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Digestive Issues - Slow Digestion Nexium???

I have lost my appetite and I have not had a descent movement in about a week and a half. I had been diagnosed with a hiatel hernia (endoscopy) and also Anxiety attacks. I was taking 40 mg Nexium daily until a week ago. I don't even respond to laxatives.

I have been having anxiety and panic attacks for two months and never lost my appetite.

Has anyone else had anything like this??
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Avatar universal
I was on Nexium for 3 months for same acid reflux issue, interesting point that acid reflux is associated with anxiety, I guess its majorly because of the indigestion caused by anxiety.

As for slowing down, I also did feel that feeling while taking Nexium & after little internet research I found that PPI (proton pump inhibitors or omerprozoles) stop the secretion of HCL into your stomach which in many cases if ever could limit the amount of vitamin B12 absorption into your body, which is usually a vitamin that helps generate energy, but since vitamin B12 is usually stored in your liver & usually stored amount in liver is enough for you to consume for around 8 months before you become defecient so they said that only a prolonged use of PPIs could require patients to take vitamin B12 supplements in order to overcome that issue. Also vitamin B12 needs HCL to be absorbed fully into your stomach & PPI limit HCL, so most likely those who were tested to be vitamin B12 defecient to be taking them in shots rather than oral dosages as B12 tables may still not be digested properly if taken as tablets.

Also, which is a sad & confusing part to me, Nexium, losec, prelosec, etc.... have depression feeling as a possible side effect........ which didn't make sense to me when I first started taking it but when my cousin started taking it as well he felt the same slowing down/depression kind of feeling as well!!! even that he's got no anxiety issues.

When I complained to my GP about the energy issue, he did a blood test & said that B12 for me is ok but put me on vitamin B complex twice a day, you'd be shocked to how relaxing & energetic & positive you'll become after taking those for say 1 week. You'd usually buy them from supermarkets & they're not expensive at all. His words were that stress/anxiety over usues all B group vitamins that are not usually stored in body & since your indigestion prevents you from eating/absorbing all benefits from foods then you could get your energy from these vitamin tablets.

After I started taking them, I stopped using Nexium as a trial & I'm off it for around 1 week now & it feels great, also elevating the bed 2 inches from the top helped me with my acid reflux issue a lot during the night.

I'm not a medical proffessional by any chance & above info was only gathered from my own understanding from internet search so I could be wrong or right.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HATGAL,
Was your "lack of movement" linked to anything in particular? Anxiety, a medication?

I just wonder about the nexium issue. I know a lot of us who have anxiety also get diagnosed with Acid Reflux and end up on some type of omeprazole. Since these drugs lower the acid content of the stomach I wonder if this could be the cuase of my slow down.
Helpful - 0
187799 tn?1219609573
Actually, I have been on Protonix for about 6 years and I ran out of the prescription so I hadn't taken it for about 10 days when I got blocked up. Plus, as they found out in the ER, I had a 4 cm cyst on my left ovary that could have been blocking the intestine.  That's why I've been on the ovarian cancer web site of this forum as well. However, the cyst eventually dissolved.

I also take vicoprofen for my neck/back issues and that could have been a factor in the blockage, but I have never been that bad.  The thing was that I was taking exlax for a few days and it eventually had the opposite effect, as I said.

So I think the combination of being off of the Protonix, taking the exlax, and the cyst just totally blocked me up.  I don't think it was caused by anxiety.

Try the med I told you about - I guarantee a speedy passing!

Best.........
Helpful - 0
187799 tn?1219609573
You have probably lost your appetite b/c of your lack of movement.  I had this happen to me over the winter and went to the ER to get "pumped out" so to speak.  

However, laxatives will have the opposite affect if you had been taking them and they stopped working.  What they gave me in the hospital totally did the trick very quickly and you can buy it at any pharmacy - it's Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution.  Mix it with gatorade - I'd try 1/2 the bottle and if that doesn't work use the rest.

If you're new to anxiety, it's complicated and frustrating figuring out what you need to do to stabilize it and I hope you're headed in that direction.  I've had it for 12 years and I'm still learning!

Here's to a speedy passing!
Helpful - 0
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