Hi Hurdity, great to hear you've noticed such a big improvement.
I can't really add anything to what FrannyB has said, she's given great advice. I agree with having Gaviscon Advance to hand as you wean off the tablets. When you say you've got six to go, is that taking two a day and then nothing? In my experience that's too quick. I'm on a maintenance dose of 15mg lansoprazole which I think is equivalent to 20mg of omeprazole, maybe someone else can confirm this? I can be fine on that dose for weeks and then something will trigger an episode of reflux and it sets me back and I have to up the dose to 30mg again. So really you need to have enough to hand to be able to slowly wean off or to be able to increase the dose if necessary. It's really a trial and error situation unfortunately. I would say if you're noticing alcohol has an affect while you're on the higher dose then it will almost certainly be worse on the lower dose or when you stop it completely, sorry!
I'm having a flare up at the moment but the main symptom isn't so much heartburn, it's more a sore throat and a feeling like it's swollen around my epiglottis which is classic for reflux as well as feeling queasy.
I think you take cod liver oil? You may find this aggravates your heartburn as might oily fish. I can't eat salmon anymore, it triggers reflux and makes me feel very queasy.
Are you due to go back to the GP?
Thanks sparkle.
My dose is 20 mg once daily in the morning so the 6 tabs are now being taken alternate days. The middle day in between I have started getting central sternum twinges even before I eat which is a bit weird? Not so bad today. Tomorrow is tablet day....
Oh no! Don't say that about alcohol! I like a little mini-tipple at the weekends. Just a sherry or a G and T or small glass of wine... I'm going to suffer aren't I if I have it?! You have to have some pleasures in life especially coming to the end of 2020!!!
Soerry to hear about your flare-up. I do get a slightly swollen throat feeling and still a bit hoarse.
I haven't been taking cod-liver-oil ( well-remembered!) yet. I normally take it usually December-ish until about March or so when my Vit D stores in my own liver will have run low. I was in the sun most of the summer and end of Sept and into October when it was hot (I live in SW Engalnd - mild climate) and even now sit outside in the sun for morning coffee even at this time of year so hopefully will still get a bit - but yes that is the main reason I don't like the diea of the PPIs because of inhibition of absorption of vitamins and I get most of mine from my diet. Presumably even taking supplements there can be a problem with absorption due to the PPIs?
I haven't noticed any problem with oily fish although we're not eating that much at this time of year. We don't really eat farmed salmon - just mackerel and trout (caught by my husband!) in the season. Too much fatty food does give me gripes though yes....
GP said if my symptoms come back either while I'm taking it or get worse, or return after I stop - then to go back, otherwise I'm cured (?!). She talked about the healing process as if it was a temporary condition that just needed to get better....
Thanks for your insights and advice.
Hurdity x