Stomach acid - help?

Question

I take Losec which are supposed to suppress stomach acid but for the past 2 months these have not worked, so I have added Zantac but these don't help so now I'm left with taking Magnesium Trisilicate - what else can I do and why is it happening?

Answer 1

I suffer from acid reflux. Lanzoprazole is the medicine I take.
I used to take Losec, but for some strange reason I had horrendous side effects. My joints used to ache so much at times it affected my walking.

I recently had a gastroscopy done to check whether my problem was being caused by a hernia. Some causes are almost undetectable. The result of this is that my gut had sections of damage caused through acid reflux, no holes though and no growths.

The advice given to me was thus;-

There is a link between being overweight and suffering from acid reflux, therefore it would be advantageous to lose weight.

I was advised not to eat after 6 or 6.30 pm, as food lies and does not get burnt up as an energy source, therefore does not breakdown and digest.

I was advised to create a list of foods which seem to repeat themselves and then to avoid eating them.

I was informed that eating spicy foods and fatty foods increased gastric problems.

I was also advised to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day in addition to the water in food and other beverages.Dehydration can also cause gastric problems as glands are dependent on water.

Fizzy drinks are not good for you neither is an excess of alcohol.

Smoking also reduces your bodies ability to turn foods into natural alcali chemicals.

White meats and fish are better for you than red meats.

All food should be steamed, baked, boiled or grilled. NEVER EAT FRIED FOOD OR TAKE AWAY MEALS.

Sleep is important, to avoid waking up with your nightime GERD L:PR or ACID REFLUX PROBLEM. AVOID MILK OR MILKY DRINKS AT BEDTIME. Milk feeds bacteria and sours with acid over flow.

You should also raise the bed head by the approximate height of a brick. High pillows is not the same.

If none of this helps with your one main medication i,e LOSEC visit your GP and ask for an appointment with the gastric clinic nurse. You should also have a blood test done to ascertain whether you have some unhealthy bacteria living in your stomach. 'Helibactoripylori', I think it is called, as this may require long term antibiotics to clear.

My specialist informed me that the next generation of serious and fatal health problems will be those of the stomach and intestines. For as a nation none of us are prepared to watch and live by a decent lifestyle.

Good luck to you, I hope you sort it out.

Answer 2

Magnesium is suppossed to be the best non prescription medication for your symptoms. You shouldnt be suffering from stomach pains on a regular basis. Its quite normal to get the odd stomach ache but from you passage it seems you suffer from acid pain on a regular basis you should get checked out by your doctor as you may have a stomach peptic ulcer which can be serious if not treated but is treatable, I know what Im talking about Ive had peptic ulcers and believe me early intervention is best. I hope you go for an appointment, It may be nothing you may just need different prescribed medication, I hope I was of help and that you get better.

Answer 3

Firstly, stop taking the Zantac and Magnesium Trisilicate with your Losec - it will not help as many of these drugs can interact and cause you even more side effects.
Secondly, go and see your GP - there are a 5 different PPI's on the market and not everyone is suited to them all. Many people find that one works better than another as they all do work slightly differently. Hopefully your GP can find one that suits you.
Avoid panicking about cancer etc at this stage - this will not help your symptoms as stress can be a major factor in increasing reflux. If you are your GP are concerned you can easily be sent for further tests to confirm exactly what is causing your reflux.
Good luck!

Answer 4

go to your doctor and ask for a gastroscopy test to be done. this is where they put a tube with a camera down your throat and into your stomach. they also take a sample for analysis. i had this problem with stomach acid and they did this test and discovered i had a germ called heli-pylori or something like that. it caused excess stomach acid and that caused vomiting. there is a treatment for for it, which is a weeks course of different tablets. antibiotics and an antacid. i dont have the problem now. even if you dont have the same thing, its worth getting a test done to get to the cause. eating lots of fatty foods can also cause excess stomach acids.

Answer 5

I have the same problem from time to time....It sounds like heartburn to me.Try using some type of heart burn med, go to your local store and go to the pharmacy, there are different kinds so just try them out or ask you doctor for a perscription. My problem is that I love Orange Juice and I can't drink it because it gives me bad heart burn. Try to stay away from coffee as it can upset it as well. Like I said earlier, if you can, go talk to your doctor and he can give you a script and help you out with a new diet. If you are unable to see a doctor just ask a phamasist. One girl said don't take TUMS. Well don't listen to her. Tums are a great product and it is also good for you as well due to what is in it, calcium. Do not try what the first girl said either, vinager will only make it worse. One guy even said fruits. Stay away from some, these contain acids as well.

Answer 6

Protonix may help. You may have an acidic system, ask your doctor to give
you an acid test(use special paper strips for this). Also alkaline forming
and low acid foods should help, it helps to consult a nutritionist about
your dietary needs too. Good Luck!

Answer 7

Dear Lottie
Please go & see your Doctor and tell them this .It is a serious condition and the Dr needs to know what's happening with you.
When Zantac didn't help someone I know they were put on omeprazole. But you must visit with a Dr to get the right treatment for you. Do not mix your medicines,do not keep adding on one more thing on top of the other.
If it's bad at night elevate the top of your bed by 2" so that your head is higher than your feet.

Answer 8

see your doc you may have an ulcer also your body gets used to having the losec and starts producing more acid to combat this drug trying to reduce it. may just need a different Proton Pump Inhibitor (what losec etc are called) like nexium

Answer 9

Ask doctor for acid reducers ,My chemist made me an antacid from peppermint water etc ,works wonders ,go and ask your chemist

Answer 10

From a man that knows

Go to your GP and request Omeprazole capsules

They have helped me so much.