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Menopause, indigestion & acid reflux..... the list goes on

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cheekygal
cheekygal

I am about at my wits end!  Anyone else suffer from bad acid reflux?  I have been on omeprozole for a few years now, but the past 2 months have been so bad with burning upper abdominal pain which spreads under left breast and sometimes I get burning between shoulders, doc ordered urgent endoscopy which showed up nothing, so the diagnosis was non ulcer dyspepsia ( in other words indigestion)  I was prescrbed zantac to take along with the omeprozole, this seemed to help for a couple of weeks but last few days has been really bad, also my stomach looks as if  I am about to give birth to a baby elephant!  This is on top of all the anxiety/panic symptoms for which I was given mirtazapine 5 weeks ago, (menopause was only confirmed last week, even though I had suspected myself I was going through it)  I am sure those pills are making me worse, before starting them I was able to go out, now I can't even go to work (which is on my doorstep) without having 5mg diazepam, only took a 2mg tonight as don't want to get addicted and felt as if i was going to faint!  I often feel more anxious after eating, and I never have really big meals.  Can anyone else relate to any of this?  Got doc on Tues and on Jay's recommendation I'm going to ask for B6,  Have looked at red clover, black cohosh and other stuff, don't want to spend a fortune on things that might not work.  Had my B12 tested 6 months ago and that was normal as was CBC and thyroid.

Hugs xx

4 likes, 122 replies

122 Replies

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  • missmacca77194
    missmacca77194 cheekygal

    Posted

    Hi cheeky gal

    I've had reflux on and of for many years but lately it's been in my throat the acid burning is bad I've also had some blood issues in my phlegm . The blood scared the crap out of me went to hospital check lungs by xray all clear .

    Went to Gp git referred to throat specialist all good

    went to gastro specialist had endoscopy And colonoscopy waiting for biopsies

    I also suffer anxiety and I'm peri menopausal as well but my reflux has been bad the last month, maybe im going through menopause

    I'm on zantac and Nexium I use to take Losec.

    I just hope I find out something with the biopsies. So I can finally get an answer

    I also no what I can and can't eat

    Take Care x

    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 missmacca77194

      Posted

      Hi cheeky gal

      I know it was a while ago but what showed on the tests you received back

      I am still on lansopramole with the sore throat, irritating cough and have been told it will never go away now but don't want to be stuck on PPIs the rest of my life. Did you find alternative medication or have the symptoms lessened for you? 😊

  • lini38837
    lini38837 cheekygal

    Posted

    Hi there, I was given lanzaprazole- same family as your drug for indigestion. This was 3 years ago and I got worse not better, got panic attacks, anxiety and more pains i gave them up and managed with zantac then gaviscon after an awful fortnight of bile, reflux and genenral indigestion needing me to buy a sleeping wedge. What has happened to me though is that  I have just been diagnosed with very low vit d deficency after a blood test and I am now taking very high vit d supplements, with magnesium. prescribed by my GP. What I have realised is that the ithese ndigestion remedies deplete vit d levels in the body= my low levels and you may be deficent in vit d as this causes indigestion/gastric problems and IBS. I have had all of those as well as muscle fatigue and bone pain in my feet and legs for three years. I am 6 weeks in to my supplements and do not need a sleeping wedge and hardly get any indigestion now. My Vit D levels were 12 and they  are supposed to be about 50 to feel well. Apparently it takes about 6 months - a year to recover from this deficiency.Please, please get tested! this may be to do with all of your problems. look up about Vit D deficiency and symptoms as they are broad ranging from problems with bones- muscle- mood- anxiety- depression- digestion- weight gain

    Good luck and spread the word!

