Over production of stomach acid - anyone else get this and finds it increased with stress?

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

This has been a problem for me for a couple of years now. I'm on prescribed medication, maximum dose but in the last few weeks it's not been v effective. I've been under considerably more stress than usual and wondered if there's a link.

I have an appointment with the gp tomorrow, just wondered about other people's experiences of this problem. It *should, according to the hospital consultant, improve as you lose weight. Well, I have lost a serious amount and the condition isn't improving - seems to be getting worst.

Hi Puff

Yes - I do. I've been trying to self diagnose over the internet and think I may have gastritis. What are your main symptoms? Mine are a sort of gnawing pain in my stomach, indigestion and feeling a bit sick. The sick bit is horrible because I have a severe fear of vomiting.

What medication are you on? I have been taking Maalox but have no further appointments at the GP's - do you think I should go back?

Good luck tomorrow. Pls post back as soon as you can

xx

Hi, just thought I'd let you know that I was diagnosed (by barium meal - yuk) about ten years ago as suffering from excess stomach acid (I actually had a small balloon of acid in my stomach). I was prescribed Zantac and found they worked almost immediately - and yes, stress does cause/worsen stomach acid.

I found eating smaller, more frequent meals a big help and now very rarely suffer with it HTH

Thanks BROWNY and mumtochloe.

I take 60mg of lansprazole (sp?) - this was increased from 30mg about 8 months ago. I also take buscopan intermittently to stop spasms.

Recently, the symptoms have become bad again - wake up with very sore stomach and gullet, nausea and as though I have eaten a rock - very heavy, pressured feeling between my boobs! My diet has been really healthy and sensible for the last 7 months, so I know it's not that.

mumtochloe - definitely go back to your gp btw.

Hi Puff and Browny

Urgh - Barium meal sounds horrid. Then again an endoscopy sounds worse! Glad it worked for you though Browny.

I have booked another GP's appointment for next Wednesday. Hope I don't have to have one of the above though!

Mine has got worse recently too Puff. Lets hope we get it sorted out soon eh?

xx

puff, have CAT you

puff, get yourself tested for Helico bacter (sp?). It's a corkscrew shaped "thing" that lives can live in your stomach. It survives the stomach acids by corkscrewing into the stomach lining and therefore it irritates your stomach. A direct link has been shown between the presence of HB and ulcers and long term with stomach cancer. There is also plenty of evidence linking stress and ulcers. HB is relatively common (in some countries it is present in 60% of the adult population) and really should be tested for more often, I think. Anyway, the cure is a one or two week set of pills. Though there is nothing to stop you from getting it again, so keep an eye out in the future for the symptoms if you do turn out to have it and take the pills.

Helicobacter pylori.

My dad had a stomach ulcer for years and later had stomach cancer. Unfortunately the research into Helicobacter came too late for him.

I second SofiaAmes suggestion to get yourself tested. I think it is a simple breath test they do.

My DP suffers from access acid it comes up into is throat and is damaging his throat lining, he has already had to have an operation to repair some damage caused to his throat. He takes Lansoprazole 30mg everyday as a preventative, it doesn?t always work though especially at night it very often wakes him up.

SofiaAmes I have never heard of Helico bacter, I will tell DP about it this evening and ask him to get tested.

Sofia, I was tested for HP a few months ago, and I was fine, also have had an endoscopy, ultrasound and CT scan of all my digestive bits about 18 months ago - all seemed ok, so the hyperacidity has been largely kept well controlled by the drugs. The consultant though I may have some sort of gall bladder dysfunction (def not stones) too - this seems to threaten to kick off when I'm under a lot of stress too, but I also have preventative medication for it.

I managed to get a cancellation appointment this afternoon with the GP. He's done what the consultant recommended if the hyperacidity flared up again, which is prescribe 300mg of ranitidine on top of the 60mg of lansprazole I already take.

I do worry about what's going on, all of my mother's family over the age of 30 have this problem and there's a history of stomach cancer too. I'm now taking what seems to be an incredibly hefty dose of this kind of medication, but have no choice.

I'm seeing the hospital consultant in July for a check up and will talk through my concerns with her.

Thanks everyone for your posts .

Puff, I was diagnosed with hyperacidity around 14 years ago (via barium meal). I wasn't overweight when I had it and to be honest, although I have had periods of being overweight in the meantime, I'm at an OK weight now and it seems to have no bearing on how acidic my stomach is or not.

As for stress, yes it definitely makes it worse. When you are stressed, you have more adrenaline running round your body and that in turn, can cause nausea and indigestion. I am 100% sure that my stomach acidity problem is worse when I am stressed.

I don't take prescribed medication anymore but do use over the counter stuff when it gets very bad. I have trouble in the morning mainly. I would say eating small meals often definitely works - I still have trouble eating large meals without feeling very ill. Exercise helps as does anything that actively destresses you.

foxinsocks - I'm hoping to get off all this medication too, can't be good in the long term.

I think I might look at some alternative remedies just out of interest.

Puff, zantac is lansoprazole. There is other stuff you may be able to try which may be of help. Don't know of any natural rememdies, but maybe try a different drug to get it better under control and then try taking something to keep it that way? It's miserable I know. Poor you.