Fed up of acid reflux/ indigestion symptoms- help!

[Kaisawheel]

For just over 10 years I’ve suffered with acid reflux/ indigestion symptoms. Heartburn type sensation in my chest, acid coming into my throat, shortness of breath, really bad bloating, nausea.
It’s so bad tonight that I’ve been sick. I also have IBS symptoms that are controlled by buscopan but I don’t know if that’s related? Sorry for the TMI but it feels like my food isn’t digesting as it should. I’ve just thrown up food i had over 24 hours ago!

I’m just so fed up, I’m only 30- been suffering since i was about 18. I take 80mg per day of omeprazole and top up with gaviscon advance. I’ve had so many tests over the years- tests for gallstones, hernias- all normal. I’ve had an endoscopy, 24 hour ph tests, barium swallow. All tests show is some slight inflammation, some small difficulty in swallowing- but all within “normal range”. Doctors are not bothered and don’t know what to do as the test results are “normal”.

I’m just so fed of taking such a strong dose of tablets when they don’t solve the problem. Does anyone have any experience of anything like this?

That's a very high dose of omeprazole. May I ask

Do you have a hiatus hernia?

Are you overweight?

www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/side-effects-of-omeprazole/

You can get side effects from omeprazole

Do you know what your triggers are? I don't just mean food, mine are eating big, heavy or hard to digest foods as welll as the usual culprits. Being sedentary for too long etc. it's horrible I sympathise

How much gaviscon are you taking?

I'm the same. Fatty foods, onions, tomatoes, bread, pasta, red meat, garlic, chilli. It's the pits. I've found gluten free pasta and lactose free milk have helped a lot.

@justasking111 definitely a bit overweight now- 5’5 and 11st 5. I wasn’t overweight when it started- i would have been about 10st?

@applespearsbears it’s really frustrating- ‘raw’ foods seem to trigger- oranges, cucumbers, raw onions, tomatoes, salad items. I only drink decaff and try to stay away from fatty food, but i suppose my diet can be quite carb heavy

@justasking111 you may have a point about pasta- but i did go through a period of drinking lactose free milk/ eating gluten free bread/cereal and it didn't seen to make any difference

I’m negative for a gluten intolerance, but apart from that the GP has refused to do any tests for food intolerances/ allergies

Sorry @justasking111 no sign of hiatus hernia and i try not to take the gaviscon more than twice a day if i can help it

Okay. Well I wouldn't take omeprazole tomorrow. Unless you get real pain. My doctor weaned me off them, they were actually making things worse. I was weaned off with one omeprazole at night and a nexium in the morning.

Now I have one omeprazole in the morning. I buy Maalox from Amazon. Keep it by the bed have a swig at night if I feel a twinge or have been naughty.

I've got some nexium in the cabinet, haven't needed them yet. I gave up the gaviscon too.

My diet has done the most good. Avoiding caffeine is good. OH chocolate too.

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/gerd-diet-foods-that-help-with-acid-reflux-heartburn

Diet is the game changer though.

I had a week of salad last month, keep fit. Lettuce, spring onions, tomatoes, fish, lasted four days before my gut had it's revenge.

I had horrible awful heartburn and acid which was incredibly painful for many years. Also had endoscopy’s which found nothing. Omeprozle did nothing for me and gavisgon hardly touched it.
Panterprazole worked well in the end.
You need something that works so your osophagous can heal. It takes months to heal. Right now it’s damaged and every bit of acid is burning.
Things that I found very bad- smoking
being overweight
certain foods - pineapple was the worst.
Eating too much. Only could have small meals. Even then it was often random.
Bras
wearing trousers even if loose
sittinf scrunched up
reclining or laying back after eating

I've had all your symptoms and I had them for over twenty years and was given PPI's on and off over the years they never helped I was constantly on gaviscon and milk of magnesia then eventually I got sent for a gastroscopy
I was told I had severe candida in my oesophagus and mild gastritis
I was given strong tablets to clear the candida and at the same time I read articles and watched so many videos about candida
I cut out all spicy foods, tomatoes, anything containing yeast, Onions garlic gas producing veg like broccoli and so on the list is endless
I've stuck to it and although my diet is limited I very rarely have the heartburn burping etc etc
I had another gastroscopy in December 2021 and the candida was gone and there was no mention of gastritis
You say you had an endoscopy so this probably doesn't refer to you but I would cut out completely all known trigger food and wean yourself off the PPI's if possible

