Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Dandelion22 on July 12, 2024, 10:09:14 AM
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Hi Ladies,
I previously posted following an endoscopy diagnosed with a small stomach ulcer and hiatus hernia being prescribed 30 mg Lanseroprazole. I have persevered with the medication and have cut out wheat and dairy. I believe my ulcer has healed as I no longer have the horrible stomach ache but I still get indigestion, sometimes in the evening and sometimes during the night. I have adjusted my tablets, taking one late evening and one at breakfast and have not had the indigestion during the night for the last few nights, however, I get backache about an hour after eating anything and this is more uncomfortable than the indigestion as I can take Gaviscon for that. The Gaviscon does ease the backache but doesn’t remove it entirely. I am not sure why I have to take gaviscon as well as the ppi but that is what the Dr recommended when I told him I still had the indigestion. He had no idea about the backache. I have another endoscopy at the end of the month so can try to get some answers then. Has anyone else suffered from acid backache and if so how do you treat it?
Thank you x
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I had back pain from acid reflux and trapped gas. Could it be that? I also use gaviscon and omeprazole. They do different things. One reduces the amount of acid produced, the other forms a raft over stomach contents to prevent it refluxing
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Jules, I think it is because when I haven’t eaten for a while or first thing in the morning it is not as bad as after I have eaten. Do you take the gaviscon after meals or just when you need it?
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I take it after food or when i feel acid when I need it, not regularly but I carry it with me in case of reflux. It helps to eat small and more frequently. But because I have to prevent acid reflux I don't eat in the evening.
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Hi
I get backache with indigestion. I also have HH and reflux. The backache is higher up (behind my breasts). If it's bad it also radiates into my shoulder, neck, jaw and ear.
I take lansoprazole as and when needed and also gaviscon daily. I've cut out gluten and most diary and this has helped a little.
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Wheat or dairy don't make a difference to me but high fat foods do, pastry does, gassy drinks definitely and strangely if I eat apple after a meal. Probably because ots acidic. I was advised to avoid fatty and acidic foods and drink and sparkl8ng or gassy drinks. Cutting out alcohol has made a big difference. Fortunately I wasn't a big drinker and don't need it to have a good time so don't miss it
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I don’t think the wheat and dairy is making a difference to me either. I don’t drink or smoke and I have been waking up again during the night for the last few nights with indigestion and then can’t get back to sleep. I take the gaviscon before I go to bed but it seems to only last for 5 or 6 hours and the indigestion starts again. I am not sure the ppi is working for me as i have taken them for nearly 10 weeks and am still producing acid towards the end of the day and into the night. I just don’t know what to do to sort it out.
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Is it indigestion or reflux? I'm not sure gaviscon helps to settle an upset stomach. I perhaps wouldn't take it as a preventative thing if you haven't got symptoms. It doesn't last forever so if you're symptoms start in the night I would take it then unless your doctor has told you differently. What symptoms do you have in the night?
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I am pretty sure it is indigestion. My endoscopy report only mentioned a small stomach ulcer and reactive gastritis but the consultant did say I had a small hiatus hernia during the examination and prescribed 30 mg Lanseroprazole. My symptoms usually start just after I am thinking of going to bed, about 10.30 pm and I take some gaviscon and that usually makes me burp and I go to sleep. I then wake up feeling uncomfortable (almost like I am hungry ) after about 5 hours and sit up for a while hoping it will go away but eventually take some more gaviscon and after about 30 mins it settles down and I go back to sleep. I have tried to raise the bed at one end as that is supposed to help but like most divan beds they come in two parts and so only the top half raises up and I end up with a bad back! I am seriously looking at buying a new bed.
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So you're not getting acid reflux then? No point raising your bed if thats the case. Your symptoms sound like gastritis. I've had spells of that feeling. Hunger pain. It's when your stomach is empty and the acid has no good to digest so is burning at your stomach lining. The acid produces gas too so you'll have that feeling. It can also be triggered by stress. If you're stressed it gets you stomach acid going. So the more you're worrying the more it's aggravating your stomach. It can take a few weeks to heal gastritis. It really is trying out what works. But if you've had your checks, be reassured that all is well and try to relax. I sometimes find a hit water bottle helps, it relaxes my stomach. When I had my endoscopy I was prescribed 20mg omeprazole twice a day for 8 weeks for gastritis then dropped to 20mg a day. But it still wasn't healed after 8 weeks so occasionally I had to take extra obviously with my GP advice.
