acid reflux - anybody here have it?

[MadJack]

Over the counter stuff like rolaids quit working a long time ago. I'll say around 1995.

At that time the doc put me on aciphex (sp). That stuff was great. No heartburn again, until the insurance quit paying for it.

Then they put me on something else that worked fine and then they quit paying for that and then I went on prevacid etc.

Now, nothing seems to work. I plan on seeing the doctor about this soon but wondering if anybody here has had similar.

Without these meds, water would give me heartburn. Seriously.

The real bad things are onions, garlic, sweets, wine, to name a few.

thanks :0008

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Yep, I've got it. When I was first diagnosed the doc put me on Nexxium, which was great. Only had to take it once a day and never had a problem. But like you, the insurance wouldn't cover it.

I now take Omeprazole (which is the name of the ingredient, but also the brand name since it's generic). You're supposed to take it twice a day, but a lot of times I only take it once and I have very few issues. And it's pretty cheap -- you can buy it over the counter here for almost the same price as what it costs through my insurance (I think it's less than $10 for 14 tablets).

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

And just to follow up, definitely see a doctor as soon as you can. The longer you put it off the worse the ulcers in your esophagus can get. You'll most likely have to have an endoscopy done so they can check out the damage, but it's not a bad procedure.

 

[MadJack]

I'm thinking it's about time I address the problem instead of masking it with the pills.

I've just been popping these pills for like 15 years without giving it any thought. There has to be a problem that can be fixed, no?

I've never even given this any serious thought until the last couple weeks.

anyway.....thanks.

 

[MadJack]

And just to follow up, definitely see a doctor as soon as you can. The longer you put it off the worse the ulcers in your esophagus can get. You'll most likely have to have an endoscopy done so they can check out the damage, but it's not a bad procedure.

Yep, that's what I'm thinking. Christ!

:0047

 

[IE]

having my 4th done friday -- endoscopy.

only bad thing is the gagging and choking when they put the tube down your throat to your stomach.

more "staple bandaids" inside me than you can a shake a stick at.......

absoutley NO booze....especially hard stuff..

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

I'm thinking it's about time I address the problem instead of masking it with the pills.

I've just been popping these pills for like 15 years without giving it any thought. There has to be a problem that can be fixed, no?

I've never even given this any serious thought until the last couple weeks.

anyway.....thanks.

Well in my case I put if off for years. I had heartburn that was so bad it honestly felt like I was having a heart attack. But of course I didn't go to the doctor then.

What finally got me to go was the fact that due to the ulcer buildup in my esophagus from the acid, it caused narrowing of my esophagus, which made it hard to eat. One night I actually had to go to the hospital because I was eating steak and a piece of it got caught in my throat. I feel like an idiot just typing that. :142smilie But at least it got me off my ass and got the problem diagnosed.

I don't think there is any 'workaround,' at least not that I know of. You have to have it diagnosed, then they will put you on medication. However, that was kind of why I mentioned the Omeprazole in my first post. Although it's over the counter, it is NOT the same as Rolaids, Tums, etc. It's the active ingredient in a lot of the brand names that the doctors prescribe, the only difference is that the over the counter stuff is less milligrams (to my knowledge). I was diagnosed as having pretty severe acid reflux and Omeprazole is the stuff the doc prescribed for me, so even though it's over the counter it works well. You might want to buy some just to give it a shot. :shrug:

 

[MadJack]

having my 4th done friday -- endoscopy.

only bad thing is the gagging and choking when they put the tube down your throat to your stomach.

more "staple bandaids" inside me than you can a shake a stick at.......

absoutley NO booze....especially hard stuff..

In 2003 I had a hoarse throat for about 2 months. I went to the ENT and he tried to put that thing down my throat. My throat will not allow this. PERIOD!

He actually got pissed at me and told me that he would have to put me asleep if I can't do it. I told HIM that I would just wait a few more weeks to see if it goes away on it's own and if it doesn't, I'll be back.

It went away :0074

I can't do that

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Yep, that's what I'm thinking. Christ!

:0047

It's a pretty simple procedure. As IE said it's kind of a pain in the ass when they put the tube in your throat, but they did such a good job with the drugs on my procedure that I was barely awake to notice it. Having said that, your throat will hurt like a mofo for a couple days after the procedure. Trying to eat solid food was a real picnic.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

In 2003 I had a hoarse throat for about 2 months. I went to the ENT and he tried to put that thing down my throat. My throat will not allow this. PERIOD!

He actually got pissed at me and told me that he would have to put me asleep if I can't do it. I told HIM that I would just wait a few more weeks to see if it goes away on it's own and if it doesn't, I'll be back.

It went away :0074

I can't do that

Give the Omeprazole a shot then. I would be really surprised if it doesn't help with your heartburn. Although I'm no doctor and I'm sure they would tell you to come in to have it looked at.

 

[IE]

I can't do that

LOL, i didn't want to do it either..

but a day will come when you wake up and find yourself in emergency...getting blood tranfusions.


good way to lose weight though, lololol

lost 47 pounds in 3 weeks when they took 11 litres of fluid from my stomach as part of it..

bottom line the acid reflux is telling your body something is not right.

 

[hawkeye]

Ranitidine--either 150 or 300 mg--works great for me--2 pills a day-ins pays--gl

 

[vinnie]

Over the counter stuff like rolaids quit working a long time ago. I'll say around 1995.

At that time the doc put me on aciphex (sp). That stuff was great. No heartburn again, until the insurance quit paying for it.

Then they put me on something else that worked fine and then they quit paying for that and then I went on prevacid etc.

Now, nothing seems to work. I plan on seeing the doctor about this soon but wondering if anybody here has had similar.

Without these meds, water would give me heartburn. Seriously.

The real bad things are onions, garlic, sweets, wine, to name a few.

thanks :0008

6 cups tequila (you?ll need to buy two fifths for this)
2? cups triple sec (just buy one fifth)
2? cups fresh lime juice
2? cups fresh lemon juice
2 cups simple syrup*

 

[IX_Bender]

Things to avoid:

caffiene
alcohol (esp red wine)
tobacco
tomatoes in any form


Or basically pretty much everything I lived on in college. Beer, camel lights, red bull and pizza.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Things to avoid:

caffiene
alcohol (esp red wine)
tobacco
tomatoes in any form


Or basically pretty much everything I lived on in college. Beer, camel lights, red bull and pizza.

Yeah, when the doc told me things I should avoid I actually laughed out loud. He said something like 'not gonna be easy, huh?' and I said 'Uh, probably not going to happen.' There isn't a snowball's chance in hell I stop drinking coffee -- acid reflux be damned.

 

[MadJack]

Things to avoid:

caffiene
alcohol (esp red wine)
tobacco
tomatoes in any form


Or basically pretty much everything I lived on in college. Beer, camel lights, red bull and pizza.

tobacco is out, alcohol can be once a week, caffeine forget it and tomatoes are out of the question in the summer. Red wine is easy.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

tobacco is out, alcohol can be once a week, caffeine forget it and tomatoes are out of the question in the summer. Red wine is easy.

Yeah, caffeine's pretty much impossible for me, too. I've also heard red meat is bad, as in ground beef and steak. Sure, let me get right on eliminating those from my diet. :nono: Italian food (because of the red sauce) is another I can't give up and potato chips/french fries probably won't be going away either. Basically, if you want your life to be hell, follow the acid-reflux diet. :00hour

 

[vinnie]

Yeah, caffeine's pretty much impossible for me, too. I've also heard red meat is bad, as in ground beef and steak. Sure, let me get right on eliminating those from my diet. :nono: Italian food (because of the red sauce) is another I can't give up and potato chips/french fries probably won't be going away either. Basically, if you won't your life to be hell, follow the acid-reflux diet. :00hour

............................................................................................ :sadwave:

 

[smurphy]

2 weeks of Prilosec while avoiding alcohol, caffein, spicy food etc usually keeps me good for 6 months.

 

[MadJack]

2 weeks of Prilosec while avoiding alcohol, caffein, spicy food etc usually keeps me good for 6 months.

You still selling pizza pies?