How did everyone manage when 6 month meds end?

RENAEJAE

I was taking Omiprizone for the first 6 months. Finished prescription 2 weeks before Christmas and my stomach hurts every time I take 2 bites. Down 5 lbs over the holidays. Anyone else need to go back on these meds? I have my 6 month post op appt coming up on Tuesday. Hope they'll have a good recommendation..

AngieViolet

I ran out of mine for two days the other week...one month post op. Thought I was gonna die everytime I ate anything other than shakes and cheese. I'm gonna ask to stay on mine at least for the first year. It was miserable and lasted about a week.

dsjsmom23

Are these the acid meds? Sorry i'm in Canada, the names aren't always the same.
Maybe you need to be on them longer. I know in my group, some people are on the meds for life.

ki4eld

I was on them for 4 months solid, then 2 months every other day. After that, it's Beano meltaways only. I was doing those 3-4 per day for a few months, but now (11.5mo) I'm down to using them as needed for foods I know will cause issues.

If you need them longer, use them longer. Talk to your doc.

annwyatt69

I was never on any meds. What are the meds for? I have never had nausea, acid reflux, etc. My surgeon fixed my hiatal hernia during my RNY. I'm now 3+ years post op and still never had any problems. Didn't use any anti nausea or pain meds beyond 2 weeks post op. ????

joysie1970

My surgeon has tried twice to have me quit Pantaprozole - like omeprozole but high strength but times with the same results you are describing nausea and pain, not able to eat at all. After the last episode they made the decision to keep me on the meds for at least the first year...and we will go from there, if I miss just one day I know it.

KarlaYP

These acid reducers, that I have been on for 24 years, are usually recommended for six weeks by the drug company. Every time I miss a dose I get bad abdominal pain. I now see that the rebound pain is real. I have now learned that to stop these meds they should be weaned, instead of being stopped abruptly!

My research has led me to learn that most GERD is caused from not having enough acid in the stomach, not the other way around!

What I'm doing about it now: I have begun the weaning process, I am using two tablespoons of Apple cider vinegar in 12 oz. water (this adds acid to the stomach, that's needed, and stops the heartburn) when I have heartburn, and have gotten some gastric enzyme supplements that I've begun taking. I just started this week, so I'm early in the process, but am confident that this will help me eliminate another lifelong medication!

Too many times physicians get stuck using what treats the symptoms (pills, which can be detrimental to our health) instead of looking for the cause, and fixing it!

So, don't just stop them abruptly! Best of luck!

KarlaYP

I'm learning how to post some research, bear with me please:
http://www.judyburgio.com/new-fda-warning-risk-of-infections-with-stomach-acid-blocker-drugs/

This article discusses the use of these medications, and the problems with discontinuing!

Hope this helps!

joysie1970

Thanks for the info Karlottap - please keep us posted as you progress, I would love to stop my meds eventually too, right now I just don't know how and the pain as you know is just too much! Looking forward to hearing your success!

KarlaYP

I will!

I actually began this past Monday by using the Apple cider vinegar (acv), after stopping my Protonix the day before (I hadn't read about the need to wean yet) for heartburn. On Tuesday I began having bad upper tummy pain then it worsened on Wednesday. I began my deeper research and found out about the need to wean. So, I took the Protonix, and felt better within thirty minutes. I also started a gastric enzyme supplement (called Gastrozyme) to help my stomach recover to making acid on its own again.

I have used the acv daily. I understand that 12 ounces is a lot to drink for someone closer to surgery, so the ratios to tolerance would work. It takes me about fifteen minutes to drink it.

Took another Protonix on Friday, when the pain started again, and it looks like I am going to be able to stretch it to tomorrow before I might need another. So, progress is happening, and my tummy actually feels better overall.

Im striving for discontinuation of every medication I can to achieve the healthiest me I can be! These medicines weren't made to be taken forever and people don't realize it! Will keep you informed!

RENAEJAE

Thank you all for the feedback and ideas. I'm hoping the Dr will have a natural remedy for me to try even if he gives me another prescription to use so I can slowly get decrease the med over time. I've printed out my weightloss graph so he can get a visual of my rapid weight loss these past 2 weeks (10lbs since Dec 17th). My goal is to eliminate the need of any lifetime meds like so many of you.

Thanks for the support!

KarlaYP

Update for those interested:
I've been able to stretch the interval between meds to five days, and counting. I've also been able to go two days before needing the acv (that's very effective for heartburn btw!).
I am using the gastric enzyme supplement three times a day.

Something is working for me! It feels better than ever! I'm pushing on!

Best of luck OP!

joysie1970

Karlottap wrote: »

Update for those interested:
I've been able to stretch the interval between meds to five days, and counting. I've also been able to go two days before needing the acv (that's very effective for heartburn btw!).
I am using the gastric enzyme supplement three times a day.

Something is working for me! It feels better than ever! I'm pushing on!

Best of luck OP!

That is awesome! Do you plan to eventually wean from the enzyme as well?

anbrdr

Honestly, I hardly used mine. I think I have 2 unfilled bottles of the stuff.

KarlaYP

I'm hoping that once things are fully healed that I won't need them anymore. At least they won't cause osteoporosis if I do need them though!

