Had a barium swallow x-ray this morning. That was fun.

If anyone has any tried and proven dietary, lifestyle, management tips for adult reflux, I'd love to hear them please.

I hope you're okay

I had acid reflux just before I left the UK. Gave me quite a scare it did. I was beginning to think I had cancer. It caused a growing lump in my throat that food would catch on. Felt very uncomfortable. I repeatedly saw the quack about it but he just sent me away saying there was nothing wrong. Then about 10 days before we flew out it got worse so I returned to the quack and that time a locum was on duty. He instantly recognised the problem, prescribed two kinds of pill and it all cleared up in 3 days. Looking back, something that I believe makes a big difference: I used to drink a lot of strong black coffee with artificial sweeteners. Now I've ditched the sweeteners and drink a lot less coffee and only white. It feels like it helps.

pantoprazole reduces acid in the stomach.

JTL

I was on medication for a bit a few years ago and had one of those tube-down-the-mouth-into-the-stomach deals (a very entertaining watch) ... Mine was made easier by going easy(er) on the booze and reducing the fat content of the grub.

Not very exciting but better than the alternatives.

Try Suvacid, available over the counter at the chemist for between $12 and $17 for 14 tablets. Its active ingredient is Pantoprazole, which is a proton pump inhibitor, and restricts the amount of acid the stomach makes. If you go to the Dr, they will no doubt prescribe you Nexium, which is pretty much the same thing, just more expensive, even with a prescription.

I take one a day, and my acid reflux is greatly, if not completely reduced. I may get low level reflux if I eat really spicy food, or drink too much red wine though.

Have you also tried propping the head of you bed up on a couple of bricks - that's a good way to reduce overnight reflux. Loosening belts, clothes and losing a bit of weight are also good.

I have suffered from reflux for many years, and being able to get the appropriate drugs over the counter instead of having to keep going back to the Dr is a real bonus.


S

Slightly off topic.

Never had reflux, but I get the most horrendous heartburn when I am pregnant. Never had it before, starts at about 4 months in, till the moment the little bugger comes out. I could be the poster girl for Gaviscon. I have bottles stashed everywhere and swig it straight from the neck. Dont even have to eat the food to get the burn, can simply smell a neighbour frying onions and I get it. Supposedly its when you carry a baby with lots of hair. Can confirm that theory.

Anyway, good luck to the gents and their reflux.

Of course you could just follow the doctors advice of no alcohol, no smoking, no spicy foods, no stress, no fatty foods, no acidic drinks, no milk


and then go and kill yourself because your life has become so boring that you are eating cardboard all day.

JTL

Seconded. Been on Somac (generic name) for over a year now. Hopefully be able to come off it soon.

I think Duran Duran said it best ...

-----------------------------
The reflux is an only child he's waiting in the park
The reflux is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover isn't that bizarre
Every little thing the reflux does
Leaves you answered with a question mark
-----------------------------

How crap are those lyrics?

Not as bad as "You're about as easy as a nuclear war".

It's actually the reverse. Somac or Protonix or Protium etc are brand names, the generic name is pantoprazole.

JTL

I've been taking Ranitidine for years, and couldn't believe it two years ago when an insurance company wouldn't cover reflux for travel insurance.

You're right. Don't let it go to your head though.

There's a whole range of *zole treatments. Lansoprazole, Emeprazole, Esomeprazole etc. I buy quite a bit of it in the US actually, as it's dirt cheap there.


S