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From: shelley
I was diagnosed with GERD/small hiatus hernia/mild esophagitis 3 yrs ago. I have been struggling with it since... I was placed on Losec 20mg daily, which was increased to 20mg BID, then changed to 40mg daily. Prior to that, I tried Pepcid, Zantac, and Prepulsid. The Losec, finally, gave me some relief. It stopped most of the once ecrutiating heartburn. However, the reflux remained. Every/anything I ate made it's way back up my esophagus. I am no longer able to pay for the costly H+ Inhibitors. I have been somewhat managing by self medicating with ranitidine, antacids (Tums, and bottles of Maalox). I have not, until now, taken this condition/disease very seriously, b/c I find most physicians don't either. My most recent problem is this: At 6am this morning, I developed severe stabbing pain in my midsternal chest area, radiating to my mid-back. The pain worsens (I am still suffering at this moment) with each breath. I cannot lay down, stand up, or sit at all comfortably. I saw (not my family MD, as he is on holiday) a physician today, who agreed with me that it is likely GI related pain. Likely related to my hiatus hernia, and spasms. He has placed me on a 3-week run of lansoprazole. "That shouyld clear it up", his words. I hope it does, but I have my doubts. Questions: Do the spasms last long? (this has lasted upward from 14hrs) Can someone suggest alternative therapy? Does anyone else feel like they are losing their mind? Thank you for taking the time to read my plight. It has been very warming to hear the support you give each other on this site.
p.s. I am an R.N. working in a hospital setting. Cisapride, aka Prepulsid is no longer allowed to be prescribed, and the hospital pharmacy is no longer stocking it due to new research showing it causes "severe cardiac complications" Very frightening, as I took thing for a while, and I am sure some of you have too. Let me know if you've heard anything about this matter.
( sgreenrn@hotmail.com)