Aicd Reflux, what do you do?

[Disneylover79]

So this past week I have had really bad reflux, the worst it has ever been for me. I take Zantac and I drink milk and eat crackers when it flares up, but what else be done to help the flare up go away. So I am looking for what everyone does when the reflux is really bad. Thanks

 

[Cantw8]

The only relief I ever get is from Rolaids...instant relief but it doesn't always last long

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

I have prescription Acidex. I can eat whatever I want again!

Only thing is sometimes your insurance needs to approve it.

 

[Doe]

I take Aciphex every morning. I can't miss a day or I'll be miserable. Tums/Rolaids do nothing for me. Once in awhile my reflux will "flare" up and I just avoid soda/caffeine, chocolate, anything that might make it worse.

If the Zantac isn't working for you it might be time to see your dr. about it. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[feenie]

when its really bad eating ice cream usually helps me.
Also eating a big piece of white bread helps me sometimes, but not as much as the ice cream.
When i get it at night I have to sit up for a while and usually wake up hours later with a stiff neck and one of my arms is asleep

 

[Robinrs]

I only get it at night so I try not to eat too late, at least 2 to 3 hours before I lay down. Creamy food, pudding, yogurt, makes it less "acidy".

If all fails I take a ranitidine.

 

[Wishing on a star]

If this is something ongoing, then it could probably be GERD. (and not just something brought on by eating spicy foods, etc...)

Ongoing acid reflux (GERD) can be a serious problem. So, I would recommend that you see a doctor (preferably a specialist) if you have not seen on already.

My MIL has GERD (hers is genetic.. faulty flap/valve where the esophagus and the stomach meet) And, she did develop esophogeal cancer. This is one of the least curable cancers, and is very deadly. At the stage where they discovered hers, she is very lucky to be on of those who beat the odds!!! She has been fine ever since she underwent treatment a few years ago.

Onset at night, when lying down, is a classic symptom of this. My MIL bought one of those electronic adjustable beds, which she keeps the upper section elevated.. more like one might do when reading in bed... but this is how she sleeps. Before that, she sometimes slept in a big recliner when her GERD was bad.

Of course she has been on prescription acid blockers, probably like the ones mentioned by previous posters.

I think it is recommended that a person with GERD should take thier medication every day, and not wait until they get the bad heartburn, to avoid the damage (and possible cancer) in the esophagus.

 

[HelenePA]

Zantac I only get it while pregnant (thankfully) I even get it while drinking water. I can't wait to have this baby... no more refulx, no more restless legs, no more backache, no more getting kicked in the yahoo, no more puches to the ribs... anyway.. I think I've complained enough... my answer to your question again is zantac generic at walmart 50 in a bottle for $4.

 

[englishteacha]

DH has GERD. He takes Prilosec OTC every day, doctor's orders. He feels so much better and has seldom had any heartburn or reflux since starting it a year or so ago.

 

[Disneylover79]

Thank you all for the info... I am going to call my dr in the am.... I am a nurse and I don't want to feel as thought I am a hypochondriac, but I do say that I have to get this under control... thanks for the help

 

[Loverly]

DH has it, takes Prilosec and chews rolaids when flare ups...also chews gum because he read that helpssome

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I take Prevacid every morning for it. I take Tums if it won't settle down. Mine will flare when my sinus drains, so I eat Tums most of the day, if the flare is due to stress, I take a Xanax, my new BF.

Suzanne

 

[duckfan78]

I take Nexium daily. Without it, I suffer.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I take prilosec--the prescription dose (2x the OTC dose). Sometimes I take 3x. In fact, at one point I was taking 4x the OTC does .

I have given up alcohol altogether and very rarely have any coffee or carbonated drinks. But I still have issues after big meals, or when I do have coffee/soda, or when I eat tomato sauce or very spicy food. But I just can't give them up completely so I suffer.

If you get it a lot and Zantac doesn't work, you might want to try Prilosec/Nexium/Aciphex/Prevacid. These are proton-pump inhibitors and they work differently than drugs like Zantac. Also, if you suffer often from acid reflux and haven't been to a doctor yet, you might want to get an endoscopy as the acid can be damaging the esophagus without you knowing it.

Also, papaya is supposed to be particularly good for heartburn. You can get papaya tablets at GNC which you can pretty much just eat like candy when you're having a flare-up.

 

[pennst8r]

Protonix. I've got GERD, and the list of foods I shouldn't eat leaves very little....so I cheat.

GERD is proven to lead to esophogeal cancer if left untreated for a long time. (I think we're talking years not months) If it keeps up, have it checked.

 

[MoniqueU]

I thought I had it. I would wake up with acid coming out my nose, throw up and then be fine. I tried every med under the sun. After probably 2 years of this I finally discovered I am lactose intolerant. I can't eat anything with alot of white cheese, have cereal with alot of milk or ice cream without my lactaid. I found out quite by accident by keeping track of what I was eating and one day all I had to eat was a bean and cheese burrito about 11 am so that was digested by the time I went to bed. But right before bed I had a huge bowl of grape nuts. Sure enough I was up with the acid coming out my nose and throwing up. I looked it up online about throwing up from lactose intolerance and there it was. I just avoid those foods as much as I can or eat them early in the day with my lactaid and have been fine.

Just another possibility.

 

[mum4jenn]

I take Nexium and it has saved my life. The Dr said I would eventually need surgery but as long as the Nexium works he said to stay on that. I have GERD as well and I have a Stricture in the Esophogus.

I never had any kind of heartburn until I was pregnant...did not even know what was happening!! Dd is almost 11 now and if I don't take my medicine it starts again after a couple of days. Mine had gotten so bad my food would not even go down. It would get stuck in the esophogus and even drinking water did not help. I would have to make myself throw up to get ant relief.

Def. go to the Dr on this.

 

[KilimanjaroSafaris]

for starters you need to change your diet. You need to eat a low ash diet. and milk is just a myth on acid reflux. I have had a very bad case going on to the point I need surgery.

I am on Prevacid 30mg x2
Carafate 4 times a day
Ranitidine 4 times.

now, I have a list here of foods to help get it under control
here is what you can eat:

fresh Apple
Diced Apple
Apple juice
Bananas

Baked Potato
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Green beans
Peas

Ground Beef extra lean
Steak London broil
Chicken breast skinless
Egg Whites
Egg Substitute
Fish, no added fat

Cheese, feta or goat
Cream cheese fat free
sour cream fat free
Soy cheese low fat

Bread, multi-grain or white
Cereal, bran or oatmeal
Corn Bread
Graham crackers
Pretzels
Rice, brown or white
Rice Cakes

Mineral water
spring water
no soda!

Cookie fat free
Jelly beans
Red licorice
Potato chips baked

These foods help to reduce the acid you are producing. drinking milk will make matters much worse! I myself changed over to rice milk, and eat soy ice cream.
I eat also red potatoes, they produce less acid.and I eat a lot of tuna.

Acid reflux can get very serious, like mine.Also something I did not know. If you have any post nasal drip? allergies? This helps to make acid reflux WORSE! I did not know this, I had to go to a specialist to find this out.

I have been eating like this and have lost 16 pounds since May, not that I am trying to lose, I just did. Food was getting caught in my throat it was so bad. I also have to do the xanax due to stress making matters worse.

Oh, and if you want, you can eat bread which is a good thing to help absorb the acid in place of milk. Milk produces mucus, and that is not a good thing.

sorry so long, but I have been going thru this hard every single day for the last 6 months.
good luck!

 

[kellydizfan]

I have what is called LPR Reflux and I take Nexium. I tried to get off it as I don't want to live on it but after several days, I was miserable. My dr told me no mints, caffeine, soda and not to eat after 8 p.m. at night. Give yourself several hours after eating to go to sleep. My biggest sympton was loosing my voice - the Reflux was damaging my voicebox. I didn't even know that I had it at that point - I was not living on tums, etc. Oh the other thing was to avoid stress - like yah right like that is going to happen. I do notice when I stress my voice goes. I sound like Minnie Mouse and everyone thinks it is funny - I could go days like this then it would disappear. I notice since being on the medicine, I don't have this problem as much - yes it still comes back but never like before. You really need to see a dr. and have the nasal endoscopy done. They are not fun but it will make it better.

 

[alldiz]

I take prilosec--the prescription dose (2x the OTC dose). Sometimes I take 3x. In fact, at one point I was taking 4x the OTC does .

I have given up alcohol altogether and very rarely have any coffee or carbonated drinks. But I still have issues after big meals, or when I do have coffee/soda, or when I eat tomato sauce or very spicy food. But I just can't give them up completely so I suffer.

If you get it a lot and Zantac doesn't work, you might want to try Prilosec/Nexium/Aciphex/Prevacid. These are proton-pump inhibitors and they work differently than drugs like Zantac. Also, if you suffer often from acid reflux and haven't been to a doctor yet, you might want to get an endoscopy as the acid can be damaging the esophagus without you knowing it.

Also, papaya is supposed to be particularly good for heartburn. You can get papaya tablets at GNC which you can pretty much just eat like candy when you're having a flare-up.

What is an endoscopy.....is it anything like when the ENT looks at your throat by sticking the long thingie down your nose....does it hurt....make you gag?
Thanks
Kerri