Any acid reflux sufferers?

plainjane0415 · January 2015

I think I may have acid reflux. I thought that I was catching a cold when my throat started to feel all weird and I developed a dry cough. Then at night, my chest will burn and I feel like I have something in my throat to cough up. And now, I have been taking cold medicine for a week and nothing is helping. I have been woken up every night every couple of hours because I can't shake the cough or the feeling of something being in my throat. I've read up on the symptoms of acid reflux and it almost every symptom I have right now. Am I overreacting?

penguin44 · January 2015

I had some serious heart burn for a while. The doctor said I was showing signs of GERD. So I went on over the counter heartburn meds and got a foam wedge for sleeping. Both of those helped a lot. Eating healthy also helped. Now its basically gone. I just take a Tums when it starts acting up.

I'm not an expert on this, but I hope that helps.

sal2015 · January 2015

I have this. I've taken prescription Omeprazole for years. You can get it over the counter too. I know it's recommended to not take it for so long, but my doctor says it's fine. I would love to not take it though. My diet is fairly healthy, but I'm sure there's more I could do. When it does flare up, I try to drink a lot of water and I think that helps a little. Good luck!

danamw · January 2015

There is so much you can take that will help. Prilosec is over the counter, that is one pill a day for 2 weeks, and you do not get heartburn while taking it. Ask the doctor if you can take it all the time. Mine said I can, but I don't really need to.

Tums works at the first sign. Other good things are Tagamet, Rantidine, famotidine.. Get the generics, they are just as good. Only one pill works for me.

NowIamMrsKlein · January 2015

I get it bad every now and then, usually for a week. Its usually when I have a change in diet or routine. I get pressure in my chest, kind of feels like a knot, and it feels like its creeping up. Usually end up coughing or burping. And get an acidy taste in your mouth.

Tums don't do much for me. I use gaviscon because it gets all foamy goodness down your throat. weird to get used to but I find it works better. If it gets really bad you can get some higher grade stuff from your doctor or pharmacist. Don't think you need a prescription, my doctor just gave me a handful of sample boxes but pretty sure they are behind the counter. Theyre a once/twice a day for a week type medication. I usually get it if I go over a week and still have symptoms.

novella1186 · January 2015

Ugh. One of my stomach specialists tested me for acid reflux (it's a horrifying test so avoid it if you can) and I definitely had it. I would recommend that you try an over-the-counter daily pill for a month or so and see if it helps. If I remember correctly, I was prescribed Nexium, which did help, and these days you can buy it at the drug store. (or any place they sell stuff like that)

levioosa · January 2015

I've always had a little acid reflux, but now that I've gained some weight it's much worse. It's one of the reasons I'm trying to lose the weight I've gained over the past two years. Avoiding foods that exacerabte the GERD will also help (onions, tomatoes, garlic, citrus fruits, alcohol, coffee, etc). You could try the BRAT diet for awhile to see if that helps. Avoid eating less than two hours before you sleep, and try sleeping with your upper body slightly elevated.

The problem with taking TUMS on a daily basis is that it will eventually cause the opposite effect and make your stomach start to over produce stomach acid in order to compensate for the basic chemical reaction that the TUMS causes. If it's really bad and diet changes don't help, see your doctor. He/she might prescribe you something like Nexium or Prilosec. If you're not sure about having a cold, or acid reflux, or something else, I would see your doctor anyways.

Hope you feel better!

plainjane0415 · January 2015

@levioosa all of the foods you named are some of my favorite things! I like all of them. Today I told my self I would try to eat healthier, and hoping that will help. If it doesn't after a few days I'm going to pick up some prilosec.

littlemushroom · January 2015

I use Zantac at night when my heartburn gets bad. Some days I feel it starting as soon as I lay down, and my throat just burns and I start to cough. The Zantac works quickly and lasts all night.

