Has anyone taken L-Glutamine with Prednisone?

Yeah, Steve, I wonder same thing!!! 

Steve, I haven't had any particular issues with paying for treatment in NJ.

i am on Medicare. Medicare pays Doctor for preventive tests: vaccines, colonoscopy, mammograms and a yearly "wellness exam"" which screens for diabetes, bloodpressure, some cancers etc. So must insurance under "Obamacare". The whole point is prevention and early detection. The patient has no copay for these. Doctor quality is variable all over the world. The primary I used for years blew me off when I suspected I had PMR; he said I had fibromyalgia and didn't even refer me to a rheumatologist. I am changing doctors. 

I think that there is a great number of doctors out there who just can't get their heads around the symptoms and/or diagnosis of PMR, 

It's the one disease that I would wish on a doctor....then perhaps they wouldn't be quite so blind.  Especialy the male variety.

I had three evenings of a strange heart bumping, no pain so

wasn't especially alarmed.  The fourth morning it woke me up

and decided I'd better check it out.  After another (had one

in Sept along with other tests) EKG and looking over all my

tests doc told me it was esophageal spasms.  She picked up

right away on the fact that it only happened when I was laying

down.  Anyhow prescribed OTC Gaviscon chewables and

stronger strenght Prilosec than you can get OTC. Pretty sure

Prilosec is omeprazone and it's an antiacid designed to help

with hearburn and acid reflux which I've had for years.  As to

the issue of flatulence....are you by any chance lactose

intolerant?  Any kind of milk products will give you gas

pains and bloating....there is a small pill called Lactaid

that you take just before first bite of anything dairy and it

helps keep that unpleasant feeling away....I know, I know

another pill  I think I could just about open my own

pharmacy......

If you have an upset stomach in this case it is most likely to be the omeprazole -  I have no doubt most GPs will deny it but it is listed as a side effect. As an alternative you could try ranitidine (sold as Zantac) which does exactly the same as a PPI but it is older, a different way of acting and has fewer unpleasant side effects. Gastroenterologists apparently are mystified by the non-specialists enthusiasm in using a PPI! There are also other PPIs which have different side effects such as lansoprazole so if you don't want to give ranitidine a try, you could ask your doctor to try that for you.

Faye is quite correct - Prilosec is a brand name for omeprazole.

No the L-glutamine is an amino acid found in the body, it functions include acid-base balance, protein synthesis, production of other nutrients in the body, ... Yes, I'm copying this from paper the pharmacist gave me today.

I had read it could heal the gut. Or make a gut barrier.

but this paper says basically there's not enough proof.

but she did say there should be no interaction with Prednisone.

I refuse PPI's because when you stop it causes influx of acid. Though as Eileen mentioned above perhaps if taper that might help. 

Other acid reducers can have calcium on them, so doctor warned me of too much Calcium and said lower amount I take if I chose to take Tums.

Maureen, what you said describes me. Like a spasm in my esophagus, no pain, but so irritating.  But as I said, even water bothers me. 

oh, and exercise, I did some sit-ups and sure enough I got that awful feeling.

On the acid reflux forum they warn people of stomach or esophagus Cancer, so I'm just trying to NOT get that!!! 

I already have Osterporosis now, so I will not take PPIs.

But today...I'm trying to pretend I'm OK!!!! It's sunny and gorgeous outside, though darn bees keep chasing me since I put on smell good lotion! Ha! 

That post wasn't direction to you Eileen, but to previous question... FYI

To Maureen asking about tablet. 

Yes - I realised that!

HI eileen

Thank you so much for your reply - I am so worried as I dont thibk I am having acid reflux I described my symptoms to the doctor and he just said I will give you omeprazole but I definitetly told him that I had no burning sensations - I think I am just going to stop taking the medication in view of the fact some PPI can cause cancer and when I see him in a few weeks time for my dexa scan results I will explain to him why I have stopped them

Thanks for your help as always

Take Care xx

Hi Layne

Thanks so much for your reply

I have decided to stop taking the omeprazole until I see my doctor in a few weeks for my dexa scan result - I told him I had no burning sensations but described the "spasm" in my oesphagus and he just said I will gie you omeprazole!!

So frigtened of getting cancer so not taking it - have you explained the "spasm" to your GP did he say what it was by any chancde and whether it needed further investigation - I dont know if it is my imagination as I am really getting "worked up" about it but I feel I have a slight blockage at the back of my throat today but not sure if it just because I am getting so stressed with the doctor giving me so many different tablets I feel I am turning into a hypocondriac!!!!!!!

Oh well, heres hoping tomorrow is a better day

Hope you are having a good day#

Take Care xx

You can have something called "silent reflux" where you have next to no symptoms. It is also known as laryngo-pharyngeal reflux (LPR). There is a small risk of stomach cancer with long term use of PPIs but there is also a risk of oesophageal cancer in patients who have long term reflux that is causing damage to the lining of the gullet. 

"However, in some people, small amounts of stomach juice can spill back into the upper throat (pharynx) affecting the back of the voice box (larynx) causing irritation and hoarseness. This is known as laryngo-pharyngeal reflux (LPR). It is often called 'silent reflux' because many people do not experience any of the classic symptoms of heartburn or indigestion.

LPR can occur during the day or night, even if a person hasn't eaten anything. Usually, however, LPR occurs at night.

