indigestion advice

[43mumof2]

hi i suffer with severe health anxiety ....and having alot of problems to try over come this , but recently iv been getting indigestion, after eating mainly in throat and burping , funny taste in mouth at times feel bit sick after eating , ....doctor has given me 20mg omeptrazole to try once a day ...but im so worried i may have stomach C ...

has anyone eld had indigestion or feelings like this ....could it be something less serious other than C ... ?
im so worried , doctor isnt worried said many people have this ...

i am waiting to see a gastrologist as i pushed and pushed for referal , but i dont think she would have unless i hadnt broke down in tears .

im 43
dont smoke
dnt drink ,
and normal weight .
no family history of it ,
had recent blood tests all normal , except iron slightly low , but mine is often low .


thanks for listening x

[Baddz]

You have acid reflux by the sound of it.
Google it.
Take the meds.
It can often be helped by self help methods...raising your bed, stopping certain foods.
Good luck

[BIWI]

You need to really try and step back from this - and don't Google! Hopefully your ADs will start to kick in soon and will help with your anxiety.

If your doctor isn't worried, and said lots of people get this, then listen to her/him.

If the drugs you are taking don't help, then it's time to start thinking about referrals, but not now.

Anxiety can make conditions like this worse (I suffer from awful acid reflux when I'm distressed), so it won't be making you feel any better.

[43mumof2]

thanks , iv had to stop the ADs had awful side effects i just couldnt carry on ..

saw my GP last night , she said stomach C isnt the first thing that springs to mind , and she gets alot of people with reflux issues ...

its just i have googled and every symptom i seem to have ...

[MrsTrentReznor]

I get acid reflux and my symptoms can be very similar to yours.
I found the omeprazole really helped, but it took a bit of time.
If I'm bad I sleep propped up a bit.
A great tip I got was sleep on your left hand side, because of the position of your stomach. It means the opening is higher than the actual stomach so gravity helps you! (Try it, it really helps!)
I also find smaller meals and no chocolate (boohoo!! ) Help me a lot.
Experiment a bit. You'll quickly find what works for you. I think it's very common and the consultant will put your mind at rest.

[43mumof2]

thank you for tips MrsT , bit worried about trying the omeprazole due to side effects ....

[Baddz]

I took it for years.
No effects.

[MrsTrentReznor]

You can buy it without prescription these days, I've not suffered any side effects from it.
It's a very well used medicine, I know a few people that take it and I've not heard of any nasty side effects.
I think prolonged use can interfere with calcium absorption, but you could have a chat with the pharmacist about that maybe? Might make you feel happier about it.

[43mumof2]

thanks , i have some of them now , so indigestion/ acid reflux can be quite common then ...

[MrsTrentReznor]

Extremely common.
You are definitely not alone!

[Baddz]

Very common.

[43mumof2]

thank made me smile MrsT thank you x

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Indigestion and reflux are common. The question is - what's causing it?

You've jumped straight in at the deep end (google any symptom and cancer is going to pop up!), but it's much more likely to be a less serious thing, honestly, particularly if you don't smoke, are normal weight, have not family history.

Has your GP tested for H. Pylori?

What about Ceoliac? Any general digestive issues, headaches, skin conditions? At you age, immune and autoimmune conditions may appear/get worse.

Medication such as ibuprofen (NSAID medications) can cause gut problems - have you recently increased your use of these?

Any changes of diet that may be triggering reflux? Maybe an increase in tomato consumption? Tomato (and other nightshades) can be a reflux/indigestion trigger for a lot of people - although this might be a sign of underlying gut issues/conditions (as above).

If you think any of these might be relevant to your situation, go back you your GP to discuss. As you say you have health anxiety, write down the points you want to get across. That might make it a little easier.

[43mumof2]

thank you , i do have IBS long standing , linked to anxiety , iv had negative bloods earlier this year to ceoliac D , waiting for results of stool inflamitory sample ,which had done 2 weeks ago , seeing gastrologist again in 2 weeks about my iBS i didnt mention the indigetion to him as didnt have it much then , he wasnt concerned about BC , i had a sigmodoscopy 6 years ago said all to do with my my IBS .

maybe its all to do with that or my anxiety ..iv just got myself in such a state

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Ok... This is my suggestion, feel free to ignore of course.

You have tested negative for Ceoliac, but have many symptoms of the condition (or gluten intolerance), or other grain related intolerance, and it's important to have done that test, but it doesn't mean gluten, or some other component in grain foods isn't at the root of your issues (including anxiety!).

Consider a 30 day completely grain free diet (google whole30 or Paleo exclusion diet, or Marksdailyapple, have a read, and see what you think).
You might be very surprised at the results! Clearly it won't be the answer for everyone but it was for me (20 years ibs, various health issues getting worse with age, all resolved or hugely improved on a paleo diet).

Maybe worth a try? A warning tho, the withdrawal period can make you feel quite flu like for a few days.

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

I should have added to that... If you want to try a grain exclusion, maybe wait until after your upcoming medical appointments :)

[43mumof2]

thanks Raw , i will take a look , but i think i will wait see my consultant says when i next see him , iv also heard of foodpamaping i think its called ..

[BigBroIsWatching]

Please don't worry. Done Google!!!

I have suffered from Reflux for the past 18 months. I have acid that rises up, food and drink can come back up hours after (especially if it's one of my triggers I.e) Orange Juice. Food is uncomfortable to swallow and I'm always burping!! I assumed it was something beginning with C but after pushing for an Endoscopy, I have a Hiatal Hernia. That can cause all the symptoms you have.

It's probably pregnancy that caused mine and heavy lifting. I'm 30. Seems like it can happen at anytime. I now take Omeprazole.

All the best at your Gastro app. I hope you get answers and get on your way to feeling comfortable!!

[43mumof2]

thank you BIGBRO, yes thats exactly how i feel , burping , swallowing , and sometimes pain in my chest , im trying to eat slowly and do some relaxing breathing to relax myself as im so anxious , i have a apointment in 2 weeks , with a private consultant iv been seeing for my IBS i can just about afford gis fees for that so will ask him , but i dont have private health care anymore , so then will be a matter of waiting for NHS refurall one to come through to start it all again with someone new i guess , but i may get some answers from him in 2 weeks to help reasure me in the mean time or i guess if he thinks worse can maybe help me further ....
i will push for a endoscopy i think as i need to knoe whats causing it ...and hope all will be ok ...

what was it like ?
scares me

[BigBroIsWatching]

When I mentioned to my GP I was finding it hard to swallow, she referred me sooner for an Endoscopy.

I admit I was scared witless bit the actual procedure is over fairly fast! I would recommend sedation. I had the maximum allowed as my body just wasn't allowing it!!

The staff are ever so experienced and friendly and will make you feel at ease. I remember parts of the procedure and yes, I did gag a few times. But that's to be expected. You will find out a bit more on the day. That's an advantage to having the endoscopy. Usually they can tell you there and then if they found a hernia etc