OT - Heartburn/Acid Reflux

Five days ago I had what first appeared to be a benign bout of heartburn that turned out to be 2 trips to the hospital ER within 24 hours and an Upper GI Endoscopy procedure on Friday. It revealed a few stomach ulcers and a whole bunch of esophagus ulcers. Strange, don't know how they could have come up from "nowhere", neither does the doctor... no previous problems.

Just wondered if anyone has had anything similar. Had to cancel 2 gigs but back on the road tomorrow. Don't know how that'll work out but we'll find out. Still hurts like hell to swollow, but getting better (I hope).

Glenn

Whoa...sorry to hear this Glenn.

You are too easy going and carefree...not to mention, young, to be experiencing ulcers.

Take care of yourself, buddy.

Eddie

Since you mentioned this - I just had a hellish experience with acid reflux. It's been a mild nuisance for some time but never serious and nothing that Tums couldn't handle. I had my annual physical just last month that I passed easily. Without warning I vomited stomach acid in my sleep and inhaled it last Friday at 1am, choking me and scaring me badly. I had to be rushed to the ER for a breathing treatment and X-rays. Fortunately pneumonia didn't set in but my esophagus, vocal cords and lungs were burned and I've been passing blood every since. Went to my doctor today and my BP is low and it looks like I'm anemic - waiting for confirmation. Probably have to have some upper GI endoscopic work soon... supposed to find out more tomorrow. I'm now on Protonix to reduce stomach acid production. I'm told this affects white males the most and no one knows why.


[This message has been edited by Esh (edited 05-08-2006).]

1986 I started having heartburn symptoms..I put up with it for 12 years...eating Tums like they were candy..Night time was a nightmare...I finally let my doctor know...I was diagnosed with acid reflux with some damage to the esophagus..He prescribed Prevacid..from the very first pill till today it helped 100%..I eat all and anything I want..On a side note..I reorder my meds from a mail order company..They had a paper error and delayed my script...As I am typing now I am having re occurrences of this problem[I have been without pills for the last 3 days]..It reminds me what a blessing Prevacid is..

I had trouble with heartburn and reflux for years until I discovered I was alergic to chlorine in the tap water.
We now filter the chlorine out and I have little or no trouble.

Cousin Ken

Glenn: Really sorry to hear you're suffering from ulcers. I read somewhere that cabbage juice is supposed to be good for treating it. It contains glutamine, which is the major fuel for cells in the digestive track and can help repair the lining. Of course check with your doctor first to confirm if this is true or not. Hope you're feeling better real soon. - Scott

Eliminating alcohol (wine especially!) can help along with the other things mentioned here. I was unable to control mine until I stopped all consumption for some weeks.
This can actually become quite serious -- do not disregard early symptoms.

Well I've learned alot about this stuff in the last 48 hours.

Jim, if you're having those kind of symptoms at night while in bed, even if one episode, but a serious one, raise the head of your bed 4-6". Another fix, tho not as good (you might slide down), is to use a wedge at the head of your bed. I've seen this referenced and a friend of mine has had success with it.

Fran, yes, Tums can help, but it only temporarily masks the symptoms, that's all. While the Prevacid is much better, especially since it works for you, it also does not address the underlying problem, which in most cases is a bodily "condition" known as acidosis (body is too acid), which has several long-range damaging effects of the body. One's pH can be easily tested with pH test strips... urine and/or saliva. Mine are on the way.

Change in diet can make the body less acid, more alkaline. But it means cutting way back on all the good stuff... all meat, sweets, pasta...and taking in more vegtables and fruit, especially the veggies, and not fried or creamed!

Caragaba, how in the world did you learn that you were allergic to chlorine? You're lucky.

Scott, you're right on with cabbage and cabbage juice. It's my staple meal item this week. This thing better fix soon... BBQ Rib Burn-off season starts around here in just a few weeks.

Thanks guys,

Glenn

I started having symptoms about a year ago (age 55) and I take a Zantac when I start belching and having what feels like heartburn. For me, I usually get to feeling this way when I eat spicy foods or eat too much or too fast. It's hell getting older! but I do feel good knowing many of you are suffering with the same symptoms. I hope we all get better!
George Kaye

Glen process of elimination.
I used to blame the local beer (when I drank].
At times my skin reacts to the clorine in the swiming pool [itching].

