Has anyone continued to have reflux because PPI's did not work? What happens next?

Great question ! Looking forward to the replies. I’m in the same boat, been on a load of different medications for the last 3 years, Esomperazole, Lansoprazole, Rabeprazole, etc nothing has worked.  When I went back to the doctors he just said we have tried everything we can, what do you want to do next. I suggested surgery and he said no as you will just be back on the PPIs after a few years as surgery doesn’t work. Learn to live with it. Shocking !

Hello I’m sorry you are having so much trouble. I had the Nissen fundoplication surgery about a year and a half ago as I had esophagitis gradeD. It was bad. The surgery was only a 180 wrap because I have an autoimmune disease where swallowing at times is a bit difficult. The Dr didn’t want to do it too tight. Therefore they only did the 180. Well I was then diagnosed with 7 ulcers this past August but I was doing 80mg of Nexium before surgery then went to 40 after and now down to 20 mg. I am also taking a teaspoon of coconut oil morning and night and 8 oz of aloe vera juice daily and it has really helped. You may want to try it. I also take the DGL chocolate coconut licorice if I have pain as it really helps too. I was so tired of the pain and everything that goes along with Gerd. I wish you all the luck. I hope eventually I can get off all meds. Best of luck. Lorray 💕

Thanks ! Some nice tips there. I have esophagitus grade a and 2cm hiatal hernia, I’ve been told I’m not really a candidate for surgery as hernia is too small. 

I am in the UK. I just don't know what happens when you have exhausted all medication and you are still getting it. Surely you cant be told to live with it because you are risking your own health long term. I go for my endoscopy Tuesday and will find out whats going on with me. I will be asking this question though. Are any of you in the UK? Jo

Yeah I’m UK. Had two endoscopies.

Yeah still suffer. The doctors thoughts is that as long as I’m taking either the PPI or Ranitidine and Gaviscon Advance daily then the Acid should do me no harm. Unless I have surgery then I have to take these for life, I’m only 37 so not keen but surgery privately is about £10k.

Good questions ! I think the idea is the PPI and Gaviscon is working even if I feel it isn’t working so it shouldn’t get any worse, yes I still have symptoms everyday and to answer your final question I think you can come off the medications once you have had surgery but getting surgery on the NHS seems a rather hard thing to do, for me anyway. 

Hi.

I tried all the ppi too over the space of about 15 years, suffered since I was a child really..

When I started on my final ppi nexium I asked the gp if there was anything else I can do and she said fundiplication but she would have to apply for funding from NHS and I would have to have some tests to make sure that I was suitable. 24hr PH, manomatry and camera.

I got the funding and the tests, I had my surgery June 2016.

The acid has stopped, I can burp without my food coming up.

I still get a bit bloated and can burp and fart for England.. I'm glad I got it done..

Regards

Margaret.

Short answer: it depends. 

You may not actually have acid reflux, so further testing is warranted. You should have the following tests. (Maybe not all of them, but a good number.) 

1) Endoscopy, to see if there are signs of anything else, like eosinophilic esophagitis, which can cause similar symptoms, or a hiatal hernia. 

2) Barium swallow: thisnwould Show reflux and may show the hiatal hernia. It would also show other structural abnormalities. 

3) Esophageal impedance/manometry: this would Test our how well your esophagus works. If it doesn’t work well heartburn may Be from stuff sticking around too long, or it squeezing at the wrong times or in an abnormal manner. 

4) Bravo 48hr pH study: this will test out how many reflux episodes youre having, and if they’re acidic or not. 

5) 24 hr manometry: this is like the 48hr study, but it’s a lot more uncomfortable. It also has the advantages of seeing how high stuff is refluxing. You may not be getting much reflux, for example, but if it’s gojng very high, you’ll feel it all the more. 

Ask for at least some of those tests. It may be that you don’t need PPI’s, but something else. Or it may be that the PPI’s help some,  though for different reasons than expected, and that you actually need something else (like budesonide or sucralfate). 

Best of luck.