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From: Michelle
Date: 01/29/02
Time: 10:25:40 AM -0600
Lawrence, When I first started the PPI it caused BAD gas pains, pressure, bloating, etc. It was terrible. For some people it takes a while (sometimes a month or longer to get used to the medication). I would not double up on the medication if the doctor has not told you to do so. You want to get by (with relief) on the least amount of medication as you can. Some people have none of these side effects with the PPI's. I would give it a month or so and if it doesn't get better or alleviate try another type of PPI. Also, eat more proteins, less carbs, less white floured starchy items that are harder to digest (especially since your digestive system is trying to get used to the medication). I also found the best relief from the chewable gas-x tablets over the gel pill version. Since I have changed my diet to balancing my carbohydrates and proteins and and eating fruits, vegetables, etc. I notice that I never get gas any more at all. Just give your body (and mind) times to adjust to all of this. It is all new to you as it was for each of us.
You can only take one day at a time. It is not always easy....I did not like the fact that I had GERD, wanted nothing to do with it. I didn't like the fact that I had to change my eating habits, couldn't have pizza, beer, wine, fatty foods, etc. Why couldn't I be the way I used to be? The thing is....now that I have changed my habits I have realized that something got my stomach into the condition it was. I know that some of it is genetic and may be malfunctioning LES...but something still got it that way. Now I know that I can't go back to the way I was before because I did have bad eating habits, stress in my life that was never dealt with in the proper manner, etc. So...I am changing for the better. Also, after starting to talk in my town to other people I am finding out how many people (either their friends, their children, their children's children, etc.) have trouble with GERD. I believe it has a lot to do with the way we eat and the way we live and the highly stressed lifes we live today. The programs we watch, etc. I am learning biofeedback for relaxation purposes. I now practice yoga and I try to exercise as much as possible. I am sleeping better and I feel better. With my learning to breath differently and I hoping to practice some form of meditation daily.
I have been diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus (short segment) 1 centimeter. When I began to really have trouble it was during a highly stressful time in my life. I was put on over the counter acid reducers by my doctor and went right to the PPI's. They did not talk to me about changing my eating habits, but instead told me I could basically eat anything I wanted to now. To me this is not the best advice because they get rid of the acid but not the reflux. Over eating, eating fatty foods, chocolate, mints, alcohol, etc, causes the reflux. So...my goal is to one day wean myself off of the PPI's (once I'm sure the GERD is stabalized) and see what happens.
Take care Lawrence and give yourself time. Michelle