  • Patricia2576
    Patricia2576 cheekygal

    Posted

    Hi there, I so hope you will get this. I would love to talk with someone that is having symptoms as you have described, because right now it appears I have something serious. Any chance we can e-mail each other.
  • ann51135
    ann51135 cheekygal

    Posted

    I suffered the same symptoms.  I was developing IBS along with the costipation, abdominal pain, bloating, pain between shoulder blades and GERD.  I believe it started with onset of perimenopause.  My symptoms resovled after I started lining/healing the gut, targetting yeast overgrowth, replenishing good bacteria, addressing vitamin/mineral/amino acid deficiencies and eliminating or reducing the foods that I am allergic too.  A blood test told me that I was moderately allergic to dairy and slightly allergic to gluten.  My Doctor said everyone is allergic to dairy.  I use natural products but it's best to seek the advice of a medical practitioner if you wish to do the same.  My anxieties resolved after my stomach issues resolved.
  • sheona77328
    sheona77328 cheekygal

    Posted

    Hi, what a relief to find this site. Have been hit with full blown acid reflux for the last 3 weeks without ever having had any problems before. Frantically searching for info. on how to sort it out using natural means. My doctor wants me to start on Ranitodine but I'm not seeing this as a first step. I'm just beginning to have menopausal symptoms and have been thinking they must have something to do with this as I'm healthy in every other respect. Thank God I'm not alone!!!!

     

  • pinkcatfairy
    pinkcatfairy cheekygal

    Posted

    Yes i have a small hiatas hernia which as i was approaching menopause didnt help, the extra acid reflux etc caused me to get gastitis, i went on omeprezole for some time but these tablets can cause symptoms in themselves, so i switched to zantac x Thankfully after sometime my symptoms settled
  • pinkcatfairy
    pinkcatfairy cheekygal

    Posted

    Dear cheekygirl

    I was on omeprezole for only a short time and it gave me terrible gas and bloated stomach, perhaps change of medication might help, i went on to zantac x

    • maria101
      maria101 pinkcatfairy

      Posted

      Hi even water makes me burp that's how bad menopause is with your digestive system.
    • pinkcatfairy
      pinkcatfairy maria101

      Posted

      Yes and water gave me heartburn when i had gastitis and too much made me nauseous
    • debbie_18471
      debbie_18471 pinkcatfairy

      Posted

      Hi pinkcatfairy,

      I know that you posted this over a month ago, but wondering if your acid reflux or gastritis improved? I'm am having horrible perimenopause symptoms. They change all the time. Right now my period is late and I have been suffering for the last week with terrible stomach problems and acid reflux really bad. All eating and drinking brings symptoms on. Even having an empty stomach is painful. Trying to go the natural route with everything but goodness these stomach issues are brutal. Just wanted to know if yours improved. I really think my period being late means my hormones are going crazy. Take care hope your doing well with these crazy symptoms

      Debbie 🌻🌻🌻

    • pinkcatfairy
      pinkcatfairy debbie_18471

      Posted

      Hello Debbie,

      So sorry you are having a bad time. Yes I am glad to say it did get better and I'm drinking tea and coffee again. The gastitis did go on for a few months and it was an awful depressing time but it does get better! I sometimes get the acid reflux cough but it is short lived, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will say if things do get bad it would be an idea to visit the doc, I went on ppi's for a short while and came off them gradually, I wish you well x

    • price6209
      price6209 pinkcatfairy

      Posted

      Oh my gosh! Reading your comment that too much water made you nauseous! They say we should drink lots of water. I've had acid reflux for 20 years and if I try to drink a large glass of water, I literally feel like I'll throw up. My father also had acid reflux and couldn't even get water down without throwing up. I have acid flare ups in the spring and fall ( Usually because of pollen and drainage) so I'll eat some yogurt twice a day for a month and if I get a flare up it's not nearly as bad.

       

  • lisa33471
    lisa33471 cheekygal

    Posted

    Hi I tried Zantac but for some reason made me feel really weird so stopped it 🤔 It really bothers me being on these PPIs. They worked the first time but just having a very short gap inbetween the next course have found its not really shifting this sore throat and the cough sometimes wakes me in the night sad xx
  • Shinygal
    Shinygal cheekygal

    Posted

    I see this in an old post but with new additions. So glad I found it and can see I am not alone!

    Am off to see my GI consultant tomorrow as for last 6 weeks I have had horrendous flare up of both IBS-C and reflux ( prev diagnosed with non ulcer dyspepsia for which I take Lansoprazole 15mg daily).  Worse time I've had with both in 20 years (I'm 52).  I am now wondering if menopause is the cause and possibly if I have inadvertently brought on symptoms by trying supplements too as recent issues started about 2 weeks after I began taking Starflower Oil to help with my hot flushes.  The oil worked a treat, within a few days the flushes had stopped completely (from having about 4-6 daily).  Then started getting terrible tummy and flank pains, then full on constipation and heartburn.  Was thinking what I could have done to set this off?!  I googled starflower oil, well what do you know, seems the main side effects are, yes, constipation, gas, bloating and indigestion! Then it seems menopause itself can be a culprit! 

    I was scoped, both ends, two years ago and all well then, also ultrasound at that time all clear. I have chronic anxiety so when things flare up I always worry I have something deadly, which of course make everything worse!  

    Hoping doc can sort me out and it's just a blip.  Meantime starflower is out and flushes back in. 🙁

    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Shinygal

      Posted

      Hi there. This was an interesting read. Apart from agreeing with u that I've always thought could reflux be brought on by menopause, a couple of months ago when I had it worse was taking starflower supplements! I am not too bad at the moment. Occasional sore throat again but I've only been taking one lansopramole as hoping to wean off it. I've tried mastika gum supplement but not sure if that's having any effect? I've read a lot on Vogel about different herbal remedies u can take as it's good to stay on those PPIs for too long. Good luck at the doctors. Hope they can sort things for u altho sometime I think we are better off trying things for ourselves smile
    • Shinygal
      Shinygal lisa33471

      Posted

      Wow, thanks for coming back to me on that. I'm glad I'm not alone then in potentially making a link with the Starflower. I was taking the highest concentration 'one a day' dose too.  I certainly would take back the flushing over the terrible stomach pains I have just now and the reflux.  If everything is clear after this latest bout of tests I'm definitely going to try more changes to diet and research more natural remedies as I've been on low dose of PPIs on and off now for many years. I do worry about how easy withdrawal will be! But now I'm in meno I want to protect bone health and PPIs are known to weaken bone. It's so difficult isn't it to get some balance but I agree it seems it is sometimes best to find your own way. One female GP at my practice is pretty decent, the others are, at best, well meaning but clueless! 🤔
    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Shinygal

      Posted

      It's easier said than done at times. I. Don't have things like tomatoes, chocolate, garlic that often to cause symptoms. I've even cut out coffee before now. I too was diagnosed with non ulcer dyspepsia a few years ago so would be interesting to know if that's progressed in any way 🤔 For ur bone health I've been taking osteocare viabotics. I work at a hospital and remember a pain consultant telling me he didn't believe in vitamins except those! I think diet helps a great deal but I've not always done as good as I should. Hope all goes well at the doctors. Let me know if u get things sorted smile take care x
    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Shinygal

      Posted

      Hi shiny gal just wandered how u for on with the consultant? 😊
    • Shinygal
      Shinygal lisa33471

      Posted

      You must be psychic Lisa lol.  Thanks for thinking of me.  Just had the endoscopy today and had CT scan two weeks ago (done first just to ensure nothing going on in kidneys etc because of the flank pain I was getting). Neither test showed anything of note other than a very small simple cyst on my ovary (an incidental finding and seemingly not needing any action other than maybe a monitoring ultrasound in a few months time which seems reasonable).  

      Seems I just had a bad GI flare up (doc has no idea if the starflower and or meno was a trigger, he would tend to be looking at my chronic constipation being more of an issue, things backing up and putting pressure on upper abdomen).  However I still think it likely meno and/or the starflower played a part as symptoms have been stable for such a long time. So it's pretty much as you were with 'non ulcer dyspepsia' as diagnosis. When I see him back at clinic in a couple of weeks we will discuss drugs for that and also managing on going chronic constipation .  