The term reflux comes from a Greek word meaning 'backflow'. Normally, the things we eat and drink stay in the stomach to be digested and do not spill back up into the oesophagus. However, if the valve at the lower end of the oesophagus (the oesophageal sphincter) is weak or disco-ordinate reflux may occur.

What are the symptoms of LPR?

The most common symptoms of LPR are:

- A sensation of food sticking or a feeling of a lump in the throat

- A hoarse, tight or 'croaky' voice

- Frequent throat clearing

- Difficulty swallowing (especially tablets or solid foods)

- A sore, dry and sensitive throat

- Occasional unpleasant "acid" or "bilious" taste at the back of the mouth

- A feeling that too much mucus/phlegm is collecting in the throat

- Sudden coughing or choking spasms at night

- Chronic cough

- Excessive burping, particularly during the day

Heartburn

Some people with LPR also experience heartburn. Others rarely notice heartburn or never experience it at all (hence the term 'silent reflux'). This is because the material that refluxes (refluxate) does not stay in the oesophagus for long. As a result, the contents do not have enough time to irritate the oesophagus and cause heartburn.

However, if even small amounts of reflux come all the way up into the pharynx and larynx, other problems can occur. This is because the tissue lining the larynx and pharynx is more sensitive to injury and irritation from stomach juices than the lining of the oesophagus. Damage to the larynx from stomach refluxate will affect a person's voice and can sometimes affect their lungs and breathing."

What your GP should really be doing is not making an assumption but sending you to see an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) specialist or a gastroenterologist who can examine your throat and gullet to see if there is any damage rather than just handing out a prescription for more tablets.

Beautiful description Eileen.  

I'm convinced, silent reflux.  I have managed to sleep with LOTS of pillows propping me up.  I have awakened choking if I'm flat. We have allergy season coming and lots of rain, so that contributes to extra mucus. Noticed I'm clearing my throat more often now, but read on ther forum a guy's throat getting sore from that, so again, sipping water is helping.

Like Eileen said, I'm going to try many small meals, keep sipping water perhaps to keep throat clear, as I said, the aloe vera juice helps, though I now think I need to not drink it too close to Prednisone ingestion incase it's impeeding absorption. 

Also, she mentioned taking Pred in middle of my breakfast verses after, that seems to be helping a bit too. 

My Rayos is coming in mail, so maybe that will help, though who knows how long till my tummy and or esophagus heals.  Will report if I get more relief.

oh, my ENT said to try childrens (gosh, moderator might nix this...I'll try to not say name brands) allergy liquid and antacid liquid mix. But the sugars got to me. 

 

Just went to doc for heart bumps....she said esophagueal

spasms.....I read somewhere that chewing gum will help keep

acid down but that wouldn't solve night problems....I too drink

aloe vera juice and do think that is helpful.  The Gaviscon the

doc recommended is in chewable tablet form  Chew up 3-4

swallow with a glad of water and she says creates a barrier

between stomach and esophagus....worth a try....

Thanks for your help Faye - much appreciated 

Take Care xx

Thanks as always Eileen - you have given me lots to think about

Have a good weekend xx

Hi Layane

Thanks for all your help I am so grateful to you and Eileen - at least I know what might be happening to me now

Have a good weekend xx

Thanks Faye, I'll look for Galvescon.  I tried the licorice HGL but someone here posted NO licorice with Prednisone! And I found that fact online too.

i forgot ENT gave me Carafate Suspension, but I remember it's so hard to take 1 hr before eating or 2-3 hours after, seems I'm always eating, ha. So today I set my alarm on my watch and just took it. Plus I think it has sugar in it so maybe I reacted to that before, ha, can't remember. 

Thanks! 

Regarding chewing gum: sometimes lots of air gets swallowed = wind.

Also, some chewing gums have sugar substitutes like sorbitol and maltitol. This can also be a "wind maker".

As an aside, got bad wind from a prescription iron preparation whereas an otc was better. (it's a wonder I haven't floated into space(. I got clearance from my rheumatologist to take it.

My anemia came with PMR and I thing taking purified Curcumin, recommended by my pain doc before we knew I just didn't have bursitis,chelated my iron. I have the scientific paper reference for this. No bleeding areas found in my digestive tract.

Wow Karen, yikes.  I stopped Curcumin, then started again recently and yesterday had reflux spasms most of day, so maybe I'll stop the Curcumin again.  My Rheumy had said try a different manufacture, thought I had a good one, ha.  But I'll just stop it again, I don't like experimenting with too much. It's confusing, 

Thanks for your input! 

http://m.bloodjournal.org/content/113/2/462.full

This is the article from a hematology journal regarding Curcumin.

My pain doc was not aware of this when he suggested I try it.

I know you've said you are switching to Rayos, but wanted to comment on your "sleep with lots of pillows" comment for others.  It was either the Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic site that said that pillows aren't a solution.  You need to either raise the head of the bed (Mayo Clinic says 6-9", WebMD says 4-6") or buy a sleep wedge.  Both raise your torso and head together.

The Cleveland Clinic site has information about sleep position.  Apparently it's best to sleep on your left side as much as you can.  Can't remember the reason but this is a reputable medical site and it's easy to try.

Yep agreed, my stack of pillows is for my torso not just my head. Glad you mentioned this for others.

yesterday I saw a show on TV that said lay on left side because stomach is lower than esophagus and acid less likely to go up tube.  Right side is higher so acid can. 

However left side is hard for people with heart issues.