I think that's a decent schedule - luckily the Carafate doesn't need to be refrigerated :)

Hey all,

I'm having an awful flair up of what it yet to be determined as ulcers or really bad heartburn, but it feels like I've swallowed glass all the time. So my surgeon's office gave me a prescription for Nexium (40 mg twice a day) and Carafate Suspension Liquid (4 times a day). I'm also taking Synthroid for my thyroid and that can only be taken on an empty stomach (can be taken at same time as Nexium but not with Carafate). The directions on the Carafate say that I should take it 1 hour before or 2-3 hours after a meal (4 times day). I can't take it too close to the Nexium or the Nexium won't work and I can't take it at the same time or even close to the Synthroid or the Synthroid won't work. This is starting to seem like a Sodoku puzzle! So here's what I was thinking...please give me your opinion:

Wake up early, take synthroid and nexium (let's say around 7am).
Wait 2 hours, take Carafate (9am).
Eat (10am)
Take Carafate before lunch (12pm)
Eat (1pm)
Take Nexium (3pm)
Take Carafate (5pm)
Eat (6pm)
Take Carafate before bed as instructed

My issue with this schedule is...I am going to want to eat sooner than 3 hours after I wake up! I suppose I could set an alarm to take the meds super early. Thoughts? Suggested improvements?

Did any of you have an ulcer or severe GERD after surgery? What was your medication and schedule? Did it improve fast? Of course I'm going on vacation on Monday for a week and it's going to make it really hard for me to stick to a schedule because it's not a "relaxing" vacation. But my pharmacist did give me 3 oz bottles of the Carafate in addition to the big one so that I could take it with me on the plane.

Thanks for your advice!

You are doing so many good things already. The acknowledgement of your situation, the food journal, the exercise. It sounds like you are recommitted. So what do you feel that you still need. If you clarify your needs, maybe someone will be able to respond. I'm up analyzing my own journey. I'll be three years out in June. That was my personal timeline to meet goal. I won't get there by then mostly because I slacked and snacked off this last year. Now I'm experiencing body aches again and that's not where I want to be. I really just have to divorce myself from taste good to convert to good for me. Stay strong girl and be committed. You are on the right track to success.

I am sorry you are having issues. I know it must be tough and I see your weight loss is wonderful. I do hope that you can get to feeling better. If you are uneasy about your Doc I would try to get another opinion,. Good luck & I hope you feel better really soon. Hang in there better days are coming.  I guess it takes the body time to adjust.     Julie

HI Again,

I'm out of state for a few days for the holidays - thanks to my wonderful mother in law I'm trying liquid vitamins and liquid calcium - and pedialyte to see if that helps with some of the smaller issues I am having. I just started drinking some pedialyte and maybe it's just in my head but I feel a little better already :)

I see my surgeon again on December 2 - I am going to be forceful and let him know that I still don't feel OK (assuming that I don't have a major turning point before then) and see what else can be done.

Mom in law suggested that I maybe start on a "baby" diet - rice cereal, et****il my tummy starts liking food again - does anyone have any experience with that? I sounds like a reasonable plan to my, but it's not one that's ever been suggested to me by one of my doctors.

@Robyn - Dr Moen is a GREAT surgeon. Please don't let my current experience cause you to shy away from him. I don't know that anything I'm dealing with now is a result of something that could have been prevented, rather I think it's something similar to Murphy's Law - whatever CAN go wrong for me just might =) The one thing I can say is that he's very "by the book" in my opinion - and while I should be further along with my progress as far as food, etc. goes, I don't think he takes into consideration the surgeries I had to have to remove the filter, the surgery to "stretch" things, etc. I think that all of the trauma that my body has gone through because of these additional surgeries are partially to blame for the problems I'm having now. Someone else also suggested that I may be having problems now because of all of the anesthesia I've had in the last few months. I'm not sure if that is the case but it's definitely something I am going to ask him about.