I seem to get mine in spurts. I will have it really bad for a few weeks and then nothing for a long time. I just take the mint flavor Zantac pills until it gets better. I really like the cooling sensation of the mint while the medicine kicks in.

[Deleted User] · January 2015

penguin44 · January 2015

pinkrevenge said:
I have it, but I tend to be fine unless I drink a lot of alcohol or I'm very very stressed. Both make my insides burn.
If I drank too much, I take the maximum dose of the strongest tums and sleep with my upper body elevated. If it's a flare-up I go on Prevacid for two weeks and cut out a lot of fats, spicy stuff, complex carbs (like fruits), red meat, alcohol, coffee, soda and juice, and a decent portion of dairy (some is okay and feels kind of good, but not a lot). I basically stick to white bread, tortillas, white meat, rice, just very bland and simple foods.

I've never had a cough feeling from my acid reflux. More like a very persistent, clenching burn. It's kind of like a low-level heartburn that never ever lets up, and certain foods / eating too much will feel like I swallowed balloons filled with nails.

I posted before coffee.

This is pretty much what happens to me too. Its stress and diet related. I take rantidine when mine is acting up and switch to a bland diet. I also switch from coffee to tea when its really bad.

dolewhipper · January 2015

My intention of what I'm going to say is to not scare people. I'm just going to preface what I'm going to say with this: My father's overuse of OTC meds for his chronic acid reflex was the main cause of him getting stage IV cancer. However, I say overuse because he was literally taking Tums/Prilosec/ Prevacid on and off for over 20 years.

I think it's important to understand what OTC ant-acids do to your stomach. When you have acid reflex/GERD/too much acid and you take OTC meds, what they are basically doing is slightly burning the glands that create the acid. Over use of the meds actually leads to scarring of the stomach. When they looked in my dad's stomach, they found that 60% of his stomach lining was burned, and they had to cut it out (thankfully the ulcer and tumor was located in this area as well).

Now, since it seems like this is new for you, you can definitely take OTC meds and see if it is being caused by your diet. I was diagnosed with GERD maybe 8 years ago and was on Nexium (Rx med for reflex). When I started a low FOD MAP diet, especially taking wheat out of my diet, it completely went away (as well as my other digestion problems) and I haven't taken Nexium for over 3 years now. But, if your acid reflux persists, I strongly recommend you see a GI dr about getting an endoscopy. (And idk why you didn't like the procedure, novella, I didn't think it was that bad. Maybe a sore throat for a day but that's it. And seeing the inside of your stomach is kinda cool.)

ETA: in the mean time, try some ginger based drinks. Ginger ale, especially ginger beer, or my favorite, ginger tea (To make, take slices of ginger root and stick it in hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, chug. Tastes like shit, but your stomach will be soooo happy.)

plainjane0415 · January 2015

dolewhipper said:

My intention of what I'm going to say is to not scare people. I'm just going to preface what I'm going to say with this: My father's overuse of OTC meds for his chronic acid reflex was the main cause of him getting stage IV cancer. However, I say overuse because he was literally taking Tums/Prilosec/ Prevacid on and off for over 20 years.

I think it's important to understand what OTC ant-acids do to your stomach. When you have acid reflex/GERD/too much acid and you take OTC meds, what they are basically doing is slightly burning the glands that create the acid. Over use of the meds actually leads to scarring of the stomach. When they looked in my dad's stomach, they found that 60% of his stomach lining was burned, and they had to cut it out (thankfully the ulcer and tumor was located in this area as well).

Now, since it seems like this is new for you, you can definitely take OTC meds and see if it is being caused by your diet. I was diagnosed with GERD maybe 8 years ago and was on Nexium (Rx med for reflex). When I started a low FOD MAP diet, especially taking wheat out of my diet, it completely went away (as well as my other digestion problems) and I haven't taken Nexium for over 3 years now. But, if your acid reflux persists, I strongly recommend you see a GI dr about getting an endoscopy. (And idk why you didn't like the procedure, novella, I didn't think it was that bad. Maybe a sore throat for a day but that's it. And seeing the inside of your stomach is kinda cool.)