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I am really not sure what I have, I had assumed I had some reflux as I have acid in my throat when I first get up in the morning but this wasn’t mentioned after my endoscopy. I know I had reactive gastritis because that was mentioned in the report but I don’t drink alcohol or take ibuprofen etc and there was no sign of h pylori so assumed it was acid that caused my ulcer. I am carrying on with the lanseroprazole and will have to see what the endoscopist says in 2 weeks time. Thank you Jules I am going to try eating a little bit of supper tonight to see if that helps as I had stopped eating after 6 pm as recommended for reflux.
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Acid can cause an ulcer. I had one from taking anadin. I didn't realise it has aspirin in. I wouldn't like to advise you but sometimes you've to just try different things. Maybe just a cracker or two. If that causes reflux then stop. I don't eat supper. I've just started having a ryvita though. If your stomach lining is irritated it will cause that empty hungry feeling.
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Hey there! I've been through something similar with acid-related issues and backache after eating. It's soo frustrating, isn't it? I used to spend a lot on health, but now I think it may be worth considering health insurance for future conditions (https://myhealthpal.co.uk/how-does-health-insurance-work/). Regarding your symptoms, it sounds like your PPI (Lansoprazole) might need some adjustment or additional medication like Gaviscon. Hang in there till your endoscopy, it should shed more light. Let's chat more if you need. It's always helpful to share experiences!
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Thanks Minicat, I really don’t think the Lanseroprazole is working for me as the indigestion still happens during the evening and at 3 am every night. The hospital prescribed 30 mg presumably to heal my ulcer and I am sure it has done that so I asked my GP for an alternative ppi and he has prescribed omeprazole to try until my next endoscopy but 80 mg a day. I checked that with the pharmacist and it was correct but I think that is very high so am going to wait until the endoscopy before i do anything. I think the backache is related to the Lanseroprazole as I didn’t have that until a few days after I started it. It is all quite bizarre!
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I'm having problems again. Had a bad and long episode of reflux and then last night woke with what I'd describe as crescendo pain in my stomach, burning that builds up and subsides. I also have a hunger feeling so eat but that aggravates it more. I'm going to up the omeprazole as I've started taking it again. Has anyone else had this?
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I'm having problems again. Had a bad and long episode of reflux and then last night woke with what I'd describe as crescendo pain in my stomach, burning that builds up and subsides. I also have a hunger feeling so eat but that aggravates it more. I'm going to up the omeprazole as I've started taking it again. Has anyone else had this?
Is that rebound acid from temporarily stopping the ppi? Did you wean off or stop suddenly? I was only on mine for less than two months for gastritis but the ppi itself caused rebound reflux (which I'd never had before) when I first tried to stop it. You may need to wean off gradually. Also wondering what time of day you take it? When weaning off I switched to just taking at night so I was comfortable lying down. I found the rebound acid easier to deal with when awake and upright.
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I'm having problems again. Had a bad and long episode of reflux and then last night woke with what I'd describe as crescendo pain in my stomach, burning that builds up and subsides. I also have a hunger feeling so eat but that aggravates it more. I'm going to up the omeprazole as I've started taking it again. Has anyone else had this?
Is that rebound acid from temporarily stopping the ppi? Did you wean off or stop suddenly? I was only on mine for less than two months for gastritis but the ppi itself caused rebound reflux (which I'd never had before) when I first tried to stop it. You may need to wean off gradually. Also wondering what time of day you take it? When weaning off I switched to just taking at night so I was comfortable lying down. I found the rebound acid easier to deal with when awake and upright.
I dont know but yes I did stop suddenly because the consultant and GP said I could do and didnt need to wean off. However Ive started taking them again and have also got a weaker dose which I am going to move onto. The GP said if I get the symptoms again when I stop I may just need the medication. I take my medicine in the morning but I will swap to evening and see if that helps. My stomach has settled just at the moment but Im dreading being woken again with it tonight as Im shattered after last night and it's so painful. It's the sort of pain I had when I had an ulcer.