Warhawk79

I kept having problems getting off these. It turns out it is a drug you need to ween yourself off of because the body overproduces when it starts producing acid again. I was on the for almost two years then finally I bought some Tums and Tagament and took as needed. Over the period of about a month things settled down. I wish someone would have told me that my body would need time to adjust to not having the drug.

RENAEJAE

Thanks for the good info. I went back on it twice a day now I'm down to one daily. Hope to try every other day next week and see how I feel.

KarlaYP

I've weaned myself down to every four days now. I expect to be completely off of them within a couple of weeks! I am taking the gastric enzyme supplement but don't expect to always need it. Once my tummy adjusts, and heals, I don't believe they will be necessary, but we'll see!

qtgonewild

i refilled my ursodial around 12/30. a little early. but i have managed to lose it. so now i think i will have to go 2 weeks without it. and im supposed to take 2 a day (to prevent gallstones). Can only hope for the best.

QuilterGirl3

I just had my six-month checkup. I think I can go off the ursodial now, but my PA didn't mention it. Thoughts?

KarlaYP

Update on weaning from PPIs: am still at a four day dosing so far, but the heartburn has gone away, completely. My main symptom is still the pain that starts after about four days now, and is gone after about thirty minutes from taking the Protonix. I feel the gastric enzymes have helped tremendously though (lack of heart burn), since I haven't needed the Apple cider vinegar in several days now! This weaning may take longer than I anticipated, but I will get there!

I never took the ursodial post op, but don't feel it would be a necessary medication after your body is finished with the fast weight loss post op. That's just my opinion though, so I recommend you call your doctor's nurse and aske to be sure.

martabeerich

From the start I had horrendous heartburn. My doctor said to use Pepcid. So I did that, and when I finished the bottle I moved to Tums. Five months post-op and I take the occasional tums. Otherwise, the heartburn has backed off 95%. I'm lucky, I guess. And I am on Ursodiol. I was told 6 months. So I'm down to my last month of it. (Yay! One less pill!)

KarlaYP

Just wanted to update for those interested: I'm still doing the same as the last update. Haven't had the ability to stretch it past four day doses, but am determined this will get me off of the medicine. Plugging along!

cabennett99

Hang in there!

PaulaKro

Ursidol was the last weight loss medicine I stopped taking. They refilled my prescription until I felt I was a normal person again. 2.5 years out, I eat normally now, no protein shakes or special meds.

Tawnykakers1

This is great information. Thanks for posting!

KarlaYP

Just an update
Switched medicine to Prilosec, instead of Protonix, last week. It seemed I wasn't making much progress with weaning (imo). Have now been five days since last dose of med! So, finally making some headway! Did use some acv for a bit of heartburn yesterday, but was the first time needing it in over a week! Still taking the gastric enzymes.

One day at a time!

KarlaYP

Wow! What a process this has been! I am finally done with the Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI)!! I do still have a bit of tummy pain that's resolved with Pepcid (which is an acid blocker, not a PPI) now. I'm sticking with the gastric enzymes since I believe they are helping me greatly! and Apple cider vinegar is my friend! I'm only needing it maybe once a week for heartburn, but it works well!

Just to note that I have taken these PPI medications for 24 years! I would hope that it would be an easier process if you haven't been taking them very long!

Another thing is they latest side effect that they are seeing from PPIs is dementia! I've had trouble with memory for a long time, and I wonder if this could be the cause? I'm glad to be rid of them!

joysie1970

Karlottap wrote: »

Wow! What a process this has been! I am finally done with the Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI)!! I do still have a bit of tummy pain that's resolved with Pepcid (which is an acid blocker, not a PPI) now. I'm sticking with the gastric enzymes since I believe they are helping me greatly! and Apple cider vinegar is my friend! I'm only needing it maybe once a week for heartburn, but it works well!

Just to note that I have taken these PPI medications for 24 years! I would hope that it would be an easier process if you haven't been taking them very long!

Another thing is they latest side effect that they are seeing from PPIs is dementia! I've had trouble with memory for a long time, and I wonder if this could be the cause? I'm glad to be rid of them!

WAHOO!!! Good for you, I am on two and half years and scared to death to try and wean, the pain is crazy! But I am down to one a day now...going to start going to every other day next week when I switch to an eight week WFH situation - wish me luck! I am hoping it goes quicker for me, can you share the digestive enzyme you used?

KarlaYP

Yes, good luck @joysie1970! (Love the new profile picture btw!! Looking great!!) Patience is very important with this! I've been using digestive enzymes I got from Amazon (is there anywhere else to shop for everything anymore, lol!?), they are the Now brand, Super Enzymes. I'm sticking with them because they seem to be making the difference!

Now, onward to getting off the Pepcid too! I'm at every two to three days dosing with it, so far!

I swear this stuff has been harder to get off of than the daily opiate pain medicine I used to take! I highly recommend getting off of them though! The side effects they are now seeing are detrimental to health!!

RENAEJAE

Still taking Omiprizone every other day but I plan on reducing to twice a week next week. I'm feeling ok but I have awful gas by 5pm and burp a lot! Any natural remedies for this? GasEx is another pill, but I'm trying to avoid taking more pills.