Dealing with heartburn or acid reflux - suggestions

Vanity | 3-26-2009 | Frantzie

[Frantzie]

Sorry to post a vanity but looking for some suggestions about acid reflux. It could just be heartburn too???? I never had any problems but entering mid to late 40's this just popped up. Supposedly as we move into the 50's this becomes an issue.

[TomGuy]

I don’t suggest pickle juice, but you could drink orange juice, or grapefruit juice,

Apple cider vinegar is supposed to work also -- 2 teaspoons in a glass of water.

I take an apple cider vinegar tablet (from healthfood store) daily.

[Frantzie]

Bingo - 1 and 2. Too much diet coke during the day. Not too bad with spicy stuff. Very little. Salads, chicken, turkey and tuna sandwiches usually.

Protonix used regularly or use it for a while and generally it is gone?

[NordP]

I just think that FR is GREAT -- all these helpful people from one question.

And... you KNOW this would only happen in the greatest country in the world!!!

[IrishPennant]

Glad to see I have some fellow Apple Cider Vinegar people out there...

Great stuff...and for far more than stomach acid.

[Frantzie]

maybe it is just heartburn due to the Teleprompter of the United States attempting to destroy the country in his first 90 days. :-(

[Secret Agent Man]

Salt drops the pH of saliva down to more acidic. The heartburn is the symptom of a LACK of acid and bile, not too much.

[Frantzie]

Thanks. Call Rush because he is always pushing the Select Comfort bed and maybe he can call them or send you a new one. Stinks that it broke down. Thanks for the suggestions. :-)

[Secret Agent Man]

Thank you. Apple cider vinegar is excellent for this. It is pretty harsh so diluting it as you do is necessary for most people. you can take it undiluted but it’s going to make your eyes water. I take it and it’s great.

[Tenyaka]

My father passed away a number of years ago from esophageal cancer. I learned more than I ever wanted about this and acid reflux.

Easy things to do:
* avoid peppermint - it relaxes the esophageal muscle and allows reflux
* don’t lay down after eating
* avoid sodas - carbonation also encourages reflux

As others have said - see your doctor. Most people don’t discover Esophageal cancer until its too late.

[lonestar]

Apple Cider Vinegar

It works for me...and it's not medicine. (tastes worse!) It's good for a lot of things. I don't like to take medicine. I think our society is over medicated.

My 93 year old mother is on no regularly prescribed Rx. I think it's because she would go to the doctor, come home with a Rx and say, "I can live with that!" and throw the Rx away. I'm not talking serious problems...post-nasal drips, etc.

I couldn't drink orange juice until I started putting AC vinegar in it...works great. Worth giving it a try.

[Frantzie]

Thanks. I will have to cut out the sodas. Thank you.

[zlala]

I feel better when I only have 1 dt coke a day also...but sometimes, even that is too much. I take 1 Pantoprazole (generic for Protonix) a day. If I miss...say get my refill late...I will start having problems again. Good luck. It's a bear to deal with. Take care of it now, don't let it go and you'll feel better. Be sure to go see your doc, it's worth the visit.

[hoosiermama]

Mty father has had to have surgery because of the problem...The surgeon said the best treatment is to raise the head of the bed (He said all Nursing Homes should be required to lift head during bed rest). We purchases a large wedge pillow to put under the mattress of his bed. He also takes the generic form of Prolosec. Much better.

[papasmurf]

Try this, which worked for me. Go to Wally World (Wal-Mart), and buy a bottle of Titralac. It's an antacid replacement. It's very inexpensive, as well.

I was diagnosed with GERT, and ran out of the pills, so I had Titralac that I used for lactose intolerance, and it works just as well...for me. YMMV, but it is safe. Read and heed the warnings, of course...

About Titralac...

Do not take Titralac or antacids containing calcium without first talking to your doctor if you take other medications. Calcium can decrease the effects of many other medicines by binding to them or by changing the acidity of the stomach or the urine.

Take calcium with meals to increase its absorption by the body, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What is Titralac?

Calcium is a mineral that is found naturally in foods. Calcium is necessary for many normal functions of the body, especially bone formation and maintenance. Calcium can also bind to other minerals (such as phosphate) and aid in their removal from the body.

Calcium carbonate is used to prevent and to treat calcium deficiencies

http://drugs.com/titralac.html

[IrishPennant]

It has to be raw, unpasteurized...you can find it in most grocery stores...Mother's is the best brand but there are more.

A bottle big bottle is about 3 bucks...lasts a long time. I do two teaspoons 3 x a day in water. I have not had the flu or a cold since I started on it years ago.

I was feeling run down...lots of colds and always tired. Went on line to look at some home remedies, found people harping on ACV ALL OVER THE PLACE...not retail websites...independent health web sites talking natural cures. I have not stopped since. Amazing stuff!!!!

[steve86]

The Proton Pump Inhibitors (such as Prilosec) are like gold compared to copper when comparing to ranitidine, famotidine, and cimetidine when used for chronic heartburn. Even more so when comparing to antacids. Antacids will work for me — for about 45 seconds lol. Prilosec works for 24 -30 hours. Famatodine will work for 6 hours but causes me other problems. You’re right...you don’t want to end up with Barrett’s Esophagus. You can get the ingredient in Prilosec generically as omeprazole. However, the time-release mechanism doesn’t work as well for me.

[alicewonders]

My 93 year old mother is on no regularly prescribed Rx. I think it's because she would go to the doctor, come home with a Rx and say, "I can live with that!" and throw the Rx away. I'm not talking serious problems...post-nasal drips, etc.

I have a friend who is 89 years old & refuses to take any medicine other than an occasional aspirin and a glass of sherry every evening. She has a crystal clear mind & strong body. I think Americans take way too much medicine.

[redheadtoo]

Try to find the cause of your condition. I used to suffer terrible heartburn. I bought Rolaids by the barrel full. I was also having a hard time at work, dealing with a Hilary like boss who had it in for me after I had an op-ed piece published in the local newspaper. I dared to criticize her darling Bill Clinton.

But I left that job and suddenly my heartburn went away. So try eliminating stress (and liberals) from your life. I hope you're feeling better soon.

[Winstons Julia]

Definitely see a doctor. My father suffered from indigestion his whole life and pounded the Tums. He died from post-op complications after surgery (radical) for esophageal cancer.

I don’t get it often, but when I do, I take a teaspoon of baking soda in a small glass of water and it kills it immediately for me.

[slugbug]

When I turned 50 I started feeling lousy-heartburn, indigestion,every time I ate my stomach felt awful,I kept belching,and had chest pressure...couldn't figure out if I had reflux, gall bladder problems, heart trouble or what...my doctor put me on Prevacid and I started feeling better. When I went off it after a few months, the symptoms came back. My doctor told me I could switch to Prilosec a few months ago as it's much cheaper than Prevacid and it seems to be working just as well.

You need to see your doctor to rule out other problems, but if it's found you have reflux, the Prilosec may help. Other things that may help are to lose excess weight, don't eat in the evening (or at least within 4 hours of going to bed), and avoid spicy foods.