I am 46, male, have been on and off PPI’s since 2006 due to extreme heartburn at one point. Had 5 EGDs over the course, barium swallow test. Stress tests, Echo of heart. The Heart burn would come and go, and the pills would help. I could eat anything. At times chest pains, tightness of the throat would arise but go away. The day after late nite, food,beer, I would get an anxiety type attack the next day, cant swallow, cant beltch that would last maybe 30 min. sweaty palms. Suspected GERD with Vagus nerve being affected drove the anx. Attack, so slowed down the rough nites. The only items found during EGDs, small Hiatal and some erosion / ulcer at one point a few years back. I would take it easy, get back to normal. So a few months ago, I tried getting off PPIs, using tums, Sucralfate (don’t ever take without dissolving first ), ACV, baking soda. Etc., low acid diet, but no sure fix. I continued taking 60mg Dexilant everyday. Heartburn was ok, but kept getting throat burn, clearing phlegm, hoarseness of voice. (LPR) Saw an ENT, he recommended 40 mg Omep in the am, with Pepcid AC at nite to fix it. 3 days were great, then day 4 came with dull chest pains, upper ab pain, burning under ribcage, thru back. ( never had this before) Bowl move was slowed also, so constipation maybe contributed. Tried to stop pills and use other methods no luck. Saw Phys. Assist. at Gastrologist office, decided to scope again. EGD was good, just a small hiatal hernia, nothing else. Unbearable at times the constant pain /pressure. When I awake, all is pretty well , but its off/on pain all day. by bedtime its hard to get comfortable. I work at a computer 12 hrs a day, but stand when can and take several walks, not much is working. eating less, lost 20 lbs. i am avg. weight and try to eat healthy, cut alcohol way back, 1 coffee a day. Blood work, Blood Pressure, HIDA Scan, Ultrasound of GB all good. Eating seems to help a little. Thinking H. Pylori? Which I may try next. The pain now is just below sternum, fullness. No fun. Nothing seems to help. Bowel movements, take extra effort, and you feel the pain while pushing as gentle as possible. Taking miralax and liquid antacid thats it. Why switching to Omep 40 and Pepcid at nite would cause this, IDK. Good luck ALL. Any thoughts, love to hear from you. note the throat burn and hoarseness subsided, so must of been the Dexilant, go figure.
Hi i also just switched ppi from nexium to pepcid ac I was experiencing the same pain below the sternum as you almost like a pressure felt like had to burp but didnt it was awful. once i went on pepcid that went away next day . weird but it seems i cant do ppi as pantoprozal did the same thing i dont have problems with pepcid except it does not work that great for me . if you are using crafate that will slow you down you can always call the pharmacy and ask them. they have been helpful to me
thanks Debbie. it seemed like the pepcid caused me const., but not positive. i tried Dexilant 4 days just to see if it stopped the upper ab pain below sternum but no luck.
yesterday and today are better, my PCP thinks gall bladder even though HIDA and Ultrasound were good (small cyst on GB). 1-2 hours after eating it seems to appear, so indigestion or ? trying to sleep L or R doesn’t change pain. The PPI road is a long one, all we can do is try ! thx