I wonder if anyone out there is suffering from severe esophogeal reflux which is getting worse from all the abx I'm taking. I've had this condition before LYme, even had surgery for it, and it was o.k. for two years. It's just flared up again big time and the esophegus doc wants to do a a very difficult test which lasts a few days to see about the reflux. I am very concerned about the Lyme in case I have to stop abx. I am even worried that taking vitamins will make it worse. I'm going to see my LLMD in a few days, but I'm having a real hard time with both the Lyme and the severe reflux problem. My meds for the reflux is not working well. Does anyone else have such a problem, and how are you dealing with Lyme and the abx? It feels like I'm slipping Lymehead
-------------------- RI Posts: 440 | From New York | Registered: Sep 2005
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char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time.
Digestive trouble is such a problem.
My teen daughter with lyme had her gall bladder out last yr. She has acid reflux and abdominal pain after eating. These symptoms are improving over time with the abx. Sounds like yours are more severe...
My daughter has been on IV abx since December. Main reason is that she is not able to stomach (ha) the orals.
I am taking IM bicillin but an also taking ketek and mepron in addition. I don't want to stop the orals because I think I am finally seeing some improvement in the brain fog and some symptoms. It scares me that my other medical problems can interfere with any improvement in Lyme. My reflux is very severe- that in itself is enough of a health problem. CHronic Lyme on top of that scares me.
Thanks because I do need the support.
Lymehead
-------------------- RI Posts: 440 | From New York | Registered: Sep 2005
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Many of us have the same problem. The meds are just too much sometimes. I had the test I think you are talking about with the tube stuffed down your nose to measure pH above your esophagus, to measure reflux, it was AWFUL having that tube there. It doesnt really prove a damn thing either, you know you have reflux, so the test just proves it, yippie. Did you have surgery for the reflux, the Nissen procedure?
What helps sometimes is carafate and zantac, carafate coats the lining of the stomach. Docs will want you on Nexium, prevacid or another one, I found them usless, the reflux continued regardless. Sometimes its best to take a break from the meds and let your guts heal up. Be nice to them, no hard stuff, soda, dairy, fatty grease etc. Hope that helps!
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I appreciate your response. Yes, I did have the Nissan surgery while I was already sick with Lyme but before I was diagnosed. (It took a year until dgx. I don't know how successful the surgery was. Interestingly, I have been on abx for two years since the Lyme dgx and my esophegus was fine-with nexium- but recently I took some iron pills which triggered this whole esophegus problem since. I think your talking about the PH probe test. The esophegus doc gave me that option, or another test that he sticks something down my esophegus and leaves it there for five to seven days without any antiacid meds. I really don't want to go off antibiotics bec. I think I'm finally feeling some relief from my symptoms and just coming out of a bad herx from IM injections and ketek. I don't want a relapse now-especially bec. there are lots of important things going on in my life. What would you do? Lymehead
-------------------- RI Posts: 440 | From New York | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Carafate can be helpful as Wild says but be cautious about long term use as it is high in aluminum. Most docs will tell you it isn't absorbed but if you do a medline search on "carafate aluminum absorption" you will find out differently.
I had to stop abx due to damage to my GI tract. I am now slowly but successfully healing my gut and am amazed at how many symptoms were indirectly gut related.
Aloe and DGL can be helpful though not a cure. Are you controlling yeast?
Sounds like you have a severe case. Good luck to you.
Posts: 539 | From NW Arkansas | Registered: May 2003
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posted
My lime initially started with Gi refux issue about 16 months before diagnosed with lyme. There was on point where none of the gi meds would touch the acid in my gut. I had about a 3 week period of that extreme stuff then it faded to where previcid worked. One of my co-infexctions is Bart. Bart has been know to hit the gi area. I have been parially treated for bart a number of months back and my gi issues went away to the point where I don't have to take any meds for reflux. But it does flair up with some of the ABX now, like the hard ones, tini, ceftin. So I would really take a look to see if you have a co-infection of bart. Art testing is also good to double check if your blood test show up neg of this. Biofeed back is also good. My test are now neg but it still show up with art testing and biofeed but it is on the low level.
Posts: 582 | From milwaukee wi | Registered: May 2005
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Hi Talktel:
I also have GI issues and am pulsing(taking some time off to let my stomach heal.)You said you did't want to take time off and I can understand this
When you take your ketek are you sitting up vertical at least two hours.If not this can cause reflux burn.
Sometimes I doze reclining up in bed up when I get too tired to sit up.And also not lying down after a meal helps too.But you probly already know this.
I have to stay away oil of oregano as this gives me big time reflux burn.Spicy & greasy foods.
And the big helper is now I down my orals with 10 oz's of water min.
I took super critical omega 7 by new chapter for several months to help heal my stomach..I think this helped also.
But the short of it is abx are hard on my our GI system no matter what.But some things do help to some extent.
Take care
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
I think you can do the test, get it checked out esp. since you have had surgery there. Avoiding coffee, soda, etc really helps, as does elevating your head of the bed. the pH probe test I had, and also the one that measures muscle contractions in the esophagus. It was all from the antibiotics, that and h.pylori, you may want to get checked for h.pylori and do the breath test, maybe have then biospy your stomach thru endoscope and check it out....got me thinking, how do they get the endoscope down there to look when the stomach is wrapped (Nissen) interesting!
Well, I think a break from antibiotics would be fine, maybe you can go on Bicillin injections that way you would bipass the stomach and allow it time to heal. Did you get the trouble burping or swallowing after the Nissen?
The carafate may help in the meantime, or some Zantax 150 mg (2) twice a day thats 300 mg 2x a day is Rx strength. Good Luck!!! Let us know how you are doing!!
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Just wanted to say that I'm doing most everything that you all suggested. I am pulsing ketek (five days on two days off) I'm trying to watch my diet, I upped my antacid meds to nexium plus axid (something I had from my old doc.) I am also on IM bicillin shots besides the ketek and mepron. Yes, I do have bart and babs and erlichiosis besides Lyme. I'm supposedly being treated for all of that. I still don't want to interrupt my ketek because I have to get better. (hopefully) The last thing I expected was for my esophagus problems to recur, especially after having had surgery for it. (The reflux feels feels like there's a stone in there instead of an esopagus.) Today my esophagus is a little better, but I'm really concerned that it will go haywire. Do I dare to take the vitamins that the LLMD gave me-or do I "save" my esophagus for the abx meds. Thanks for your good words. I just wonder if I can survive all this. Lymehead
-------------------- RI Posts: 440 | From New York | Registered: Sep 2005
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char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
Talktel-
I know what you mean about being afraid to take the vitamins. I didn't give my daughter her supplements until just recently because her stomach was so bad and I hated to do anything else besides abx that would throw her off.
Sorry to hear you have all these co-infections. Hope you get some relief with reflux and continue to improve.
Good luck with your kamakazi taking these antibiotics no matter what!
posted
I had gerd a long time before lyme. I found in addition to GI meds- peppermint tea( oil of peppermint) helps with indigestion and also if you can find a very old fashion drugstore or homeopathic one- coke syrup ( coca cola syrup- about a 2 oz bottle) maybe that would be of help to you. Keep head of bed elevated, watch time interval between meds and ask doc too about possible drug interactions..... Hope that you feel better..... Posts: 719 | From Delaware | Registered: Jan 2006
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