Acid reflux
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philv

Original Poster:

5,373 posts

243 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
Hi,

So a few too many mince pies and i have acid reflux.

I have had a habit of lying back on tne sofa after meals, which i now realise is a no no.

I have been given omeprazole by a doctor.
Seems to be helping a bit, but as of tne third day i am being woken very early in tne morning with acid reflux.

I have drastically reduced what i eat and am eating only those things that migh least cause the stomach to be more acidic.

But, after no food for 10 hours, i am woken with it.

Has anyone had this and got rid of it?
Can this go back to normal and not require alifetime of drugs?
Can tne lower esophageal sphincter heal/reseal itself without surgery?

I’m already sick of tne taste of gaviscon..

Thanks for any info.

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
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I have been on Omeprazole for a few months now and had cameras stuck in various orifices trying to sort out the problem. Taking it easy on food and drink does seem to help, but I am seeing my consultant on Friday and hoping he has a permanent solution that doesn't involve more pills. An ENT doctor I saw a while ago mentioned a procedure where they put you under a general and clean your throat out. Hopefully I won't need that though !
Agreed on Gaviscon. It is disgusting laugh

RTB

8,273 posts

287 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
You really need to find out the cause of the reflux. I had some mild reflux and general discomfort and went for an endoscopy. Turns out I have a hiatus hernia. I was on proton pump inhibitors for about 12 months, lost quite a bit of weight and was careful what I ate/drank. I haven't had any severe symptoms for 6 or 7 years.

Get it checked out and diagnosed as to why you're suffering bad reflux. Years of poorly managed reflux can lead to Barrets esophagus which increases your risk of Esophageal cancer.

Sheepshanks

40,981 posts

148 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
philv said:
I have been given omeprazole by a doctor.
Seems to be helping a bit, but as of tne third day i am being woken very early in tne morning with acid reflux.
Apparently it can take a few days for these things (PPIs) to kick in.

C0ffin D0dger

3,440 posts

174 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
For me sometimes an empty stomach could cause reflux just as well as one full of rich food. I think I got to a point where I was hungry, expecting food, and my stomach started producing acid but with nothing for it to do.

At the moment I take Omeprazole daily as I take other medication for another condition which would be bad on the stomach without it. As result of this my digestive system is pretty bomb proof at the moment.

Without I've learned the trigger foods over the years and also that being overweight really doesn't help. Pizza and garlic bread were my nemesis and would always have me reaching for the Gaviscon after.

philv

Original Poster:

5,373 posts

243 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies.

Since it started about 5 days ago i have cut down on the amount of food, and now i only eat selected foods that are supposed to be ok or good.

This will lose the lose half a stone i could do with losing quite quickly.

I am hoping that quick action might allow the seal to heal/seat better, as it has only just started.

I am finding the sleep most difficult.
It is irritating when it happens after not eating or many hours.
Maybe the empty stomach, as suggested above, doesn't help.

I spend a lot of time in hotels each year.
I am dreading that, as i sleep terribly in hotels anyway.



Sheepshanks

40,981 posts

148 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
Supposed to be better to sleep on your left side.

I've been struggling with this for near a year - taking Lanzoprale - and had various tests (even though privately, the consultants are still remarkably reluctant to order them, I'm sure on the NHS it'd be hopeless) but they look fine. I read that PPIs are very effective once they kick in so if you're still getting relux it's likely bile (which is alkaline) not acid.

I've never seen any suggestion that it the lower oesophagus seal can heal itself. I have a 'slight' hernia but the consultant was very dismissive and said there's no chance of getting a surgeon to operate on it.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Wednesday 2nd January 11:41

philv

Original Poster:

5,373 posts

243 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
I foresee a struggle to get tests.

Heck...i trird to make a doctor’s appointment today for a couple of weeks time.
Can now only ring on tne day and they will let you know if you need an appointment, etc.

philv

Original Poster:

5,373 posts

243 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
Supposed to be better to sleep on your left side.

I've been struggling with this for near a year - taking Lanzoprale - and had various tests (even though privately, the consultants are still remarkably reluctant to order them, I'm sure on the NHS it'd be hopeless) but they look fine. I read that PPIs are very effective once they kick in so if you're still getting relux it's likely bile (which is alkaline) not acid.

I've never seen any suggestion that it the lower oesophagus seal can heal itself. I have a 'slight' hernia but the consutan was very dismissive and said there's no chance of getting a surgeon to operate on it.
Not so much tne hernia, i was more referring to poorly sealing sphyncters (i beleive there are 2 that can be compromised via pressure from the stomach).


anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
I've had it for years, triggered by certain food, noticed a huge change when I changed my diet.

Triggered by sugar, alcohol, citrus fruits / juice, sweets, chocolate.


A900ss

3,314 posts

181 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
How overweight are you?

You don’t need to answer but I get acid reflex when I go above a certain weight. When I drop below it again, the reflux also goes.

Good luck.

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
RTB said:
You really need to find out the cause of the reflux. I had some mild reflux and general discomfort and went for an endoscopy. Turns out I have a hiatus hernia. I was on proton pump inhibitors for about 12 months, lost quite a bit of weight and was careful what I ate/drank. I haven't had any severe symptoms for 6 or 7 years.

Get it checked out and diagnosed as to why you're suffering bad reflux. Years of poorly managed reflux can lead to Barrets esophagus which increases your risk of Esophageal cancer.
That is interesting, as I was told after my gastroscopy that I had a hiatus hernia. I take it you didn't need an operation, just the weight loss and amended diet ?

RTB

8,273 posts

287 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
Grahamdub said:
That is interesting, as I was told after my gastroscopy that I had a hiatus hernia. I take it you didn't need an operation, just the weight loss and amended diet ?
I didn't need an operation. From what I've read the fix for a hiatus hernia has it's own problems and isn't very successful.

I think the main thing that helped me was getting fitter and reducing portion size (which reduced my weight - about 10kg). One thing that used to cause havoc with my stomach was big blow out meals. I found that if I made sure I never filled by stomach then I was much better. Of course different people have different pathologies.

As far as the OP is concerned I'd still be pushing for a firm diagnosis even if it was just to see what state the esophagus is in.

I went to the GP complaining of reflux and pain underneath each side of my rib cage. The GP examined me and diagnosed an enlarged liver yikes I was referred to a consultant who did an ultrasound and concluded that there was nothing wrong with my liver. At that point I changed GPs.....

My new GP sent me straight for an endoscopy and i got a diagnosis of a hiatus hernia and a script for 6 months worth of omeprazole. My esophagus was inflamed but no permanent damage had been done. Everything is fine, unless I massivley indulge over an extended period (like Christmas smile )


eybic

9,212 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
I've had something similar for a while, I was getting a lot of acid and felt breathless/ wheezy occasionally and also felt strange heart rhythms (I had heart issues years ago) which on googling, it seems I was suffering from acid reflux so got myself some Gaviscon (my god it tastes vile at first but I'm used to it now) which seemed to help. I keep meaning to make a doctor's appointment but it's such a faff to try and get one. My triggers seems to be Red Wine (I can taste the acid a couple of seconds after drinking it) and shortbread. If I get a flare up, it lasts for a couple of days and is definitely linked with overdoing it food wise.

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
RTB said:
I didn't need an operation. From what I've read the fix for a hiatus hernia has it's own problems and isn't very successful.

I think the main thing that helped me was getting fitter and reducing portion size (which reduced my weight - about 10kg). One thing that used to cause havoc with my stomach was big blow out meals. I found that if I made sure I never filled by stomach then I was much better. Of course different people have different pathologies.

As far as the OP is concerned I'd still be pushing for a firm diagnosis even if it was just to see what state the esophagus is in.

I went to the GP complaining of reflux and pain underneath each side of my rib cage. The GP examined me and diagnosed an enlarged liver yikes I was referred to a consultant who did an ultrasound and concluded that there was nothing wrong with my liver. At that point I changed GPs.....

My new GP sent me straight for an endoscopy and i got a diagnosis of a hiatus hernia and a script for 6 months worth of omeprazole. My esophagus was inflamed but no permanent damage had been done. Everything is fine, unless I massivley indulge over an extended period (like Christmas smile )
Thanks for the info. Looks like I need to lose my beer belly laugh
OP I'd definately harass the doctors for an appointment at ENT to get some tests done. Keep hitting redial at opening time until you get through !

vsonix

3,865 posts

192 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
The last few years I've had it quite badly on and off.
Don't laugh but I think the original trigger was Viagra, I'd never had any digestion issues beforehand.
However, the balance is now well and truly upset, I've had to cut right back on wine as wine really kicks it off. It also irks me that I can go to bed feeling fine then round 4 or 5am I get woken up by the pain, by which point my stomach is usually well and truly empty, and it's just the fact I'm lying down making it worse. Have had to keep a stash of Rennie by the bed to be able to get back to sleep again.

Blown2CV

31,647 posts

232 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
I had heartburn arrive from almost nowhere a couple of years ago, and it has got gradually worse. The GP was a definite gatekeeper to proper investigations and has just been telling me it's one of those things and probably lose a bit of weight etc. Went private in the end and was diagnosed with hiatus hernia. It could have been either that or ulcer really. In a way I'd have preferred an ulcer as at least you can make that disappear. So annoyingly I now need to be careful with coffee, alcohol, chocolate etc. i mean those things are probably good given that I need to lose a bit of weight, but don't make for a fun existence as such!

shirt

25,395 posts

230 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
I used to have bad acid reflux and occasionally also vomiting a couple of hours after meals due to a mix of acid and unsettles stomach.

I tried a keto diet for 6mths which immediately stopped both issues. I am not strict keto anymore but have a reduced carb diet which seems to keep the acid at bay

philv

Original Poster:

5,373 posts

243 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
Anyone know if it is ok to take andrews salts with omeprazole?

I know of one person who had this.
She had a small in their spyncter allowing the acid to get past.
She ate tiny portions throught out the day...manly salmon, avacado sweet potatoes, and almonds.
After a year she was ok. Get`s it occasionally but not all the time.
The omeprazole did not seem to work for her.
So i guess there is hope.

Blown2CV

31,647 posts

232 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
quotequote all
philv said:
Anyone know if it is ok to take andrews salts with omeprazole?

I know of one person who had this.
She had a small in their spyncter allowing the acid to get past.
She ate tiny portions throught out the day...manly salmon, avacado sweet potatoes, and almonds.
After a year she was ok. Get`s it occasionally but not all the time.
The omeprazole did not seem to work for her.
So i guess there is hope.
sounds like a hiatus hernia.
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