Posted on 03/26/2009 7:57:17 PM PDT by 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.
Spent about 8 months have the worst heartburn of my life. Finally saw the doctor, who sent me immediately to a cardiologist, who scheduled me immediately for a right coronary artery stent. Turned out it was more “heart” than “burn,” i.e., angina. See your doctor.
I have an intense aversion to pills — and especially the cultural over medication of/by seniors. And, for years have taken nothing more than a daily regimen of a multi-vitamin, a salmon oil and a baby aspirin.
However, last December I was beset with acute GERD on a continuing basis. A scan validated the classic GERD valve hernia/ inflammation scenario.
Daily Prilosec did the trick immediately; and I have recently cut back the dosage to one capsule every three days. Seems to work perfectly in elimination of the problem. (As an aside, I am almost 80).
Hope this helps a bit. *S*
Now that you mention it, I think that’s the reason I’ve had a bit of indigestion the past few weeks. Chewable Pepcid works for me along with turning the TV off.
LOL....At least I didn’t have THAT problem before I started on the Cider!!!!
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1065.
The pharmacodynamic, therapeutic, and toxicologic properties of famotidine are evaluated and compared with those of cimetidine and ranitidine. Famotidine, an H2-receptor antagonist with a thiazole nucleus, is approximately 7.5 times more potent than ranitidine and 20 times more potent than cimetidine on an equimolar basis. Therapeutic trials indicate that famotidine 20 mg b.i.d. or 40 mg at bedtime is as effective as standard doses of cimetidine and ranitidine for healing duodenal ulcers. A dose of 40 mg at bedtime appears to heal benign gastric ulcers. A single nocturnal dose of 20 mg is effective in preventing duodenal ulcer relapse.
But the PPIs are far superior to any of these.
http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/candida.htm
I also had acid reflux and went on a low carbohydrate diet (Atkins) and the acid reflux disappeared THE FIRST NIGHT! I learned that too much sugar and too many carbs which convert to sugar in your system can cause an imbalance and you can get candida overgrowth. I got some powerful acidophilus pills at GNC (4 bill live organisms) and that helps a LOT if you take one before you go to bed. I also got Active Digestive Enzymes by GHT and FiveLac by GHT. I found the enzymes to definitely help if I took them with each meal. I read in a book that as we age, we lack digestive enzymes so I have incorporated them into my treatment. I would of course advise you to go to a doctor as well, just to be sure, but I did not do so. I literally had sharp pains in my stomach in the middle of the night which would awaken me and I no longer have those pains at all. It very well could have been a food allergy. Good luck.
First they find Barrett’s Esophagus, then it becomes cancer, once you have Barrett’s its a given that cancer will come soon enough, that is why an endoscopy is so important, the sooner it gets done the better. I had one, I was sedated(Thank God) my Mom on the other hand, refuses sedation, she does everything awake, from colonoscopy to endoscopy, she is one of those who has to know right away what the problem is..since she has a history of acid problems she is getting another one done in May..and yes, no peppermint, in fact, no strawberries either, basically cut down anything with acid, it eats the stomach
Try Vitalzyme-X digestive enzymes (find on-line) with every meal, along with a potent acidopholus (Bio-K) with breakfast. Both are over-the-counter. The enzymes will help digest your food, and the acidopholus will increase the beneficial bacteria in the gut. I try to stay off prescription meds whenever I can. Perhaps this person has been on antibiotics a few too many times and they destroyed ALL the bacteria in the gut, both good and bad.
“LOL....At least I didn’t have THAT problem before I started on the Cider!!!”
I ain’t gonna’ touch THAT one! hahaha
My acid reflux is entirely independent of diet. Can eat anything or nothing — no difference until I take Prilosec or Famotidine. This is not unusual. I could not possibly swallow anything untreated. Have tried the enzymes also and they helped some but no where near sufficient by themselves.
Baking soda works better than most anything else for me, and like you, I appreciate the low cost. If I can’t get to baking soda and water, Pepcid Complete is the best thing I’ve ever tried, but I buy it in 100 count bottles at Sam’s for very little.
Are you overweight? I was having this happen until I dropped 15 lbs.
A couple people have said to drink milk. Avoid milk! It actually creates even more acid when your stomach tries to digest it.
I believe that TomGuy! I tried cleaning a blackened pot one time with baking soda and venegar that I heated in the pot. It began to smoke and it cleaned the pot like you would not believe. (I got the idea from a website that had cleaning tips.)
Thank you. My sister has had that problem from too many antibiotics & she swears by acidopholus.
Magnesium. Calcium. Any combination of the two. Good ol Tums. Easy on the sugar, since it creates acid in the stomach. ALSO, the symptoms of NOT ENOUGH ACID are the same as for hyperacidity. If antacids don’t work or don’t work for long, you might need more acid. Try a half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a half a glass of room-temperature water, and see if the symptoms abate.
Prilosec. That dang stuff works.
I had the same symptoms yesterday for the first time. I was near a McDonald’s and got a diet coke so that I could dilute the acid. When it first happened I almost breathed the acid into my lungs. I am not saying that is a cure, but I had to do something quick.
It is interesting to read all this advice. I just started on Welchol and wondered if that could have caused it. It makes me feel like I am stuffed.
Thanks. 20 lbs need to go. I need to get too it. Milk is going to have to go or get cut back a lot.
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