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Share your tips for dealing with heartburn with Gaviscon

292 replies

AbbiCMumsnet · 15/10/2019 09:53

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Whether you suffered as a student, during pregnancy, or in your general day-to-day life, dealing with heartburn can really get you down. Finding new ways and different remedies to cope with heartburn can be really important in helping you deal with it - and it’s also great to know that you’re not alone. With this in mind, we want to hear your tips for dealing with heartburn.

Here’s what Gaviscon have to say:
“Around 80% of all pregnant women suffer from heartburn by the third trimester, therefore finding ways to deal with it is important during pregnancy. Gaviscon Advance range is indicated for use during pregnancy, in addition it isn’t absorbed into your bloodstream to work. Gaviscon advance works by forming a protective barrier on top of the stomach contents which helps prevent the acid rising into your food pipe.
Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.
Gaviscon Advance Tablets and Oral Suspensions. For heartburn and indigestion. Always read the label. RB-M-00995”

Do you have any top tips for dealing with heartburn? What’s the most helpful piece of advice you’ve had to help you deal with it? Did you get it at a particular stage of your life? Maybe you’ve had to cut something out that really helped you deal with heartburn?

Share your experiences and the ways you deal with heartburn on the thread below and 1 MNer will be in with a chance to win a £300 voucher (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Share your tips for dealing with heartburn with Gaviscon
OP posts:
GatoFofo · 22/10/2019 16:29

Eat less fatty food, drink milk or eat a yoghurt at the first sign of heartburn and keep a bottle of gaviscon by the bed to swig from..

onemorecakeplease · 22/10/2019 18:41

Garlic gives me heartburn so I tend to avoid very garlicky things like garlic bread

Taking your time eating and sleep on your side!

Silentnight87 · 22/10/2019 19:26

I got mine during pregnancy. Most notable when stressed. What helped was the following:

-drinking lots of fluid
-milk
-sitting/lying position. Generally being propped up helped
-gaviscon/Rennie
-not eating things that triggered it. For me this was fragrant food.
-trying to not get stressed. So using relaxation techniques-music, yoga and walking.

These only treated the symptoms, but didn't tackle the cause. Luckily I was cured after childbirth Grin- obviously not suitable treatment for all. Wink

Hydrogenbeatsoxygen · 22/10/2019 21:06

I’ve cut out alcohol, I limit spicy foods and chocolate. I eat my evening meal before 7pm and I avoid big meals. I’ve propped up the head of my bed. I avoid tight clothing. I try and limit the amount of stress in my life, as I know stress upsets my stomach.

Lemongrasssugar · 22/10/2019 22:09

Sucking on a polo. The mint soothes it. Plus going on all fours.

ipswichwitch · 22/10/2019 22:14

I used to drink soda water when I’ve had bad heartburn. That and lying propped right up. Gaviscon also helped but I did prefer drinking the soda water, which seemed to just push all that acid back down again. Unfortunate side effects included burping and constantly needing the toilet so I guess gaviscon has the edge there!

Flanjango · 23/10/2019 01:03

I have had awful heartburn in the past, indeed I was diagnosed as having IBS. Antacids weren't strong enough at the time, they are now available over the counter. My main tip...lay on your left side. The way the stomach works means that is the best hope for air to move down the intestines.

Hydrogenbeatsoxygen · 23/10/2019 08:25

I’ve read that you should lie on your left side! If I lie on my left side I get heartburn within minutes! I lie on my back or my right side, I’ve always been an awkward type!

aggga8 · 23/10/2019 12:32

with heartburn help me Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother. I was drinking every day 2 spoons of apple cider with water for 1 months. Today i dont know what heartburn it is:)

voyager50 · 23/10/2019 17:14

I find a strong ginger tea can help ease the discomfort.

jacqroberts68 · 23/10/2019 19:55

I'm 3 weeks post op from my Gallbladder removed and feel like I'm on fire, please tell me it gets better?