      I obv feel relieved nothing serious found but it's just about managing things now.  I have to say though it gave me a taste of coming off PPIs and it wasn't good! He wanted to scope me without me being on the drugs so I had three weeks cold turkey. Week one was ok, week two I was mainlining the Gaviscon and by last weekend I would have mugged a grandmother in the street if I'd seen a Zantac in her handbag! Awful.  So I'm back on them tonight but will discuss future regime with cons in March.  

      Still off the starflower, doubt I'll do them again, in any event the flushes have subsided again for now. It's a blooming roller coaster isn't it?!

    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Shinygal

      Posted

      Ah I'm glad to hear all tests were negative. However sometimes when that happens I get frustrated because u almost want them to find something just to explain what's going on. Obviously not sinister tho. Im glad all is ok smile I've got an appointment next week. Don't know if it's reflux but been getting awful lot of chest pain and kind of the indigestion feeling but more so like I can't breathe sometimes. Just doesn't feel right but I worry a lot so that could be part of the problem. I hope you get on with the consultant ok. It would be really interesting to know what he recommends though for the non ulcer dyspepsia. Could you let me know please. All my doctors does is throw PPIs at me but I came off then about a month ago and touch wood seem OK unless the way I've been feeling of late is any kind of side effect from stopping them rolleyes

      I'm just glad your tests were all ok and hope they can sort something to stop u feeling the way u do. Scary staying on PPIs like u said about the bones. canr u just stay on Zantac? Funny I only had a couple of them and they made me feel weird 😳 Don't know why?

      Good luck and keep me posted x

    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Shinygal

      Posted

      Hi shinygal. I meant to ask you how was the endoscopy? I was thinking of requesting one but even my own doctor said he wouldn't recommend it unless a last resort as they aren't very nice 🙀 I know they're a bit uncomfortable big thought if u had sedation it may not b so bad 🤔
    • Shinygal
      Shinygal lisa33471

      Posted

      Endo was fine. Totally sedated and didn't feel or remember a thing about it.  I had a bit of a sore throat the next day.  However had had a bad cold the previous week so that prob didn't help.  I think endo is the gold standard test so def push your doc if you feel something isn't quite right as it will put your mind at rest. I see the Cons in March so I'll let you know what he advises/ prescribes for ongoing treatment. I'd rather come off PPIs if I can but apparently to be successful you have to do it really gradually rather than the cold turkey I did before endo! If you just stopped them suddenly that could well explain how you are feeling currently. My indigestion and heartburn was awful!
    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Shinygal

      Posted

      Ah that was good. Heard so many negative stories but the worse from my doctor would u believe 😳 I believe u can get sore throat after that. I think that's normal because of the tube? Did it take long to come round after the sedation? . It's this breathing that bothers me like at the moment I've just eaten and feel bloated but upper abdomen just around bottom of my bra. Does that sound like reflux? When u said consultant was more bothered about constipation. Funny cos I kept getting stomach pain, bloating and had to have a laparoscopy. Scan showed one of my tubes were blocked but ironically when I had it done my tubes were clear but had bowel adhesions which was causing the discomfort 😳 Yeah be great if u can let me know how your appointment goes in March. There's so many ppl out there with this condition and it's really interesting to see how ppl manage it. We don't want to stay on PPIs long term. It's ok cutting out things and changing diet but when u do that and still doesn't improve its really frustrating sad
    • pinkcatfairy
      pinkcatfairy lisa33471

      Posted

      Dear lisa

      I have had three endoscophys over the time, one without sedation ( i recommend sedation) it is over with fairly quickly. It is the best thing to have if you have persistant upper abdominal discomfort and problems. It gives the doctors a clear view of what if anything is going on. It has picked up a hiatas hernia with me and gastitis brought on in peri due to the increasd reflux x

