problems due to meds? - Digestive Disorders Message Board

coladoug · 12-09-2005, 10:28 AM

Before 8 months ago, I had never had a problem with my digestive system. I was sent to an ENT because of a sore throat complaint. The ENT couldn't find anything wrong, but put me on a single Nexium because he thought the sore throat might be from GERD. He sent me to a gastroenterologist (GE).

The GE doc didn't do anything but assume I had GERD. He doubled my dose of Nexium. Within one week my stomach felt like it was in a knot. I couldn't eat and it hurt a lot. I called the GE back to tell him I was no longer taking the Nexium and asked for further instructions. I got a call back 12 days later saying to start taking a double dosage of Prevacid. I complied, and within a few days I got the same symptoms again. I again stopped taking the meds and informed the GE. He then put me on Zantac. Within a couple of days my stomach shut down again. I stopped taking the meds and looked for another doctor.

The second GE did an endoscopy with the results of "mild gastritis". There was no indication of GERD. A "modified barium swallow" proved I do have dysphagia (trouble swallowing). My stomach, however, is still in pain and I have a hard time eating. In the last 7 months I have lost 50 lbs (from 260 down to 210) and it keeps going down. The GE doesn't seem to have any helpful suggestions. Anybody out there have some?

wakkochic17 · 12-09-2005, 04:21 PM

^ that happened to a friend of mine.. they just assumed his initial symptoms were GERD and put him on a prescription med (don't remember which one, may have been Nexium). He then got worse and worse with his stomach. He hardly could eat, made him sick. Lost a bunch of weight over it (guess it was good for him he started out overweight). They kept changing the dosage, increasing it.. etc... He wasn't convinced either that was the cause so he completely quit all the meds despite the doctor. Within days he was better! I don't think they ever figured out what his initial problems, but the meds just made it worse. I would suggest going off them for a week (if you do have GERD it won't hurt to stop them.. I go on and off mine and I have confirmed GERD) and then seeing how you feel.

tskitten95 · 12-10-2005, 10:37 AM

I have suffered from many gastric disorders. IBS, hiatel hernia, take too much air in when I eat and drink. Beeen on the full gammit of meds...compazine,antipressants,Nexium,Pe pcid.....all made my overall health decine and didn't really help the gastric system.
May I suggest that you go to the local health food store and get some ENZYMES! Did you know that 1)your over the counter gas meds like BEANO, TUMS, ROLAIDS are in acutality enzymes? Then you pay the extra money for sugars, additives and the name. so just treat yourself to the real thing and help your body do what it seems to have a weakness in 2) get off any enriched foods like breads, pastas,sugar, flour and do a CANDIDA cleanse. I swear by both these suggestions. one more thing.....when you eat..(take the enzymes with your meal by the way) do not drink anything 10 minutes before your meal, during your meal and 10 minutes after your meal! Ok to have some water for a SIP here and there IF you NEED to "wash" something down. But, drinking any liquid at all during a meal destroys the natural enzymes in the saliva..which is the very first step of properly breaking down food before going into the stomach, which then the stomach acids/enzymes continue to break down. and chew chew chew chew. Most everybody nowadays does not chew their food enough before swallowing thereby skipping the first enzymatic breakdown step and overworking the stomach.
so....
1) get some enzymes from health food store
2) do not drink anything with meals and 10 minutes after
3) get a CANDIDA cleanse for 30 days
4) do not eat enriched foods...pastas, sugar, fast food,tv dinners, breads, flour
5) chew chew chew chew chew your food!!
To your good health!
tskitten95

tskitten95 · 12-10-2005, 10:39 AM

jkl;jlkjm.m,.

tskitten95 · 12-10-2005, 10:43 AM

Bear with me everybody. you may see my post twice. am a beginner on these thread things