Prevacid : Friend or Foe?

mrmusicman79 · 08-24-2005, 02:57 PM

My story is kind of long, so I'll try to make it as short as I can. I suffered for years with severe acid reflux, I was eventually diagnosed with H. Pylori and given a round of treatment. The first try failed and I ended up having to take a second (and stronger) treatment of flagyl+losec+amoxycillin. Eradication of the H. Pylori was confirmed by (a very unpleasant!) endoscopy/biopsy last summer. After the first treatment, when the reflux started coming back, I was given Prevacid. At first it seemed like a wonder drug - I didn't have heartburn anymore and actually felt like eating. But whenever I tried to eat anything containing any decent amount of sugar, chocolate, etc (even chocolate chip cookies) I suffered with very unpleasant nausea, cramps, and diarrhea. It was clearly a side effect of the Prevacid. The only solution was to cut my diet down to the blandest things possible, and reduce the Prevacid to one every two days. That was years ago, and today I'm still eating the same small, bland diet designed to cater to my special needs. Breakfast consists of two or three pieces of toast and some bland crackers (Arrowroot). Lunch is usually a small bowl of rice and a bran muffin, and a few cookies that contain a bit more sugar. Dinner is a small 1/4 hamburger with no dressings at all (the way I've always eaten them, believe it or not) and some more cookies. The cookies can have some sugar and salt, but chocolate is a no-no. The Prevacid still gives me a lot of gas and prevents me from eating much. On days when I don't take the Prevacid, I can eat a bit more (including some slightly sweeter cookies) and have a bit less gas. However, if I stop the Prevacid for more than a day or so, the reflux starts coming back. I still have bowel problems from time to time, I still think it's the Prevacid (if I eat anything different like yogurt, I usually end up paying for it).
I made a post here some time ago asking about Mastic gum, i actually ordered a bottle a year ago and never took a single one! I blame an anxiety disorder which makes me terrified of side effects. I think anxiety is actually more of a problem than the reflux, at this point.
The only other thing I can think of is this; stop the Prevacid and replace it with a Magnesium/calcium supplement. That's what was recommended in a very popular thread on this board, some time ago. But just because it worked for that poster doesn't mean it would work for me........
I'm 26 years old now and my health is falling apart from years of malnutrition. I probably won't live to see 30 at this rate, and with my present quality of life I can honestly say I have little desire to. I can't sit for any length of time, travel any long distances, or even carry on a decent conversation (for having to bring up gas, spit, etc). Life has pretty much passed me by and even at my age, I'm regarded as little more than an eccentric recluse (who lives with his parents, of course). I'm pretty miserable to say the least and have all but lost hope at this point.
Thanks for any advice.

diamond79 · 08-24-2005, 05:57 PM

Your post almost sounded like what I am experiencing. I am 26 as well. But I am taking Pantoloc(protonix in the US). I can not eat hardly anything without nausea, cramps, diahrrea (in that order too). I have been living off of crackers, plain bagels, plain toast, and arrowroot cookies that WERE suppose to be for my son(those things are addictive)...basically anything bland without spices, fat, grease.
I am awaiting the results of my H. Pylori breath test which I had over a week ago...but I'm guessing probably negative like all the other test results. I was told to stop taking the Pantoloc 48 hours before I had the breath test and within the first day the heartburn was back 1000 times worse, which led me to start taking them after the test just to stop the acid. I was on Pariet before that and Ranitidine before that. None of those 2 helped. The Pantoloc seems to be the best, but I still do get nausea and the burning sensation in the stomach from time to time.
I also have anxiety attacks alot. The first thing I do is read the side effects of the medications because I had a bad reaction to one I was taking to contol nausea. That incident made me "paranoid" to take any with more than headache as a side effect!

