Last year, in an effort to break the strangle hold omeprazole had on me, I switched to famotidine (pepcid) because I'd heard it's much easier to get off of than omeprazole. The switch from omeprazole to famotidine was painful to say the least but I toughed it out and dreaded the next step when I actually quit famotidine. I took my last famotidine about nine or ten days ago and I have to say, it has been a walk in the park compared to the first switch. I've been eating smaller meals and eating a little more often. I'm using tums and the icebreakers peppermint gum when the acid starts and they both work great. I alternate the two a few hours apart and use both about twice a day and supplementing with k2 to counteract calcium accumulation. I know tums has it's own issues but I'm just using it as a crutch until I get back to normal but I'm over the moon with how well this is going and how easy it has been. I'd tried to get off omeprazole so many times but I'd cave because the rebound acid was so bad.
My son was my inspiration. He quit Omeprazole cold turkey a few months back. His acid reflux was even worse than mine and over the years, he'd put about 60 extra pounds on his large frame but since he'd started out so underweight, it's not as bad as it sounds. He completely changed his diet to battle the reflux so I'm doing a little of that too. The change in him is huge...he's in a better mood. His ankle swelling is completely gone and even his face has changed. He looks like he did in his twenties and he has started walking and running a few miles every day.
The best news for me is my blood pressure and I'm praying this lasts. It hasn't been this low since I started taking omeprazole...strange how I never connected the two. I'm still taking a fluid pill ever day but if this lasts, I'll be able to quit that too. This is the third day it's been this low so I'm cautiously optimistic. I've also lost about 6 pounds. If my face loses the puffiness like DS's has, I will be a very happy camper.
My son was my inspiration. He quit Omeprazole cold turkey a few months back. His acid reflux was even worse than mine and over the years, he'd put about 60 extra pounds on his large frame but since he'd started out so underweight, it's not as bad as it sounds. He completely changed his diet to battle the reflux so I'm doing a little of that too. The change in him is huge...he's in a better mood. His ankle swelling is completely gone and even his face has changed. He looks like he did in his twenties and he has started walking and running a few miles every day.
The best news for me is my blood pressure and I'm praying this lasts. It hasn't been this low since I started taking omeprazole...strange how I never connected the two. I'm still taking a fluid pill ever day but if this lasts, I'll be able to quit that too. This is the third day it's been this low so I'm cautiously optimistic. I've also lost about 6 pounds. If my face loses the puffiness like DS's has, I will be a very happy camper.
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