Does ANYTHING work for heartburn?

[ScarlettDarling]

I've had persistent heartburn for weeks now and I'm fed up. Nothing works...gaviscon, nexium, ranitidine, rennies, I've tried everything. No particular food sets it off, it's there even before I have breakfast. It's actually better when I'm eating.

I've got a gp appointment in a couple of weeks time but I know she'll prescribe lanzaprazole which I had a few years ago and did nothing. When I last had this persistent heartburn it went on for months and I couldn't find anything to touch it. I had an endoscopy which revealed nothing to worry about and the heartburn eventually settled down. I can't bear being like this for months like I was last time...is there anything else out there I can try?

[Davros]

Omeprazole. Better than Lansoprazole

[magimedi]

I gave up my pre breakfast cup of tea. Tea on an empty stomach really seemed to set it off for me.

[caremummy]

Have you been tested for any kind of intolerance e.g. lactose, gluten. My best friend had some similar symptoms and got recently diagnosed as coeliac, seemed to take a long time for her to get this diagnosis though.

[VanillaSugar]

What happens if you avoid caffeine, spicy food, sugar and coffee (apart from having no fun, of course!)? Those seem to be my heartburn triggers.

[ParisGellar]

My DH had horrible heartburn and was tested positive for h pylori, so was given and eradication course and is fine now.

[ScarlettDarling]

Last time I had this I was tested for h pylori and it was clear, so I'm assuming that's not what's causing it. And no, I haven't tried avoiding caffeine or sugar....I looooove sugar! But I just seem to have the symptoms no matter what I eat. I have it even before I eat. It's worse on an empty stomach.

Am fed up! Thanks for the replies.

[Unicorn81]

I had the same issue and take 20mg omeprazole a day, gp gave it to me after weight gain due to thyroid problems. Ive tried a couple of times to come off it but it returns within a day or two

[BorisJohnsonsHair]

I think you need to address your eating habits, as it can make a huge difference. Try eating a biscuit before your morning cup of tea.

[Poorlybabysickday]

Omeprazole

[ScarlettDarling]

A few people have mentioned omeprazole. I'll ask the gp about that when I go.

Boris I don't drink tea or coffee before breakfast. I'm not a big caffeine drinker at all, and usually only have one coffee after lunch, so I don't think caffeine is causing it. I think it's stress/anxiety which causes it but it's a vicious circle because the worse the heartburn gets, the more I stress about it!

[silentsigh]

Have you been on the maximum dose of of a PPI like omeprazole? Sometimes they don't give a high enough dose - I needed 40mg of omeprazole to get heartburn under control. Mine was due to ulcers and h pylori though. Also you can take all of those meds together - gaviscon, rainitidine and nexium. I would say eat small meals frequently and look up a list of foods to avoid. Definitely limit caffeine, alcohol and anything spicy. If it's affecting your sleep, propping youself with lots of pillows might help as well.

[lyrebird1]

Agree about the omeprazole. Is the ranitidine you have been taking the over the counter kind? The GP can prescribe it at much higher doses than can be sold over the counter (my GP was most disparaging about Zantac!). I found the combination to be pretty effective at curing horrendous reflux and indigestion caused by high dose anti-inflammatory drugs. Hope you find some relief!

[AnthonyPandy]

I was on the verge of posting this same thing last night and had vowed to take my diet back to basics (consisting of what I hadn't exactly worked out. Boiled potatoes???) but it's a lot better today, no idea why. I remind myself of a newborn with colic, lying on my stomach arching my back with discomfort, it still gives no relief but feels better than other positions, and I fall asleep between 1 and 2 am through sheer exhaustion. It comes and goes, weeks on then weeks off. It's horrible isn't it?

[ScarlettDarling]

It is horrible Anthony. It's not been too bad this morning, so perhaps I'm going to have a good day. Fingers crossed!

lyrebird the ranitidine was just Asda own brand off the shelf. It didn't do a thing. In fact it felt like the tablets just stuck in my throats and irritated me even more.

Any more suggestions gratefully received!

[missyB1]

I take 20mg of Omeprazole first thing in the morning before I even go downstairs, if I eat or drink anything before I take it then I will feel ill all day.
If you do take ranitidine the proper dose is 150mg so that's two tablets.

For me the triggers for heartburn are fatty food, too much sugar, and stress.

[ScarlettDarling]

I might try taking the two ranitidine tablets for a few days. Up until now I've taken one ranitidine tablet when I first feel symptoms, then another one later in the day. That's not helped at all but I'll see if taking the 2 tablets together makes any difference.

[OmaDesala]

I have suffered for about 4 years now with constant belching, pain, nausea, vomiting and pressure in chest. I have IBS and had endoscopy and have been diagnosed with functional dyspepsia. I am on full dose Ranitidine which helps but the one thing that has helped enormously is giving up milk! I drink lacto free milk anyway and gave up ice cream as it made me feel sick but I now read all labels and avoid anything that has milk or milk products in it and it has made a world of difference. I guess I must have lactose intolerance.

[sunnyhills]

Scarlett
Up until now I've taken one ranitidine tablet when I first feel symptoms, then another one later in the day

ranitidine helps prevent your body from producing acid and it needs to be taken regularly - morning and or night time or 60 mins before you eat .It won't work taking it ^after*the onset of symptoms .

On the other hand Rennies etc do work after the onset because they help neautralise the acid .

And Gaviscon plus is good at night time because it forms a "raft" that floats on top of the stomach contents to help prevent it rising up into your throat .

And OTC Zantac ( which is ranatidine ) and supermarket own brand are likely to be to low a dose - as already pointed out .

My guess is that the sugar will be affecting your indigestion - it changes your gut content .I sympathise because I really need to do something about my own sugar addiction

AnthonyP - that sounds like trapped wind .Which indeed is agony ,mistaken for heart attack ,but requires different treatment to acid reflux

[SwedishEdith]

I started buying a banana from Waitrose every day with my lunch. I got the most horrific heartburn I've ever had (am prone to it) - seriously thought I had a genuine heart condition. Took a while to make the connection. I think it's because shops sell bananas that are too ripe. Nothing made it better.

[MrsWooster]

Peppermint tea helps a bit with the windier end of things anthony

[TheHuntingOfTheSarky]

Omeprazole. Bloody life-saver.

[thegreylady]

I have been taking 20mg Omeprazole a day for about 12 years now and I also have Ranitidine 300mg to take if needed. The Omeprazole is usually enough but recently I have been getting some horrible acid reflux most days. I was originally told it was caused by a slight hiatus hernia. I wondered if I should go back to the GP. It is a relief to find so many with a similar problem I have been panicking a bit.

[Ellapaella]

If it's being going on for weeks you need to see a doctor. You need to be tested for Hpylori and have a proper assessment.

[sunnyhills]

greylady yes I'd go back to GP and discuss .

Also try sleeping propped up a bit with pillows .

[lovechocolate123]

Gaviscon double action.... is brilliant stuff. Nothing compares to it