never worked

Hi Eddie

Sorry the herbal route didn't work out. I tried lots of different ppi's before I settled on nexium (esomeprazole). This had no side effects and did the job. I also did all the boring things like keep slim, exercise regularly, strict diet etc. I am off meds and pain free completely now.

Have you tried manuka honey? It was really soothing for me and I drink gallons of nettle tea and green tea - not sure which has the most effect on my recovery, but it is worth trying everything just to get your life back to normal.

I hope you can find something to help you - it's not fun having reflux disease is it?

Suze :peace:

Hi Suze, thanks for your reply, the Ranittidine seems to be working :o I'm doing every thing they say, like you said. keep slim and fit which I am anyway...can't handle spicy or rich foods which is a bore :roll: I'm glad to hear your probs have been sorted. bought some manuka honey and i think I'll have to give up the red-wine and coffee

Take care

Eddie

been on ranitidine for 3 days now after being on lansoprazole on n' off for 15yrs, stomach cramps, wind, and numbness in my face has stopped, throbbing in my oesophagus is a little better but not completely gone yet.

no more mushy head, however acid pretty bad! gonna put up with it if i can, and use gaviscon to try and calm it down, don't want to take lans anymore!! Giving up tea n' coffee and the red-wine to see if that helps and then give up smoking as this obviously aggravates my problem...but havin said that how boring my life will then be!

Nothing left to do :huh:

Hi Eddie

Apparently the acid gets worse after when you first stop taking the ppi's for a while, but it gets better don't worry. I read a report that had trialled ppi's on a group of people (half had acid before the trial and others didn't have any), after the trial month I think, those who never had acid before, did experience acid when they stopped taking the ppi, but it settled down. something about your body trying to produce more acid and fighting against the acid suppressants.

I can only keep acid at bay if I am a complete food and drink purist, any deviation and I can feel the old gurgles coming back. I don't smoke - but if you do - well, I won't tell bore you with a lecture!! I suppose you can't do everything at once - it is enough of a nightmare giving up the friday takeaway and wine, and then the nice coffee the next morning , then the spicy, acidic, over processed, high fat foods............

I weaned myself off the ppi's and it took a couple of months to do it - but it allowed my body to get used to the changes. I started snipping a third off my tablet each day, then when I felt settled, I snipped half off, then skipped a day, then every other day etc. I now take maybe 1 a month if I have given in to temptation and sat with a packet of crisps and large wine or two. Sometimes, if I have a sip of gaviscon before bed after a glass of wine I don't need a tablet at all.

I also sleep on a slanted pillow - this enabled my very damaged oesophagus to heal. I am trying to wean myself off that too now!

I think if you are able to change your eating, drinking (and smoking!)habits then you can also wean yourself off the lansoprasole. It's really worth a try.

Life will only be temporarily boring - you will soon find other things to replace it with. Mine is scrambling up mountains and keeping up with the kids!

Take care

Suze :run:

Hi Suze thanks for your advice, I'm now going down the herbal route again and started today on a new course of action! I downloaded a cure for all acid reflux problems :roll: it only cost me 19 dollars so if it works It'll be worth it, anything to get me off those tabs! and if it don't, well at least I tried. I will keep you up to speed on my progress and if it works I'll tell you everything you have to do...

Take Care

Eddie

Good luck!

Suze

Hi, been off lansoprazole for two weeks now, taking the occasional 150ml of ranitidine! feel a lot better within myself, no side affects anymore. I've had one reflux attack and that didn't last long. going the herbal route and seems to be slowly sorting out my problem :lol: apparently it takes a while for your body to get back to normal, i mean production and distribution of stomach acid, PH levels. my aim is to be completely free of all tabs regarding acid reflux :lol:

Eddie

Hi Eddie

That is great news - long may it continue! Are there any herbs I would recognise as I am a big fan of herbal tea and drink nettle tea and green tea by the buckets (my stomach dislikes peppermint and chamomile which is peculiar).

It is good to hear someone else is escaping the burning clutches of reflux disease.

I am still managing without my ppi's although I am walking a fine line all the time.....

Suze

Hi Suze, it seems to be going OK at the moment! been nearly three weeks with out Lans...been taking manuka honey two tablespoons daily, drinking apple cider vinegar(with the mother, from health shops) pure aloe Vera juice (organic) one daily acidophilus plus and finally dandelion taraxacum in water, and DGL chewable liquorice! wow! very expensive route, but well worth it! gone three days without even thinking about using my ranitidine :lol: as soon as my system has recovered from lansoprazole I'll slowly cut down on the herbal route, however this could take a few months as I've been on Lans for years! i hope i've seen the last of these tabs?

speak soon

Eddie

Hi Eddie

Well I seem to be on the right tracks then as I have been taking the manuka honey, acidophilus and aloe vera for a while.

I eat bio yogs daily too. I must be overflowing with healthy bacteria now - funnily enough I haven't had a cold or \"normal\" ill health for ages

I did secretly indulge in a few of my kids easter eggs over the hols and it made me a bit shaky on the reflux front. Serves me right!

Well done for being tab free.....Onwards and upwards eh? Take care.

Suze :chick:

Hi everyone, looks like I've hit the jackpot :lol: been off Lansoprazole for six-weeks and given up the wine! had no problems with my hiatus hernia or acid reflux, the herbal route is working...I'm now only taking manuka honey, Apple cider vinegar (with the mother) and pure aloe Vera juice...it's amazing! as each day goes bye i feel better and better, long may it last :wink:

Eddie

hi eddie

when and how much apple cider vinegar do you take?

i have had severe heartburn for 4 months (usual symptoms: pain whatever i eat, burning sensation in throat, pains in chest raidiating through to back). endoscopy showed that i have a relaxed lower esophagus and gastritis.

have been taking omeprazole for 1 month which eased the pain but still have heartburn, have now changed to lansoprazole. still have heartburn / burning sensation in throat but i have only been on lans for 4 days.

don't want to take meds forever, currently taking slippery elm powder, DGL and acidophilus. was taking aloe vera but not sure if it has citric acid in it and scared that it will make things worse.

anyways, i have been taking apple cider vinegar for 2 days...haven't noticed an improvement yet. hoping it doesn't make things worse!!???

just wondering when you take the apple cider vinegar and how much? also is it ok to take the same time as lans?

Andrea

Hi Andrea, if you've got gastritis I don't think it's a good idea to take apple cider vinegar until the inflammation in your oesophagus and gut has healed. I would strongly recommend you carry on taking slippery elm and Manuka honey in warm water as they both have great healing powers. also Andrea (I've had gastritis) eat seriously bland foods for awhile to speed up the healing process. avoid all rich and spicy foods, and trust me it will get better in a few weeks.

Take Care

Eddie X