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trying to work things things out !

Posted , 9 users are following.

mary238
mary238

Thanks for the help from here already. Did someone say Lamaprozel should not be taken ? Well i find it good for my heartburn andd acid problems. My doctor said keep taking it. What do others think ? Also my ESR is 32, he said d it is high but he never took blood test for thevother test at all. It begins with C. Also would anti imfammatory food like ginger, garlic Thankyou

1 like, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • taff77
    taff77 mary238

    Posted

    Hello Mary

    If you take Prednisolone and Aspirin, then you would need some protection for your stomach lining.  I take Omeprazole, if I didn't then it would be constant heartburn and acid reflux.  Do you take any DMARDS?  Do you have monthly/quarterly blood tests for your ESR and CRP levels?  I do use anti-inflammatory foods in most meals, not sure if they help, but they make me feel healthier.  All the best smile

  • Nefret
    Nefret mary238

    Posted

    I've been on Lansoprazole since before the PMR diagnosis as I have a hiatus hernia which causes acid reflux and when I was put on steroids my doctor pointed out that the lanzoprazole would be doing a double duty - it would also help prevent any problems with steroids affecting the stomach lining.  If you are already taking it for acid reflux and heartburn you should stay on it.

    The other blood test is CRP - C-reactive Protein - and some doctors prefer to do this test as it can be more reliable than ESR.  There's no reason why you shouldn't ask for it to be done, but you already know that your inflammation level is high and this is being acted on.

    Again there is no reason why you shouldn't include anti-inflammatory food in your diet, you are already aware of the main foods suggested and there are more things you can include in your diet which may be helpful.  Just don't overdo it, all things in moderation.  A small amount over a longish time is more useful that trying to eat them all at once.

    I do hope this helps you, I know what it is like having it all going round in your head.  Best wishes!

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey mary238

    Posted

    Mary, Lansoprazol is fine if it agrees with you - unfortunately all the stomach protection pills prescribed for me at the outset caused nasty bowel problems so I was advised by my rheumy not to take them.  Instead, at a 'live' yoghurt with my breakfast each day to line my stomach.  I also squeezed a little lemon juice in warm water and had as my first drink of the day.  Some people with acid/esophagus problems can find it helpful to have this juice before each main meal.  Also, guaranteed quality Manuka honey can help with such problems as well as providing a whole host of other benefits - to the immune system for instance.  A diet containing anti-inflammatory foods can be helpful and I have posted a detailed reply elsewhere on this forum recently.  You can always request a CRP blood test - it is often considered a more reliable marker of inflammation than ESR, although your ESR is at present obviously indicative of inflammation.   
    • karenouzo1962
      karenouzo1962 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      mrs0 i couldnt agree more to what you say live yoghurt and lemon juice in warm water is very good x
    • mary238
      mary238 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      This is a thank you everyone, thank you all so much. I was looking at a video on you tube about pmr and apparently an american professor recommended t only useful oils were olive oil and flaxseed oil. Also i am going to take pred and also all the things you all reccomend, my doctor even said to listen to what you all advise, he was surprised i had learned so much already. How long does ESR 32 take to come down ? Thankyou x
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey mary238

      Posted

      Mary, a high ESR can return to normal very quickly once on the right dose of steroids, but always remember that the steroids are not curing the PMR (unfortunately that luxury doesn't exist at present), they are just damping down the inflammation until PMR decides to go into remission.  Slowly, slowly with the reductions is key.

       

  • karenouzo1962
    karenouzo1962 mary238

    Posted

    hi mary im still talong the same meds as you dear and im fine x
  • blodwyn
    blodwyn mary238

    Posted

    Hi Mary,

    I also take Lanzoprazole for reflux.Reflux can make me cough badly,give me serious heartburn, make  me vomit and give me a serious burning sensation in my throat.

    I have always experienced difficulty with certain foods and medication and even tiny doses of asprin and iboprofin can affect my stomach quite badly.

    My GP continues to prescribe it for me for that reason

    .I say take your GP's advice.

    Anyone who suffers from reflux will know how it feels.

