Weird Side Effects
Posted , 2 users are following.
I've been on some form of PPI since about 2000. First it was Omeprazol, then Lansoprazole and now it's Dexilant.
The side effects are my breathing, kidneys and abdominal swelling. Specifically, my stomach gets 'distended' when I eat and this makes it hard for me to breath. This makes me really tired and makes exercise difficult. The respirologist (2nd one) is hung up on the breathing of course and has ignored the eating part of this issue. This 'fullness' seems to wax/wane a bit, but some days I don't want to eat at all.
So I was at the hospital the other day so the new respirologist could run some basic tests, that the first respirologist never did. My blood gas results were crappy, so they're hung up on the heart now. But they also ran a bunch of blood tests that I can access online.
Two tests that always come up out of range are MCV (High), RDW (High) and I have to take Iron or my Ferritin falls out of the sky. B12 is OK because I supplement, not sure about Folate.
So I started doing some reading about PPI side effects and surprise abdominal distension is on of the side effects, especially in the upper right quadrant. My right hemi-diaphragm is displaced, which they can't explain, but they assume it is reducing lung volume. But it makes sense that this is part of the distention issue?
I also have Kidney issues, which they have no idea about. Urology says it's a nephrology problem and vice versa. LOL.
So, I was thinking of switching back to 40mg Omeprazole and trying to drop down to 20mg over time. Any thoughts?
0 likes, 2 replies
SassBox1 Plain_Bill
Posted
My thoughts are that PPIs are only for short term use. Most doctors don't really want them to be used for more than a month or two at best. But 18 years?!!!
There's something very wrong with a system that puts a person on PPIs for 18 years and just lets it drag on with all kinds of problems popping up and you are still struggling. This is so unfair and if I were you I'd beat a path to the docs door and tell him or her it's simply not good enough.
You are a long term chronic case and if I were a doctor you'd go to the top of my list for more tests or surgery if necessary. 18 years is far too long struggling with this bs.
Plain_Bill SassBox1
Posted
Yeah I have a hiatus hernia, so they put me on these lovely pills, rather than repair it.
I've changed doctors several times and this one is a joy compared to the last B. Even most of the specialist are useless; they really have no clue and just latch onto a convenient issue and make it fit your symptoms. At least the new Respirologist is running tests and not trying to blame the breathing issues on my AS. Not sure he's on the right path yet, but he's made more progress in 2 months than the last guy did in two years.