Re: Reflux, GERD, Stress, Prilosec, Questions

Posted By Pam on October 22, 1998 at 16:14:48:

In Reply to: Reflux, GERD, Stress, Prilosec, Questions posted by Christine  on October 18, 1998 at 09:28:28:






History- 34 y/o female experiencing early satiety, queasiness, burning stomach with weight loss, since July.  Prior to that was diagnosed with Giardia due to mucous diarrhea also present.  Treated with Flagyl, diarrhea disappeared.  Had flex. sig (normal).  Upper GI symptoms continued into September with continued weight loss and worsening of symptoms.  Had upper endoscopy and diagnosed with reflux and mild esophagitis.  Given Prilosec (20 mg/twice per day).  Felt an immediate 80% improvement.  Regained appetite, regained some weight, and was doing well; however, still noted that I couldn't eat large portions of food as I used to.  Prilosec reduced to once per day (20 mg).
Over the Columbas Day weekend I had to go out of town for a family reunion.  I was nervous because I knew I would have to eat all my meals at a restaurant.  By Sunday, I was hurting--dull pain in upper left side, belching, feeling of fullness.  I've doubled back up on the Prilosec in an attempt to get my stomach back to normal but it is just not working.  I've also had a very stressful week.  On top of being tired from the reunion, I had to take a quick, one-day trip out of town to attend a funeral.  So I have been tired/stressed all week and the fact that my symptoms are back are not helping the stress.  I find that my stomach is "declining rapidly" and I am back to a loss of appetite.  Can stress really do this and what can I do to reverse this setback?
Also, I've been reading some of your posts on gastroparesis and you mention that, often times, an MRI should be done to rule out intracranial pressure or central nervous system problems.  When you discuss this are you referring to brain tumors causing nausea, gastroparesis?  Or are their other neurological conditions that can cause this besides tumors that an MRI would pick up on?  Just curious.  I've not been tested for gastroparesis; however, I do experience some of the symptoms intermittently.  (Mostly due to stress I think).
Prilosec--When I take 40 mg per day I notice that I have generalized water retention.  Is this normal?  I really notice it on the 40 mg.  Today, I woke up and my eyes were very puffy.  When I just take 20 mg, I still have it but to a lesser degree.  Have  your patients reported this and why would a drug cause this?  Also, if I take 40 mg I note some feelings of being off-balance but not on 20 mg.  I am just concerned because I want to make sure that the drug is causing this and not an underlying condition.  I don't want to stop the Prilosec to find out though!!
Thanks for your help.
Christine  
Hi, Christine,
I feel that you and I are "soul sufferers" as it sounds like your year has been like mine.  Endless rounds of questions about what's going on with my health!  Anyway, I was diagnosed with GERD earlier this year.  Zantac worked pretty well but my dr decided to try Prilosec.  The night of the 14th day that I took it, I woke up about 2:00am with my eyes almost swollen shut and my lower lip swollen to about 3X its normal size.  The dr told me it was angioedema and, sure enough, it is one of the less common possible side effects according to the pharmaceutical brochure & PDR.  So, I went back to Zantac, had trouble swallowing eventually and then was switched to Prevacid.  It seems to give me a headache and I have noticed a tingling in my feet-probably unrelated.  So, you might want to check with your doctor if the eye puffiness continues.  Good luck!    Pam