Living With Fibro

If you suffer from Fibromyalgia, you have likely experienced GERD or less severe symptoms of acid reflux in your lifetime. When you get these symptoms they can be painful, and annoying, and a huge inconvenience. Your first thought may be to reach for Tums, Mylanta, Maalox, or something similar. If that is usually your first thought, I hope that you will slow down and reconsider your first thought. Many of the products that I mentioned contain Salicylates, and whether you like it or not, that one ingredient can make your Fibromyalgia pain worse.

The question than becomes what is safe to take if you are experiencing GERD like symptoms and you also suffer from Fibromyalgia. There are lots of products on the market that you can take on a daily basis that will help you get a handle on your GERD. First of all, you should never choose a long term treatment option for GERD or acid reflux unless you suffer severe symptoms more than twice a week and a doctor has diagnosed you specifically with one of the following disorders: GERD, Esophagitis, or acid reflux. When scanning the pharmacy shelves, here’s what to look for.

Start with Prilosec OTC or a generic equivalent. For most GERD sufferers, Prilosec OTC offers plenty of relief, and it will not affect your Fibromyalgia pain level either. I took Prilosec OTC for a period of approximately 3 months, but during those three months I felt very little relief from the symptoms associated with both my GERD and my esophagitis. If Prilosec OTC turns out to be unsucessful there are other products on the market that you can try, one such product is Ranitidine. This product works in most GERD, esophagitis, and acid reflux sufferers, and it’s less expensive than Prilosec OTC. Finally, if all else fails, look for Cimetidine. Cimetidine is probably the harshest on the stomach, will leave a funny aftertaste in your mouth first thing in the morning, but it’s also the best at relieving stubborn GERD, esophagitis, and acid reflux symptoms and pain. The great thing about Cimetidine, Ranitidine, and Prilosec OTC is that they do not intefer with Fibromyalgia medications or depression medications and they can be taken with prescription pain killers as well.

A note about Ranitidine, I had an allergic reaction to it, that consisted of lots of itching from head to toe. I wrote off the itching as “no big deal”, and later found out that during the itching my throat was closing in, and I had to take emergency measures to correct the situation. If you start taking Rinitidine and notice itching, do yourself a favor,and stop taking it immediately. You will be happy that you did.

My over the counter treatment of choice for GERD, Esophagitis, and acid reflux is Cimetidine. I suffer from symptoms of GERD, Esophagitis, and acid reflux on a daily basis no matter what I do or do not eat and drink on a day to day basis. Cimetidine has been a life saver for me, and not only has it allowed me to splurge and eat foods I like upon occassion, but it has also allowed me to get a good night’s sleep.

So, if you are suffering from symptoms of GERD, Acid Reflux, or Esophagitis, and those symptoms are affecting your work, home life, or social life, it’s time to take control of those symptoms and choose the medication that is right for you.

One last note about these medications, if you have a serious problem that your doctor has diagnosed with, ask your doctor about one or more of these medications. Some insurance companies will cover the prescription form of all of these, and if you have a good insurance company, it can save you a whole lot of money.

Hugs to all!

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