ETA: in the mean time, try some ginger based drinks. Ginger ale, especially ginger beer, or my favorite, ginger tea (To make, take slices of ginger root and stick it in hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, chug. Tastes like shit, but your stomach will be soooo happy.)

Where do you find ginger root?

dolewhipper · January 2015

plainjane0415 said:

Where do you find ginger root?

Almost every super market has it. It looks like this:

You want to shave the outside of the root and cut it in pieces like whats in the spoon. Doesn't have to be fancy or that small.

ETA: you can also get the pickled kind you can find in the Asian section of the supermarket. Not as potent though, so not as effective.

plainjane0415 · January 2015

Thanks! @dolewhipper

dolewhipper · January 2015

plainjane0415 said:

Thanks! @dolewhipper

Anytime! Obviously this topic holds a very special place in my heart. Stomach and digestive issues are prevalent in my family, and I try to help as many people as I can. Knowledge should be shared

I hope your stomach feels better soon! And I would look at the low FODMAP diet for the next week. It's crazy restrictive, but you can rule out what gives you heartburn that way (ie. go on the low fodmap diet for a week, add onions, see if that does anything, add garlic, see if that does anything. FTR, I can have garlic and onion powder and be fine, its the oils in them that give me digestive problems.) I pray this is a one time issue caused by just a bug.

novella1186 · January 2015

dolewhipper said:

My intention of what I'm going to say is to not scare people. I'm just going to preface what I'm going to say with this: My father's overuse of OTC meds for his chronic acid reflex was the main cause of him getting stage IV cancer. However, I say overuse because he was literally taking Tums/Prilosec/ Prevacid on and off for over 20 years.

I think it's important to understand what OTC ant-acids do to your stomach. When you have acid reflex/GERD/too much acid and you take OTC meds, what they are basically doing is slightly burning the glands that create the acid. Over use of the meds actually leads to scarring of the stomach. When they looked in my dad's stomach, they found that 60% of his stomach lining was burned, and they had to cut it out (thankfully the ulcer and tumor was located in this area as well).

Now, since it seems like this is new for you, you can definitely take OTC meds and see if it is being caused by your diet. I was diagnosed with GERD maybe 8 years ago and was on Nexium (Rx med for reflex). When I started a low FOD MAP diet, especially taking wheat out of my diet, it completely went away (as well as my other digestion problems) and I haven't taken Nexium for over 3 years now. But, if your acid reflux persists, I strongly recommend you see a GI dr about getting an endoscopy. (And idk why you didn't like the procedure, novella, I didn't think it was that bad. Maybe a sore throat for a day but that's it. And seeing the inside of your stomach is kinda cool.)

ETA: in the mean time, try some ginger based drinks. Ginger ale, especially ginger beer, or my favorite, ginger tea (To make, take slices of ginger root and stick it in hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, chug. Tastes like shit, but your stomach will be soooo happy.)

SIB
I didn't get an endoscopy for reflux (although I did get one, along with a colonoscopy and a CAT scan etc because my problems went far beyond reflux). The test they do for that is an Upper GI. You have to chug two huge canisters of Barium that tastes fucking awful and made me horribly sick. And when I say chug, I mean they make you chug a shit ton of it, faster than you thought was physically possible, and then tell you repeatedly that you're not doing it fast enough. All the while you're strapped to a vertical table. Just after you chug it, they tip this table backwards so that you're laying back, to force the reflux to happen so they can watch it via a scan. Quite a bit more awful than an endoscopy, during which I was sedated and I don't even remember the sore throat.

dolewhipper · January 2015

novella1186 said:

dolewhipper said:

My intention of what I'm going to say is to not scare people. I'm just going to preface what I'm going to say with this: My father's overuse of OTC meds for his chronic acid reflex was the main cause of him getting stage IV cancer. However, I say overuse because he was literally taking Tums/Prilosec/ Prevacid on and off for over 20 years.

