I've seen a pattern here and on  the other group boards about Heart burn and Acid reflux and the ease at which the M.D's seem to prescribe them. I Know because the minute I mentioned it was a problem for me (I'm banded) my Doctor immediately gave me and RX  which I threw away.. WHY? because since being banded I've read alot more about eating healthier (like others) and not eating genetically modified foods, and HOW medications disrupt the natural intestinal flora etc. I'm just posting this as an FYI for ALL  SHARING is EDUCATION and Education is POWER

I'd advise goggling  natural Heartburn remedies, or Heartburn medications and long term risks.. Since I can't attach a link for fear of "SELLING SOMETHING" you'll just have to do a search on your own.

I'm not here to sell anyone anything just here to help others

Does that mean you rather have the stomach acid eat away your esophagus instead of taking a medication that keep you from eroding your esophagus?

 

 

NO  My point is that we are all here because we've needed to Change our habits, My Personal belief is NOT to  treat the symptoms,but to treat the CAUSE again just my humble belief.

 

Heartburn pills taken by millions 'can increase risk of cancer and heart disease'

• Drugs also increase risk of infection and vitamin deficiencies

• Heartburn can make your life a misery. 

  For reasons that may be connected with diet and obesity, the number of sufferers is rising sharply.So it’s not surprising that a class of drug known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that bring instant relief are among the most widely prescribed in the UK - 43 million prescriptions for them were written last year. Probably higher in the U.S. ?

  Taken about an hour before a meal, they block the enzymes that make stomach acid so that you produce only about 10 per cent of normal levels, so when liquid from the stomach backs up into the gullet it doesn’t cause that burning sensation. 

  But lately a dark side to these drugs has been emerging.

•  

  New research suggests that if you take the drugs long term — that’s for more than a year — the risks can include infections, cancer and heart disease and a dangerous deficiency of some vital minerals and vitamins. 

  Recently both the U.S. and UK drug watchdogs have issued new warnings about very low magnesium levels in people taking PPIs long term. 

  Magnesium is vital for building bones, as well as for proper working of nerves and muscles which can go into spasm if they aren’t getting enough. 

  It’s also essential for heart health and helps control blood pressure and blood sugar.

  
  You’re also more likely to suffer falls.Studies have shown having low stomach acid makes it hard for the body to absorb magnesium from food, especially green vegetables, and the result is a range of nasty side-effects including extreme fatigue and weakness, cramps, fits, loss of appetite and an irregular heartbeat. 

   

  Shaw Somers, a gastric specialist from St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, advises: ‘Taking PPIs as a short-term way of dealing with occasional bouts of heartburn flare-up works fine for most patients. 

  'But if you need to take them all the time you are at much greater risk of damaging side-effects. 

  ‘Of course, the drug companies will keep very quiet about this until they are formally required to look into it.’

  And, worryingly, studies have suggested it is very hard to come off PPIs. 

  The symptoms come back with a vengeance, and people once again reach for the pills. 

  In 2009, Danish researchers gave PPIs or a placebo to 120 healthy volunteers and found nearly half of those on the drug developed symptoms of gastric reflux within just two months after they’d stopped taking the drugs, compared with 15 per cent on the placebo. 

  It’s thought that once acid production is no longer suppressed, the body naturally ramps up acid production so heartburn symptoms come back stronger than ever.

  There is more to learn about the effects of PPIs. 

  For now, take them for as short a time as possible and if you have to have them long term, make sure you are checked regularly.

  
  
  
  
   

There are many causes for reflux; overproduction of acid is one, but all causes are treated with acid reducers (PPI).

Lapbands can cause reflux if its too tight, slipped, etc
Lapbands can cause motility disorders, leading to constipation, leading to reflux, inability to keep foods down and a potentially life threatening blockage, even if you have little or no fill. Often PPIs are Rx when acid is not the problem, which exacerbates the problem, since PPIs can slow motility.
Lapbands can cause vagus nerve damage, leading to esophageal spasms, gastric spasms, motility disorders, horrific pain that feels like a heart attack. This is caused by irritation from acid entering the esophagus, where the lining can't tolerate it. It's treated with PPIs and antispasmodics.
Lapbands can cause anxiety due to the constant dealing with all of the above, loss of quality of life and the expense of the medications to treat the above mentioned side effects. Anxiety can cause excess acid production.
PPIs can cause slow gastric emptying leading to further issues. I'm currently weaning myself off PPIs, having reduced my dosage from 3x day to 1x every third day, with no adverse effects.
The drug used to treat my motility disorder has a $90 copay. The side effects are diarrhea, cramping, nausea. Fun times, but I'm going more often than 3x per month.
The ways I'm dealing with the side effects of my band (slow motility):
Low fiber/low residue diet (lots of white, carb loaded foods, no fibrous foods, veggies or fruits)
Drinking with meals to speed gastric emptying
Tiny bites and chew 15-25 times
Many trips to the GI specialist
Drinking Tazo Zen tea with 10-15 drops essential peppermint oil every afternoon. Peppermint oil is a natural antispasmodic. I also add it to my ice water on days I'm having a lot of cramping and discomfort.

I agree that PPIs are over prescribed. This is because we aren't Dx the ROOT CAUSE of reflux and are being treated for overproduction of acid that is needed to digest our food, even if that's not the cause....it's a vicious circle.