Heartburn, Help Please!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Tums and Rolaids are working, but I want to know the cause of the heartburn and avoid it going forward.


I might have to drop into my doctor to chat, but it seems like a big waste to see him about heartburn.

The "cause" of most cases of frequent Heartburn is either lowering of LES pressure (due to medication, stress or age), or increased pressure (weight gain, overeating), or a combination. Less commonly Hiatus hernia where the sphincter doesn't close properly. You cannot "strengthen" the LES to my knowledge, though a Hiatus Hernia is fixable via surgery. It's a very common problem as we get older and is well managed for the cat majority of people with Proton Pump Inhibitors (Nexium, Pariet, Tecta, Prevacid, Pantoloc).

Reducing weight and avoiding triggering foods/meds (fatty foods, caffeine, alcohol, etc) are great non drug ways to start

[Buzzard]

I suffered terribly for years with heartburn, acid reflux...call it what you want. It got to the point where almost anything I ate would cause it. I was in good shape, not overweight.

One day I was talking to a guy at work who mentioned that you could actually get a prescription for it. I was skeptical as I'd tried all the stuff mentioned above, and more. Nothing worked for any length of time. Anyway, the doctor checked a few things out and simply prescribed me "Pantoloc". It took a few days to start kicking in, but it worked and still works like a charm. Almost literally a life changing experience. I really don't like to have to rely on pills, but in this case I almost can't live life normally without it.

I suppose one could do the elimination experiment thing...eliminating certain foods, and seeing if it helps, but honestly I'm not sure in my case. As I said, it was to the point where almost everything triggered it.

One thing that supposedly works wonders for many people is apple cider vinegar. You can google it, lots of info on it. Fwiw, it didn't work for me.

[RougeUnderoos]

I generally don't go in for "home remedy" type things (I prefer evil Big Pharma!), but eating unroasted, unsalted almonds was recommended to me by a hippie-dippy person and it works like a charm for heartburn.

Of course roasted, salted almonds are delicious and unroasted, unsalted are not nearly as tasty, but still way better than eating a piece of chalk.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

I suffered terribly for years with heartburn, acid reflux...call it what you want. It got to the point where almost anything I ate would cause it. I was in good shape, not overweight.

One day I was talking to a guy at work who mentioned that you could actually get a prescription for it. I was skeptical as I'd tried all the stuff mentioned above, and more. Nothing worked for any length of time. Anyway, the doctor checked a few things out and simply prescribed me "Pantoloc". It took a few days to start kicking in, but it worked and still works like a charm. Almost literally a life changing experience. I really don't like to have to rely on pills, but in this case I almost can't live life normally without it.

I suppose one could do the elimination experiment thing...eliminating certain foods, and seeing if it helps, but honestly I'm not sure in my case. As I said, it was to the point where almost everything triggered it.

One thing that supposedly works wonders for many people is apple cider vinegar. You can google it, lots of info on it. Fwiw, it didn't work for me.

Ya, I tried all the home remedies, nothing worked, though I do have other aggravating factors (celiac, crippling stress at one point). I'm now permanently on Pantaloc. If I forget to take it, mega suffering.

[Flames_Gimp]

been taking Zantac every night for the last 10 years, can't live without it! try it!

[PeteMoss]

If it happens at night, don't eat a few hours before you go to bed and should be good to go.

If I do eat closer to bed time for whatever reason, Zantac is my goto, just the regular strength works for me.

[calumniate]

I dunno I'm apprehensive of the thought of using Tums or rolaids in the long term. It only seems like it manages the symptoms rather than the cause. Truth is many of us are lacking in stomach acid and gut flora. That's why apple cider vinegar is such an attractive solution.. Fix your gut first and help digestion, then you don't get stuff higher up in your esophagus which seems acidic, but shouldn't really be up there in the first place.

http://wellnessmama.com/2042/apple-cider-vinegar-uses/

[Daradon]

Age will do it too. Agree with the stress and diet, but like everything with the body, things don't work the same as you age.

I've never had luck with Rolaids or Tums myself, have had to go the Zantac route. Not something you want to use all the time though, more like a real medicine than the first two.

[FlameCity]

Stay away from all things mint, it causes the sphincter to relax and allow the acid to travel up.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by calumniate

I dunno I'm apprehensive of the thought of using Tums or rolaids in the long term. It only seems like it manages the symptoms rather than the cause. Truth is many of us are lacking in stomach acid and gut flora. That's why apple cider vinegar is such an attractive solution.. Fix your gut first and help digestion, then you don't get stuff higher up in your esophagus which seems acidic, but shouldn't really be up there in the first place.

http://wellnessmama.com/2042/apple-cider-vinegar-uses/

Nobody with GERD is lacking in either acid or Flora. That is just completely made up and a good example of the kind of quackery that exists out there.

