I've gone to the ER for an EKG over the gas pain in my chest. I felt like I was having a heart attack. It did not resemble gas at all. I was told to take OTC acid meds for the pain, but to switch up ever so often. Pepcid, then zantac. So on and so forth. I do believe diamox causes this. I felt like I had gerd at one point. I would have pain in bottom of my throat from the acid. Sometimes it would feel like my esophagus was was tightening up. It was not fun!

I would write down any and all things that started after taking diamox. The reason I say this is because we forget after awhile and wonder if it is IIH, or something new wrong with us. At least I did. In the beginning I knew every side effect. After 8 months to a year I didn't know what was wrong with me.

I started my journal late so I was confused.
Also, a journal is good for locating those food triggers.

Back to the acid. I would take zantac 1 week. Then prevacid, then pepcid. It really does work better if you switch them around as needed. It really helped me.

Good luck with the awful acid.
Betty

Oh, thank you Betty! The gas pains are so scary sometimes. I'm glad to know this is somewhat "par for the course". I have been taking prilosec for a couple of days, but it doesn't seem to be helping. I've lost 7 pounds in 3 weeks. That is the silver lining I guess. :)

Yes! Ever since I started taking Diamox I have had terrible indigestion. I have been eating tums like they are going out of style. I have the gas pain too but I think the potassium supplements contribute to that too. I thought it was just me because I have always had minor issues with reflux. My DR said to eat all the tums I want; they are a great source of calcium.

Oh, yes.. I also eat tums. lol =)

JT1973, Yayy for the weight loss!!!
I lost about 70 pounds on diamox in 9 months. Unfortunately, for me, the drug induced anorexia didn't last but the first year. I seriously had to make myself eat. All of the sudden I started gaining weight back. I was suddenly starved all the time. =(

Is it the diamox or are you trying?
I know not everyone has the weight loss with diamox.
Betty

Betty, hmmm, .Have you noticed yet if you are putting on weight since you came off the Diolax? Damm! I am putting on weight, dont know why, but now I think it may have come off with the Diomox. Does that mean I have to start again? In order to keep the weight donw?!Cath.

Yes, Cath, I am gaining some weight.
I have every time I've lowered the diamox. =(

I'm eating better, I'm tons more active. Who knows whats going on. I just want to cry.

Betty

Not trying. I'm sure the first few pounds were just water weight. But, my appetite has decreased a lot. I am forcing myself to eat but I'm eating very small portions. That sucks that coming off the Diamox brings back the weight. Man, PTC is the gift that just keeps giving, huh? Grrrrr...

JT

I did the same. I ate healthy choice meals because the side effects of diamox made me so awfully tired. I also ate baked potatoes, I craved them.
When I lost all that weight, I felt amazing. Like the old me again.
I believe getting it back off will bring the same result, but Gosh it is so hard, now.

Well, I've gained 2 o 3 pounds the last weeks, since I dropped the Diamox, but I've been eating very unhealthy due to the kids...they always want to eat McDonald's, pizza and all the junk of the world. Since we are always on the run, going someplace, coming from someplace, we are forced to eat on the road and that's all they want. I've been away from such places for the past year and half, and now I know how harmful is that kind of food. This is the only thing I will not miss when they go back to their home on September...and until then I'll know if being Diamox-free will not be a problem to keep the weight where I found relief for my PTC symptoms.
But I do remember I lost a lot of weight on the first months of Diamox, although I was also dieting. I kept losing weight when my Diamox dose was lowered to just 125mg a day, so I don't think Diamox was the main factor to lose weight. It was definitely eating healthier.
KrYs

JT: hi! In my case....my heartburn and specially acid reflux issues remained the same with or without Diamox. Not sure that Diamox aggravated them during the year and half I was on it. I started suffering from all that back in 2001 when my gallbladder was removed. I dont think it got worse on 2008 when my PTC was Dx and I was put on Diamox. It's been too little since I'm Diamox-free, but so far I havent noticed any improvement.
KrYs