I think it's important to understand what OTC ant-acids do to your stomach. When you have acid reflex/GERD/too much acid and you take OTC meds, what they are basically doing is slightly burning the glands that create the acid. Over use of the meds actually leads to scarring of the stomach. When they looked in my dad's stomach, they found that 60% of his stomach lining was burned, and they had to cut it out (thankfully the ulcer and tumor was located in this area as well).

Now, since it seems like this is new for you, you can definitely take OTC meds and see if it is being caused by your diet. I was diagnosed with GERD maybe 8 years ago and was on Nexium (Rx med for reflex). When I started a low FOD MAP diet, especially taking wheat out of my diet, it completely went away (as well as my other digestion problems) and I haven't taken Nexium for over 3 years now. But, if your acid reflux persists, I strongly recommend you see a GI dr about getting an endoscopy. (And idk why you didn't like the procedure, novella, I didn't think it was that bad. Maybe a sore throat for a day but that's it. And seeing the inside of your stomach is kinda cool.)

ETA: in the mean time, try some ginger based drinks. Ginger ale, especially ginger beer, or my favorite, ginger tea (To make, take slices of ginger root and stick it in hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, chug. Tastes like shit, but your stomach will be soooo happy.)

SIB
I didn't get an endoscopy for reflux (although I did get one, along with a colonoscopy and a CAT scan etc because my problems went far beyond reflux). The test they do for that is an Upper GI. You have to chug two huge canisters of Barium that tastes fucking awful and made me horribly sick. And when I say chug, I mean they make you chug a shit ton of it, faster than you thought was physically possible, and then tell you repeatedly that you're not doing it fast enough. All the while you're strapped to a vertical table. Just after you chug it, they tip this table backwards so that you're laying back, to force the reflux to happen so they can watch it via a scan. Quite a bit more awful than an endoscopy, during which I was sedated and I don't even remember the sore throat.

Oh Lord, you poor thing. My dad had to do those a few times and he absolutely HATED it. And he had a pretty big tolerance for tests. I haven't had to go through it, but I pray you won't have to ever again in the future!

novella1186 · January 2015

dolewhipper said:

novella1186 said:

dolewhipper said:

My intention of what I'm going to say is to not scare people. I'm just going to preface what I'm going to say with this: My father's overuse of OTC meds for his chronic acid reflex was the main cause of him getting stage IV cancer. However, I say overuse because he was literally taking Tums/Prilosec/ Prevacid on and off for over 20 years.

I think it's important to understand what OTC ant-acids do to your stomach. When you have acid reflex/GERD/too much acid and you take OTC meds, what they are basically doing is slightly burning the glands that create the acid. Over use of the meds actually leads to scarring of the stomach. When they looked in my dad's stomach, they found that 60% of his stomach lining was burned, and they had to cut it out (thankfully the ulcer and tumor was located in this area as well).

Now, since it seems like this is new for you, you can definitely take OTC meds and see if it is being caused by your diet. I was diagnosed with GERD maybe 8 years ago and was on Nexium (Rx med for reflex). When I started a low FOD MAP diet, especially taking wheat out of my diet, it completely went away (as well as my other digestion problems) and I haven't taken Nexium for over 3 years now. But, if your acid reflux persists, I strongly recommend you see a GI dr about getting an endoscopy. (And idk why you didn't like the procedure, novella, I didn't think it was that bad. Maybe a sore throat for a day but that's it. And seeing the inside of your stomach is kinda cool.)

ETA: in the mean time, try some ginger based drinks. Ginger ale, especially ginger beer, or my favorite, ginger tea (To make, take slices of ginger root and stick it in hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, chug. Tastes like shit, but your stomach will be soooo happy.)

