Conditions
Acid Reflux
Acid Reflux (or to use its full name, gastro-oesophageal reflux) is a relatively common complaint, where stomach acid travels back up from the stomach into the oesophagus. It’s caused by the sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach not operating properly, allowing liquid to travel back up the gullet and causing heartburn and an unpleasant, sour, taste in the mouth. The sphincter muscle is designed to allow food down into the stomach, but is supposed to close and not let any liquid back up. Though there are many possible causes of this condition, being overweight can increase the pressure on your stomach, forcing stomach acid back through the sphincter. Unfortunately fatty foods and alcohol can also aggravate the condition, as the stomach takes longer to digest fatty meals. Smoking, drinking and taking on board too much caffeine can also relax the sphincter muscles, making the condition worse. To treat the condition, self help techniques are normally sufficient, such as losing weight and reducing intake of fatty foods. If symptoms still persist then your GP can prescribe various drugs that reduce the production of stomach acid, or neutralise the acid in your stomach. All of these have side-effects, and most cannot be taken indefinitely, however.
Comments and Questions
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hi, im about ninety percent sure that acid reflux is what i have. i just wanted someone to clarify - can it be a kind of feeling like something trapped in the back of your throat? just at the back? and kind of slightly burning? most things i've read say behind your breastbone which is why im wondering. thanks.
All most every night I have to take a rennie to calm down indigestion. I have a big bowl of cereal for breakfast in the morning, sweets and junk food for lunch and something hot for evening meal. I am unemployed so I'm sitting down alot job hunting online and I'm over weight. My poo can sometimes be loose aswell as firm but I am regular. Please give me any advice on calming my tummy down.
Hi there i am 24 and have suffered with acid reflux for 5 years now. i have beem taking omerprazole for it everyday also. i am overweight and constantly feel bloated nauseous and feel like food is stuck in my gullet and often wake up choking because of this. i have a problem with food i know its bad but i cant stop eating junk food and snack through the evening before bed. i cant cope anymore and dont recieve any help from my gp as i feel like he has had enough of me with my various health issues. I need some advise as i can no longer go on with the constant sore and tight chest and choking feelings
What is it that you want someone else to do for you? I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but you are in control of this illness and you must take charge of alleviating your suffering. You have already pinpointed the problems right here in your comment: Weight, junk food and eating late at night. You owe it to yourself to stick with the solutions: losing weight and eating a healthy diet.
I suffer wit acid reflux, am 25years old & suffer with anxiety & stress (which doesnt help my acid) i was on omaprazole but it stopped doing its job, im now on Zantac to help. I dont eat big meals,infect the oposite as i always feel full or sick. Night time laying down is worse as i become short of breath & tight in my chest! Isnt a nice feeling! Caffine makes mine worse & eating sugary food,also cant have anything acidic ... the bloating & the pain is the worst symptom. Just wish it would go away!! Its ruining my life!! Any tips on how i can calm the sypmtoms down?
I've had acid reflux for years but now it is getting me down,It leaves me feeling sick bloated, I'm always trying to clear my throat from acid, I've tried cutting out curtain foods,I don't smoke I only have red wine occasionally, I was taking omeprazol(no joy) then I was given pantoprazol which I've stopped taking due to side affects (I have fungal rashes on my face and on bum, so now I'm taking polaramine tablets to get rid of the fungal Its getting me down and don't know what to try next, I've had a blood test and I don't have any bacteria in my stomach,I had a problem with my stomach 15 years ago and losec tablets sorted out the problem
My problem started when i caught a stomach bug 3 weeks ago i now feel sick on and off and get a acid feeling in my throat and sore stomach. Doctor has prescribed me lansoprazole 30 mg for 1 week and is helping but the side effects make me feel sick i have to take anti sickness tablets . got to go back to gp if symptoms come back does anyone know what may be wrong.
i've had a acid reflux problem for years now i've been taking lasoprosole for just under 3years they work fine still have the heart burn and ect.... but over all im glad i got diagnosed even though there wont be a time i can come off the lansoprosole i did get told its easily corrected by surgery but when i went back to my gp he advised me not to get the surgery done as it causes more problems than solves them such a shame really as it still affects me daily and i just wish i could have it gone im only 20.
Can anyone help? After an evacuation or (bowel movement) I am sometimes in agony to the point where I sometimes have to lie down and feel weak with a pain just below my breast-plate.(I try to sleep it off for about 20-30 mins) I have had an endoscopy to investigate the problem and it showed no redness at the entrance of my stomach around the sphincter. It would be great to just know what condition I have in order to try and find a way to cope with it. Could this be caused by the 10mg of Amlodopine I am taking for blood pressure? :-(
Hello,I suffer with a similar thing to you; I have had acid reflux for 7 year now and I have managed it successfully with Omeprazole, but for the past 6 months it suddenly flared up again big time every medication stopped working Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, Ranitidine, Zantac, Gaviscon. I had suffer chest pains and acid constantly in my chest & throat but then all of a sudden again it stops and I am managing it again with Omeprazole but ever since that I have had extremely painfully stomach area pain just under my rib cage & above my belly button. I keep loosing tones of weight and then it going back-up again and I also have a constant swollen upper stomach area that can go big and smaller. I'm due to have an endoscopy next month, Not looking forward to it. Its really daunting when you don't know what's wrong with you, isn't it? :) Chris
I am hoping that Chris who replied to my query will read this. Thanks for your reply. Yes it Is daunting my friend. I am so against pumping myself with chemicals/tabs, and after reading the list of side effects that were on offer if I took the Lansoprole a doctor gave me on a recent visit,:-( I am in search of a more natural remedy. If I succeed, I'll post a comment for everyone to see. All the best. :-)
For as long as I can remember I have suffered badly with acid reflux - to the point where I want to be sick. I have given up alcohol because of it as I feel ill long before getting drunk. I am also unable to finish even a can of fizzy drink and even still drinks like other people. I do not smoke, and am not overweight. I have found that eating regularly (little and often) helps keep the acid in my stomach down so I can manage better, but am always worried that it will flair up. Acid suppressants make no difference. I am also unable to burp on demand (only occasionally by accident and never when I feel it is needed - eg after a fizzy drink).
I have exactly the same problem but even eating little and often doesn't seem to be helping. I have mouthfuls of refluxed food and acid after pretty much everything I eat and drink, apart from cold water. My BMI is 21; I've given up dairy, caffeine, acidic food and alcohol but nothing seems to help, not even the proton pump inhibitors which I've been taking for 3 years now. I'm worried because I'm only 19 and I don't want to live with this forever. My doctor assures me that taking these medications long term won't affect my health but I'm not sure I agree after doing some research. My doctor doesn't really seem to be taking this seriously, how about yours?
Mine just ends with sort of 'bubbles' running up and down my throat. Have you heard the term GORD? It stands for gastro-osophical reflux disorder (check spelling). Not that I'm any expert!
I suddenly stopped being able to use tampax after 22 years with no problems, also two doctors couldn't find my cervix for a smear test, when I've had no previous problems. The gynocologist, eventually managed the smear test and, also did an ultrasound and kidney scan. He concluded that everything's fine, I just have a short vagina. It shouldn't suddenly change though, I was wondering if it could be vaginal erosion, but wouldn't a gynocologist be able to see that? What else could it be?
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