Anyone with heartburn please read

[l354uge]

Anyone know how many years you need to suffer with GERD before you can fall fowl of the big C from the burns?

Started to have reflux when I was 20, suffered with Rennie's until finally sticking with esmoprazole at 29, reading here is worrying me about the C risk

[mcelliott]

Dunno,my mum suffered with it all her life, had her gallbladder removed at 30, still here fit as a flea at 90.

[number2]

l354uge said:

Anyone know how many years you need to suffer with GERD before you can fall fowl of the big C from the burns?

Started to have reflux when I was 20, suffered with Rennie's until finally sticking with esmoprazole at 29, reading here is worrying me about the C risk

I don't believe there's a time on it... it's clearly less at 1 month and more likely at 20 years... but there's no rule.

I had trouble swallowing which is why I EVENTUALLY went to the doctor and was referred for gastroscopies. Lots of damage/Barrett's. Healed up following a period on PPIs.

Diagnosed with a hiatus hernia which is the cause of my reflux apparently.

Been on PPIs for 10years plus now. Doc had never asked me back for a checkup....

Quite a few of us in a similar boat it would seem!

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/12/e041529

[LeighW]

Elysium said:

Crikey. Sorry to hear it did not work for you. Hope you tried tablets rather than drinking the stuff.

I do recall that it took me about a week for things to settle down when I stopped the Omeprazole, but in my case it wasn’t doing all that much anyway.

I was more than happy to try it, I hate being on any medication long term. Yes, it was tablets. My GP told me I would be reviewed annually, but when I enquired about an appointment for a review they looked at me like I was from the moon or something. Anyhow, the Omeprazole works for me so I guess I'm stuck on it.

[Elysium]

LeighW said:

Elysium said:

Crikey. Sorry to hear it did not work for you. Hope you tried tablets rather than drinking the stuff.

I do recall that it took me about a week for things to settle down when I stopped the Omeprazole, but in my case it wasn’t doing all that much anyway.

I was more than happy to try it, I hate being on any medication long term. Yes, it was tablets. My GP told me I would be reviewed annually, but when I enquired about an appointment for a review they looked at me like I was from the moon or something. Anyhow, the Omeprazole works for me so I guess I'm stuck on it.

Oddly enough my GP kept trying to call me in for reviews and seemed reluctant to leave me on Omeprazole. I found one brand (orange writing on the box) worked quite well, but others just didn't and it was always hit and miss which I would get. I put this down to the granules in the tablets, which I think are supposed to effect a slow 'time release' over many hours.

[UrbanAchiever]

tele_lover said:

UrbanAchiever said:

Good to flag this OP.

PPI have some well known long term issues. Just Google them.

My reflux was so bad I had an operation for it. I now have a linx device which keeps my stomach valve shut. When I eat the magnetic beads of the device separate and allow food down. This completely solved the issue, albeit I tend to eat slower than normal now and some foods, mostly dry rice can get stuck temporarily. But it's a small price to pay.

Worth checking out refluxuk who did my implant. They are experts in this field.

The thing putting me off Linx is you can't have 3T strength MRIs anymore? I think it's limited to 1.5T?

I did some research on this before going ahead with it. Most hospitals only use 1.5T MRIs. 3T is more common at specialist university hospitals. I've had 2 MRI since having the device fitted and 1.5T was the machine strength.

If you do need to go into a 3T machine then there is always the option to have the device removed. Not something to be taken lightly but its good to know that the operation is reversible unlike the traditional methods such as fundoplication.

Since I had linx there is a new device that has come along called refluxstop. Its made of plastic so no such issues.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Interesting thread, my father suffered from heartburn most of his life. Last year he started having issues with swallowing and over a course of 6 months lost 4 stone. He delayed going to the doctor until November. Sadly he as diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and passed at the end of January. I am devastated ...