In a terrible panic about reflux

[Somethingsosimple]

I have been suffering for 6 months from bad reflux. Was prescribed Omeprazole for a month but made no difference. Went back to GP and admitted I was very stressed so offered me sertraline. I decided against taking it but tried lots of different ways of trying to manage reflux with diet etc. Nothing has worked and I know I must go back to GP to get a endoscopy booked in the new year. People keep telling me that it’s really dangerous to have long term reflux which I do know but it making more and more anxious. The dr also prescribed gaviscon advance to try. I’ve been taking for a few month on and off which does help a bit but now I’m panicking as I says on bottle to use for up to 7 days. Is it dangerous to keeping using gaviscon advance? I’m sitting in tears not knowing what to eat and I’m only 6st 6 now so have to eat. My sternum has a knawing pain and I keep belching continually. Please calm me down

OK I have been on omeprazole for a long time ditto Gaviscon and am still here. Calm down and wait for endoscopy. This is so common believe me. It is horrible I know. I have a 5cm sliding hiatus hernia so know I am stuffed and have to keep taking the meds.

Raise the top end of your bed about 12 inches (we put ours up on yoga blocks, some people use bricks).

I’ve been on combined Ranitidine (Zantac) and Gaviscon Advance for a couple of years now, as Omaprazole gave me a rash (which can mean it’s causing liver problems).

Ranitidine reduces production of acid. Ask your GP about this. Ranitidine plus Gaviscon Advanace was the standard treatment before Omaprazole was developed.

Gaviscon Advance says that on the bottle so that people go to their GP should symptoms persist for more than one week. The “use for up to seven days” there for people who buy it from the chemist, not people who are prescribed it. It only says that so people know to go to the doctor if they are still using it after a week.

As far as diet goes, best thing is to keep a food diary and take note of which foods cause you symptoms. That said, it’s best to peel and de-seed fruits and vegetables, especially tough skins (like peppers).

I've had this on and off, stress makes it worse.

Definitely raise the top end of your bed, sleep on your left side if you can (harder for acid to travel up at night).

Avoid fatty foods (especially late at night).

Ginger tea can help, make it with the root - sometimes I just chop a few pieces and let it sit in hot water for a bit.

Avoid chocolate, caffeine and tomato, spicy foods, citrus for a while and see if that helps.

For the stress, try some guided meditation videos on youtube and breathing exercises for when you start to worry. Try not to think about it all the time, you're doing what needs to be done by getting it looked into. Try the tips before your appointment and like another poster said try keeping a diary and see if there is a pattern to it.

Try not to panic, you're getting it looked into, it's not like you're just leaving it. x

Hi thanks so much for your replies. I have tried ranatidine in the past so will try again. Could I ask the dose you take please? I have already raised my bed- it looks like a ski slope! I will try keeping a good diary too. I already avoid tomatoe, onion, choc and alcohol. Such a miserable condition

I take 2 x 75mg ranitidine tablets twice a day (so max four in a day).

Time the doses 12 hours apart. About 2 hours after I get up and 2 hours before I go to bed.

Also take the Gaviscon after food and just before I go to bed.

I must say the ranitidine plus Gaviscon works much better for me than the Omaprazole ever did. It’s pretty much got me back to a normal life. I get a little heartburn now, maybe once every couple of weeks, usually when I eat too large a meal. I now eat smaller portions more frequently and that makes a real difference too. I especially try not to eat more than 70-80g of meat/fish/seafood at once.

This way I can eat pretty much anything except I still grill and skin peppers, or buy the skinned and seeded ones in jars ( I do avoid some other foods for other medical reasons, I’m on the low fodmap diet).

It’s much easier knowing you can have what you want, just in small amounts, than thinking I can’t ever eat this again.

Have you tried avoiding caffeine? It apparently relaxes the muscles in the oesophagus so makes reflux more likely. It doesn’t work for me as I have a hiatus hernia, but it’s something they told me to try before I had the upper GI endoscopy that found the hernia.

Good luck

Thanks kitten that’s really helpful. I will try all your suggestions over Christmas

What dose of Omeprazole were you on?

That's helpful of people telling you that . In what way is it dangerous anyway? I had issues for years that suddenly just got better unless I drink prosecco. I don't usually eat after 6pm in the evening, I think that is the major change that I made, related to having dc really. I still drink alcohol and caffeine and have a normal diet. Cutting stuff out made no difference to me at all.

Thanks teatea. I think I hang out with the wrong people- I once got told a really sad story about breast cancer from a “friend” whilst waiting for a breast clinic appointment! I was on 20mg if Omeprazole.

I don't think that breast cancer and reflux are in any way linked. 20mg isn't a particularly high dose - I was on 40 for quite a while. I think maybe you need to talk to a doctor/ gastroenterogist rather than your nutty mates. As a pp said these issues are really common

I’m a nurse and I haven’t heard about any specific links...I’ve been on omeprazole for years. I’ve had a gastroscopy, I’ve got chronic reflux and a hiatus hernia so I can’t see myself coming off it any time soon. I don’t view it as a problem. Do you still have omeprazole? 20mg is a relatively low dose, they should have tried you on a higher dose really. Also you need to take it with start when you first wake up to feel the benefit. I imagine the advice with the gavsicon is for people buying it over the counter? If you’re taking it for reflux that’s not settled after 7 days, you should see a doctor but you’re taking it under advisement of the GP so it’s fine.

Do have a look at ways to manage your anxiety like CBT and mindfulness. I know it’s difficult, I struggle myself. Given your anxiety, I would suggest taking the sedation when you have the gastroscopy (endoscopy) as although it’s over quickly, it’s easier to tolerate if you’ve had the sedation. I hope it settles soon.