SIB
I didn't get an endoscopy for reflux (although I did get one, along with a colonoscopy and a CAT scan etc because my problems went far beyond reflux). The test they do for that is an Upper GI. You have to chug two huge canisters of Barium that tastes fucking awful and made me horribly sick. And when I say chug, I mean they make you chug a shit ton of it, faster than you thought was physically possible, and then tell you repeatedly that you're not doing it fast enough. All the while you're strapped to a vertical table. Just after you chug it, they tip this table backwards so that you're laying back, to force the reflux to happen so they can watch it via a scan. Quite a bit more awful than an endoscopy, during which I was sedated and I don't even remember the sore throat.

Oh Lord, you poor thing. My dad had to do those a few times and he absolutely HATED it. And he had a pretty big tolerance for tests. I haven't had to go through it, but I pray you won't have to ever again in the future!

It was honestly the worst of all the tests. I feel so bad for your dad because just doing it ONCE was traumatizing enough for me! Luckily the reflux thing is no longer a problem for me, so if any doctor ever tries to get me to do that test again I will just run far far away lol. Torture!

plainjane0415 · January 2015

novella1186 said:

dolewhipper said:

My intention of what I'm going to say is to not scare people. I'm just going to preface what I'm going to say with this: My father's overuse of OTC meds for his chronic acid reflex was the main cause of him getting stage IV cancer. However, I say overuse because he was literally taking Tums/Prilosec/ Prevacid on and off for over 20 years.

I think it's important to understand what OTC ant-acids do to your stomach. When you have acid reflex/GERD/too much acid and you take OTC meds, what they are basically doing is slightly burning the glands that create the acid. Over use of the meds actually leads to scarring of the stomach. When they looked in my dad's stomach, they found that 60% of his stomach lining was burned, and they had to cut it out (thankfully the ulcer and tumor was located in this area as well).

Now, since it seems like this is new for you, you can definitely take OTC meds and see if it is being caused by your diet. I was diagnosed with GERD maybe 8 years ago and was on Nexium (Rx med for reflex). When I started a low FOD MAP diet, especially taking wheat out of my diet, it completely went away (as well as my other digestion problems) and I haven't taken Nexium for over 3 years now. But, if your acid reflux persists, I strongly recommend you see a GI dr about getting an endoscopy. (And idk why you didn't like the procedure, novella, I didn't think it was that bad. Maybe a sore throat for a day but that's it. And seeing the inside of your stomach is kinda cool.)

ETA: in the mean time, try some ginger based drinks. Ginger ale, especially ginger beer, or my favorite, ginger tea (To make, take slices of ginger root and stick it in hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, chug. Tastes like shit, but your stomach will be soooo happy.)

SIB
I didn't get an endoscopy for reflux (although I did get one, along with a colonoscopy and a CAT scan etc because my problems went far beyond reflux). The test they do for that is an Upper GI. You have to chug two huge canisters of Barium that tastes fucking awful and made me horribly sick. And when I say chug, I mean they make you chug a shit ton of it, faster than you thought was physically possible, and then tell you repeatedly that you're not doing it fast enough. All the while you're strapped to a vertical table. Just after you chug it, they tip this table backwards so that you're laying back, to force the reflux to happen so they can watch it via a scan. Quite a bit more awful than an endoscopy, during which I was sedated and I don't even remember the sore throat.

That sounds awful @novella1186! I couldn't imagine!

Blergbot · January 2015

I've got it bad right now because I'm pregnant. Any time I lay down it rears its ugly head. It's so bad right now that it actually woke me up this morning, and I had to get out of bed, because it felt awful. I've been taking TUMS at night before bed, but I'm thinking I may need to switch to Zantac for the remainder of my pregnancy. At some point, though, it's just physiology. All my organs are being squished up into my chest, so it's just gonna happen. Boo.

dolewhipper · January 2015

Blergbot said:

I've got it bad right now because I'm pregnant. Any time I lay down it rears its ugly head. It's so bad right now that it actually woke me up this morning, and I had to get out of bed, because it felt awful. I've been taking TUMS at night before bed, but I'm thinking I may need to switch to Zantac for the remainder of my pregnancy. At some point, though, it's just physiology. All my organs are being squished up into my chest, so it's just gonna happen. Boo.