jacqroberts68 · 23/10/2019 19:59

I've found that sitting at a higher angle in bed definitely helps with those bedtime attacks. Try to not stress and tense that makes it worse and keep a food & drink diary as this will hope you notice your trigger foods.

mummaB89 · 23/10/2019 20:44

I've had heartburn from early pregnancy right the way through. I found that gaviscon before each meal and propping up in bed helps massively. Cutting out spicy/acidic food and drinks, fresh orange juice, curries tomato sauce was always awful for me. Also drinking boiled water helps

starfishmummy · 24/10/2019 01:20

I got heartburn from very early in my pregnancy and it lasted for many years afterwards! Gaviscon was definitely my go to remedy.

Sleeping propped up on a load of pillows helped a little. I also had to cut out things like lentils and beans from my diet.

I did eventually realise that the situation seemed to have resolved itself - happily for me the regular purchase of gaviscon dwindled down and I can even eat lentils and beans again!!

Stilllivinginazoo · 24/10/2019 04:59

My Dd(15) has silent reflux and rather than heartburn pain her symptom is wickedly sore throat
Our tips from trial and error
*Sleep on left side
*Sleep propped up
*practise relaxation every day- being stressed definitely makes it worse
*Know your triggers.biggest culprits for us are tomatoes (esp ketchup),citrus,fizzy drinks of any kind,fried food,spicy food
*Milk/dairy doesn't fix everyone..
*Oddly bananas seem to help here!
*Don't wait til you are starving to eat and gallumph loads,smaller regular meals are much better,incl a slice of toast before bed
*Don't eat or drink after taking gaviscon or it washes it away
*Peppermint in tiny amounts helps,larger amounts makes it worse
*Avoid chewing gum like the plague

I recently made the mistake of buying generic "gaviscon" offered by boots staff assuring me it's same as the advanced stuff.its not.its not as thick(more like regular gaviscon) and therefore doesn't work on DD.we are currently spending £20 a month on it as not a prescriptive item so hoping once her GCSE are over things improve significantly!(in meantime gaviscon advance is our lifeline)

sleepy78 · 24/10/2019 06:51

Hey stilllivinginazoo
Your post about your daughter could have béen written about me! My digestion problems sound exactly like hers as well as the ways to calm it!
Yes to toast before bed and yes to thick gaviscon being the best! And yes bananas are the way to go!
If it helps, I am on holiday at the moment and have noticed the difference so stress must be a big factor - roll on the end of her GCSEs!

DisgruntledGuineaPig · 24/10/2019 08:58

Eating slowly, and drinking lots of water. Not exciting advice, but works for me.

Shamanka · 24/10/2019 12:35

GP prescribed a huge bottle of Gaviscon when I was pregnant,so it was free- this helped a lot, but the ultimate cure was my C-Section to evacuate my MASSIVE BABY.

angstinabaggyjumper · 24/10/2019 13:18

Hot hot water.

tinytemper66 · 24/10/2019 14:35

I suffer daily and I find that a cup of tea and gaviscon helps.

Bemystarlord · 24/10/2019 15:11

I find on the rare occasion i get it that it tends to happen during the evening or at night. I find that proping myself up to sleep helps as laying down makes it worse. Milk is quite soothing and the best thing i have tried is liquid gaviscon and tend to keep a bottle in the cupboard.

Sagradafamiliar · 24/10/2019 17:37

I'm another one where giving birth was the ultimate cure.
When not pregnant, the odd episode is helped by tinned pears or a yazoo milkshake, which I used to guzzle in pregnancy whenever I'd run out of gaviscon.

UpOnDown · 24/10/2019 17:39

Sleeping propped up helps me

sophiestew · 24/10/2019 17:45

I found that drinking water and going for a short, slow walk helped me, along with gaviscon double action peppermint liquid.

For some reason, whilst pregnant I found that the liquid was more effective than tablets.

Fastandfree · 24/10/2019 19:01

I snack on almond in between meals, just a small handful but I find it helps. I also dont eat after 6pm and take some gaviscon before bed