Although I put this on my post I thought I would add it here also. I have been miserable. So I went to the doctors yesturday. I have gerd but have not been on anything in awhile. So she maintains the reflux is acting up & is trying me on prevacid, which is one I have never really been on. She also gave me a script for Ranitidine which I believe is the same as Zantac. The doc said out of all these meds which are pretty much the same she takes the Zantac. Which you have to take faithfully. So if no relief from the Prevacid I am to take the other. Also since I am going for shoulder surgery I told her I probably will not eat much or at all for a few days, which I barely eat now. She said all these meds are kind of activated by food so if you don't eat you are cutting the ability of them working in half, so after surgery I am to take the Ranitidine because it does not work the exact way as the rest but it has to be taken faithfullt day & night.
Now here is a point she made after surgery if this is still a problem with the waking up sick with the palpatations & all that she will put me on something to relax me before bed, she did say that anxiety & stress will with out a doudt cause all this to act up. Also said that she has had alot of people come in with breathing problems caused by having reflux they did not know they had. I had a heck of a time before getting my breathing uner control so I hope these meds work. Some of the meds I have taken in the past such as nexium were just to strong for me, which she said happens often to. Now my insurance would not cover the Ranitdine, I believe because of the Zantac being avaliable over the counter, but it only cost me 4.00, which is sure cheaper then buying the Zantac, especially when I have to take it twice aday. This is pretty much a repeat of what I put in the other post, but I hope it helps someone out (including me,ha). I should know in a few days. Good luck, I feel for you all. Sammy