indigestion

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 19 Dec 2005, 16:27

This post is dedicated to all of you who will suffer indigestion during the holiday period, and anyone who has had heartburn / acid reflux / whatever in the past.

I have a long and bitter history of indigestion, not hospital quality but close. I'm sure it's 70% self-inflicted but there's definitely an element of predisposition as my dad has always had it. Anyway - blaming nature makes me feel better when it feels like my back teeth are going to dissolve with all the acid coming up my aesopho-thingy.

You name it - I've used it to combat this burning devil :

1. milk. always a welcome feeling.

2. bicarbonate of soda. a desperate cure but a necessary evil at times - especially during my student years.

3. aludrox / milk of magnesia / pepto-bismol / gaviscon. good, fun to take, lasting help unless it's really bad - but wow, the aftertaste. enter a whole world of mint you never knew existed.

4. zantac / proprietary ranitidine or cimetidine. wonderdrug of the nineties. 75mg is for wimps.

Those are the over-the-counter remedies. Last Christmas I had to go to the doctor, and got something called Lansoprazole. 30mg of this magic drug will wipe out anything. It's truly amazing. I have been on it for a year now and my tummy has never been so happy.

That's enough about me - how are you feeling?

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 19 Dec 2005, 16:42

Just count your blessings that you will never be pregnant then, because even if you are not usually bothered by this affliction it can be horrendous then

One of my cravings at the time,smokey bacon crisps became unbearable

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 19 Dec 2005, 16:43

Dadaist, as someone who suffers regularly from heartburn/indigestion/etc, etc, you have my complete sympathy.

Milk and Gaviscon liquid is often my last drink of a night

, but yes, sometimes it's only a temporary reprieve. Sandra very kindly bought me the 'handi-pak' of Gaviscon tablets recently, but I can't abide the taste of these (and other tablets) when you chew them, truly

. Sandra, until recently, had never had heartburn but she's now had it as well, so sympathises with "poor lil ol' me"

I've never got to the stage of going to the Doctor yet.....probably down to thinking it's all self-inflicted by eating/drinking whatever, and it's usually worse during the night, and better by the time morning comes.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 19 Dec 2005, 16:47

bc - have you ever tried zantac?

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 19 Dec 2005, 17:05

Dadaist wrote:bc - have you ever tried zantac?

Have, thanks Dada, but never did the trick for me.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 19 Dec 2005, 17:09

bearcub wrote:
Dadaist wrote:bc - have you ever tried zantac?
Have, thanks Dada, but never did the trick for me.

Each to their own. Anyway, I feel your pain.

I used to get it at night too - eating too late, eating takeaway, eating quickly, eating then lying down or drinking spirits were all sure to produce the undesired effect.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 19 Dec 2005, 17:45

My sympathies Dada...indigestion and heartburn seem to more widespread than I had realised

I have been taking Lansaprazole for a few years now since I was diagnosed with an ulcer...like you it seems to be a family trait

It used to be enough on its own but these days I usually have to take Gaviscon or some such other remedy as well...only at night...as it doesn't bother me at all during the day...not sure why. I think its the actual act of lying down that causes the problem...but call me old fashioned, that's the way I like to sleep

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 19 Dec 2005, 17:52

A friend of the family had hiatus hernia (which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy) and used to use the word "toiling" for the feeling he used to get when indigestion woke him up at night.

Funny how you can get it on an empty stomach too - sometimes food actually helps if it's not acidic.

Bad acid. Bad!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 19 Dec 2005, 18:30

I was on Ranitidine for about 10 years before being prescribed lansaprozole (sp) about 4 years ago. It is a wonderdrug I just hope that there are no long term effects of using it. I was recently tested for a viral or bacterial cause of indigestion but sadly it is not present.

I still have discomfort, especially when I lie on my right side when trying to sleep, when I roll over onto the left, the problem dissipates. A word of advice for those of you who use Gaviscon. When buying it at the chemists ask for a tube. The tubes are cheaper and have stronger active ingredients. Chemists don't stock them on the shelves and get a bit antsy when you ask for them. The tubes are kept in the backshop.

Acid reflux is killer.

Cucumber, black coffee, champagne are among the things that cause me to have an attack.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 19 Dec 2005, 19:10

Heartburn is the worst thing, don't have it often but when I do its not nice. Don't really like the chewy tablets as they make me barf

I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to taking any types of medicine.

Night nurse is the worst.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 19 Dec 2005, 19:32

I use rantadine - with a top up of sugar free Rennies. Cannot 'stomach' [

] Gaviscon or Milk of Magnesia!!

Afteran attack starts, I sometimes find a wee biccy and/or a lukewarm coffee [bizarrely] helps the acid and gets me to sleep

With you on the champers, Porty. Just one sip is enough to set of the acid reflux - although, oddly, am perfectly OK with Buck's Fizz!

Don't usually get it during day, but felt it coming on when I read this thread!!

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 19 Dec 2005, 19:38

I've had acid reflux for years, started of with Zoton, then tried Lansoprazole and, seemingly to save money, am now on Omeprazole 20mg. Certainly keeps the acid down, but still occasionally get bouts of pain in the centre of my chest going through to the back, can understand how people can mistake it for a heart attack!!
I don't find it too bad at night, but sometimes feel it might have something to do with weight or posture, if I'm sewing or slouching over my computer!!!

Supposed to eat little and often, but it doesn't always work out that way!
Also to avoid certain foods, like spicey or acidic types, would save a lot of bother if we didn't have to eat!!!

As you say Dadaist, we're to avoid spirits too,but I like to think that the ones that go down nice and warm actually help calm the stomach!!!
That's my theory anyway!!!

Hope you all manage to stay free from it and doesn't spoil your fun over the festive season.

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 19 Dec 2005, 19:42

[quote]Don't usually get it during day, but felt it coming on when I read this thread!![quote]

Funny you should say that Poppy, I felt it as I was writing!!

Psychosomatic or what????

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 19 Dec 2005, 20:46

Porty - I had that test too and was negative for those gut bacteria.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 19 Dec 2005, 23:22

Acid reflux can be a serious problem apart from being uncomfortable. According to an article I read some months back, acid reflux over a period of many years is suspected of being a contributory cause of oesophegeal cancer.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 19 Dec 2005, 23:23

Pal of Porty wrote:Acid reflux can be a serious problem apart from being uncomfortable. According to an article I read some months back, acid reflux over a period of many years is suspected of being a contributory cause of oesophegeal cancer.

How cheery!!!!

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 19 Dec 2005, 23:32

Better keep taking the tablets then!!!!

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 20 Dec 2005, 10:11

Poppy wrote:
Pal of Porty wrote:Acid reflux can be a serious problem apart from being uncomfortable. According to an article I read some months back, acid reflux over a period of many years is suspected of being a contributory cause of oesophegeal cancer.
How cheery!!!!

I never wrote the article!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 20 Dec 2005, 11:44

That's the trouble with those acid reflux articles; they keep coming back and causing discomfort.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 20 Dec 2005, 11:51

Porty wrote:That's the trouble with those acid reflux articles; they keep coming back and causing discomfort.

No, no puns. Not here. No. Categorically. Please.

...can't....help.......myself.......

no, no puns. not this thread. not that way, no.

......trying to resist......

Aww heck. Porty, your attempts at humour are leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO