I had been on GERD meds for a long time, protonix, prevacid, zantac etc. I did not realize this could cause malabsorption of vitamins and am chronically deficient in iron, vitamin d, magnesium etc and was put on prescription vitamins. I stopped taking the acid reflux meds for a few months and now am waking up a lot at night (in addition to my sleep apnea), have gunk in my throat and feel stuff coming back up again. I also had to go to ER for left side pain and found that my spleen was "upper normal" but "markedly englarged on physical exam" and that it was a little harder/solid than it should be. I obviously am going to start taking the acid reflux meds again, protonix, but am worried about becoming iron deficient again.
So my question is this....I know supplements are difficult to get into your system for lack of acid in the stomach when you take protonix....but is it the same for iron rich foods? Would the stomach also block iron and other nutrients you get from food since it blocks supplements as well? If so, how can I take the acid reflux meds but still get the nutrients my body needs?