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Gosh I think that is really poor advice about not weaning off, even just by doing alternate days then every three days etc. Rebound acid is a known thing when stopping these meds so I'd definitely go slowly. If you take one tonight, perhaps also take gaviscon advance right before bed and prop yourself up a bit (I bought a wedge pillow from amazon which did help a bit) and I'd do daily now until the burn goes (so you don't hurt your tummy lining) then try alternating days. Are you on lowest dose available of the ppi? When I was researching how to come off it safely, forum users were talking about breaking open the capsule and taking a small amount out each day so your body gets slowly used to having less. It can be prescribed in capsules, tablets or liquid so perhaps you could ask GP for liquid or capsule if you've been given the tablet form. Even the NHS website says that symptoms may come back if you stop suddenly and if you have been on them a long time then you may need to come off them gradually.
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I was on 20mg daily but I've now been given 10mg to try. I was concerned that I had caused damage to my oesophagus with such a prolonged episode and then obviously to my stomach especially as that's what started the whole saga of referral, tests and diagnosis of disease caused by acid reflux. And to have got the symptoms under control and be told after so long that I don't have that disease afterall it was upsetting to think I may have caused harm. Both the professor and GP told me I could stop. I'd been taken them for about 18 months. Thankfully I have been ok during the night. I took 10mg omeprazole and used gaviscon at bedtime. I'm going to drop as you say gradually and if I need to take them routinely I will as I don't want those symptoms. I've learned through this last 2 years that you can't trust a doctor, they all give different and conflicting info.
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I was on 20mg daily but I've now been given 10mg to try. I was concerned that I had caused damage to my oesophagus with such a prolonged episode and then obviously to my stomach especially as that's what started the whole saga of referral, tests and diagnosis of disease caused by acid reflux. And to have got the symptoms under control and be told after so long that I don't have that disease afterall it was upsetting to think I may have caused harm. Both the professor and GP told me I could stop. I'd been taken them for about 18 months. Thankfully I have been ok during the night. I took 10mg omeprazole and used gaviscon at bedtime. I'm going to drop as you say gradually and if I need to take them routinely I will as I don't want those symptoms. I've learned through this last 2 years that you can't trust a doctor, they all give different and conflicting info.
Oh I'm so glad you were okay during the night. Is your 10mg a capsule? In which case you can reduce very slowly by opening it if you need to, that way you'll get some every night..
I think you've said previously that your diet is good now, so hopefully you'll be okay during the day. I really don't think you've anything to worry about with it coming back for such a short period of time. It takes a long time for damage to build up and lead to cell changes. Plus you are back managing it now so it will hopefully be gone again very soon. From all that I'd read at the time, the body does end up adjusting when you come off the ppi, you just need to manage the interim.
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Okay thanks. I thought capsules were such for a reason though so not sure about opening them. It always tells you not to chew. But I'm going to go slowly. I still feel gas or acid bubbling in my throat but no stomach pain. I can't help but worry with the stuff I was originally told. I don't totally believe everything is normal and I'm hyper alert to any sensation now.
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Sorry you have been suffering again Jules. I stopped taking the Lanseroprazole about 10 days ago and have not had indigestion since. I can feel some acid in my throat in the mornings but Just stopped taking them without tapering off so could be rebound? I took them for 8 weeks. I am still really careful what I eat, I am not sure if the ppi has altered my gut and it may take time to go back to normal. I have my endoscopy on Monday to check my stomach ulcer has healed and have lots of questions for them! My Dad took omeprazole for over 30 yrs and never had an issue but I just don’t think they work for me. I am still concerned my GP prescribed me 80 mg of Omeprazole without me even having a diagnosis so will raise that at my appt as well.
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Sorry you have been suffering again Jules. I stopped taking the Lanseroprazole about 10 days ago and have not had indigestion since. I can feel some acid in my throat in the mornings but Just stopped taking them without tapering off so could be rebound? I took them for 8 weeks. I am still really careful what I eat, I am not sure if the ppi has altered my gut and it may take time to go back to normal. I have my endoscopy on Monday to check my stomach ulcer has healed and have lots of questions for them! My Dad took omeprazole for over 30 yrs and never had an issue but I just don’t think they work for me. I am still concerned my GP prescribed me 80 mg of Omeprazole without me even having a diagnosis so will raise that at my appt as well.
Sorry I hijacked your post. I dont think you should worry about your doctor prescribing the medicine though that seems high. I think it is the go to medication for anybody presenting with gastric symptoms like ours and they usually try those first before they refer. When I had my endoscopy last year and they found gastritis I had to take 20mg twice a day for 8 weeks. I think there are some conditions that a higher dose is appropriate though. I dont think its advised to be on a high dose for much longer than 8 weeks and that is usually sufficient though in my case it took longer. I have been on them much longer than you have so probably have more of an effect stopping plus I do produce a lot of stomach acid anyway. I think the long term risk is osteoporosis which is particularly pertinent to women but my GP said it's negligible. I have learned over the last 2 years that none of the advice doctors give is ever consistent
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Please hijack away! I don’t mind taking the omeprazole if the hospital thinks it is necessary I just think 80 mg a day is very high and he didn’t say how long for. It would really help me if they can tell me what my issue is then I can get on with it. Like you, I feel there is not much consistency in treating this particularly problem. I will let you know what happens on Monday :)
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Please hijack away! I don’t mind taking the omeprazole if the hospital thinks it is necessary I just think 80 mg a day is very high and he didn’t say how long for. It would really help me if they can tell me what my issue is then I can get on with it. Like you, I feel there is not much consistency in treating this particularly problem. I will let you know what happens on Monday :)
My doctor told me my 40mg per day shouldn't be taken for more than 8 weeks and the hospital prescribed for that long too. But as I said it may depend on the problem. My pain appears to have settled. I'm going to take 10mg morning and night for a week then try dropping one of the doses. Everybody I speak to is on omeprazole or similar
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Well, had my follow up endoscopy today. My stomach ulcer has healed but my stomach is full of acid. They didn’t think the Lanseroprazole was causing the indigestion I had suffered and it has reappeared the last couple of days so that is probably the case. I do have very slight erosion on my oesophagus and he thought that might be causing me a bit of an issue so he has recommended me to take just 20 mg of the omeprazole that was prescribed during my last contact with my GP, not the 80 mg that he had prescribed. That is the plan anyway, watch this space:)
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Well, had my follow up endoscopy today. My stomach ulcer has healed but my stomach is full of acid. They didn’t think the Lanseroprazole was causing the indigestion I had suffered and it has reappeared the last couple of days so that is probably the case. I do have very slight erosion on my oesophagus and he thought that might be causing me a bit of an issue so he has recommended me to take just 20 mg of the omeprazole that was prescribed during my last contact with my GP, not the 80 mg that he had prescribed. That is the plan anyway, watch this space:)
He thought it was, or wasn't causing it?
What dod he mean by erosion?
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The erosion is a patch of irritated lining in the oesophagus or stomach but not near to the ulcer stage. I asked him what had caused the stomach ulcer and erosion and he said it would be the acid. When I spoke about stopping the Lanseroprazole and the indigestion disappearing he just said that was very unusual and thought it must have been a coincidence. It was a very big coincidence though!
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The erosion is a patch of irritated lining in the oesophagus or stomach but not near to the ulcer stage. I asked him what had caused the stomach ulcer and erosion and he said it would be the acid. When I spoke about stopping the Lanseroprazole and the indigestion disappearing he just said that was very unusual and thought it must have been a coincidence. It was a very big coincidence though!
Okay thanks. I ask because there was something noted on my endoscopy report that I didn't understand. And when I had a repeat it wasn't mentioned. They mentioned a GOJ nodule probably from chronic acid reflux and that i had esophagitis in addition to Barratts Oesophagus. When I had my second one I had been taking omeprazole for 7 months so it might have addressed some of the inflammation. But because I was then told I don't have Barrett's Oesophagus and I could stop the medication, Ive had some acid symptoms again and feel I may have caused inflammation again or worse and if they looked again they would see something different. Im going to keep taking the omeprazole. I feel the risks from not taking it outweigh the risks from taking it long term. Isnt it difficult to decipher the facts from what we are told and it's hard to still feel some uncertainty after all your tests are complete and you are discharged
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Hi I’m jumping on this thread to.
I’ve been having problems with my stomach lately too, as some of you ladies may remember I have ms and have had a lot of stress and anxiety lately too with my cat of 15 years dying of cancer and my mum passing away in the same month.
I’ve been having some of these problems beforehand but now worse because of stress I’m currently taking 30mg of Lansoprazole twice a day, but reducing to 1 each morning from today, sometimes I get stomach pain after I take the medication does anyone else get this? I still quite often get indigestion after eating too and like some of you have to take indigestion liquid as well. I’m awaiting appointment for endoscopy my doctor doesn’t think it’s anything serious so I’m not on urgent list. How was your endoscopy Dandilion22? Were you sedated? I’ve not had one for about 7 years and am already starting to panic.
