Let me just add that I went to ER on Sat. The doctor ordered a CT scan for kidney infection but that came back clear. And there were no other abnormalities detected in my abdomen.

You do know that when you take antibiotics, you should take probiotics? To prevent exactly this kind of thing from happening?

PPIs have bad side-effects. If you're newly on PPI, dump the PPI and switch to Pepcid 20mg every 12 hours. If that doesn't work well enough, make it 8 hours.

Eat farmer's cheese(TVOROG). Try kefir as well. Take PepZin GI.

Technically kefir is a direct milk byproduct and it can aggravate the stomach acid but it's got a ton of probiotics and it's worth the risk to try it a few times.

Hi, thanks for replying. I didn't know about the probiotics while on antibiotics part. I was prescribed probiotics by another doctor which I didn't take regularly, till the gastric pain came about.

I'm on Omperazole, that is a PPI yes? I was also prescribed Zantac (ranitidine) by another doctor. Would that be better than the PPI? I think Zantac and Pepcid are more or less the same?

I have ordered PepZin GI since reading your previous posts on how well it works. Sadly, it's not here yet, will probably take a week to reach me here.

Btw, just wondering if this sounds like an ulcer or is it just normal gastritis? I know I should probably go for a scope to find that out, but the appointment's 7 weeks from now.

It doesn't matter if it's an ulcer or "normal" gastritis. The treatment is the same, just more severe and will take longer. Your stomach will unmistakably tell you whether you're going in the right direction.

If you just started on Omeprazole, you may still be able to switch to Pepcid before it's too late. Later on switching meds becomes difficult.

Omeprazole is a 1st-generation PPI. PPIs are more effective than H2 blockers, but their effectiveness at their job also makes them dangerous. They suppress all of stomach acid, leaving practically nothing to defend the stomach lining from opportunistic infection. As result they contribute to development of new food allergies, and their impact on B12 absorption is stronger than that of H2 blockers.

Zantac is a 2nd generation H2 blocker. It has very few interactions. Pepcid is a 3rd generation H2 blocker - it's the perfection of that technology. It has practically no interactions, and doesn't do anything in the liver.

H2 blockers suppress about 70% of stomach acid, leaving some sloshing around to maintain a proper environment.

Pepcid 20mg roughly equals Zantac 150mg.

Fun fact: Zantac has been used by Asians to allow them to drink alcohol, because of its liver enzyme interaction side-effect. Pepcid does not work the same way because it's cleaner.

All in all, if you can't find Pepcid, Zantac is OK for long-term consumption. It's "clean enough", and still much better than a PPI for your health.

P.S. However Pepcid may be better for tapering off. Studies suggest it has a less severe acid rebound effect than Zantac.

Ok so the Zantac should be taken the same way as Omeprazole? One in the morning before breakfast and one in the evening before dinner?
I'm on day 4 of Omeprazole hope that's not too late to switch. And when my PepZin GI arrives I should just drop the Zantac?

Do not change your medication without speaking to your Doctor first. I followed "helpful" advice like this 3 years ago - I refused to take a ppi & insisted on ranitidine instead because I was so scared of ppi side effects.

My Dr reluctantly agreed, but even at highest dose the ranitidine did not provide enough acid suppression for me & my symptoms gradually worsened. I was heartbroken having to go on a ppi (several months later), but it was sooooo much better for me. Also it is important to get the right ppi, omeprazole was least effective for me, lansoprazole was better & oesomeprazole (Nexium) was best of all.

Be careful with kefir - it is acidic (pH 4 to 5). You'll know if it hurts your stomach.

Everything Shihonage says is true & I really respect people like that who really knows their facts. If you take their advice & it all works out then that is great. However myself - as someone who took very similar advice 3 years ago - against the wishes of my Doctor & Gastroenterologist - I'm just advising caution.
PPIs do have issues & side-effects, but they are also the best acid suppressor out there. Because my issue was excess acid & H pylori that caused duodenitis/duodenal ulceration & chronic antral gastritis I need a good acid suppressor. People with other types of gastritis or gastric ulcers rather than duodenal ulcers may not need the level of acid suppression that I do.

Pepzin GI can be taken in conjunction with ppi or ranitidine.

You need to get that endoscopy done ASAP.

Diet wise - make sure you're sticking to a bland, low-acid diet.

@Yasz: On day 4 it's not too late to switch. However you can't do it blindly.

You have to start with standard dose, which is Zantac 150mg every 12 hours (preferably one of the doses being taken before bed).

However if you start feeling burning a few hours before the time comes to take the next pill, you should modify the interval to 8 hours, i.e. 450mg of Zantac overall during 24-hour period.

Listen to your stomach. And if Zantac isn't working too well, try Pepcid.

Pepcid's max dose (80mg per 24 hours) is safer than Zantac's (600mg per 24 hours).

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@smilelikeyoumeanit: The H2 blocker has always to be attempted first. If it isn't sufficient, the PPI is next. Also, where Zantac isn't effective, Pepcid may be more effective, and vice versa.

The mistake doctors make is putting people on PPIs immediately at the very start of mildest problems.

Many of these people DON'T EVEN NEED TO BE ON ANYTHING except PepZin GI and/or Mastic Gum. They're just having minor issues. Then they aggravate their acid rebound by suppressing acid, and start down the chain of nightmares.

If I knew about PepZin GI and Gastromend/Mastic Gum in the very beginning, I would be completely healed by now. I wouldn't have let the problem degrade to the point where I had to be on acid suppressors, at all.

Wow, thank you for this! I was just about to drop my PPI for the Ranitidine before bedtime later. I was actually only given 14 days worth of Omeprazole. So if that finishes should I expect any side effects or is 14 days ok for stopping medication?
What I can say is the past 2 days my stomach has felt better, no gnawing pain except in the morning upon waking up. And I've been really eating well and restricting myself from caffeine and stuff.
The ER doctor said mine isn't too serious of an issue to need a scope done urgently. According to the CT scan he saw there wasn't any inflammation or swelling of the stomach.

@shihonage Actually your advice is rather similar to my other GP's. She mentioned that I needn't take the PPI and that Zantac should be just fine for me. But ER pushed me to take the PPI, Omperazole. While I was there they also administered Lansoprazole (i think?) via IV. Anyways I'm not sure if Pepcid is available here, gotta wait till Monday to see my GP for this.
Ok so what I'll try is this. I'll take the Zantac instead just before bedtime and see if this would work. If I feel fine then I'll just carry on with Zantac. But the thing about Zantac is, it makes me want to fall asleep.

@Shihonage - I had to smile (sadly) when I read "...If I knew about... I would be completely healed by now. I wouldn't have let the problem degrade to the point where I had to be on acid suppressors, at all..."

In my case I strongly believe that if I'd just taken the PPIs in the beginning like I was supposed to... then I'd probably have avoided ulcers etc & be healed (& off PPIs by now)! Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

@Yasz If you get good results on the Zantac or Pepcid - that's great, but do not ignore or tolerate any signs of your symptoms worsening. You might be be lucky & have caught your problem in the early stages & it is much easier to repair a little damage, than repair full-blown gastritis & ulceration.

@smilelikeyoumeanit: Thanks for yr advice and concern. I took Zantac before bedtime, slight discomfort but woke up feeling "normal" like the day before, with a bit of pain in my stomach. Took another one this morning before breakfast and will see the outcome this afternoon. If I'm feelinng too crappy I'll probably take the PPI later.