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Original poster

Fed up of acid reflux/ indigestion symptoms- help!

43 replies

Kaisawheel · 12/02/2023 23:54

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
Kaisawheel · 13/02/2023 17:13

@Groutyonehereagain thats really scary as it’s never been flagged to me before- my dad has osteoporosis due to cancer and really suffers
@FenghuangHoyan oh sorry i missed that! Not excessively, maybe a total of 3 small glasses of wine over a Friday/ Saturday

OP posts:
Groutyonehereagain · 13/02/2023 17:40

justasking111 · 13/02/2023 15:29

@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?

Show quote history

Yes, I take 80mg of Esomeprazole every day.

Groutyonehereagain · 13/02/2023 17:41

FenghuangHoyan · 13/02/2023 15:44

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.

I’m weird, I get more reflux when I lie on my left side.

FenghuangHoyan · 13/02/2023 17:43

Kaisawheel · 13/02/2023 17:13

@Groutyonehereagain thats really scary as it’s never been flagged to me before- my dad has osteoporosis due to cancer and really suffers
@FenghuangHoyan oh sorry i missed that! Not excessively, maybe a total of 3 small glasses of wine over a Friday/ Saturday

Try quitting alcohol fully and see what that does. You might be surprised. I used to get reflux after just one drink.

justasking111 · 13/02/2023 17:50

Once you've healed again you can treat yourself.

It used to frustrate me that by the time I got an endoscopy appointment. With great self care because of the pain it healed.

I do have 5cm sliding hiatus hernia just to add to the fun of it all

Groutyonehereagain · 13/02/2023 18:39

I don’t drink alcohol and I still need 80mg of Esomeprazole daily.

whinsome · 05/06/2024 09:41

Missingthegore · 13/02/2023 09:28

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.

I can see this is an old thread but posting in the hope that @Missingthegore is still around. I have similar issues and it’s beginning to annoy me enough to tackle my diet.

Q1: Did you cut out dairy? If so Was it all dairy or were some ok?

Q2: And do you still have relief of symptoms now?

Thank you! And hope everyone else who posted has found some relief.

justasking111 · 05/06/2024 09:52

I've quit them on advice of GP was on 60 milligrammes a day but still suffering. I had to halve the dose and replace with ranitidine, then reduce again, and again. I had rebound acid of course but the ranitidine took care of that. Now I just take a nexium if I'm having a bad case of indigestion.

I will add that my diet was very limited even with all the pills.

Now I do avoid onions, tomatoes, if my stomach is dicky. I don't eat fatty rich foods, chocolate can get me. But I eat butter.

I do eat gluten free pasta and bread. I do use lactose free milk.

I can drink white wine

I think my gut is healthier and copes better without the pills.

whinsome · 05/06/2024 10:26

Thanks @justasking111 - and great that white wine doesn’t bother you too much.

Red wine, coffee, cheese and chocolate are going to be the hardest for me, I think, but then onions and tomatoes are in everything and I love spicy food! 😭

justasking111 · 05/06/2024 13:00

whinsome · 05/06/2024 10:26

Thanks @justasking111 - and great that white wine doesn’t bother you too much.

Red wine, coffee, cheese and chocolate are going to be the hardest for me, I think, but then onions and tomatoes are in everything and I love spicy food! 😭

I can now eat all those in moderation. But I do sometimes need milk of magnesia, tums or nexium. But doesn't everyone

whinsome · 05/06/2024 15:14

justasking111 · 05/06/2024 13:00

I can now eat all those in moderation. But I do sometimes need milk of magnesia, tums or nexium. But doesn't everyone

Show quote history

Great to hear! Glad there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you 😊

justasking111 · 12/06/2024 23:13

@Kaisawheel how are you getting on?

GetUpStandUp4 · 12/06/2024 23:26

sorry to hijack but what do people who used to use ranitidine use now it's been banned? that was the only thing that helped me. in 2018 an endoscopy showed I had erosive gastritis with ulcers and hiatus hernia. ranitidine was the only thing that helped. nhs won't give me another endoscopy so I'm a bit worried.

PickAChew · 12/06/2024 23:32

Kaisawheel · 13/02/2023 00:16

@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

Histamine. All the fruits, salad fruit caffeine etc have histamine in common. I'm fine with bananas and limited coffee first thing, so long as it's a light roast but a bit of citrus or curcubit might as well be battery acid infused laxative.

PickAChew · 12/06/2024 23:37

And just realised it's an old thread but it's my sister who signposted me to all my odder sensitivities being the same histamine sensitivity that was apparent from fermented foods like oyster sauce.

justasking111 · 13/06/2024 00:23

GetUpStandUp4 · 12/06/2024 23:26

sorry to hijack but what do people who used to use ranitidine use now it's been banned? that was the only thing that helped me. in 2018 an endoscopy showed I had erosive gastritis with ulcers and hiatus hernia. ranitidine was the only thing that helped. nhs won't give me another endoscopy so I'm a bit worried.

I use nexium when I get a flare up and keep milk of magnesia by the bed. Ranitidine was good stuff.

justasking111 · 13/06/2024 00:25

PickAChew · 12/06/2024 23:32

Histamine. All the fruits, salad fruit caffeine etc have histamine in common. I'm fine with bananas and limited coffee first thing, so long as it's a light roast but a bit of citrus or curcubit might as well be battery acid infused laxative.

Show quote history

That's really interesting about the histamine. I have allergic type asthma, hayfever so am doubly cursed

Paulina18 · 13/08/2024 13:50

Any one have pressure on chest and dry throat after eating with IBS as well as tummy pains

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