u/Honest_Ad8574

Background - have had GERD for 5 years and been on 40mg omeprazole for 4 of it. My first endoscopy showed grade A esophagitis. That's when I got on the omeprazole. I managed on that or nexium (they stop working eventually?) for the past 4 years and had 2 successful pregnancies. Never been able to come off the drugs everytime it gets so miserable I have to get back on. My second endoscopy last year showed only minor signs of reflux. Doctor said continue meds. I decided a month ago it was time to fully commit to getting off this medicine. It's made me severely iron deficient and the infusions for iron don't last. I also am at great risk of osteoporosis since my mom and her mom have it. The PPI long term is not safe for me. tapered to 20mg for a week and then did 10mg for one more week. Then I went to 60mg Pepcid and tums daily. It was going well until 2 weeks off hit and the acid got so bad my esophagitis was reforming. I could tell because of the severe burning and pain when eating certain foods. I couldn't control the reflux. I said screw it and started back up my PPI yesterday. I cannot risk esophagitis reforming. Who knows if it was still rebound 2 weeks of the medicine or if that is my baseline. I'm so discouraged and feel so trapped. Honestly, the PPIs don't even fully cover my GERD. No hiatal hernia or structural abnormalities were found. My doctor said she just believes my LES could be relaxing inappropriately. I'm at wits end. Anyone who's on these drugs lifelong would love to hear from you. I'm so worried for my bones and overall health being on it. And it barely even covers it. Thanks everyone

When does it get better? Been off my PPI and just using Pepcid for about a week now. Still having pretty bad heartburn. Did anyone else experience this and if so, does it end up going away or is this just my baseline?

When does it get better? Been off my PPI and just using Pepcid for about a week now. Still having pretty bad heartburn. Did anyone else experience this and if so, does it end up going away or is this just my baseline?

I tapered for 2 weeks from my 40mg omeprazole and then have been done for about a week now. Trying to manage on 40mg Pepcid and tums, but it seems like the rebound is hitting me now. Nothing is putting out the burn and I feel like my esophagitis is trying to return. Does anyone know how long their rebound lasted?

This medication was supposed to be sort of a protection for me at night since my GERD causes damage then and it's manageable during the day. But I just read that it's not safe long term and can cause malabsorption just like a PPI (which I just got off of) and also the aluminum is unsafe in it. Any input would be appreciated.

I need this medication to control my overnight damage from GERD. I noticed the pills are relatively large and very dry. Does anyone have difficulty swallowing this medication or is it okay?

If I could figure out how to reduce the gas and bloating pressure, my reflux issues would be gone. I don't really have heartburn anymore now that I stopped my PPI, but my stomach is always full of tons of air. I feel like it could be due to swallowing as well but if I could reduce this pressure somehow then my GERD issues would likely disappear. Any advice would be appreciated.

I've been on 40mg nexium for 4.5 years with Pepcid as well. It's barely managed my symptoms despite my first endoscopy (grade A esophagitis) turning into just "mild signs of reflux" on my second endoscopy. But the burning heartburnand belching and bloated stomach full of air just never go. At this point I feel like the PPI is causing my more harm than good by backing up my digestion and causing excess air pressure in my stomach pushing up my acid. Anyways I want to come off this drug and have had no success each time I try. This time I'm giving a diet change a try. I'm only day two into this and I went down to 20mg omeprazole but I still am having heartburn and discomfort. I know it takes time. But I'm eating healthier things like whole grain sprouted bread, almond butter, cous cous, plain baked chicken and low fat Greek yogurt with a little maple syrup. Also plain almond milk. Am I missing something here? No hiatal hernia was found so why are my symptoms so bad. I want to get my stomach back to normal where it is producing acid and functions. Right now I feel like I've severely tampered with that by suppressing it for so long, even though I still have heartburn. The whole thing is confusing.