Acid Reflux Question.

[gamin]

Omeprazole works very well for me and is cheap and readily available. I eat very little in the late afternoon or evening. What really gets me is anything with tomatoes. That's what got you with the pizza. Acid reflux is not only unpleasant but dangerous. Lifestyle change coming up.

[NY65912]

Have you ever been awaken by acid reflux out of a dead sleep?? Now that is fun. The acid hits your larynx and you can not breath for a minute or twp. Very, very scary. My GI doc recommended me to take two Gaviscon tablets before bed.

No late heavy meals, sit up if you do for at least two hours, watch the alcohol/spicy stuff. Being overweight does not help the situation. Don't over eat before bed! No more scary waking up in the middle of the night not being able to breathe, OMG I am going to die acid reflux.

Just my .02˘

[asfgasfg]

I have to get in for a physical anyway so I will make sure I mention this to my doc.

[billybek]

Wow! Zantac can really cut back on your alcohol costs!
Did a quick look via google. Thanks for mentioning that.

I will keep a close eye on this, Noah. Thank you and everyone else that has weighed in on this. Your insight is most appreciated.

Just for the record. I had two beer after hockey last night. Took one 75 Zantac before I went to bed. I will pick up some Pepcid to use if I am having a couple.

[Tanick]

I hope you don't mind me chipping in here as some things worried me above. Just thought I'd point out another symptom of this that isn't obvious.

Last year I ate something dodgy in France and picked up an horrific bug that wiped me out for 4 days and gave me diarrhoea for a month. After it went away I developed a chronic cough that sounded like I was on my way out. I went to the docs, who first said leave it for a couple of weeks, then referred me for a chest X-ray. All clear and the fought slowly went away but I started getting really blocked sinuses so went back to see what else it could be. Saw an older more experienced doc who thought maybe it was a gastric reflux problems so put me on a PPI - lansoprazole for 2 weeks. Everything cleared up within 4 days. Turns out the acid gas from my stomach was irritating all my airways.

I'm now cutting down on drinking, spicy food, all the fun things in life. I'm 44, my father died 5 years ago aged 68 from Oesophegal cancer. He had trouble swallowing, left it a couple of weeks to se if it cured itself and died 6 weeks to the day after seeing a doc. He'd lost so much weight from not being able to eat that they couldn't start chemo.

Get it checked out… I hope yours gets better ok.

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by Noah930

That's not to downplay the risk of esophageal cancer, which is on the rise.

Not to downplay the illness, but I can't stop from thinking about Michael Douglas and why he thinks he got throat cancer...

[Nickshu]

Untreated GERD can contribute to esophageal cancer. H pylori testing may be warranted. I take Prilosec every day. Used to take Nexium but it was $600/mo and Prilosec is OTC and works almost as well for me. They are the same drug but Nexium is a slightly different molecule. There is a concern over bone fractures with long term use of PPIs is the only bummer but you have to weigh the risk benefit.

[sdthstrr]

I don't drink to excess very often but when I do, I regret it the next day..

[billybek]

Just an update on this.
Went to my doc and he prescribed some new (to me) acid reducers. Can't remember what exactly but they are little yellow pills. Wants me to take them for two months to allow the esophagus to heal. They have helped and I rarely feel the need to take a tums.
Sent me out for some blood work a couple of weeks ago and I am taking that no news is good news from that.
Also sent me for a UGI scan today. Yum. I want to make barrium a regular part of my diet....
I was worried enough about this to get my butt to the doctor.
Hopefully turns out to be nothing. Back in for a follow up in a week or two.

[JavaBrewer]

I have struggled with acid reflux for 15 years now. I take one Omeprazole tablet every day around 4 PM. If I lie on my sides (my preferred sleeping position) I will wake with major reflux within 3-4 hours. In the last few years it has gotten worse. I now eat nothing after 6 PM and pizza is a big no for dinner. White wine makes it worse as does tequila. I don't drink beer but will have a cocktail or two before bed to self medicate. Sucks getting old (I'm 52). I should go in for a scope some day soon.