|
I want to share a concern regarding GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) medications. It is also important to point out that I am not a medical doctor and speak only from prolonged experience with a drug known as a proton pump inhibitor. My problem began in 2008. I say that it began then but it actually can be traced back into the 1970s when I first began to experience an occasional acid reflux attack. But it was in 2008 when the difficulty snowballed into a cancer scare. On the evening after eating some greasy barbecued ribs I began to have severe pain in my abdomen. This was the second time that I had experienced such agonizing pain so I was reasonably certain that this was another gall bladder attack. My wife rushed me to the ER where they began a battery of tests that confirmed my gall bladder was indeed the culprit. Since the attack came on a Saturday there was not a doctor available to perform the operation until Monday. By mid-week I was back home and the following week I was well enough to return to work. Soon after, I received a letter from the hospital noting that in one of my x-rays they had discovered a suspicious spot at the base of my esophagus. Another round of tests resulted in an appointment with a gastrointestinal specialist at UAB’s Kirkland Clinic. In the 4 months that followed I was exposed to just about every possible test. Each test came back with the same result that indeed I did have cancer. However, the diagnosis was still questionable because each of 3 biopsies came back negative. Finally my doctor told me that he had been working with cancer patients for many years and his gut told him that I was not one of them. It was at that point that he wrote a prescription for proton pump inhibitor and sent me home. The drug, known as the purple pill, is a last resort drug prescribed by physicians for chronic heartburn. This type of drug diminishes the production of stomach acid and stops reflux. It takes a few days for it to begin to work its magic but it is very effective in putting an end to reflux. It never occurred to me when the drug was prescribed that I was getting myself into a lifetime dependency situation. Whenever I missed a few days of taking the drug my heartburn symptoms came back with a vengeance. Late in 2010 I decided to quit my job and elevate my home business to a full-time enterprise. It was something that I had wanted to do for some time but I put it off due to concerns over insurance benefits. Not yet in a position to purchase insurance I decided to go without it for awhile. I had lost 40 pounds and was feeling good about my chances of going it without insurance. My only existing concern was paying for my only prescription medication, the purple pill. The time for my monthly refill finally arrived. Off to the drugstore I went just like always. My co-pay had been $35 but this time the bill was a staggering $200+. I hesitated for a moment, considered how we needed to pinch pennies, and opted out of the purchase. If there was a time to break my dependency on heartburn medications this was it. The first couple of days weren’t bad but on the 3rd day I began to experience “withdrawal.” My stomach hurt, my head ached, and there was a growing pressure behind my breastbone that made it difficult to breathe normally. I recall lying awake one night wondering if I would survive until morning. I was careful not to eat anything that would trigger a reflux attack. To aid in digestion I increased the raw fruits and vegetables in my diet. Also important was not eating 3 hours prior to bedtime. The battle lasted three weeks and finally the symptoms disappeared. No more heartburn, no more pain, and no more drugs. I have heard that prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors can cause cancer. If that is true I am uncertain. But one thing I do know is that you can become dependent on these pharmaceuticals and other similar GERD medications. To break free requires an enormous effort. I don’t regret taking the drug because it helped me at a time in my life when I really needed it. But, like we learned when we were kids, it is best to “just say no” to drugs. When you become dependent on prescription drugs you relinquish control of your life. To win the battle against severe heartburn and reflux you can take back control of your life by adopting a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and good nutrition. Richard Weirich co-hosts the internationally popular Health at Last Radio and has written numerous publications on heartburn, acid reflux, weight loss, health, and wellness. For more articles on heartburn, GERD,and acid reflux click here and you can also visit the author's website here.
Related Articles -
gerd medications, gerd, acid reflux, heartburn,
| 
