Sudden and persistent heartburn

[Heartburnhurts]

For the past 4-5 days i’ve had heartburn (i assume it’s just acid reflux - is that the same thing? Idk)

No change in diet or activity. Worse when lying down and after eating.

Have never had this problem before. How can i stop it? Could there be anything else causing it?

What have you taken so far?

Heartburn and digestive issues can be caused by stress and anxiety. It's not always associated with what you eat. Are you u see more stress than usual?

How old are you, and are you sure it's heartburn/indigestion? Does it ease when you take OTC meds like gaviscon?

Sounds a bit gallstoney, with it being worse after food/laying down.

Any other symptoms

I am having g a similar issue. No acid reflux but the heartburn is like nothing I've experienced before ( exception Labour ! )

GP is going to test for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection

Need to get a stool sample to GP tomorrow then I can start taking the medication to ease heartburn.

If it is this bacteria then I will be put on antibiotics.
If it's not then who knows !!

If you get it lying down, then a sachet of Gaviscon is likely to resolve it. I had it for many years, resulting in the removal of my gall bladder - now I actually end up with bile in my mouth at night which is really horrid.

I have just had this for a few days and only started to feel ok today. I get it from time to time since going through menopause. It was never, ever a problem for me before this (aside from during my 2 pregnancies.) When it happens, I wake up in the morning with it and everything I eat produces too much acid. It also wakens me at night. I definitely notice it happening at times of stress. Gaviscon after every meal helps and the odd antacid when it gets bad in between times. It never lasts more than 4 or 5 days, usually less. If it becomes unmanageable or more frequent I'll see my GP. My much younger SIL (so not menopause related) has been on omeprazole for years for similar.

Similar to a previous poster, my acid reflux started during menopause. There are certain foods that trigger it so I try and avoid those but also I found eating my evening meal earlier has helped. I eat around half 5/6pm and after that, nothing else until breakfast. That seems to have helped the most. Omeprazole works by preventing it but I would use that as a last resort.

Guardium is the best thing I have found. Mines Meno related

If you’ve never had heartburn before and you’ve had it for several days, I would say it warrants a call to 111. You ideally need to rule out a cardiac cause before making the assumption that heartburn type pain is reflux or indigestion. It probably is just that, but heart issues in women can present as indigestion type pain or nausea. Gastritis would fit with sudden onset and persistent pain, I’ve had a couple of bouts and it’s unpleasant - your GP would be able to advise on treatment and tests.

When mine heartburn started suddenly I did go to A & E as I seriously thought it was a heart attack. Such intense pain and tight across chest.

Two ECGs , two lots of bloods and an X Ray ruled that out.