He consumes indigestion tablets by the handful. he has always been the same since I met him ( age 35) . He is slightly built but over the last few years has developed a huge pot belly ( he doesn't drink excessively). he refuses to go to the doctor and I'm worried there could be something seriously wrong. any ideas?
2007-01-14 07:54:49 · 11 answers · asked by Ellie G 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
He may have a build up of acid in his stomach which would explain the "pot belly".He really should see his doctor.It sounds like his stomach is producing too much acid and hes getting a reflux.The doctor can prescribe some great tablets that stop the production of the acid.Alot of the tablets you buy over the counter just neutralise the acid but dont actually stop it being produced.If he still wont go to the doctors go to your local pharmacy and ask to speak to the pharmacist as you can now buy some of these tablets over the counter (at a price). One of them is Omeprazole.Good luck!!!
2007-01-14 08:03:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try making a note of what he has eaten when he gets the indigestion - do this each day so that you can see what it is that sets it off, it could be anything, from smoking to anything he eats. Pot bellys are not only caused by drinking - lack of exercise plays a large part in that and indigestion. Also if he has a hiatus hernia (tear in the diaphragm) this can cause terrible heart burn due to reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus. Instead of tablets try a liquid such as Gaviscon - it is longer lasting. At some stage you are going to HAVE to get him to a GP as he will be courting a heart attack and I wish you the best of luck of this, I think you will need it!
2007-01-14 08:08:49 · answer #2 · answered by blondie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi, hope this helps.....my mum was doing the same for years and years. She couldn't even have soft drink or water with out getting chronic indigestion let alone o.j etc. So she went to the doc and got re feral to specialist. She had an operation - forgot the name but they permanently shut the flappy thing that is supposed to regulate stomach acid from coming up into the mouth. Now she rarely gets indigestion which is amazing considering the amount she was having but it means she cant vomit. if she gets food poisoning she has to get her stomach pumped. Maybe if you tell your husband that there is alternative treatments he can try, he may go to the docs. He may have something else wrong and the indigestion is one of the symptoms. Good luck, i know what its like to have a hubby who refuses to take care of his own body and address health issues with the doctor.
2007-01-14 11:22:42 · answer #3 · answered by kelstar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
going to see the GP is a smart move, be really concerned if the pot-belly has been combined with a change in bowel habits constipated/diarrhoea - if this is the case he absolutely has to see the GP as it can be a sign of something very serious.
There are a range of different antacids available; simple alkaline/base like those chalky chewy ones, or that horrid (in my opinion) tasting pink fluid. There are also other drugs that inhibit the formation of acid and these are the like of ranitidine and H2 receptor antagonist (which you can get from the pharmacist for him) or proton pump inhibitors, such as lansoprazole, etc which have to be got from the Doc.
If you've got a good family Doctor, it might be an idea to go and talk to him/her about how you might be able to help your husband. Without his explicit consent, your Doctor won't be able to discuss your husband's medical conditions with you, but in general terms he may be able to advise.
Hope this helps.
2007-01-15 21:08:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ranitidine works. They can be bought at supermarkets (UK), only one a day, and it works out cheaper than prescription. It can have side effects though. Read the box to see! Are you sure about the drinking? