posted on August 18, 2004 12:14:45 PM
I used to go through Tums, Rolaids, Pepcid, and then finally prescription heartburn/acid reflux drugs like they were candy.
But when my gall bladder was removed last year, all that stopped. Haven't had heartburn ever since!
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on August 18, 2004 12:17:10 PM
over the counter medication such as mylanta will reduce acid and neutralise gas in your stomach.
Alka selzer will neutralise gas but does not prevent your stomach from producing more gas,
Gas-x will reduce gas like alka selzer.
Then you have zantac,prilosev,prevacid,nexium etc.
what is your problem,how is it triggered and how often does it occur??
There is also a case of not enough acid,in that case you need to bring the stomach acid level up by drinking cranberry juice,pineapple juice.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on August 18, 2004 12:21:14 PM
Kraft, I get heartburn quite a bit after eating spicy foods or drinking coffee on an empty stomach. The doctor said I had acid reflux and put me on nexium. I took that for a couple of weeks and then suffered from the side of effects of the meds. I want to try the prevacid but haven't gone back to the doctor yet.
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
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YOU CAN'T HAVE BULLSH** WITH OUT BUSH.
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We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
posted on August 18, 2004 12:22:22 PM
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/gastro/wwwboard.html
Join the party!!!
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on August 18, 2004 01:30:51 PM
kraftdinner, Prilosec works very well. A few months ago it became an over the counter drug. I turned on 3 of my friends to it and all said it works great. Check out the word GURD on google. I hope you feel better real soon. Dennis
posted on August 18, 2004 01:53:25 PM
it is not GURD,it is GERD.
zantac 75 has been around a long time,it works for some people,not all.
nuts,dairy products,spicy food,greasy food,deep fried food,caffeine,tea ,chocolate would give you problem.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on August 18, 2004 01:56:28 PM
I have found this site to be most informative on medical issues. They give the possible causes of ailments, what the different diagnosis' might be, treatments, drugs and their use, side effects of drugs, etc. Just type in your ailment on their home page and hit search. Far better than a Google search, I guarantee it. I hope this helps.
posted on August 18, 2004 04:20:16 PM
I've wondered how on earth they can give out free trial samples of prescription drugs. If you can get free samples just by writing for them, then they should be made OTC.
edited to insert much-needed spaces. darn keyboard...
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
[ edited by bunnicula on Aug 18, 2004 04:31 PM ]
posted on August 18, 2004 04:38:00 PM
I used to take Prylosec and it worked great. Now it is generic and it works terrible. I haven't tried the over the counter yet.
Now I take Nexium and find it very good. I had a really bad esophagus from acid reflux. It was so small a chick pea wouldn't go through it. I got to see the pictures when I had my endoscopy and I never want it to look like that again.
posted on August 18, 2004 04:39:48 PM
bunnicula, they can't. I just filled it out with ...... my brothers name, and a phoney address to see what would happen. You'll receive a coupon for a free 7 day supply, BUT you have to see your dr first, he prescribes the 7 day RX (if he thinks you need it) you get it free with a couon tht Nexium sends
I copied part of what it said
To the Physician:
To use this certificate, your patient needs one prescription for 7 capsules of Nexium (20 or 40 mg).
You will need to provide a second prescription based on your recommended therapy if you want to keep your patient on Nexium beyond the 7-day free trial period.
Refills are not authorized with the certificate.
To the Pharmacist:
This certificate must be accompanied by a valid prescription and is valid for 7 capsules of Nexium (20 or 40 mg). No substitutions permitted.
Please dispense 7 capsules of Nexium (20 or 40 mg) to the patient at no charge and transmit the claim to AdvancePCS.
This certificate is for one time use only. For all other prescriptions, please use the patient's primary method of payment with a new Rx number.
For audit purposes, this certificate must be attached to the original prescription and retained by you for the greater of 3 years or the usual period for which your pharmacy records are kept.
Call the PerformanceScript Help Desk at 1-800-345-5413 for assistance in filing this claim.
I certify that:
I have received this certificate from an eligible patient and I have dispensed the Nexium product in accordance with this certificate.
posted on August 18, 2004 04:43:44 PM
The problem patients have with heartburn are the ones that have their gallbladder removed. There is no place to store bile and bile is the cause of heartburn.
Since many gallons of bile pass through your bile ducts, into your stomach and then into the small bowel it needs to be neutralized and if not you will get acid reflux. Now this will happen to people that still have their gallbladders but not as frequently. Your gallbladder has to work properly to protect your stomach and esophagus from acid reflux.
posted on August 18, 2004 04:51:00 PM
prilosev and nexium work the same way,prevacid is different,it has antibiotics attributes as well as having the ability to shut down the pumps which produce acid.
It prilosev does not work for you,it is likely nexium would not either.
dont forget if you are taking otc prilosev,it has delayed effects,so you wont see the results right away.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on August 18, 2004 05:09:01 PM
bunnicula, I was curious too, and bored I took Prilosec before it was OTC.