There is no reasonable evidence I can find anywhere to show it helps. Acidity isn't the problem here or the solution.

Flora lives in the bowels and does not help the lower esophageal sphincter stay closed.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by FlameCity

Stay away from all things mint, it causes the sphincter to relax and allow the acid to travel up.

Here's some foods that tend to cause heartburn as well:
Alcohol, particularly red wine
Black pepper, garlic, raw onions and other spicy foods
Chocolate
Citrus fruits and products, such as oranges and orange juice
Coffee and caffeinated drinks including tea and cola
Peppermint
Tomatoes

[Erick Estrada]

Antacids are a band aid. You don't want to be taking those daily. Go see your doctor and discuss your issue with her/him. I've struggled with acid reflux since my early 20's and have been taking Nexium every 2nd day for well over a decade and now I can eat, drink and sleep like a regular person.

Long term effects of acid reflux leads to Barrett's Esophagus or Esophageal Cancer so it's not something you want lingering for years.

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Nobody with GERD is lacking in either acid or Flora. That is just completely made up and a good example of the kind of quackery that exists out there.

There is no reasonable evidence I can find anywhere to show it helps. Acidity isn't the problem here or the solution.

Flora lives in the bowels and does not help the lower esophageal sphincter stay closed.

Right but isn't it your bowels and digestive tracks that may lead to a 'back up' so to speak? Thanks for replying.. I definitely respect your opinions and info

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Right but isn't it your bowels and digestive tracks that may lead to a 'back up' so to speak? Thanks for replying.. I definitely respect your opinions and info

If you're so constipated you have gerd (Gastro-esophageal reflux disease, technical term for frequent heartburn), then I suppose. But that is the cause for pretty much no one.

The cause is a weakening of the sphincter that keeps the acidic contents in the stomach, an increase in pressure forcing the contents up (weight gain/pregnancy) or a combination of the two.

Changing the bacteria in the bowels has no bearing on that, and apple cider vinegar is 1000's of times less acidic than the HCl acid in a healthy stomach. It isn't going to change the pH in either direction.

[Barnes]

Apple cider vinager or kombucha. Cures all kinds of stomach problems if you can stand the taste.

I can eat deep fried jalapeños with hot sauce all night long and wash them down with 12 imperial IPAs and not even burp. One floret of cauliflower and I'm on the ground though.

[pylon]

When I was having heartburn issues, it was because I was laying down after I ate. It was a weird set of events that led up to it. I got a new couch, that was ultra awesome. And I would always lay down on it and watch TV in the evening. When normally I would sit in my recliner.

Once I stopped laying down within an hour after I ate, it went away immediately. LOL, this went on for 3 months by the way until I finally figured it out,

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Apple cider vinager or kombucha. Cures all kinds of stomach problems if you can stand the taste.

I agree. I was a total sceptic on apple cider vinegar when a friend recommended it. I recently got a bout of food poisoning that had my stomach in knots for weeks, and I relented and gave cider vinegar a go. It worked and it managed the nausea better than Pepto or Zantac.

I still use Zantac for heartburn about once a week, but if you have stomach upset I too suggest apple cider vinegar although it tastes awful.

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I agree. I was a total sceptic on apple cider vinegar when a friend recommended it. I recently got a bout of food poisoning that had my stomach in knots for weeks, and I relented and gave cider vinegar a go. It worked and it managed the nausea better than Pepto or Zantac.

I still use Zantac for heartburn about once a week, but if you have stomach upset I too suggest apple cider vinegar although it tastes awful.

Same here. I'm making my own sauerkraut now and apple cider vinegar has seemed to help as well. For me it was the cider / fermented veggies or cortisone. Happy the former worked. Maybe not for everyone but it's worked for me so I feel guilty not to share

[GoJetsGo]

If you're looking at an antacid for temporary instant relief, this should be your go-to item. Hands down.

That chalk tums crap is a joke in comparison.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

If the is recent and unexplained, you may want to get tested for an h pylori infection. The test is just blowing into a container at the lab.

This man speaks the truth, do this first and foremost. You'd be surprised how many people think they have "heartburn" but in fact have a stomach virus only caught by this test. Put into perspective I had an attack about a year ago so bad I thought my chest was going to explode, burping non stop, the acid feeling except the chest pain was intense.

Went to the hospital, hooked me up to all the machines (ekg, x-ray, ultrasound) said they can't find anything and it may be gallbladder related. Sent me home and I was good for about 3 weeks before another one hit.

Coworker told me about the H pylori test, said she was having the same thing and it couldn't be found. Long story short this test found exactly what it was, you get some antibiotics and it goes away, never to eat another chalky tablet again.