Reflux - self help tips please

[Kukumbr]

What are the main dos and don’ts for reflux?

I seem to get it just after I’ve eaten, when I’m hungry, when I take tablets, when I lie down, and just about all the time. I am taking lots of rennies. I can’t have omeprazole or Nexium because I take citalopram. Sometimes I think I’ll have something small and plain and it still kicks it off!

Thank you for your help!

Has it been investigated?

What DD finds helpful is: elevate bed, sleep propped up with pillows. Breakfast in bed. Low fat, simple, meat, pots, veg diet. No onions or peppers. Minimal tomatoes and citrus. Minimal milk and caffeine. Eat last meal by 6pm and eat big early in the day. Exercising after food seems to aid digestion.

Are you sure it's reflux OP? I was like this for years and it turned out to be CMPA

Can you take ranitidine?

@iheartniles - firstly fab username secondly that sounds a lot like a low fodmap diet what you’ve described there. My DH follows this very strictly, I’ll have to look for tips from him! Thank you for the suggestion.

@jiltedjohnsjulie I am not sure to be honest. I often feel like I simply don’t have a valve between my stomach and oesophagus and things just flow back upwards. I have to swallow pretty hard quite regularly to make things stay down! Sounds grim! Haven’t tried any elimination diets as such just yet but DH is totally cows milk free, so I might need to join him on that!

@murinae I’m not sure if I can have ranatidine actually, it’s something I’d have to ask. I haven’t been to the doctors with it yet, mainly out of sheer embarrassment and fear that I may need a camera down!

I would get it investigated, you might have an ulcer, Helicobacter, hernia, functional dyspepsia, muscle control issues. But things can be done to help- don’t leave it.

Thanks for your advice, I think it looks like I’ll have to go. I really don’t fancy a camera down if it comes to it.

It might be a good idea to get this sorted by the doctor, the camera isn't too bad, you can have sedation and it's something they may be able to help you with.

A low carb diet helps enormously if you can do it.

You mention it feels like the valve to your stomach doesn’t work this is typical of hiatus hernia which is quite common and in many people it doesn’t cause a problem but in some it gives the symptoms that you have. You should really get it checked as constant exposure to acid flowing into your oesophagus can cause serious problems. Don’t worry about having a camera down it’s a painless procedure and is over very quickly (I have them regularly and don’t even bother with sedation) I had one in December at 8.50 in the morning and by 9.30 I was shopping in Sainsbury’s!

Thank you, I will go to the doctor. I will have a little go of changing my diet too and avoiding trigger foods in the meantime as it’s becoming unbearable. I woke up in the night with it last night, I ended up taking 5 rennies before I got any relief at all.

Go and see your doctor.

Why can't you have omeprazole because you are on citalopram? You need actual medical advice.

speaking as someone who was on both, prescribed by a doctor, for years

Also meant to say anti depressants such as citalopram and sertraline are known to increase stomach acid so you may want to consider changing to an alternative.

There is a rare but serious risk of heart arrhythmias. This is ‘actual medical advice’ I’ve received in the past.

Have you been taking ibuprofen?

No I don’t tend to take NSAIDS because I have asthma and they tend to trigger an attack. Dreading bedtime now because I know it’s going to be a difficult night. I spend my life unsure whether to eat or not for fear of the pain. I’ve booked an appointment with my GP tomorrow to discuss it.

Glad you’ve booked an appointment, let us know how you get on?

That’s good - was just wondering as NSAIDS can cause acid reflux & stomach issues.

Hope the appointment goes well - acid reflux is awful.

I went and was spoken to like an idiot, but prescribed lansaprozole for 4 weeks and told to come back if things persist.

Aaargh Kukumbr I hate GP visits like that .

I always wrestle for weeks as to whether I warrant an appt or not ,pluck up courage ,wait a few more weeks for the appt and then another long wait in the waiting room and then - dismissed and spoken to like an idiot .

Nevertheless definitely go back if no better .Can you see a different GP ?

Anyway ...speaking as someone who doesn't have a valve btwn their oesphageous and stomach ( surgery ) when my reflux is bad I take Gaviscon plus .It forms a "raft" which floats on top of contents and helps with reflux .

I'm on long term omeprazole and also take citalopram .

Just a thought - could your reflux be bile ?

Thanks for your message Peridito. There is another GP at my surgery who I would usually opt to see but she wasn’t there yesterday. It could be - interesting thought. He suggested it’s because of the steroids I’ve been on to control a hefty asthma flare over the last few weeks, but it has certainly preceded that so I don’t know. I had a sickness bug last week where I threw up and shit out every scrap of everything inside me. I really thought that would be the ‘reset’ I needed in case it was something to do with the food I’m eating etc but it seems to have come back which to me feels like it’s a functional thing rather than to do with what’s going in!

Wonder if you would be better off seeing a Gastroenterologist, they are the experts on this. GP might be reluctant to refer though and probably a lengthy waiting list. Might be worth a one off private consultation if you could afford it?

I'm on citalopram 20mg and lansoprazole 30mg. I take the lanso in the morning before breakfast and cit at night, so there's a 8-10hour gap.
Do you find your symptoms worse around your period? I do, am currently in agony thinking I'm having a heart attack the pain is so bad. Belching helps slightly.
Gaviscon advance is good, 10ml 4 times a day.
I find plain foods best - banana and porridge for breakfast, apples for snacks, lentil soup and crackers for lunch, jacket potato with plain salmon or lean meat.

Keep coffee, fizzy drinks, chocolate, fatty foods, tomato type foods to a minimum.

Also avoid anything tight around your waist or chest. I can't wear a bra when mine is bad.

Avoid leaning over as much as possible.

It's horrendous op. Hope you feel better soon

Well I took the second lansoprozole today and a few hours later I threw my guts up. Anyone else had this as a side affect? Or is this possibly a continuation of the bug I’ve had?