    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 pinkcatfairy

      Posted

      Thankyou pinkcatfairy, so what have they advised for your treatment 🤔 My sister has one too but just takes lansopramole for it. I'm definitely going to b asked to b referred. I can't carry on like this. It's the breathing that bothers me but have read so much about anxiety reflux. I don't know which triggers the other one off? Then I think because if my age {with other symptoms} could peri menopause be a contributing factor? All I know is it gets me down. Been suffering for the last 18 months, 2 years on and off. I just want to know if it's definitely reflux as doctors have never sent for further testing but I'm seeing a good doctor week after next so fingers crossed. Do u feel any better now? And how long does the sedation take to wear off. Did u feel anything 🙈
    • pinkcatfairy
      pinkcatfairy lisa33471

      Posted

      Dear Lisa

      I definately think menopause increases the reflux because prior to this my hernia never really caused me any problems apart from oesophagitis once but this was so years before. When my periods went all over the place at 51 this is when i got the gastitis due to the increased reflux. It did cause me to feel breathless sonetimes. Fingers crossed yes the gastitis cleared although i do get heartburn occasionally. I always have my bed elevated a little to stop it at night. The sedation with an endoscophy wears off quickly but you are advised not to drive afterwards so you will need someone to take you. I dreaded the first one i had, i am the worlds worse worrier but with the sedation it made it so easy. Yes the thought of it isnt very nice but it really is worth it to put your mind at rest. Going back to the breathing when i have an anxiety panic attack this affects my breathing (hyperventilating) i'm trying to learn how to breath properly for that. I do not take anything at the monent but i did take omeprazole for a while but not for long as it caused gas to build up and made extra symptoms! I switched to zantac and gradually came off them. I will have to go back on them if i have to. I didnt drink caffeine for a while but happy to say i do now but i watch having too much coffee as this can give me heartburn! X

    • pinkcatfairy
      pinkcatfairy

      Posted

      Also you mention pain in upper abdomen an endoscophy will see if reflux is causing something like gastitis or oesophagitis, pain in upper abdomen is a sign of these it might not be either but at least you know, also i wanted to know it wasnt an ulcer or anything too x
    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 pinkcatfairy

      Posted

      Thank you so much for reassuring me. I was diagnosed with non ulcer dyspepsia a few years ago. I've read u can have all the symptoms of reflux but not necessarily have it. So I am in a predicament as to is it anxiety or reflux? For a few weeks now been having these really sharp pains in my chest and even on waking I can still feel a constant twinge. It's scary. I am a worrier too so that's why I don't know what the real problem is. All I know is that I've not felt right for quite some time. I'm not overweight as such probably could do with losing some though o guess. I don't smoke, only drink on occasion and diet owner really that bad. I've had aching pains in my legs and arms randomly and can't sleep as well that's why I think could be connected to Peri. I'm 45 but doctors think I'm too young! 🙄 I have a friend cpl of years younger than me and already been through it in her 30s!
    • pinkcatfairy
      pinkcatfairy lisa33471

      Posted

      Dear lisa,

      listen to your body, at 45 it is possible it is peri you will know yourself when you are entering the change, yes reflux will cause pain in your upper abdomen if it is gastritis or similar, it sounds to me like peri aching limbs etc, esp shoulders, nausea etc, read up other symptoms on this forum if you experience more, i have had a little taste of everything! Yes the not being able to sleep can be a symptom x

    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 pinkcatfairy

      Posted

      Well if this is the start I'm dreading what it will b like later sad I do feel like indigestion discomfort. I may have to take the PPIs again maybe just until it can b investigated further. My main worry is to what extent do I have reflux. The endoscopy is the only way I guess. Hopefully my doctor will refer me to get it sorted. Pains in my legs and boobs defo peri I reckon. We all have menstrual systems before our periods but bit like this. I can only think hormones are to blame! X
    • lisa33471
      lisa33471

      Posted

      Good luck with your appointment in March. Let me know how it goes smile
    • pinkcatfairy
      pinkcatfairy lisa33471

      Posted

      Yes i have the pain in leg (my right one) and cramps, the pain is more of a shooting pain
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