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Long Term PPI use, any effects or is it the hernia?

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rlnc722
rlnc722

Hi, I had endoscopy back in August, which found a 2cm hiatus hernia and swollen esophagus. I was put onto PPI, which I've been taking ever since. The thing is, back in December I was starting to feel discomfort in my upper abdomen area, with a sore/sensitive to the touch Xiphoid Process; but that was the area I'm talking about. I moved onto Gaviscon advance, but when I saw the specialist in January I was told off and am now back on the PPI. Again though, I've had similar feelings in the same area. There's nothing specific that I would say makes it come on.

It feels as though my muscles are pulled all the time, when they're not. Sitting is uncomfortable, and I feel as though it is difficult to take a breath, although I'd not describe myself as breathless - I can walk up stairs, and walk ok without feeling out of breath.

Other information that I also have suspected IBS, have taken 4-6 weeks of VSL#3 and just finished the fodmap exclusion phase.

My curiousity is whether or not anyone else has felt any unexpected effects from longer term PPI use? I take 30mg lansoprazole. 

or could it be the hernia, although I read they are meant to be symptomless? 

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • cynthia89958
    cynthia89958 rlnc722

    Posted

    Doctors may reckon HH has no symptoms but there lots of folk on these forums would beg to differ I'm sure. I am not saying that Drs are wrong, just sometimes patients experiences are atypical, we are all unique after all.

     

    I get side effects from PPIs and find they only work for a while for me anyway. Some folk and many doctors swear by them but long term effects are largely unknown according to drug information. There are some studies inferring they may have long term effects on kidneys and even may be some risk for dementia, but that has to be blanced against benefits. For ulcers, reflux etc these are the go to remedy and short term use is considered fine. I know someone who took them for years and they solved his acid reflux but he has a very severe magnesium deficiency now and told it is due to long term PPIs. HHs can cause discomfort or pain and reflux sometimes breathlessness according sufferers if it presses up into chest - I certainly have had those symptoms but not sure if it is from HH or gallstones that I also have, the consultant says gallstones and I will know for sure after they are taken out in a few weeks time. 

     

    • cynthia89958
      cynthia89958 rlnc722

      Posted

      Meant to ask you - did the Fodmap protocol help you any? I can't do much about diet right now as due to the gallstones and whatever else, can only tolerate a few bland, low fat foods with a struggle. Maybe after Gb gone and things settle, if the digestive issues persist I will go down that route as I will still have the HH and maybe other reasons for the symptoms. Cheers!
    • rlnc722
      rlnc722 cynthia89958

      Posted

      Oh dear, well I'd best not moan about the lack of variety on fodmap then! It didn't actually stop the "digestive issues" (which I think is a much more subtle way of putting it), but it did stop the length of time of any pain, if not necessarily the pain itself. The one thing that did surprise me is the lack of what we'd see in today's society variety in terms of fibre (very low) yet reasonably high in sugars. I'm not sure the VSL#3 helped at all, given the cost.

      But during the exlcusion phase, I did start to read a lot into the effects of the different types of bacteria in the gut. As you have said before, everybody is totally different in terms of this make up, and this can massively change what you compared to me can potentially tolerate. But, as everything is on an individual basis, I think it's difficult to for "mass science" to come to a concensus about the whole gut thing. Fact is though that there's a lot more people having this kind of problem and there's got to be a reason. Processed food? Working too hard? etc.. etc...

      One thing for sure, I've come to the conclusion that variety is the answer, still avoiding added sugar but not necessarily all fat (except that in processed food). I started making some of my own chocolate with coconut oil for example. Very nice. And all this still 3 months before I actually see the dietician*!!

      *I used the Monash University FODMAP app that basically tells you what you can and can't have.

    • cynthia89958
      cynthia89958 rlnc722

      Posted

      Thanks for the info I will bear in mind later. Yes, I don't think any diet will bother me after this as over 4 months I have elimated nearly everything as most foods all started causing trouble one by one. If the exclusions had got rid of the symptoms I could have put with it. I'm taking a strong probiotic which actually seems to help somewhat, it is hard to tell.

      I think antibiotics are involved in all these gut problems, not just the ones we are prescribed but also the ones in the food chain from intensive farming. I had H Pylori diagnosed a while back, had the therapy which cleared it but plagued with other things ever since. Antibiotics and painkillers improved life for us but at a cost I think. Anyway, keep posted and hope things go better for us all in the future biggrin

  • rlnc722
    rlnc722

    Posted

    I wanted to follow up on this 3 months later, really just to see if anyone can relate to what symptoms I'm getting, and maybe suggest what you do to alleviate. Obviously I cannot prove this is anything to do with the PPI/HH, but it seems strange that this has come on over time.

    I'm basically feeling as though my stomach area hardens, not necessarily when I eat, but when it does harden, then I find it very difficult to move without feeling discomfort - not "pain" as such but a definite feeling of something pushing against me; so like how described before except with the hardness.

    It can go, but is evident more often than not, and becoming more frequent. I know that an endoscopy found a swollen esophagus right at the point where it joins to the stomach. I'll be honest and say that I maybe do drink hot drinks too hot, and so there's a possibility that area could still be swollen?

    I wouldn't describe as bloating as such, because it does not affect the physical appearance of the gut. I've also had a gastric emptying study, and have heard nothing back so assume that my stomach is emptying ok.

    I can't think of any foods that I've had in abundance recently. I have done FODMAP exclusion earlier in the year and this did not affect anything, nor did re-introducing the different food types. I try to eat a balance of small amounts of each FODMAP group as well.

    Like I say, if anybody relates to this, I'd love to hear from you, and also what you find helps for you.

    Thanks

     

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