My night time OSA symptoms have gone – Your thoughts appreciated

[Janknitz]

Understand also that it is a REALLY BAD idea to take PPI's for the long term. They reduce stomach acid, but as you found when the initial fundoplication worked for you, the problem isn't too much stomach acid, it's stomach acid in the wrong place. Much better to treat the underlying issue than to take a medication that was once thought to be benign but is now being associated with higher rates of digestive cancers and dementia. We NEED stomach acid. We don't have Omeperazole deficiencies.

[zoocrewphoto]

Understand also that it is a REALLY BAD idea to take PPI's for the long term. They reduce stomach acid, but as you found when the initial fundoplication worked for you, the problem isn't too much stomach acid, it's stomach acid in the wrong place. Much better to treat the underlying issue than to take a medication that was once thought to be benign but is now being associated with higher rates of digestive cancers and dementia. We NEED stomach acid. We don't have Omeperazole deficiencies.

I would be curious to know if anybody has any suggestions for getting off ppis. This is currently a major problem for me, and I am am struggling to get help from the few doctors I can get into. Appointments are months out and almost useless when I manage to get in.

I had my gallbladder removed in July. The gastroenterologist wanted to deal with that before any other issues, so afterward, I went back. I told him about the gerd for years, and I am also dealing with low iron for the past 2 years. The iron pills work, but just barely. If I miss a couple days, the symptoms all come back. And they cause digestive issues. The doctor asked how long I have been taking prilosec. YEARS. So, he switched me back to zantac. He figured it was better than prilosec, and maybe after a few months, I could cut back on the iron. He was thinking that the prilosec might be causing the low iron absorption, so so we still have no idea what is causing that,.

Two days later, the acid reflux was so bad that it burned my vocal cords. I was off work for almost a week. I had to go to urgent care since my primary doctor appointment isn't until October. Nebulizer treatment helped. Still major coughing, despite cough prescription and cough drops. That finally stopped a couple days ago. I contacted the gastroenterologist about a breath test I had taken and all the problems since going back to zantac. Apparently, there is a rebound effect. And I was having it really bad. taking zantac twice a day AND still needing TUMS during the day. I was having acid in my throat, burning away.

I am back on the prilosec. That daily throat pain was worse than the iron pill side effects. I want both solved. I want to know what the underlying problems actually are so that we can treat them. But how do I accomplish this? What do I need to say to the doctors to get the tests that will find the real problem. I have asked twice about getting an endoscopy, and he doesn't think we are ready for that. My dad had a hiatal hernia repaired last November. He hasn't needed any antacids of any kind since.

I am also concerned about throat damage. I have had gerd for many years. And the pain is always in my upper throat. I have inhaled acid reflux more than once. I know that long term damage can lead to throat cancer. But do I need to go to a throat specialist or back to the gastro specialist? I have two more weeks before I can go to the new primary doctor (last one moved away). I was told I can discuss two health topics, and I have 2 other topics listed (possible pre-diabetes and constant shoulder pain for months).

Yes, I am falling apart.

[Janknitz]

Understand also that it is a REALLY BAD idea to take PPI's for the long term. They reduce stomach acid, but as you found when the initial fundoplication worked for you, the problem isn't too much stomach acid, it's stomach acid in the wrong place. Much better to treat the underlying issue than to take a medication that was once thought to be benign but is now being associated with higher rates of digestive cancers and dementia. We NEED stomach acid. We don't have Omeperazole deficiencies.

I would be curious to know if anybody has any suggestions for getting off ppis. This is currently a major problem for me, and I am am struggling to get help from the few doctors I can get into. Appointments are months out and almost useless when I manage to get in.

I had my gallbladder removed in July. The gastroenterologist wanted to deal with that before any other issues, so afterward, I went back. I told him about the gerd for years, and I am also dealing with low iron for the past 2 years. The iron pills work, but just barely. If I miss a couple days, the symptoms all come back. And they cause digestive issues. The doctor asked how long I have been taking prilosec. YEARS. So, he switched me back to zantac. He figured it was better than prilosec, and maybe after a few months, I could cut back on the iron. He was thinking that the prilosec might be causing the low iron absorption, so so we still have no idea what is causing that,.

Two days later, the acid reflux was so bad that it burned my vocal cords. I was off work for almost a week. I had to go to urgent care since my primary doctor appointment isn't until October. Nebulizer treatment helped. Still major coughing, despite cough prescription and cough drops. That finally stopped a couple days ago. I contacted the gastroenterologist about a breath test I had taken and all the problems since going back to zantac. Apparently, there is a rebound effect. And I was having it really bad. taking zantac twice a day AND still needing TUMS during the day. I was having acid in my throat, burning away.

I am back on the prilosec. That daily throat pain was worse than the iron pill side effects. I want both solved. I want to know what the underlying problems actually are so that we can treat them. But how do I accomplish this? What do I need to say to the doctors to get the tests that will find the real problem. I have asked twice about getting an endoscopy, and he doesn't think we are ready for that. My dad had a hiatal hernia repaired last November. He hasn't needed any antacids of any kind since.

