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Stomach Protection

Posted , 14 users are following.

Fandango
Fandango

I have not been on the forum for a while.  I was diagnosed with GCA in March 2016 and managed to get down to 3mg Prednisolone by September 2017 - a nightmare of side effects throughout from Prednisolone, Omeprazole and Ranitidine.  Unfortunately I've had a flare and was put back to 20mg Prednisolone 4 weeks ago.  A lot of the awful side effects from Prednisolone have returned.  I cannot take PPIs like Omeprazole - horrendous side effects - so I wonder if anyone has managed stomach protection with diet and if so how did you do it?  I'd be very grateful for any advice. Also, I have been told to take osteoporosis medication but after reading about its side effects I am too scared to take it after all the horrendous experiences I've had with Prednisolone and Omeprazole.

1 like, 28 replies

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  • lilian05079
    lilian05079 Fandango

    Posted

    Hi Fandango

    When i was taking prednisolone i took probiotics and prebiotics for gut protection. I never had any problems with my stomach when taking these whilst taking preds....read up on pro and prebiotics...my best wishes to you Fandango

  • Michdonn
    Michdonn Fandango

    Posted

    Fandango, before I took any osteoporosis medication I request a bone density scan and the results would determine if I took any more medication. Good luck on your journey, try to think positive and smile. Smiling! 🙂

  • andrea93419
    andrea93419 Fandango

    Posted

    Hiya!

     Ask for a Dexa scan to determine your bone density. Mine was ok for my age, However I take Adcal D3 calcium. But as for Alondonic Acid that my GP tried to give me I refused point blank, as my dentist had seen a few people that had been effected by necrosis. I had googled the side effects too and decided the calcium supplement and a good diet should be enough to ward off oestroperosis.

    hope that helps 

    Andrea xx

  • barbara73592
    barbara73592 Fandango

    Posted

    Hi,

    I have found that  fat free Greek yoghurt is a great help in lining and soothing the stomach when on Pred. I take it before breakfast and also at lunchtime. Indigestion is a big problem for me and this definately helps. Also Gaviscon Advance is very good.

    Another thing I take is Manuka Honey 10 to help the immune system. Cutting down on caffeinated tea and coffee might be a good idea too.

    • Fandango
      Fandango barbara73592

      Posted

      Barbara,

      Thanks for the info.  I have started the Greek yoghurt.

  • diana21296
    diana21296 Fandango

    Posted

    I take a ramekin of natural probiotic yoghurt before taking the pred which lines the stomach and I have never had to take Omeprazole.  Look up an anti inflammatory diet which will help too and eat low carbs and sugar.   Hope things improve for you soon.
  • nick67069
    nick67069 Fandango

    Posted

    I had to take PPIs at the beginning of PMR treatment ( and antibiotics too) and just about destroyed my stomach. I stopped after 6 weeks and from then on I always take plain yogurt, about 75-100gr with pred. Best to take pred with meal, never on empty stomach.
    • Fandango
      Fandango nick67069

      Posted

      Thanks  for advice.  I was on Omeprazole for just  over 3 months and also felt it had destroyed my stomach.  Took months for stomach to feel a bit better.
  • BettyE
    BettyE Fandango

    Posted

    I can't take PPIs, either. 

    Years ago I had an endoscopy after finding PPIs made things even worse.

    One of the nurses recommended plain organic yoghurt as a soother ( If you're in UK Yeo Valley is good ).  I still have it with my breakfast and always took my Pred. with a couple of tablespoons. Worked for me. Hope it might for you.

    • Michdonn
      Michdonn BettyE

      Posted

      BettyE isn't an endoscopy fun, I was getting one every year when I was working, now one every three years along with a colonoscopy. Last year I asked the doctor if he could do both at the same time? He replied he was not ambidextrous! Good guy always makes the procedures less stressful.

      Thinking positive and smiling. 🙂

    • BettyE
      BettyE Michdonn

      Posted

      This is a bit off piste but has made a lot of folks laugh.

      Family friend who was a chiropodist had to  have a colonoscopy and kind nurse,  to put him at ease, asked what he did. "I'm a chiropodist," he replied. Urgh... feet, she said.

      He said he thought he'd rather stick to feet than have her job!

    • Fandango
      Fandango BettyE

      Posted

      Thanks, yoghurt seems to be the thing to take.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Fandango

      Posted

      And I forgot to say - fat-free is NOT the best. You need some fat to obtain the most calcium from the dairy product. Skimmed milk is nowhere near as good a source of calcium as semi-skimmed for example even though the maths means it appears to have more calcium in it (only because the fat doesn't count in the total reading).

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