Heartburn is driving me mad

[HeartburnHetty]

Any advice welcome please.

I fit the description of fat, fair and over 40 to get gall bladder problems but had it checked a few years ago and all fine.
But heartburn is driving me crazy. I have tried cutting out carbs and doing keto which has helped a lot. But 3 months in still keeping to keto and the heartburn is starting again. I am wondering whether to go on to low fat, but that means eating carbs as low fat without carbs just leaves me so hungry and I dont like too much meat so am eating a fair amount of nuts, cheese and cream on keto. Filling me up, though also making me put on weight even keeping to my macros. I have u/a thyroid so eating over 1500 cals a day I balloon easily.

I have cut out most choc except a bit of 85% stuff, have decaff drinks, dont eat spicy food, drink 2/3 litres a day, dont drink alcohol, dont eat close to bed time...what else can I do to lessen the heartburn?

Hiatus hernia is in the family, wondering if it could be that, but I cant feel any lump in my abdomen.

Am so fed up of not knowing what to do. Belching away and acidy throat with the heartburn.

Help and advice appreciated, thank you

I take omaprazole in prescription BUT an over the counter option from boots is available. Google omaprazole OTC and it will tell you how to get it

Have you ever had a check for H pyloric? I suffered for years and just 'assumed' it was heartburn. Some places will do a breath test, my GP took a stool sample which came back positive. I needed a triple therapy course for about a week of 3 anti-biotics and omeprazole. Never had issues since and wish I'd had it checked years ago.

Hubby and I have been on keto diet for 4mths now. He used to guzzle gaviscon daily, but since the diet, he hasnt needed it since. I've also lost 10kg, whereas years on a low fat diet, I just kept putting on weight!

Definitely get it checked with the dr but the OTC pills (way better than the gaviscons etc) should give you some relief from the pain. It is relentless - I’ve often thought it was proper heart pains - after a course of Omeprazole I now only take it on occasion - worse when drinking, dairy, caffeine, spicy food etc. I cut them all out to stop the pills and have a rest but if I’m honest it made me so miserable when one small little innocuous pill made such a huge difference!

See your dr, ranitidine is the OTC medicine available at boots pharmacies. Don’t take all the time but you may find you “reset” yourself and only need to take occasionally.

Defo get it checked out at the doctor, he can prescribe ranitidine or omeprazole or similar and do tests.

Thank you for the replies everyone, really helpful. I forgot I have some omeprazole will check if still in date.
I haven't heard of H pyloric will look that up thanks @Elouera

See your gp, dh had this but has lanzaprazole on px now.

I have a 5cm sliding hiatus hernia, nothing they can do so take the omeprazole, stick to low fat, no spicy, no caffeine, no chocolate. Cannot give up alcohol completely though. It is very boring. Go see your gp.

The only brand off the shelf I swear by is Nexium, but it can get costly.

I know what triggers mine (over eating, junk, spice, citrus, alcohol. All the fun stuff) so try to moderate it. However, I always know when I'm going to be ill with a cold etc. as the heartburn comes.

I never ever suffered from it until my twin pregnancy. It was horrendous and, unfortunately, it stayed with me - 14 years on - at all different weights too.

I buy maalox on line Amazon because it is so difficult to buy. Also take gaviscon when I go to bed.

Note that omeprazole prevents acid production, so takes a few days of use to actually work, whereas a gaviscon helps at the time its taken.
If you do need to be checked for H pyloric, you'll usually need to be OFF any omeprazole/PPIs for a certain amount of time beforehand for an accurate result.

Thanks again all. Just checked and mine omeprazole is well out of date so will see what I can find otc tomorrow.

@justasking111 how did you get your hernia diagnosed? Could you feel a lump in your abdomen or did you have to have a scan?

Gastroscopy for an accurate diagnosis. I did have gallbladder problems from a young age as well so a double whammy.

oh goodness, poor you as you say, a double whammy. Thank you for the info.

I found eating quite a lot of Greek yoghurt daily helped massively for me. Used to be fluffing gaviscon all day long now I barely have it!

Glugging* not fluffing

Aah that's a good idea @nutellalove, I have plenty of Greek yog being on keto!

Just realising how noisy my breathing is too! All part and parcel I suppose, I sound a right whinger