Will we need to take a PPI forever?

Probably a dumb question but I was wondering if there is a point where we'll not need a PPI anymore? Or is it like the vitamins, where we'll need them for the rest of our lives? I take omeprazole right now (Prescription, 40mg daily) and was curious if this is a temporary thing or will I need it long term? Also, while on the subject, does anyone happen to know if the prescription 40mg capsules work the same as (2) 20 mg over the counter omeprazole? I'm just trying to get this all straight for future reference. I appreciate any help!

I only had to take mine for the 1st year. My doctor said it would get better and I wouldn't need it and it did and now I don't need them.

My understanding is the same, if you didn't need it before surgery, you won't need it forever after surgery. Yes 2 20s is the same as 1 40, I guess which ever is cheaper, but 1 think 1 40 would be less pills to take.

I took a PPI for a few years before surgery, and at four years out I'm still taking one.  (Oddly, the one I used before was an OTC and it didn't work for me after surgery; in fact I went thru four different PPIs before finding one that seems to be working long-term, Protonix.)  I take two 20mg tabs a day.  Several months ago I cut back to one a day, and hunger/acid came back, so after 5-6 months of that experiment I went back to my two/day.  I would LIKE not to take them forever, because a low-acid stomach environment affects absorption of calcium and iron, but for now this is what I need to do.

FWIW, I did find that the more I took the more I needed. I managed to wean off of them, using tums to bridge the gap. It did take a while for my body to adjust as I stepped down the dose each time but eventually things straightened out. Good luck if you decide to go off of them, it can be done!

I guess I should have mentioned that I never took a ppi pre surgery and never had acid issues even during pregnancies. I've noticed when I don't take it for a few days, I get that hungry all the time feeling so I'm guessing for now anyway, I need to be taking it.

My surgeon told me I had to take it for the first month while my stomach was healing. He said it was "to prevent my staple line from healing in a bath of acid" YUCK!

I'm 5 months out now, and I don't take it anymore. Although, I've thought about trying it to see if it curbs my feeling of hunger.

I plan on talking to my team about it at my next appt.

I took a PPI for about six weeks after surgery. Nothing since. I get the occasional single bout of reflux now when I eat something I know I shouldn't or too close to bed time and the occasional stomach grumble and rumble but I still don't have hunger and have not needed the PPI since the six week post op period. 

I was told one year after surgery. My insurance does not cover it so the pharmacy wanted $73 for a months supply. I went on GoodRX and got it for $13.37 with one of their coupons. It was cheaper then the OTC. 

I only took the ppi for the first three months, and then had no problems when I discontinued it.

best wishes,

Carol