The medication I take is pantoprazole once a day usually a half hour before bedtime cuz that's when it bothers me the most

Hi Judy. I am also 63 yrs, found to have GERD in 2014. I also take the PPI: Pantoprazole or Protonix 40 mg daily. I am also worried about taking this pill but after doing research, there isn’t any bad thing out there on only taking 40 mg/day. Prilosec is different and know about the lawsuits, etc. I was placed on PPI’s and tried them all and settled on Pantoprazole since 2018. I tried an alternative from Terra Health Essentials, just Google them. The idea is to get your acid to work overtime such that the valve closes. The theory is that as we get older, we naturally lose our ability to make acid—so, the valve stays open. If acid is boosted, the thinking is that your body will acclimate and the valve will close. My problem is that after several months of trial, my valve never closed and extreme acid/heartburn occurred and was continually bad. Terra Health personnel coached me over the phone to hang in there— takes some time, but I was experiencing extreme swallowing issues where I would be eating a hamburger at a restaurant and a single swallow was extremely painful and slow going down. Nightmare. I kept experiencing this for awhile until I got back on Pantoprazole. So, swallowing issues are now my main threat as to why I take Pantoprazole. I explained all to my new Gastroenterologist here in The Villages, FL (Retired in 2020). He says to not worry about Pantoprazole at 40 mg/day. I was most worried about not having enough acid to break down food…he said 40 mg doesn’t have any history of issues. More than one per day is bad. You can relax about that. Sorry to hear about your partner.

As I clear my throat alot—do you have that issue? I think my mucous coats my throat/esphogous naturally in order to protect my esphogus from acid….I want to ask my gastro this.

No I don't have swallowing issues or throat type issues just the severe heartburn mostly when I'm laying down or bend over a lot but other times just drinking water even can bring it on it's wierd . I've tried cutting out the root beer I drink it didn't help they say eating choc can cause heartburn to but I just refuse to give it up if you can't have choc what's the point in living lol. Anyways I've cut out spicey foods for the most part. I've tried eating more saucer krout thinking I need more acids but even that didn't help just gave me heart burn worse is all. I've always had a wierd way of burping too it's like a gurgle inside me I call them inside burps. I'm also a mouth breather which I know doesn't help matters either. I'm prescribed pantoprazole two times a day now but will have to go back to nexum soon since I won't be on ahccs anymore and can't afford to pay 285 a bottle I also thought it was a proton pump inhibitor and that they all were bad on your kidneys I used to only take one a day but recently bumped me up to two since it's getting worse and more often too. I just know what my SO went through but he had a rare blood disorder that showed up when starting dyalisis and it's also known as heart of stone your arteries literally turn to stone starting at your feet working up to your heart . It was awful and I know I probably won't have that but it is still what did theiyedbhis kidneys and I can tell mine are getting weaker already some mornings I don't think I'm gonna make it to the toilet fast enough . Thanks for what you shared it is helpful to know all that you shared. I think mine has a lot to do with stress too . Cuz if something upsets me it's like bam instant heart burn that's why a yr first u figured it was an ulcer but no signs of one they say. Recently a friend had her gall bladder removed and said it helped her heartburn so maybe I should try that route when I can afford it or can get insurance again .thanks again for sharing with me .