I have been to a gastroenterologist and he could not figure out what was wrong with me. My family dr. is stumped and even admits I am too young to be having so many problems, but still can't figure out what it is. It feels like I have basically lost 2 years of my life because of these symptoms. I hate the thought of living the rest of my life like this and hope one day this will be figured out.
Have you tried taking another PPI? Some work for certain people while others don't. I find that Pantoloc and Pariet (Aciphex in the US) don't have that many side effects listed as Ranitidine and others.

Sorry to ramble on, but I just wanted to say that I sympathize with you. I am probably not much help, but know a little of what you are going through.
Hope you feel better soon and find some answers!

Donna

mrmusicman79 · 08-24-2005, 07:48 PM

Consider yourself lucky you've only lost 2 years of your life to this - I've lost almost an entire decade! Up until about 3 or 4 years ago I could still function to a point (travel etc). The last 3 years however have been the darkest of my life.
Chances are you have H. Pylori also - it's actually a pretty common thing. With most people however, it's eradicated on the first try and they soon return to a normal life. That wasn't the case with me. Not only did it take aggressive drug therapy to remove the infection, but 9 years of untreated H. pylori left my stomach inflamed (the GI discovered this via the endoscopy). He figures that the inflammation is a lingering side effect of the H. Pylori, and is what's causing my current symptoms.
I know how embarassing it must be to eat "baby" food. Most two and three-year-olds I've met actually had a better diet than I have now. Even my 90-year-old grandmother has a well-balanced diet, and is more physically active than I am (probably the reason for her longevity!).
I'd just like to have my life back. To be able to do the things I'd like to do with it. Somebody will probably tell me that an easy solution is in reach, but I'm just too chicken to go for it. After living like this for so long, I don't know how I'd adjust to a "normal" life again......
Any further comments would be appreciated. Especially some advice as to the benefits of magnesium & calcium.....

mrmusicman79 · 08-29-2005, 02:26 PM

I did a little research on the subject. I determined that my only dietary source of magnesium is milk, and by this means I get about 30% of the recommended daily intake. Is that enough of a deficiency to cause problems?
If a magnesium supplement is the best idea, what kind should I look for? There are many different kinds in my local health foods store.
Also just how long does Mastic gum keep for? I opened my bottle a year ago to look (and wince at the size of) the pills, but never took a single one...
Just thought I'd push this thread back to the top of the board, in hopes of getting some replies.

Harry · 08-30-2005, 02:41 AM

Hey Musicman--
Sorry that you did not do the things I suggested in the past--- If you had you may now have a normal digestive system--

It sounds like you still have several problems-- gastritis and a Candida/ Yeast overgrowth problem that only allows to eat very simple foods --- yeast thrives on sugary food -- it causes bloating, nausea, spasms/ cramping and diarrhea or constipation, fatique as well as brain fog.

The taking of strong antibiotics like flagyl & amoxicillin can readily cause all your problems --- They will kill the H.pylori bacteria but they also destroy the friendly bacteria your need for proper digestion.

Taking a PPI and reducing your stomach acid does help some people with gastritis but it does not help me as well as others--- we are all unique and react differently because of our immune system and constitution.

There is no medical tests available to determine if your intetinal Bacteria is normal or in balance but your reaction to sugary food is a sure SIGN that your friendly flora is badly out of balance.

Your intestines contain over 400 diferent strains of bacteria that need to be in balance--- taking a magnesium supplement is not goint to help that but about 80% of people lack magnesium in their diet and with your present diet you can't get enough in milk. Magnesium is requried to absorb calcium and it helps with all types of cramping as well as enzymes. It is also in every cell of your body-- and 67% is in your bones.

The daily requrement for magnesium is 400 mgrams -- it is best absorbed if taken in divided doses during the day. Magnesium in many forms are used as a laxative like --- Milk of Magnesia (contains magnesium hydroxide), Epson Salts (contains magnesium sulfate) and Magnium Citrate. As a laxative these are taken in large doses.
The small dose you take for nutrition should not cause any problem -- the organic types are best and easier to absorb-- asparate, oratate and the chelated type that is bonded to a protein amino acid glycinate & lysinate.