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy mary238

    Posted

    I also have yogurt and manuka honey which works fine for me. Also when I have a blood test which seems pretty often, about once a month, I have CRP and ESR done. Recently I asked for a vitamin D test too and discovered I was very deficient. The rheumy had pooh poohed it and said it was not necessary. 
    • blodwyn
      blodwyn ptolemy

      Posted

      Hi Ptolemy,

      My GP has arranged a DEXA bone scan for me and prescribed a calcium and vitamin D pill as she said "Steroids can eat bones" 

      By the way,how's your navigation skills?

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy blodwyn

      Posted

       I have just had a DEXA scan, it was nice to see that I have a 0.2 chance of getting a hip fracture in the next ten years. I am not sure how long that will last with the pred of course. The BSR guidelines state that Vitamin D and calcium should be given with steroids if on pred for more than three months. My rheumatologist either ignored the guidelines or forgot to give them to me. After the results of the vitamin D test he grudgingly said I should take them.  
  • escot
    escot mary238

    Posted

    Hi Mary,

    I take Omeprazole for Hiatus Hernia also and was told to continue with them as I also take Preds, I started them in July 2013 when my level of PSR was 32./33 and  was told that I would be on them for anything between 1-3yrs., I was then seen again by a new Rheumatoligist who thinks that I do not have PMR as people with PMR do not get pain,,,,it is a long story,bur possibly FIbromyalgia,so he started to reduce the Preds and now from starting on 20mgs I am now on 7mg.and coming back are the original aches and pains etc. I am having to take painkillers to help

    the Rheumatoligst told me that 32/33 was not high, and I am not being mointered as one would think in fact he said he does not want to see me until end of the year,which by this time I should be off the preds

    My own GP has suggested another  opinion.....

    • Nefret
      Nefret escot

      Posted

      Escot, if you have a Rheumatologist who believes PMR patients don't have pain and you are not being monitored correctly, then take your doctor's advice and get someone else.  Rhuematologists like that don't deserve to have any patients.

      I have Fibromyalgia as well as PMR and the pain is quite different from one to the other.  I realise this might not be the case for others with the double whammy,  but I do find I am able to tell one pain from the other. And if your pain responded to Pred then it isn't Fibro as steroids have no effect on it - it's the easy way to tell one from the other.

      Please let us know how you get on.

    • escot
      escot Nefret

      Posted

      Dear Nefret,

      This has been my arguement all along, The first Rheumi I saw, was more interested in telling me that she was  retirering and that she could not at that time confirm if I had Fib or PMR so decided that I should wait say 6 -9months, and visit the the rheumi that was taking over. I told my GP that I was not prepared to wait that long and I asked for another opinion and went to see a Neurologist, who did more tests, and she came to the conclusion that I did have PMR and my ESR levels where 32/33 which she considered high(i suppose for me) I think everyone have their own levels,

  • yvonne76152
    yvonne76152 mary238

    Posted

    hello maryy i used to have terrible heartburn acid reflux and bloating its all gone now since i started allo vera drink i get mine fromb ever living products. its an aquired taste and i get the flavoured type. its well worth it to avoid more meds. takes a week or so for your system to get used to it .i take  60 mils on a morning.no more acid. hope this helps

    yvonne

     

    • mary238
      mary238 yvonne76152

      Posted

      Thank you yvnne, i try that. What. I cant unddrstand is how after 2. weeks i feel so much better. I suppose. It is all going to get worse and the dreaded GCA will kick in, I keep waiting for the big headache I heard people get, because I seem to be lucky afte only 2 weeks and fifteen mg a day, even the terrible pains in my legs have gone , i can walk to car and grt out of bed . Do other people improve this quick?
    • blodwyn
      blodwyn mary238

      Posted

      Hi Mary,So glad you're felling so much better.If you are prescribed a high enough dose of Pred it's possible to feel much better quite quickly.As for GCA ,why are you so sure that you will develop it.I haven't and don't expect too now.But if I do i'll deal with it then

      I've tried aloe vera for my digestive problems in the past and believe it can be very beneficial.

      Good luck

    • karenouzo1962
      karenouzo1962 mary238

      Posted

      hi mary i 2 was better after 2 weeks but i alsi had very bad head for a month and because the 20 mil of pred didnt shift my headache my doc dont think its gcd but i still have the bad head so i realy dont no ..my doc thinks its stress lets hope his right 
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