Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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achymom 02/08/2011

Have any of you had really bad heartburn? I'm pretty much incapacitated with this, since Thurs last week. My docs are all in disagreement over treatment, my rheumy said pantaloc was fine, but GP says not to take proton pump inhibitors (pantaloc, prevacid, nexus). In any case, I'm on one anyways and going in for a scope on Thursday because I can't eat without pretty significant pain.

I'm on injected MTX so I don't think that's to blame. I'm wondering about the plaque nil and folic acid. I take my 2 pills after dinner.

Anyone have any experiencevwith this?

Thanks, achy mom.

deleted_user 02/08/2011

I have really bad acid/bile reflux, and my gi just put me on a proton pump inhibitor, but my stomach feels worse? Why won't they let you take them? I'm living on Rolaids, but I see my Rheumy tomorrow, I'll ask him and get back to you. God Bless!

deleted_user 02/08/2011

Try either ginger root capsules or pickled ginger (like the kind you eat on sushi)...Hope it helps,

achymom 02/08/2011

There are some studies saying your body can't eliminate the mtx well when on PPIs. From what I can find online it seems to be with high dose mtx, but I'm definitely not a doc so don't know for sure.

deleted_user 02/08/2011

I've taken a PPI for many years now (long before RA) but have had problems with severe GERD for a while. Then lost a ton of weight - still had the reflux. I take MANY meds....but still take a PPI. I can't understand why they would tell you NOT to take it!! My GI doc says they are safe to stay on long term...hope so, every time I try to stop them, it's so much worse!!!

Also achymom, if your reflux is caused by H Pylori - that's a bacteria - they can blood test for it, or scope you and biopsy (more accurate) It's treated with antibiotics - and a PPI!!!!

smith101 02/08/2011

Hey achymom,

I was scoped and they found nothing. They put me on a PPI and it did absolutely nothing for me. I was on injectable MTX but stopped it because even with injecting it and a high dose of folic acid I was still vomiting the day after. Needless to say when I stopped the MTX the heartburn and vomiting went away.

Hope they find something that works for you and you can stay on the MTX especially if your joints are feeling good!

deleted_user 02/09/2011

Good question! I had TERRIBLE heartburn after the oral Methotrexate, so much so that I stopped taking it altogether...that was several years ago. For the past six months I have been taking the injectable variety, and I have been doing OK with that, but my rheumy said because the drugs are systemic, you can still have nausea and heartburn with them. I take Omeprazole (Prilosec) daily. I also take Folic Acid...do fine with that. The Plaquinil never gave me issues. I've had a scope done in the past year....

achymom 02/10/2011

After being scoped and having ultrasounds I've got 7 canker sores in my esophagus. Yuck. So they have me on double dose of the PPIs, tylenol 3 and Maloxx. Hope it settles soon. Not sure if it's due to the drugs, so will follow up with my rheumy. For now I'm skipping a few days of plaquenil, and will play it by ear on Sunday for the next mtx shot.

Jwilliamson - the gaviscon/maalox did a lot more than tums.

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