I am also fed up but only had it (knowingly) for a 6 months.
Omeprazole helped at first - then I got used to it, came off for endoscopy which showed nothing. Went on lansaprozole- again, it’s not doing much so am gonna wean off it.
At the very least you need to cut out:
caffiene inc decaf tea/coffee, fizzy drinks, onions, garlic, cooked tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, spicy food. Yes, very boring but that’s what will help. There are acid reflux prevention diets out there but they are v restrictive - Dr Aviv and Dr Koufman - if you’re serious about getting better. They have helped me but it takes months to heal so I’m still going through it.
Sleep at an angle - get a wedge, don’t lie down until 3+ hours after eating, reduce stress as much as possible.
80mg of omeprazole is a massive dose too but you’ll need to wean off slowly over months.
good luck!

I have a hiatus hernia and suffer from awful heartburn and acid reflux at times, although I have to admit I’ve never really analysed what sets it off. I control it by sucking a couple of Rennie’s tablets as and when I need to. Seems to work pretty quickly to stop my symptoms. (Not an ad for Rennie’s. I’m sure own brand tablets work just as well, but I love the orange Rennie’s which taste like Refreshers!)

The only way you'd know if you had a hiatus hernia is if you had an upper endoscopy.
Have you had this done?

Sorry just seen you say you've had one - how long ago?

Your story is just like mine. I take 80mg of Esomeprazole and I’ve had all the tests. The doctors don’t know what to do with cases like ours. I was put on 10mg of Amitriptyline for pain just over a year ago and this medication has reduced my acid reflux symptoms considerably.

Lots of similarities with me.....I was a nurse manager on a GI ward when mine started so tapped into my resources (the positives of working in public hospitals).

I was on 80mg twice a day of omeprazole and 150mg of ranitidine .....we don't give much more to active bleeders so I was shocked into action.

On advice of a gastroenterologist and gastro dietitian I started by going on a horrible bland diet

No high water fruit and veg (think cucumber, melon, peppers, tomatoes etc)
No spices
No garlic, onions
No bread
No caffeine (including chocolate)
No alcohol
No fried food

So I basically ate a lot of protein and green vegetables for 6 weeks. Basically more severe than FODMAP

I slept with 2 blocks under the head of the bed to tilt it up

No food for at least 2 hr before bed, always sitting upright for at least 30 minutes after eating.

I slowly reintroduced foods one at a time to find my triggers. While not coeliac most breads trigger me as do onions. I love onions and if I want to eat some I cook them completely and eat early in the day and take an extra omeprazole :)

I don't know if it is available in the UK but I can get something called "intestamine" over the counter in pharmacy which is a herbal supplement with aloe Vera, slippery elm and mastic gum which helps sooth the inflammation. Maybe try a natural food shop.

You poor thing it is horrendous.

Your problem may be anxiety-related like mine (are you the sensitive nervous worrying type like me?) Being nervous upsets the acids in the gut. Gastro medication (omeprazole and ranitadine) made my siuation a whole lot worse. I had to stop taking them . Also I'm extremely electro-sensitive (radiation and blue light) so sitting at a computer for long periods somehow affects the acid in my stomach which in turn sets off my acid reflux for days on end. If I stay away from my computer the problem goes away.

Really interesting point’s everyone- thank you!
@wherearetheturtles it has been a while now in all honesty- 2019? But i have had the 24hr ph test and the barium swollen in the last tear, would that pick it up?
@primulaprimulina that’s interesting, problem is that my job involves being on the computer all day 😪I don’t think it helps being hunched over my desk all day

The drugs eventually stop working. Their side effects you're looking at osteoporosis. Which is terrifying.

The doses are so high in OPS case

The drugs definitely still work for me, I can’t manage without them. I’ve taken PPIs for years, I’ve had a bone density test and my bones are fine. I take vitamin d and calcium every day and I walk a lot. This can help protect you from osteoporosis. I have blood tests every year, to monitor my mineral and vitamin levels.

@Groutyonehereagain Yes you are doing the right thing by exercising/walking and taking the vitamins but does everyone? And are you on 80mg a day?

As one of the PP's said, do you drink alcohol? I used to get acid reflux until I stopped drinking.

Also sleeping on your left side will help as the exit from the stomach is on the right side.

My partner and I started getting reflux again after COVID, but that won't be your cause.