Struggling with Severe Gastric Reflux and Side Effects

At the moment I have spent the last 6 weeks feeling nauseous with a disgusting chemically taste in my mouth (for about half of that time) that has been put down togastric reflux - loads of meds(Omeprazole, Metaclopramide, Domperidone, Colofac)  but nothing so far has worked...in fact since starting the metaclopramide and stopping the domperidone, I have had incredible heatburn; so bad one night that I almost diallled for an ambulance thinking I was having a heart attack!
I am also (since the taste appeared) very, very drowsy during the day and could nod off to sleep, any time, any place anywhere!

• I assume that having stomach acid in your throat for weeks on end isn't particularly good for one?
• Is this likely to be related to my very large parastomal hernia or not?

Any info on those questions would be appreciated from anyone! Rachel xx

So not good to hear you have been suffering for so long with this Rachel
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Probably not of much use to you but I do know that hiatus hernias cause massive reflux...no doubt other bowel hernias could cause same effect.

Hope your doc finds a solution (without the need for massive drug intake)....must be horribly frustrating.  

Good thoughts and best wishes across the pond....

Rachel:
Damn, but you have the luck (bad). I just got rid of that coppery taste in my mouth then I came down with a bad cough, to help out my hernia, see how much I can take, after a week I think I have it narrowed down to my sinuses draining back to the bronchial tubes, last night the noise from my breathing was keeping me awake so I get up and have a smoke, more coughing, but the breathing noise would ease up for a while. I think we should consider going to a veterinarian, on second thought we would come away "fixed", what the hell we could do worse, and have. Hope you're feeling better soon.Ed xoxo

RACHEL,
              im sorry you feel so bad! I would go to the doctor, you dont wanna mess around with that.
Please go?

xoxoxo hugs, hannah

Keep your meals very small.  Do not eat before going to bed at night.
Take a handful  books and put them under the head of your bed. Under the legs.  Add another book every few days where you get used to sleeping on a slight incline.  
The incline will help with the reflux.
Most of the reflux medications are acid recepter   medications. That is to say they target acid production in the stomach.
I am sure once you find the right mediaction(s).  You will do OK.  One probelm in finding what works is this. The medication maybe working, however you still have after effects of the reflux from causing a "soar" or bear spot that may take months to clear up.
The Esphogus(sp) does not have a good mechanisn for healing it self like some parts of the body do.
Reflux over a period of time is very dangerous.  Probably the most common thing other than pain is Barret's  Esphopgus(sp).  Basically it is a ulcer of the throat and can lead to cancer.
Don't fool around with this take it very seriously, please.
Rick.....

My Ostomy Journey: LeeAnne | Hollister

Hi Hannah, I've been - 3 times now, just keeps giving me more stuff to try out ... Had an awful disturbed night and have woken with a cracking headache now to cap it all ... and Ed, funnily enough was gonna write on my post 'anyone know a good vet?'! Like most of us, I am just fed up of feeling so crap all the time, I can't be bothered to talk to anyone 'cos it just seems like all I do is moan ... AND it dulls my wit!

Love 'n hugs to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you Rick, much appreciated - my throat is actually feeling quite sore now - I have tried different foods, hasn't seemed to alter anything so far, I am not managing to eat big meals as I feel so damn sick, I don't eat before bed and I do sleep quite upright anyway .... always was an enigma, original doc always felt I would have crohns develop but no sign - having said that, what symptoms would I be showing if I already had an ileostomy? I don't really know - does anyone else ....?
R xxx

You´d better have it fixed laparoscopically (2 small incisions for 2 tubes).
Reflux does not only potentially and seriously reduce your quality of life, but in the long run (like Rick stated before) you are more likely to develop an esophageal cancer.
I have lost a good friend thanks to this (45 years).

My stomach had moved 1/3 up through the diaphragm with a 4th degree esophagitis and had it fixed together with a major abdominal surgery.
No more reflux, never ever. And eating has become more difficult because my stomach doesn´t want to open when I swallow something. Automatically you start eating slower and less, which is a very positive side effect (if you wish to loose weight).

Medication can help but does not solve the problem.
If you go on a trip and forget your tablets, you will suffer within 48 hrs.
So if your insurance covers it, let them fix it, makes life a lot easier.

Hi.  May I offer my solution - I too had this ailment (GORD) My Dr prescribed all the same tablets you mentioned but with no success and like you I thought I was going to die of a heart attack, the pain was so bad, particularly at night. My life was a real misery and very stressed.   As a last resort  I looked into alternative medicines and remedies, looking for something to help cure the cause of the problem rather than help cure the pain. I tried a few things and eventually found something to help .  I started taking Aloa Vera juice.  It took a few weeks but it slowly worked.   I am now totally pain free!!   It may not work for you, everyone is different,  but nothing ventured nothing gained!  I have an illeostomy and have had a haitus hernia a very long time and I also now have a small parastomal hernia- Good Luck.

Leggy,  I think you meant to say GERD, Not GORD.

Rick.....

Sorry Rick, as a medical typist had to respond to this!  

English spelling is NOT phonetic so OESOPHAGEAL is correct not the american version of esophageal!

Just that spelling thing that makes us all different I guess, and americans deciding to use their own version of the ENGLISH language even with medical terminology!

Viva la difference hey!  
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J. Maree
It is certainly no secret I can't spell.  Thousand have been spent on me buy my parents who are very articulate and good spellers.  Years of Tutors, phonics.  I read fine I just do not retain spelling.


However  I was  photographic both with numbers and machinery, still am to some extent.

Here I go off an a tangent.

I find with some people there are two medical problems they tend to shy away from.
Mental illness and Ostomies.  I think Mental illness because of the unknown future or the patient.  I think Ostomy because the connotation it carries, of  human waste.  Very sad for both cases in my opinion.

