GERD help

[SmiledWithTheRisingSun]

Arrrgh! I have had what seems to be GERD for a few weeks.

GP prescribed a couple of weeks of omeprazole which worked when I was taking it. Been off meds' a couple of weeks and it's coming back.

What to do?! I'm miserable. I have a burning sensation in the back of my throat & weird feeling in my tummy.

We are about to go on holiday tomorrow & really want to be able to relax and have a drink with friends. But am worried it's going to get really bad again 😓

Can you get omeprazole over the counter or do I need a prescription?

Any suggestions welcome

Nexium OTC is omeprazole. My apologies, I suffer too!

If my stomach is empty it's much worse. So I eat all the time!

Did I put apologies?! I meant sympathies!

I'm not sure if you can get it OTC, but you can get ranatidine which is similar.

Keep an eye on food triggers too!

Aw thanks so much for the quick replies.
Am wondering about the food triggers. But don't really want to worry about it on my holidays.
Couldn't get an appointment with my doctor this week.
So am thinking that I will try when I come back home to ask for further investigations in case it's an infection or something like an allergy. Have never had this before. Am in my mid forties.

Have any of you had the tube down your throat? Was it awful?

My sister has it. She’s on an elimination diet at the moment - no dairy, caffeine, tomatoes, onions.

I’m referring to it as the no joy diet.

Oh god I know it sounds like such a palava!
Where does this even come from?
I would rather do the diet and get to the bottom of what's causing it though - than take drugs forever!
Is your sister doing the elimination diet with guidance from her doctor?

I didn't have it until ages 34 (36 now), started out of nowhere.
Tried lots of different tablets, had the camera down (it was fine), paid for a private allergy food test.
Turns out I'm intolerant to a LOT of different foods, and it obviously hasn't flared until then. I cope now by avoiding them and using ranatidine daily for excess gas.

Definitely try a food diary after your hols, try not to drink on an empty tummy either xx

Unfortunately you can't just take the meds and not bother with the diet and you'll need to take the meds longer than a couple of weeks.

You need to emiminate everything from this list for a few weeks and then reintroduce one by one to find out what you have to avoid. I had to get rid of most of them apart from dairy, alcohol and fizzy drinks.

It's shit but you get used to it.

www.everydayhealth.com/gerd/guide/diet/

I also elevated the head of the bed, can't sleep flat anymore.

But don't you have to stop with the meds to see what bothering you?

Wineandsunshine where did you go for your private allergy test?

Thanks for the link gamer will check it out.

I take ranitidine, much cheaper, one 75mg a day before bed keeps most symptoms away but i have to watch my intake of refined sugar and flour as it's a trigger, alas alcohol is the worst especially wine.

Yes I've noticed wine is an issue.
Are there any alcoholic drinks that you've found are less bad?
Happy not to drink most of the time but occasionally it's nice to have a drink with friends!

Yes. My sister got referred to a consultant. She has to do the diet for 3 months then go see him again. I don’t know if she’s on medication and I understand a scope is the next step.

Wow three months that's quite full on. Is she finding it makes a difference?

Yes. Looks like dairy and onions are the main culprits.

There seems to be a focus on diet on this GERD thread .Of course foods play a part in GERD as some seem to provoke more acid in the stomach .
But don't overlook the functional impact the valve at the top of your stomach .In many ppl this doesn't keep the normal stomach secretions in the stomach but let them rise up into the throat .This is a bigger factor in acid reflux than allergies .

Gaviscon plus can help with reflux as it forma a raft that floats on top of the stomach contents .Or yes ,nexium/omeprazole can be bought over the counter .And the cheaper ranatadine .

Don't get too hung up on allergies and special diets ,there are some common foods that seem to increase acid production - coffee ,tomatoes ,onions ,greasy foods and these can be avoided .