Anyone with heartburn please read

[tele_lover]

I've recently experienced heartburn. Prior to this I didn't know much about it.

I just want to make sure people are aware how serious it can be.

Heartburn = acid reflux = stomach acid rising in to your esophagus.

Your esophagus is not designed for stomach acid. Long term heartburn can cause your cells to mutate and cause C#####.

This isn't some theoretical research paper finding, any doctor will confirm this.

If you do suffer with heartburn please see a doctor and change your diet/lifestyle. Cut out the acidic and fatty foods, alcohol, smoking etc. Do not eat within 3 hours of laying down (this is important). Eat smaller portions and do not drink lots during a meal. Otherwise your stomach fills and this helps acid rise. Sleeping on your left (not right) side helps, also elevating the top of your bed (yes really, gravity etc).

I hope this helps prevent even just one person receiving bad news in the future.

Edited by tele_lover on Monday 26th February 03:57

[mcelliott]

It's fairly common knowledge that heartburn/gerd can cause problems long term.

[Steve_H80]

Well posted OP.
Too many people just survive off antacids thinking it's just a bit of indigestion not realising it's acid reflux and how serious that can be long term.

[dundarach]

I struggled with this for year, gave up instant coffee, gone!

Not sure it'll help anyone, but it's a bd!

[Badda]

Barrett’s oesophagus is the condition you describe.

[DickyC]

Omeprazole sorted me out. There are brands like Nexium freely available but Omeprazole is also available unbranded over the counter at pharmacies.

Concerned about taking it longterm, I spoke to my GP who wasn't worried at all and I now have it on regular prescription.

[essayer]

I was getting on/off pains in my throat and was referred for an endoscopy. they did diagnose a very minor finding of Barrett's for me, which obviously is a bit of a concern.

I'm now on lansoprazole forever, no more throat pain at least

[Peanut Gallery]

I used to get it lots, Ranitidine really worked, until they went and took that away!

I get it when I eat normal shop bought bread - home-made stuff is fine.

Cut that out and it has really helped.

[Downward]

dundarach said:

I struggled with this for year, gave up instant coffee, gone!

Not sure it'll help anyone, but it's a bd!

Interesting.
I have the issues and could it have started when I used more decaf over tea ?

[sherman]

Downward said:

dundarach said:

I struggled with this for year, gave up instant coffee, gone!

Not sure it'll help anyone, but it's a bd!

Interesting.
I have the issues and could it have started when I used more decaf over tea ?

I get this when drinking Nescafe original at work.
I started buying my own better quality coffee. Problems went away.
I also dont get the heart burn with fresh ground coffee or tea.

[Tim O]

Peanut Gallery said:

I used to get it lots, Ranitidine really worked, until they went and took that away!

I get it when I eat normal shop bought bread - home-made stuff is fine.

Cut that out and it has really helped.

Exactly the same for me. Any ultra processed wheat based product gives me acid reflux - bread, biscuits, hot cross buns etc.

I've tried bread made with spelt wheat and that's an improvement. Another is Vogel's bread, available at Waitrose.

https://vogelsbread.co.uk

[cheeky_chops]

im on the edge here and appreciate the advise

I started getting terrible stomach pain 2am-5am when eating rich fatty food like pork or cheese or chocolate. I tried PPI no change. Had a private scan for gall stones and nothing found.

I manage it with chicken, fish, rice, salads, eating before 8pm and its usually fine, sometimes it catches me out. I can drink any alcohol (except baileys!) and can have tandori chic or curry as long as not creamy or oily. I guess i need an endo camera but at £2k private thats pretty expensive so waiting on NHS....

[Coxey]

DickyC said:

Omeprazole sorted me out. There are brands like Nexium freely available but Omeprazole is also available unbranded over the counter at pharmacies.

Concerned about taking it longterm, I spoke to my GP who wasn't worried at all and I now have it on regular prescription.

Me too. It was life changing for me.

[nuyorican]

Long term sufferer here. Drives me mad. Get through boxes of Rennie.

Been to the doctor loads of times over the years. None of them seem that clued up/bothered about it. I was prescribed Omeprazole which worked, but I got worried about long-term side effects so switched to Ranitidine which worked well too. Then that got pulled never to be seen again so I'm back gobbling the Rennies.

I honestly thing there's something physically wrong, a weak sphincter perhaps (huh huh huh) at the bottom of the oesophagus. Gave up smoking years ago, tried alcohol cessation, sometimes for a year at a time. Tried eliminating certain foods etc. Bread is one of my worst triggers, especially supermarket/cheap bread. And biscuits etc, sugary wheaty things basically.

I'd love to get to the bottom of it. I'm basically disabled without Rennies. Tried all the internet supplements over the years.

Might just get back on the PPI's. Risk of long-term side effects be damned.

Edited by nuyorican on Monday 26th February 18:59

[DickyC]

Coxey said:

DickyC said:

Omeprazole sorted me out.

Me too. It was life changing for me.

nuyorican said:

Long term sufferer here. Drives me mad. Get through boxes of Rennie.

I was prescribed Omeprazole which worked, but I got worried about long-term side effects

My GP wasn't concerned about longterm effects from Omeprazole and I take it every day now. The other side of that equation is that I'm older and it might be that taking them every day might have some effect on someone younger taking them for longer than I will before I shuffle off. When I bought them - from Wilkos oddly - I took them for a week or so, then had a rest from them for a week or so. That might be worth considering.

[nuyorican]

Yeah, might have to re-evaluate the PPI's. Not sure what it was that spooked me about them. Since then I've noticed you can buy them everywhere, so they must be reasonably safe. Though I notice they say only for short term use so I don't know what to think.

Wish they'd bring Ranitidine back.

[Hoofy]

I feel like I have found my peoples.

sherman said:

Downward said:

dundarach said:

I struggled with this for year, gave up instant coffee, gone!

Not sure it'll help anyone, but it's a bd!

Interesting.
I have the issues and could it have started when I used more decaf over tea ?

I get this when drinking Nescafe original at work.
I started buying my own better quality coffee. Problems went away.
I also dont get the heart burn with fresh ground coffee or tea.

Interesting to note. Cheers.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Like one of the posters above I get insane heartburn eating bread which also seems to have a drain cleaning effect

[ReformedPistonhead]

Took all sorts of pills for years, omeprazole, esomeprazole etc.

Then cut out dairy totally and heartburn vanished in a week and has never come back.

Very easy now with Oat / Coconut / Almond alternatives including for desserts.

[mcelliott]

I was on omeprazole for about 3yrs, worked really well but I wanted to get to the cause not treat the symptoms as there are defiantly some risks if taken long term, although I appreciate some people have no choice in taking them, my reflux was mainly caused by anxiety so I really focused on mindfulness and stress management, I also lost some weight too, slowly came off them about 2yrs ago and have never had a single episode of reflux since, no rebound ether, my Dr was slightly amazed!