I have come to this conclusion because of the years of volunteer work I do at the VA with group meetings.

Rick.....

J. Maree
It is certainly no secret I can't spell.  Thousand have been spent on me buy my parents who are very articulate and good spellers.  Years of Tutors, phonics.  I read fine I just do not retain spelling.


However  I was  photographic both with numbers and machinery, still am to some extent.

Here I go off an a tangent.

I find with some people there are two medical problems they tend to shy away from.
Mental illness and Ostomies.  I think Mental illness because of the unknown future or the patient.  I think Ostomy because the connotation it carries, of  human waste.  Very sad for both cases in my opinion.

I have come to this conclusion because of the years of volunteer work I do at the VA with group meetings.

Rick.....

Sorry again Rick...wasn't aimed at your spelling in particular...just the differences in spelling between the nations!  Certainly didn't want to come across as pedantic as that (I will leave it for my job in future)!

As an aside I always look forward to reading your posts regardless of spelling (your knowledge of all things ostomy amazes me).
And again I have diverted a post and apologies to one and all!

(Hope the reflux is easing up onya Rach).

Cheers
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Thank you for your support and comments J Maree.  Yes, I am English  and as I having suffered dreadfully from GORD ( with an O!!) and now am pain free, I thought I might help someone else. Not get a critisism for my spelling.  I was a Division Secretary for 28 years for an International Company - and I can spell!!

Having said that - I've just made a clanking typographical gramatical error!!!   Sorry!!!
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Hi Rachel: I have come across this method a couple of times; who knows, it might work. All you have to do is eat part of an apple (it might have to be peeled), but many swear by it. Just saying. Ed

Hi Ed, thanks - I will give it a try - however eating an apple might in itself bring on other problems like a blockage! I will let you know xxx

Rachel: Thought you might find this interesting, I only coppied a few lines.


Dear Heartburn and Acid Reflux Sufferer,

If you're tired of
burning a hole through your esophagus
, choking on stomach acid, propping your head up on thirteen pillows to sleep... all because of your
painful heartburn and acid reflux
, then this will be the most important message you ever read!

I was in your shoes, not too long ago. And I've found a cure that can help you, and I want you to know about it, because...

I NO LONGER SUFFER from Acid Reflux, Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia, Gastritis, Esophageal Reflux, or Bile Reflux! (Yes, I've suffered from them all...)
You see, in 1976, I almost died during stomach surgery for some bleeding ulcers. The doctors operated on my stomach, but while in surgery, they connected a bile duct to my stomach, instead of my small intestine... which caused bile to creep up into my esophagus.
After surgery, I couldn't sleep on my right side without bile building up... and the only way I could get rid of it was by vomiting.
For almost a year, I had to vomit about three or four times every day. It was disgusting, and I knew I couldn't go on like this forever -
the acid was killing me!

I pretty much tried everything to overcome my reflux nightmare.
I tried using 13 pillows. Then I bought one of those "hospital beds" that adjust so your head is propped up all the time.
Then, a miracle happened.
One night, I really slept good. I didn't have any reflux! But I couldn't figure out... why!
So I back-tracked, and the only thing I could remember doing before going to bed was eating an apple! So, I started doing some experiments with different brands of apples... and discovered...
There was one specific brand of apple that helped me completely wipe out my reflux!
I started taking apples with me everywhere I went. And I found out I didn't need to eat an entire apple... just one slice would do the trick.

Of course the big trick, what kind of apple, always a catch eh. Ed

Hi, Cagabolsa! I was reading your post to Lottagelady about the reflux. You said you had major abdominal surgery to correct your problem. DID YOU HAVE THE NISSEN FUNDUPLICATION SURGERY???? I've been trying to find someone that has had both a colectomy and Nissen Funduplication. I have a sliding hiatal hernia which is quite severe; my stomach, too, is way up my diaphram. I had colectomy surgery almost three weeks ago. I am scheduled for Nissen Funduplication before the end of summer.
      The worst problem I've had since the colectomy is the stomach acid. It's caused everything from internal hemmoriods to gum disease in my mouth. I have had three endoscopic procedures performed to help with the reflux, but it only helps for a week or two tops. I have never heard of anyone that had both operations, but would LOVE to hear from someone who has. If you're that someone, please let me know! Thanks!

Hi Stillstriving - 6 months on and I have that disgusting taste in my mouth still as I type ... the Omeprazole does nothing for me at all on that front, and neither did any of the other meds ....

Can I ask, do you have heartburn too?? I very very rarely have heartburn but would have thought that it would be something I would have if this is reflux?

Am off to the dentist next week to check all is okay there, but suspect that this is now having an effect on  my teeth - how could it not? But no-one seems remotely interested in sorting me out .... fed up with going to the docs and being told I will feel better when I have my surgery ... at the rate I am going, I won't be fit enough to have it anyway, whenever it eventually happens...

Tried the apple, but no joy ..... I am suspecting that this is maybe not acid reflux at all ....

Take care all xxxxxxx

Rack I have Acid Reflux for ten years now, yes I take Prilocec ovet the Couter, but in your country they might give you the Prescription called the little purple pill.  Yes it will affect your teeth if you dont take medicine to control it.  It will eat your enamal off and then you need a Dentist.  I take good care of my teeth and I floss and watch what I eat but this is not caused from a bag or a colon, this is a stomach condition like when I eat to spicy but my Prilocec works great.  It use to be Prescription and now what Nurses and most people call OTC which is over the counter means you can buy it in a store.  I know nothing about the UK except what you all teach me.  I also take a zantac acid reducer every day and mine is from my nerves and nothing more.  No surgery is needed for this as the medicine works great.  Thank you for telling me how to Post also, Love Always and Forever, Jenny