not work for another. I have found this to be true with meds for other conditions as well. I have migraines and have been on preventive meds for several years. There are some on the market that are known to be the best at preventing headaches but they did nothing for me. Then there are others that are less well known and they have worked very well for me. Same with antibiotics. I wish the Nexium was working for me but it isn't. Nothing surprises me about the human body anymore and the way it works! It's amazing!

cl84, How darn ironic just on other board dicussing migraines, wont get into it on this board to much, but how true what works for one may not work for other, I will slip in alittle piece of info. I used lavender oil to help relax me through the worst of migraines & it did help alittle, (you can check out spinal column post, migraine with neck thread, may find it informative for you). I am still hoping the Zegerid will continue to help me. So far its not bad. Thanks for you reply, check out the other board if you like, Sammy