Cousin Ken

I too had the same problem with acid reflux. I would take a couple of Gavascon as a precaution before I went to sleep.

Now that I'm diabetic I've reduced my food intake to 1500 to 2000 calories a day. I've also lost 25 pounds. Guess what, the acid reflux is gone.

Tom

I had heartburn since 1980. I ate rolaids for years. I have no ulcers but a very active acid producing stomach and acid reflux. I started with Zantac. It worked. So did Pepcid and Tagament. Then maybe 10 years or so ago I discovered Prilosec. $2.90 each at that time.

Then I met someone who could get them for me from Mexico for 8 cent a pill. Been eating them ever since. I can eat anything. My local druggist told me that Nexium is the same identical medicine with an added insignificant ingredient to keep it on prescription so they can keep the price up.

You can now get Prilosec for 50 cents on sale with coupons over the counter at any food store with a pharmacy, but I'm going to stick with the 8 cent Prilosec from Mexico. One in the morning and one in the evening. I can't go without them.

You should all be taking Saw Palmetta for your prostate also. My eurologist even recommended that to me.

Ask Posse if I know how to get rid of Athelete's Foot! Ha! Ha!

I may go to Medical School yet. There's still not a whole lot happening in the OMB business in Western Colorado.

Boo, you'll be sorry when you wake up one morning and burp in Spanish.
DonM

I'm on Protonix now which is a photon-inhibitor to control stomach acid and have been scheduled for upper GI endoscopy this Friday to see what the real problem is.

Thanks GlennT - I've been sleeping on double pillows but many people have recommended the elevated bed so no matter how the endoscopy goes I'm raising the bed.

A new medication coming to light apparently with excellent results that cures 650 diseases is Colloidal Silver.This was discovered over 80 years ago, and there are forums throughout the world singing its praises. The large pharmaceutical companies are trying to give it a lot of bad publicity because it cannot be patented and are saying that it is dangerous,and yet it is used in hospitals as the main cure for burns and accelerates healing.Hypocrisy eh.(i read last week that the biggest killer in USA is ?????????????????????????????? prescribed drugs).

I too have lived with an acid reflux problem for many years. I take Prilosec daily. I am now 74 years old, let me share what I have learned.

1-If you sing acid reflux will have a Harding effect on your voice.

2-if you keep taking medication like Tums and Prilosec your body loses its ability to fight the acid.

3- Keep the bed elevated.

4-Do Not ---Do Not eat late. (After 6PM)

5-This is a hard one – change your diet, give your body what it is asking for.

If you listen carefully to your body it will tell your all you need to know about staying healthy.

In my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s I did a lot of singing but my voice was too thin, not enough bottom. In my 50’s and early 60’s age and reflux acid put more bottom in my voice. I now have good eating habits and my voice is fairly stable. Ha ha, what a way to go. At 74 I’m still singing a pretty fair tune, that should be an incentive to some.

Sharing, John C.

John, thanks for bringing up some excellent points. What exactly in the Harding effect? As far as listening to your body... I dono. Mine tells me bratwurst, fried chicken, ribs, ice cream, all the good stuff, ya know?

Glenn

Glenn, There are two parts in everyone’s body. One tells you to do all the fun things and eat all the greasy stuff – the other part says eat all the bland stuff. Don’t blame me I didn’t make the rules. Aaaaaaaah.

I eat 3 to 4 small balanced meals a day. I eat to supply my body’s needs. It was not like that years ago, if it did not move I ate it. It’s amazing how careful you get when there is not a lot of time.

Vocal chords, throat – all begins to harden (Become less flexible) with age, the acid reflux adds to the problem.

Let’s go back to something happy like me buying Tyros 2. I will see one for the first time this week. So it’s good bye KN7000 and hello Tyros 2. Not an easy thing to do after playing Technics keyboards for the last 12 years.

Stay well, John C.




[This message has been edited by bruno123 (edited 05-11-2006).]