One of my good friends is pregnant too, and the ginger tea is working wonders for her. Are you laying at an angle? From what I understand, if you lay completely flat you have a higher chance of getting sick.

Blergbot · January 2015

I'm propped up on two pillows and lying on my side. You're not supposed to lie flat on your back when pregnant (though it does happen sometimes). I've tried ginger tea, but not right before bed. Could help.

novella1186 · January 2015

I can't drink milk because I'm lactose intolerant so I can't speak from experience, but my FI swears by it for acid reflux. Whenever he gets it really bad, he immediately goes for a glass of milk.

That could help?

The pillow thing is funny to me because even though I don't have issues with reflux anymore, I spent so many years sleeping propped up to try to reduce the relfux thing that to this day I can't stand to lay flat. I have to sleep propped up. Drives FI nuts. He always tells me to keep my "tower of pillows" away from his side of the bed lol

theartistformerlyknownas · January 2015

I would definitely take it step by step. Start with a glass of milk, see if that helps. Then try Tums. Then Gaviscon. If those don't work, I'd probably talk to a doctor before going to one of the other OTCs... Nexium actually made my issues worse. Sometimes the GERD is a symptom rather than the problem, and can be caused by an underactive thyroid. Your doc can help narrow that down for you.

novella1186 · January 2015

Oh (sorry I keep dropping back in cuz I keep remembering random remedies) I know people who really really insist that aloe juice is the holy grail of reflux cures. You can find it at places like Whole Foods. You just take a little bit and mix it in with whatever you'd normally drink. Again, I've never tried it myself so I can't speak from experience but with what people have told me and what I've read about it, it would definitely be worth a try to me if I were having issues.

plainjane0415 · January 2015

novella1186 said:

Oh (sorry I keep dropping back in cuz I keep remembering random remedies) I know people who really really insist that aloe juice is the holy grail of reflux cures. You can find it at places like Whole Foods. You just take a little bit and mix it in with whatever you'd normally drink. Again, I've never tried it myself so I can't speak from experience but with what people have told me and what I've read about it, it would definitely be worth a try to me if I were having issues.

I heard from a coworker today that Apple Cider Vinegar is also good for it. I guess this gives me a good reason to go to whole foods

arrippa · January 2015

I suffer form acid reflux too. I have a bottle of Tums right by my bed. I got it once pretty bad and I was out of Tums. I googled foods that help with acid reflux and bananas were on the list. So I ate one and it went away. That's my now go to for my acid reflux.

plainjane0415 · January 2015

arrippa said:

I suffer form acid reflux too. I have a bottle of Tums right by my bed. I got it once pretty bad and I was out of Tums. I googled foods that help with acid reflux and bananas were on the list. So I ate one and it went away. That's my now go to for my acid reflux.

Oh I hate bananas!

arrippa · January 2015

It seems like people either love or hate bananas. I am allergic to oranges so when I played soccer, instead of orange slices, I would eat a banana. I had to like them.

plainjane0415 said:

arrippa said:

I suffer form acid reflux too. I have a bottle of Tums right by my bed. I got it once pretty bad and I was out of Tums. I googled foods that help with acid reflux and bananas were on the list. So I ate one and it went away. That's my now go to for my acid reflux.

Oh I hate bananas!

It seems like people either love or hate bananas. I am allergic to oranges so when I played soccer, instead of orange slices, I would eat a banana. I had to like them.

plainjane0415 · January 2015

I know they are really good for you and stuff, but I can't get past the taste or the texture.

Any acid reflux sufferers?

Re: Any acid reflux sufferers?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards