To ask if anyone has got better from reflux without medication

[Somethingsosimple]

I’m going for an endoscopy soon as I have been suffering from reflux for the last 6
Months and although I have tried all sorts of meds But i am still suffering . Omneprezole was hopeless. Weight is not an issue as actually underweight. Bed head raised, no late night eating,no alcohol, choc, citrus,Alcohol etc. Am I missing a trick? Sick of feeling ill with strangled feeling and food coming up in my throat. Also feel a burning in my chest. I’ve even tried no gluten for a week or so but ít hasn’t helped.

Probiotics really helped me

Yep also another vote for probiotics and for me milk and yoghurts after meals were good. Bland ish meals and no processed food also helps. Eating at roughly same time worked for me too. Don’t know why. I took PPI tablets for two years. Got it under control and now don’t take any medication apart from the occasional slurp if gavisgon when things get out of control.

Also reducing stress in your life as much as possible.

How much omeprazole were you on? Did you they try with ranitadine too? Were you taking at the same time each day?

Live yoghurt etc is worth a punt, but honestly I'd persevere with the omeprazole. Some people need up to 60mg/day, so if you're just on 20 it may simply not be enough. Some people need to combine with ranitadine.

For short term relief gaviscon liquid (doctors can also prescribe the own brand equivalent) is highly effective.

Can see these aren't "not medication" but omeprazole and ranitadine should be highly effective. Omeprazole physically stops your stomach producing the volume of acid by inhibiting the proton pumps, so it should be a volume problem rather than an actual efficacy problem. However, obviously that depends how it interacts with the proton pumps, so there are a variety of other proton pump inhibitors that can be worthwhile to try if omeprazole doesn't agree with you.

Thanks both. Which probiotics would you recommend please

not eating 3 hours before bed and small(ish) portionfor dinner. no alkohol. no coffee past lunch time.

Thanks Nacreous too, I was on 20mg Omeprazole so maybe not enough? Tried it for a month. Did you all have investigations done or just prescribed meds?

Yakult original one I had. Not op much sugar either.

PP makes a good point about dosage though. I was on 60mg (2 30mg tablets) of lanzaprozle for 6 months then 30mg and then 15mg to get it under control at first. You may need a higher dosage to get it back under control and then use a diet to keep it under control.

Yeah a month is no where near long enough for it to have an effect

Interesting, my doctor has just stuck me on lanpazorole for 1 month to see if it makes a difference.

I do all the lifestyle things but medication is the only thing that helps. I take 20mg Esomeprazole in the morning and 40mg before my evening meal. It’s very important to take them between 30 minutes and an hour before food. If I have breakthrough symptoms I take 60mg Ranitidine.

Esomeprazole is also called Nexium. It’s the only PPI that works for me.

20mg probably not enough if very severe, and would recommend more than a month to see if it helps.

Ultimately getting a lower stress job fixed mine, but I can see that's not a universal solution.

I'd recommend combining yoghurt s/probiotics with omeprazole, taken regularly at the same time (and seeing if they'll dose you up to 40mg if you need it) with gaviscon on top if you have a bad day.

Probiotics (I use Biokult).
Digestive enzymes with meals.
Smaller portions / portion control on meals.
Slug of gaviscon at bedtime.
No caffeine, alcohol, fruit juices..

Also get checked for gallstones.

20mg isn't very high - I was on 60mg initially to get it under control and dropped down to 20/40mg for long term use. I couldn't get diet to help at all although I still try and be good even with the tablets.

Not much advice OP but just read you were on 20mg omeprazole and wanted to just say that when my eldest had reflux at 1 year old he was put on 20mg omeprazole a day!! So if that’s a dose given to a baby you will most definitely need a higher dose (saying that it was under paediatricians instructions and my child did have quite a severe case of reflux) it also did take a good few weeks to kick in but was a god send when it did.

Mine improved when I lost weight

I lost some weight as for first time in my life was carrying some extra and a nurse friend of mine said it could sometimes be something as simple as the top of your stomach being pressed on by excess stomach area which is why pregnant women are often plagued with it.
It worked for me but l see from your op you aren't overweight so do l get prize for most pointless post

pints and pints of whole milk works for me,its got to be the blue top as green dont work

i go through 16-18 pints per day as i have it bad

its that bad my teeth are rotten as it comes up in my mouth and i have to spit it out,i think i actually have gerds

i buy nexium 24 hour control from tesco as gaviston and Ranitidine did nothing for me

doctor appointments around here are few and far between(im talking weeks for a appointment) and when i did go they gave me a month of something but then said i would have to do monthly poo sample, wait for the results then attend a appointment for the tablets, as a busy 24/7 carer i didnt have the time for that so i self medicate

the only down side is the milk does help but it makes me put on a shit load of weight,that and my PCOS mean im 17 stone odd

I've used biokult probiotics as well.
Ginger tea (fresh ginger) also is helpful before bed

I take 80mg esomeprazole, ranitidine and sucrafete.

I take 20mg Esomeprazole in the morning and 40mg before my evening meal. It’s very important to take them between 30 minutes and an hour before food.

What time do you have your evening meal, and do you take the evening capsule on an empty stomach? I ask as I am trying to get my overnight symptoms under control.

I take 20mg Omeprazole first thing and another 20mg in the evening. I don't suffer with reflux during the day but have a slight burning sensation in the chest when I wake for the loo about 4am. I have the bed raised.

I saw the consultant last week and he suggested Gaviscon just before bed to try to put a lid on the acid. I'm going back next October for a follow up. Have had two endoscopies over the past 4 years: fist showed oesophagitis (now cleared up) and the second a hiatus hernia. He said that long term I may be able to have a procedure called Stretta which has recently been approved by NICE, but best to wait as they aren't yet convinced of its efficacy.

I take 80mg esomeprazole, ranitidine and sucrafete.

Sounds interesting. Was it GP or consultant who sorted this out for you?

You probably have a hiatus hernia OP if omeprazole doesnt sort it.

You probably have a hiatus hernia OP if omeprazole doesnt sort it.

Yes, 20mg of Omeprazole worked brilliantly for me when I was first diagnosed with GORD and had to clear up the oesophagitis. After 18 months I became aware of breakthrough acid and was eventually sent for a second endoscopy which showed a hiatus hernia had developed, which meant that the Omeprazole was less effective.

16-18 pints a day @tor8181 and it's not the PCOS making you 17 stone

If yours is that bad you need to have your billiary system checked, your liver, gallbladder and for a hiatus hernia.

Also that much milk would trigger your system to make tons more bile so wtf are you even doing? You're making it 1000x worse on your own. The Asda own brand antacids work better than any other and if you ate a couple or double of them every few hours it would be almost impossible to have reflux.

Stop being an idiot. Book a drs appt in advance. Or change GP.

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack your thread, OP! It's just that this is an issue I'm trying to get sorted, too. Hope the endoscopy gives you clarity and a way forward to getting the acid under control.