When is heartburn more than just heartburn?
For the past 3 months I have had heartburn that has gotten progressively worse. It used to be only at night, keeping me up for hours, but now it is constant, no matter what I eat, and even when I haven't eaten for a while. It feels like it travels from my stomach right up to the back of my throat and is an intense burning. I also "burp" constantly but the bubbles never reach my mouth, they kind of end in the middle of my chest. I have tried Tums, Zantac, Pepsid, Maalox, nothing works. At night the only way I can sleep is to get up every 2 hours and drink a sip of milk. It gets so bad I go into coughing fits that end up making me vomit. I have no health insurance so I can't afford to go to the doctor. Any advice on what could be wrong or what I can do to make it go away? Thanks!
I never eat spicy foods, rarely eat tomato sauce or citrus friuts and have cut caffine completely out of my diet to no avail. Eating something as simple as toast with butter gives me heartburn so i don't eat foods that are widely known to cause it.
It sounds like you have acid reflux. My dad has it. Stay away from caffine, any food that is acidic ie tomatos, citris fruit. He went to the doctors for his and it is under control now. Try taking Prolosac OT.( I can't spell the name) It will take a couple days to take affect. If this does not work you need to see a doctor. If it is acid reflux it will slowly eat away at your esophagus. In the mean time try not to sleep flat on your back that help my dad at night. He would sleep in the recliner.
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6 Responses to “When is heartburn more than just heartburn?”
who_me_x on November 29, 2006
It sounds like you have acid reflux. My dad has it. Stay away from caffine, any food that is acidic ie tomatos, citris fruit. He went to the doctors for his and it is under control now. Try taking Prolosac OT.( I can't spell the name) It will take a couple days to take affect. If this does not work you need to see a doctor. If it is acid reflux it will slowly eat away at your esophagus. In the mean time try not to sleep flat on your back that help my dad at night. He would sleep in the recliner.
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jane7 on November 29, 2006
You probably have acid reflex syndrome and should see a Doctor. The acid that is coming back up from your stomach isn't just giving you heartburn, it is damaging your esophagus as well. If you can't afford to see a doctor (and this is much more important than any extras you are affording yourself) then you need to research any free clinics in your area. Right away. Remember that if you did have health insurance you would have to pay a premium every month – take that money and see a doctor.
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Shadow Queen on November 29, 2006
Sounds like you may have acid reflux. This needs to be treated ASAP. Meanwhile, try Galvacon. It is sold
over the counter and the only antacid that helps
with acid reflux. You may need to adjust your diet
to more non-acidic foods. Avoid foods that have
tomato-base products, mexican food, and spicy foods
will trigger the reflux. Over time acid reflux, if not treated, will destroy your stomach lining and
your esophagus. I have acid reflux and had to go
to an ENT doctor to get help. I developed a hyattle
hernia(sp?). I would go into coughing fits that caused me to choke. You do need treatment. Hope this helps.
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ronibug on November 29, 2006
What you have is GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder) most likely. Reflux happens when the acid in your stomach spurts back up into the esophagus. This is what the burning sensation is. Your coughing is probably because you are aspirating the stomach acid into your lungs. You must find a way to get treated for this. It is a dangerous illness. Your esophagus will stay inflamed and you could get aspiration pneumonia from the acid in your lungs. This has to be treated by a physician who will do a test to look into you stomach through a tube inserted into the mouth (not painful, your drugged) to see what's going on. Call Social Services or call around and see if there is a free clinic in your area. Please get this done. I have it and take meds. and no more problem.
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RN retired
maddog malone on November 29, 2006
Sounds like acid reflux disease to me. I have had it since 1989 and have found Prilosec OTC works great. It is available over the counter and is rather cheap as acid reflux medicines go. ($25 for 42 pills taken once per day)
A prescription drug called Nexium is much more $$$ and my doctor says Prilosec is virtually identical to it.
Stay away from chocolate, soda, coffee, tea or anything else that has caffeine.
hope this helps
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life experience
Just Q on December 3, 2006
Eat multiple small meals.
Avoid allowing your stomach to get too full.
You could not only be dealing with GERD but you may have a hiatial hernia which is contributing to the problem.
Do not lay flat when you go to bed,elevate your bed 45 degrees (this is done with putting blocks of wood under the legs of the head of your bed).
Just as you are avoiding spicy foods I would suggest that you avoid other foods that make the stomach work harder in it's digestive process.
You might even be dealing with a stomach that is not emptying properly.
My mother went through this and couldn't eat anything and when she did,she would lose most of it.
Her medications slowed her stomach emptying. Once this was cleared up alot of things got better.
Most communities have a place where you can apply for medical assistance.
Most drug companies have programs available for free medicines but you have to have a Dr prescription for that medicine and you have to have the Dr sign the forms so you need to check into the medical assistance.
You could also be experiencing gallbladder problems so you need to have this checked.
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