Post by: Ex-MA Hole on July 14, 2006, 07:41:52 PM
WHY the HELL did I HAVE to eat that chocholate??!?!?!??!
Post by: SpookyPistolero on July 14, 2006, 07:48:20 PM
If I'm on prilosec now, god help me when I'm 50.
I heart random chest pain/stomach pain/nausea.
Post by: Ex-MA Hole on July 14, 2006, 07:58:04 PM
I f'd up. My bad.
Post by: Monkeyleg on July 14, 2006, 08:11:11 PM
Up until a few years ago, I could eat as much as I wanted without any adverse effects.
Now I know I need to eat no more than two pounds of food before going to bed. And that raw onions and other stomach irritants are out of the question.
It's scary waking up and thinking you're going to drown in your own stomach juices.
Post by: JAlexander on July 14, 2006, 08:16:59 PM
James
Post by: SpookyPistolero on July 14, 2006, 08:17:49 PM
Post by: Sylvilagus Aquaticus on July 14, 2006, 08:30:08 PM
I did the Prilosec thing for a few months because reflux was getting me up all the time at night. Sometimes I'd catch myself with the drys and that's a really unplesant alarm clock in the middle of the night. Especially when you trip over the dog racing to the bathroom. In the dark.
After about 6 months, though, it went away.
Guess I'm in the 'fortunate' column. Keep after the purple pill and your outlook gets better.
Regards,
Rabbit.
Post by: charby on July 14, 2006, 09:26:20 PM
just something to think about.
Post by: S. Williamson on July 14, 2006, 11:26:18 PM
At present, all I can do is take Tums. They help, but I drink over two gallons of water every day to try to avoid the possibility of kidney stones.
I'm 22.
Post by: SpookyPistolero on July 15, 2006, 03:13:18 AM
Post by: mtnbkr on July 15, 2006, 03:21:40 AM
Chris
Post by: 280plus on July 15, 2006, 03:55:15 AM
Quote from: JAlexander
I had terrible acid reflux for a long time, but when I got my CPAP it all went away. Damnedest thing, but I'm really happy about it.
Same with me at night anyways. What I've found recently is that with this new "heart healthy" diet I am now required to be on forever my reflux is not NEARLY as bad as it used to be. I go days without the medicine and the stuff I get (Aciphex) is way more powerful than prilosec because prilosec didn't work for me. Not to get gross or anything but I used to regurg into my windpipe a little at night. Try waking up to THAT. It's almost like choking to death. 
All my nighttime reflux problems went away with the CPAP and only recently my daytime problems with the new diet. The Aciphex costs over $6 a pill. $210 for 30 last time I checked. I had to fight with the insurance co to get them to cover even a portion of it.
Post by: Moondoggie on July 15, 2006, 05:13:45 AM
Came to find out that it was a side effect of the Zocor that I'd been taking for the last 10 yrs (some of the time in the beginning was another statin drug for cholesterol).
A little about Zocor.....Started on statins about 3 yrs before I retired from the Marines. About a yr before I retired I started having a lot of joint pain in my ankles after I'd run my daily 5 miles. Docs took X-rays, said I had ossification in both ankles probably from a prior bad sprain in each one (basketball, racquetball) and that's just how it was, given that I was in my 40's and all. Made it hard to maintain my wt, so I retired rather than go over my max wt limit (5' 9", 185 lbs)...I wan't gonna EVER be one of those guys who "Do as I say, NOT as I do".
Since retirement from the service, my ankles have given me a lot of problems. If I'd spend any time at all on my feet (mowing lawn, IPSC match, extended shopping sortie) I'd be maxing-out on Naproxin and Tylenol in order to get to sleep. Our home always had the aroma of Icy Hot. I considered my hot tub the best money I'd ever spent.
Acid reflux started about 3 yrs ago. Used antacids, changed my diet, then started on Zantac.
Recently I had a bout of "unexplained rashes", which I found out were one of the side effects of Zocor. Stopped taking the Zocor, and the rashes disappeared. SO DID ALL OF MY ANKLE PAIN!!!!! And so did the acid reflux!
It's as if I suddenly got a whole new life!
I'll continue taking my daily aspirin and supplements like garlic oil, fish oil, and timed release niacin for the cholesterol and see what my doctor thinks, but I'm done with Zocor/Zantac. Miracle drugs, my hinder...do a search on the web and read up on all of the side effects that folks have experienced.
I have also found out that an amino acid, L-Arginine and a hormone, DHEA are supposed to help prevent acid reflux. This info was from an acquaintence who take both on his Dr's advice after surgery for a hiatal hernia. Both of these supplements are available at GNC, etc.
Post by: K Frame on July 15, 2006, 06:33:02 AM
Of course, were I to lose the weight, stop drinking all this coffee, and quit smoking I'd likely never have a problem.
As it is I get sour stomach in cycles. I'll be fine for a couple of months and then for a period of a few days to a week or more no matter what I put in my stomach seems to set me off. That's when I live on OTC Zantac, Rolaids, and/or baking soda.
About the only true food trigger I have these days is raw onions. Cooked is fine, but if they're raw I'm taking my life into my own hands.
Post by: Gewehr98 on July 15, 2006, 07:02:41 AM
I sometimes get reflux in the middle of the night, and aspirate stomach contents. That's a horrible feeling, getting stomach acid in your windpipe. Prilosec OTC has stopped that, but that's treating the symptoms, not stopping the problem. I've recently made a serious effort to not eat anything after 7:00 PM, so that by the time I'm tucked in for the night, the grub has moved down the tube a ways and doesn't come back through the valve quite as often...
Post by: p12 on July 15, 2006, 07:20:03 AM
Go out and buy some "apple cider viniger with the pulp or mother".
Drink about a half a shot of viniger dilluted with an equal amount of water. Drink it before
you eat dinner. (YES IT BURNS LIKE HELL)
Also go to a health food store and buy some digestive enzimes. Take one each meal after a few bites.
After about 2-3 weeks of this your acid reflux will improve.
It really does help. I'm down to four Prilosec each week. And outside of really spicy foods, I eat what ever I want. Hot peppers don't give me heartburn they screw with my intestines.
Post by: p12 on July 15, 2006, 07:29:02 AM
Most acid reflux symptoms are caused by a lack of balance of proper acid levels and enzimes. When these get off balance your food doesn't digest properly and pressure builds and forces acid up through the valve.
A proper test for this condition is the next time you have heartburn, drink a small amount
of regular viniger. If your hearburn subsides for a short time you have an acid/enzime imbalance.
Good luck.
Reflux sux.
Post by: Felonious Monk/Fignozzle on July 15, 2006, 07:33:55 AM
I've adjusted my lifestyle such that I eat very small amounts after about 4pm.
It works for me.
Post by: 280plus on July 15, 2006, 07:38:52 AM
One other reflux remedy I have found is to eat an apple when symptoms strike. It USUALLY works for me. I eat the green ones, I don't know if it makes a difference what kind of apple it is.
Moondoogie, I had the SAME PROBLEM with stains except for in different areas and yes as soon as I stopped the statins the pain went away. I'm hearing it refered to as "muscle tox" and baffles the manufacturers so far. I've tried a bunch of them, all gave me the same problem. Unfortunately none of the other stuff I you mentioned works for me so NOW they have me on 5 MG of Crestor AND the fish oil. The oil brought down my triglycerides but not the cholesterol. So far (~ week) I'm tolerating it pretty well. Not too much achiness etc... of course as I'm writing this my lower back feels a bit achy. At this point I have no choice but to keep taking it and deal with any side effects.
Post by: garyk/nm on July 15, 2006, 07:42:26 AM
I get by on Tums, and baking soda for the really bad times.
Guess it's time to get on the Prilosec bandwagon.
Post by: 280plus on July 15, 2006, 07:49:05 AM
Post by: 280plus on July 15, 2006, 07:50:59 AM
Post by: Gewehr98 on July 15, 2006, 07:53:50 AM
My ex-wife had a heartburn preventative that came from natural food stores. For the life of me I cannot remember what it was, but I want to say it was something like Papaya Enzyme tablets. I just knew that they tasted horrible, were a small tablet of compressed something or another, and by Gawd they stopped heartburn right now.
Anybody know what I'm looking for next time I visit our local natural foods store?
Post by: 280plus on July 15, 2006, 08:16:23 AM
Post by: K Frame on July 15, 2006, 12:08:03 PM
Not a problem for me.
Why?
Because I have dramatically low blood pressure.
I get precious little exercise and am overweight, and my BP averages 120 over 60.
A few years ago I went into the doctor and the girl took it 5 times with 3 cuffs before she finally accepted the reading -- 90 over 45.
My doctor's comment?
"Salt your food, Mr. Irwin. You don't have to worry about high sodium."
Post by: 280plus on July 15, 2006, 01:41:57 PM
Post by: K Frame on July 15, 2006, 02:10:48 PM
I'm fully expecting one of these days to tip over to the dark side of the systolic and really have to start watching what I eat.
That's going to be torture when I can't tie into a big bag of Pennsylvania hard pretzles...
I went a number of years without salting my food -- I simply bulked up on the herbs and other spices.
There's also a school of thought that says even people on salt-restricted diets can use moderate amounts of salt on their foods... IF they really start pounding the water. Some water will be retained in the system by the extra sodium, but the extra water is going to help flush it out of the body, too.
A friend of mine adopted this approach a couple of years ago after reading about it. He increased his salt intake a bit, but dramatically increased his fluid intake -- up to 2 gallons or more a day during the summer. It seems to work for him, as his BP is holding nice and steady without drugs, and he's enjoying salt on his food.
You may want to discuss that approach with your doctor.
I don't think it would work for me, though, as I can't handle that much water!
Post by: 280plus on July 15, 2006, 02:12:11 PM
Post by: Antibubba on July 15, 2006, 03:21:26 PM
Now, new insurance, new doctor, and they don't cover Aciphex, so I'm on Omeprazole (Prilosec). So far it seems to be working. So far.
If you've never had reflux, well, remember the scene in Alien where John Hurt finally wakes up and they're all eating dinner? That's how it feels, except the pain drags out longer.
Post by: The Rabbi on July 15, 2006, 05:23:57 PM
Every now and then I find myself waking up--OK, bolting out of bed at like 2AM having aspirated some acid reflux. Anyone get this and feel like they are going to die? I monitored this some and tied it to heavy meals just before bed and alcohol consumption. I try not to eat before going to sleep.
I have found that taking a spoonful of mustard before bed really helps a lot. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but it works.
I hate drugs and will do anything I can to avoid taking them.
Post by: Gewehr98 on July 15, 2006, 07:48:34 PM
Quote
Well I dont feel so bad now.
Every now and then I find myself waking up--OK, bolting out of bed at like 2AM having aspirated some acid reflux. Anyone get this and feel like they are going to die?
I've aspirated stomach contents, including solid bits on some nights, and thought to myself "This is a hell of a way for a combat veteran to die, asphyxiating on tonight's dinner while asleep in bed. What will my wife tell people at the funeral?". Luckily, I managed to cough up the chunks and the burning goes away after a bit. But you actually think you are going to die, no doubt about it.Every now and then I find myself waking up--OK, bolting out of bed at like 2AM having aspirated some acid reflux. Anyone get this and feel like they are going to die?
I made a conscious decision to keep it a secret for a couple years, because if my flight surgeon had found out, he would've labeled it GERD or something similar, and permanently grounded me from flying. The Air Force considers GERD serious enough to discharge members who have it, and that would've been the end of my military career. I've known two active-duty members in my organization who were medically discharged/retired quite quickly once they were diagnosed with it. I would've been medically retired, if not forced to fly a desk, at my 17-18 year career point. So I kept my mouth shut and ate Tums by the handful until Prilosec OTC became available, and mentioned nothing during my annual flight physicals until my retirement in May of this year. Even then, when Prilosec OTC was temporarily pulled from the shelves (insurance coverage concerns), I had a panic attack because my panacaea was gone, and I dreaded going back to Tums.
