Re: unable to tolerate meds for GERD

Posted By Louellen on October 05, 1998 at 20:16:13:

In Reply to: unable to tolerate meds for GERD posted by tracey on October 04, 1998 at 21:22:31:






I post this message hoping for an answer that will help me.  I was diagnosed with GERD about 2 months ago.  I have had a complete cardia workup and everything was found to  be normal.  My main porblem is chest pain.   I get a feeling of fullness and chest tighteness.  When this all began I did not feel a burning HEATBURN feeling-just terrible chest tightness.  I had na upper endoscopy that found the reflux, Hiaital hernia, and gastrits-tested negative for H-pylori.   I have been on 600 mg of Zantac, which I  ended up in the emergency room from because of malasie they calledit.  Next came the prilosec 20 mg plus carafate  this also mmade me very tired, muscle aches, joint pain etc.  I have also tried presciption Tagamet.   I have been off all meds for 2 weeks and now I have some good days-before they were all the same BAD.  Strange though now I feel the heartburn feeling.  I am scheduled for a Ph monitor and manometry test on Oct 8th.  My  concern is this-  if I can not tolerate the GI meds, and my testing comes back bad(which I expect it to) what do you docs usually do?  My doc has mentioned surgery but I would like to find another way if I can.  Have you heard of others not being able to tolerate GI meds?  I feel like a strange person because everyone I have talked has not had a problem.  Even over the counter meds pepcid make me feel terrible.  I have never had a CT scan would you advise one if my 2 tests come back o.k.?  HELP!!!!
Hi Tracey: Don't feel so alone in your not being able to tolerate GI meds. I, too have had the same problems. Axid did absolutely nothing for my reflux, but gave no side effects,
Zantac made me dizzy and gave me headaches, Prilosec worked great on the heartburn/reflux and healed my bleeding esophagus, but made me sleepy and eventually (after 8 months of treatment),
gave me a rapid heartbeat with palpitations (I think anyways). On the previous trial of Prilosec as well as this one, it also made my hair start to fall out (which reversed itself after several
months of being off of it). I too, now am off the meds, but am suffering with the heartburn and reflux and pain again and have to ever so careful of what I eat, how much, when etc. and have to take
something like Tums which is just calcium carbonate.  It take one or two right after a meal. I sleep with the head of my bed propped on books and have cut out tea and all coffees of any kind.
Since I'm lactose intolerant, I need the calcium from the Tums anyways, but am worried about gallbladder, or kidney stones! Maybe, biting the bullet and getting the surgery done will be better
than trying to tolerate the meds and all of the fears. I do know that the worry alone will raise the level of acid in your stomach alone! I'm afraid that I don't have the answer for you, but know
that you're not alone and not crazy. It's not all in your head.  Every med can have the potential for side effects. We just may be some of the unlucky ones! Keep your chin up (and I mean that literally).
There will be an answer. A registered dietician is also very helpful in setting up proper meal schedules. Just check her/his credentials first. There's lots of nuts out there too!
Best of wishes! Let us know how you make out. Your answers could help us too!