I am also concerned about throat damage. I have had gerd for many years. And the pain is always in my upper throat. I have inhaled acid reflux more than once. I know that long term damage can lead to throat cancer. But do I need to go to a throat specialist or back to the gastro specialist? I have two more weeks before I can go to the new primary doctor (last one moved away). I was told I can discuss two health topics, and I have 2 other topics listed (possible pre-diabetes and constant shoulder pain for months).

Yes, I am falling apart.

It's REALLY hard. I have not succeeded, and it bothers me terribly.

I was off them all the first time I did a low carb diet--GERD went completely AWAY within 2 weeks. But in the intervening 12 years I caused some permanent damage, and now I feel like I'm in a trap. We were told these drugs are benign at worst, but they are not.

This IS very helpful https://digestivehealthinstitute.org/fast-tract-diet/

[zoocrewphoto]

Thanks. I'm going to spend some time reading that website. Hopefully, some of it will help me. I am a lost cause in terms of foods I like (and most I don't). I am actually participating in a weight loss program with some success. But I can't do a lot of special diets as I don't like many foods that are considered healthy. If you take away what I should not eat and what I won't eat, there isn't much left.

I do know that I have always had a narrow throat (reduced airflow, trouble swallowing pills, and very active gag reflex). And hiatal hernia runs in the family.

I am better at night with cpap, and I hope it will improve some with weight loss. But I really want off these pills. And I want a solution to the iron problem as well.

[Pugsy]

Thanks. I'm going to spend some time reading that website. Hopefully, some of it will help me. I am a lost cause in terms of foods I like (and most I don't). I am actually participating in a weight loss program with some success. But I can't do a lot of special diets as I don't like many foods that are considered healthy. If you take away what I should not eat and what I won't eat, there isn't much left.

I do know that I have always had a narrow throat (reduced airflow, trouble swallowing pills, and very active gag reflex). And hiatal hernia runs in the family.

I am better at night with cpap, and I hope it will improve some with weight loss. But I really want off these pills. And I want a solution to the iron problem as well.

I lost 25 pounds last year.
I also have a small hiatal hernia.
I was able to ditch the Nexium with the weight loss. I wasn't anticipating it but it was a nice bonus.
It's rare that I get heartburn now and usually related to acidic foods.
Before the weight loss....major heartburn issues requiring Nexium or similar product for probably well over 10 years.
I know I can't promise similar results for you but might give you an added incentive with the new diet.

[chunkyfrog]

. . .
If you take away what I should not eat and what I won't eat, there isn't much left.
. . .

Same here--but also take away everything that makes me sick or feel sick.
So many of the "shoulds" cause misery/pain.
Or just taste revolting. . .

[zoocrewphoto]

I lost 25 pounds last year.
I also have a small hiatal hernia.
I was able to ditch the Nexium with the weight loss. I wasn't anticipating it but it was a nice bonus.
It's rare that I get heartburn now and usually related to acidic foods.
Before the weight loss....major heartburn issues requiring Nexium or similar product for probably well over 10 years.
I know I can't promise similar results for you but might give you an added incentive with the new diet.

I am hopeful that I will have improvement in multiple areas. I think I first had a little bit of acid problems when I was in college and starting to gain weight. That was a long time ago. The weight loss program I am doing is pretty good. It adds new info and encourages is to improve more as we go. But the main premise is to eat what you like, but eat less of it by eating more slowly and being more satisfied. I have lost 9 pounds already, and I do eat smaller portions. I have also reduced some of the bad foods because of the gallbladder issue.

I really hate that missing a prilosec means I will be punished with acid reflux that hurts my throat. And sometimes, I inhale it or burn my vocal cords. And missing the iron pills brings on exhaustion, getting out of breath easily, pain my hands, and what feels like asthma attacks (as my oxygen goes down). It is really frustrating that these two pills are so required, and I am lousy at remembering to take pills on my days off. I just want to solve the problem and be done with it. CPAP is nothing to me compared to taking all these pills. Blood pressure meds, 3 iron a day, prilosec, and then there are the allergy pills, cough pills, tylenol, etc as needed. I have never been good at taking pills.

[katebrownell86]

Does Omeprazole work in Sleep apnea? I only use this in acidity. I am also a new user of a CPAP mask. I am looking for some way to cure sleep apnea permanantly. Is it possible?

[Pugsy]

Does Omeprazole work in Sleep apnea? I only use this in acidity. I am also a new user of a CPAP mask. I am looking for some way to cure sleep apnea permanantly. Is it possible?

No to both questions.

[katebrownell86]

Does Omeprazole work in Sleep apnea? I only use this in acidity. I am also a new user of a CPAP mask. I am looking for some way to cure sleep apnea permanantly. Is it possible?

No to both questions.

Pugsy, Thanks for your reply.