I had heartburn, not just a burning feeling, but pain, so bad, I thought, first time it was a heart attack! Priolsec the RX worked really well, and the heartburn stopped, and I stopped taking it. I saw it in the store, it seems pretty pricey to me for OTC. When I got it as an RX, our co pay was $10 so I got a months supply for $10. I think its about $20 something OTC now, not sure.
posted on August 18, 2004 05:29:32 PM
Thanks for your recommendations and advice everyone. I only notice heartburn if I've had a Coke or other sugary drinks, and too much salt seems to cause it too. I take Tums but they don't seem to last long. The OTC fancy ones are expensive here too but if they work, I'll try them. Thanks!
posted on August 18, 2004 05:52:00 PM
soda,caffeine,spice,licorice,chocolate,fat,dairy products,nuts will upset your stomach.
OTC prilosev 20 mg sell for 9.99 on sale in supermarket.
HERE IS a site for a disease called hypochlorhydria(low stomach acid)
www.diet-and-health.net/Diseases/Hypochlorhydria.html
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here is a site for nexium side effects-
www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/esomeprazole_ad.htm
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on August 18, 2004 06:08:20 PM
Hypochlorhydria
Hypochlorhydria is a poor stomach output of hydrochloric acid.
Hypochlorhydria is fairly common; according to some surveys, a low level of stomach acid occurs in up to 47% of the general population, the highest incidence being found in older people.
Much has been said in the media about too much acid, hyperacidity, and millions of dollars are erroneously spent on antacids, when the opposite problem is often the case - toolittle acid.
On the other hand, some people may experience no gastrointestinal symptoms whatsoever. When there are no symptoms, individuals can wind up years later with serious consequences which are never related to the unrecognized hypochlorhydria.
Without acid, the body has a difficult time digesting food. The chief function of stomach acid is the initiation of protein digestion. Without it, proteins putrefy in the intestines which means the bacteria wind up decomposing the protein and producing foul-smelling compounds like hydrogen sulfide gas and cadaverine.
Acid secretion is also of fundamental importance in the assimilation of many minerals, and of vitamin B12. Before looking to hormone replacement therapy for prevention of osteoporosis, check your stomach acid. As well as looking to vitamin B12 shots for pernicious anemia, check your stomach acid.
Another important function of hydrochloric acid is the stimulation of pancreatic enzyme and bile release into the small intestine. Without enough pancreatic enzymes and bile, the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins A and E, is severely compromised, inadvertently causing undernutrition even with an excellent diet.
Over time the stomach cells that secrete acid may be repaired by supplements of licorice, glutamine, and gentian. Sometimes acupuncture helps restore the cells, and if a subluxation is creating weakened stimulation of nerves to the stomach, chiropractic will help.
Symptoms of poor stomach acid output:
Stomach bloating
Burping
Upset stomach
Burning
Flatulence
Diarrhea
Nausea after taking supplements
Rectal itching
Weak, peeling, cracked fingernails
Dilated capillaries in the cheeks and nose (in non- alcoholics)
Post adolescent Acne
Iron deficiency
Other mineral deficiencies
Chronic intestinal infections
Undigested food in stool
Disorders associated with poor stomach acid output:
posted on August 18, 2004 07:20:00 PM
For my problem I have tried Papaya enzyme, Digestive aids, and neutralizers. I have had pretty good success with a digestive enzyme that included ox bile. I tried tagamet and such with limited results, then, ta da, Nexium solved my major problems. Elevating the head of your bed can help, also. If I eat a lot of dairy I make sure to take some sort of lactase.
posted on August 18, 2004 08:37:26 PM
Thanks very much, Stop. Geez, maybe I don't have enough acid. Problem is, if you read too much, you think you have every disease there is.
posted on August 20, 2004 12:31:26 PM
also appy to heartburn,acid reflux ,GERD----
The lifestyle modifications that are considered helpful in patients with hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux are called anti-reflux measures. Foods that can decrease lower esophageal sphincter pressure should be avoided. Those foods include: coffee, tea, cola beverages (with and without caffeine), citrus drinks, fatty foods, spicy foods, onions, peppermint and chocolate. Medications such as aspirin or non-steroidal inflammatory agents (for example: ibuprofen, naproxen etc.) can be irritating to the stomach or esophagus. Other medications that decrease lower esophageal sphincter pressure are theophylline and albuterol (medicine for asthma) and calcium channel blockers (such as dilitiazem, nifedipine for high blood pressure and angina). It is important for you to review the list of your medications with your doctor. Other helpful lifestyle changes include: elevating the head of your bed on 4-6 inch cinderblocks or using a wedge under the mattress; not eating at least 3-4 hours before bedtime; eating smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding smoking and alcohol. I hope you find this information helpful.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on August 20, 2004 04:09:47 PM
After reading and contributing to the Round Table I think we all probably have a little heart burn. Some maybe more.
darn keyboard...