Now that I'm a military retiree I have TriCare for Life, and when I get an opportunity, I will have the condition checked into soon. Prilosec OTC only works for me for the days I'm actually on the medication, there is little to no grace period in reflux once I stop taking it. I do, however, take one pill every other day, spacing things out and hoping not to cause some sort of collateral damage from being dependant too much on Prilosec, since it's supposed to be a temporary, 14-day on, problem fixed sort of drug. Maybe prescription Prilosec works differently, or a better solution is prescription Nexium. Either way, I'm only treating symptoms vs. fixing the root cause, and I know that's a Bad Thing.
Post by: Ron on July 16, 2006, 06:20:40 AM
I started taking Prevacid once a day when it first came out and now take Nexium.
If you have heartburn and GERD every day you may also have a hiatus hernia. That is where I am at in life. My options are take a pill every day or have a surgical procedure that "might" work, if it doesn't work I will have to take a pill every day.
Post by: grampster on July 16, 2006, 06:37:43 AM
I tried lots of things; mindless pacing or running in place or around the furnace in the basement or weather permiting outside at 3 AM with my brain trying to convice my body that it was eating up the acid; alcohol; antiacids; chiropractors (interesting thing about the bone cruncher. He gave me betain hydrochloride to ADD acid to my stomach as his theory was increase the acid, digest the food faster. Worked for awhile); meditation; prayer, all of it. (Actually, pot worked really well. You had to learn how to swallow the smoke. But red eyes, a goofy smile, incessent talking and a desire to eat the same stuff that brought on the attack made it less than desirable except if the attack came at night; Then one could just grin a bit and fall asleep watching an old movie or listening to music with headphones.)
Then came Zantac, blessed Zantac...answer to a prayer in my mind. Now whenever I have a suspicion I'm gonna have a bout, I'll pop one or 2 150mg and zap, it's gone.
I very rarely smoke anymore, which is good. I don't drink as often or as much either, which also helps. Well, I lied about the drinking....heh heh. Actually I don't, but I do like my tipples from time to time.
Post by: K Frame on July 16, 2006, 06:40:52 AM
I think it would be a lot better for most people if the hernia were on hiatus!
Post by: johnsonrlp on July 16, 2006, 07:30:16 AM
And yeah, I throw up when I run. It sucks.
Post by: SpookyPistolero on July 16, 2006, 03:44:46 PM
Post by: brimic on July 16, 2006, 05:10:54 PM
Post by: 280plus on July 17, 2006, 01:01:10 AM
I'm a little surprised at how many around here have either apnea, GERD or both.
Post by: grampster on July 17, 2006, 04:29:25 AM
Post by: Iain on July 17, 2006, 04:42:53 AM
Quote from: 280plus
I'm a little surprised at how many around here have either apnea, GERD or both.
So am I.I've had the odd incident with gord/gerd, and 'twere painful. Doc gave me the drugs, but soon after it mysteriously stopped and has not yet returned.
You're a bunch of busted up crocks, even compared to me.
Post by: 280plus on July 17, 2006, 05:16:10 AM
Post by: Gewehr98 on July 18, 2006, 12:49:16 PM
Funny thing is, I take one a day around dinnertime, and I haven't had heartburn, acid reflux, GERD, or even a hint of problems for the last 5 days. I've snarfed down bratwurst 'n kraut, gyros, and pizza with nary a problem. Either it's a darned effectiver placebo, or something in the papaya/papain really does help the system. Definitely cheaper than Prilosec OTC, but we'll see how long-term it works.
Post by: Mabs2 on July 18, 2006, 03:35:52 PM
Works wonders for most stomach ailments.
It instantly cures my heartburn...which I'm sure is sometimes acid reflux...I get it pretty bad, but I've never been diagnosed...
Anyway, worth a shot.
Post by: BrokenPaw on July 19, 2006, 04:46:56 AM
If you get it at night, sleep on your left side. The thinking behind this is that the esophagus joins the stomach on the rightish side, so if you sleep on your left, the sphincter in question will be higher up and therefore less likely to have pressure on it.
I don't know whether that's true or not, but I've noticed that on nights when she sleeps on her left side, her heartburn is less frequent and, when it happens, less severe.
-BP