Wrapping Prilosec

[Guest guest]

I've mentioned this before about a thousand posts ago, but after

reading the last few posts will focus in on what I had said before.

I had open Heller in 1991 with wrap (assuming a full wrap. Since I

slept thru the surgery I just don't know for sure). Over the

succeeding years the spasms got so painful and frequent I asked my

gastroenterologist for help. He put me on Prilosec, which I continued

for over a year. I did not have one spasm during that time, and

after I discontinued the Prilo the spasms took many months before

returning.

Now for the thought provoking questions. Prilosec is a PPI (a proton

pump inhibitor), whatever that is. The effect of it is to pump the

acid out of the stomach much faster. What the downside of that long

term is: speculative to factual (bottom line: more cancer down the

road). Now if my esophageal spasms were not heartburn or acid

reflux, what is it about the prilosec that gave me so much relief?

The wrap prevented acids from coming up. The Prilosec pumps it out

faster. Could the acids have sent a signal from the stomach to the

esophagus to activate the spasms? .....Beats me! I have no answer.

The Prilosec worked perfectly for me. I stopped using it after

reading that long term effects of taking it may not make it worth

taking. Now, like others of us, I use the " home grown, " or doctor

recommended means of dealing with the spasms. For newbies, the most

effective ways to stop spasms is to use your preferred method the

moment you feel it coming on, even before the pain starts if you have

an " early warning system " like some of us do. For me its either Diet

Coke ( " yech " to some), and then nifedipine (Procardia), (some people

have side effects since it also lowers blood pressure), under the

tongue. Sometimes eating almost any food can stop it too.

>

> I had a wrap done on my first surgery that was done in 2003. When

I went in

> for my second surgery the surgeon took down the wrap because it was

one of

> the contributing factors in giving me so many problems. Like pain

and not

> being able to get food and drink down. He did not replace the wrap

and

> prescribed the prilosec. I have had dilation's and botox prior to

my first surgery.

> I have only had one manomitry though. So I do not know if my

readings were

> so distinct or what but I have not ever had another one sense

1995. Looking

> back at things I think I have been dealing with this disease for

about 18

> years. Having the information I have now I would do things

differently and I

> would have opted for the surgery right off the bat. I have an

appointment on the

> third of next month with my GP and I have several question

concerning that

> medication and some odd pains I have had sense my surgery.

>

> in Suffolk

>