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I don't get pain with the medication but do if I stop taking it. I was also initially referred as a non urgent because I didn't meet criteria for urgent eg, no blood, no weight loss, no trouble swallowing but I was so worried I paid to see someone whilst I was waiting. I had sedation with both that I had last year. I was ok. Don't remember much about it. It has an amnesiac in it.
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You have put my mind at rest, coincidentally after I posted I had an appointment letter through for the endoscopy it’s on 21st of August.
What I hate is the fact that as soon as I’m hungry I get the indigestion, it’s a pain trying to figure out what to eat all the time.
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I think that hunger feeling is acid or it can be gastritis. I get it, I feel hungry and as though food will ease it so eat and it just aggravates it more. Three weeks then?
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Hi Smokey, I know what you mean about getting indigestion just as you are about to eat I was having mine just before my evening meal and during the night too. My endoscopist said it was acid as the stomach is getting ready to eat so maybe try to eat a little snack between meals? I had a stomach ulcer so when I ate it irritated it and also when I was hungry there was nothing to protect the ulcer from the acid but the Lanseroprazole helped with that after a matter of days. Like Jules said it could be gastritis as that was what I was diagnosed with at my first exam ad that was caused by too much acid. I just had the throat spray both times for my endoscopies, the team were so lovely I asked if I could have the same ones and they booked me for my follow up with them. The worst bit is the spray, it really is awful! I just closed my eyes and let them get on with it but I seemed to be the only one opting for that as everyone else seemed to have taken the sedation. I have switched to omeprazole 20 mg to see if that works better for controlling my acid as the Lanseroprazole seemed to stop working after a few weeks.
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They give you the throat spray even if you have sedation. I don't find that too bad. I couldn't manage without sedation. I've a terrible gag reflex and I'd panic
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Yes appointment is in three weeks t8me thinking back I think I had throat spray and a anaesthetic and just remember them putting the mouth piece in and to swallow and then woke up so didn’t remember anything thankfully.
It just makes me nervous as I’ve had swallowing problems with my MS before I get so nervous with any appointment, I’m waiting for a follow up letter to confirm, does anyone know if you have to avoid eating beforehand?
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Yes, you can’t eat 6 hours before the appt and can have sips of water up to 2 hours before. They usually send the information to you with your appt confirmation. I think if you are apprehensive and have problems swallowing it may be better to have the sedation.
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Thanks. I did wonder about food. I will ask for everything available.
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Just a bit more help please on my acid indigestion journey! I have taken the 20 mg omeprazole every day for just over two weeks and have not had indigestion since but after one week I started to experience diarrhoea. It happens within about 2 hours of me eating anything. I know this is a known side effect of taking a ppi and it does say that it will go away when you stop taking the medicine but I can’t continue with this indefinitely. Has anyone else who takes a ppi experienced this at all?
Thank you
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I take a probiotic every day to balance things out and they work well for me. As you say diarrhoea is a side effect of PPI's and controlling what you eat is important and that means having a fat free diet, PPI's hate fat it seems.
When I started to take probiotics it did settle things down with not so many frequent visits to the loo, except when I pig out on chocolates which is now a rarity these days.
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Thanks Ayesha, do you use any particular probiotic?
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I use Nu U Bio-Cultures Complex, I find this brand the one that suits me the best.
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Hi Ayesha, I have ordered some probiotics, did you find they helped settle the diarrhoea down from taking the ppi? I stopped the omeprazole last week and have not had the diarrhoea since but am starting to get the indigestion again so think I need to take them.
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It definitely made a difference by calming things down. I am on omeprazole long term and used to get bad diarrhoea but not anymore.
Its also down to what I eat, I refuse to give up chocolate but if I eat too much I am on the loo most of the next day but not with diarrhoea just very loose.
I would never give up on the probiotics, they definitely help when having to take a PPI in my experience.
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Hi Ayesha,
Just an update as I have been on the probiotics you recommended for a while now and I am so much better. I have managed to wean myself off the ppi and feel like my old self! I know some people have to take the ppi but my endoscopist thought that once the stomach ulcer had healed I could taper them off and have been ok. If I need to take them again in the future hopefully the probiotics will help as I am continuing to take them. Thank you for your help it was so much appreciated.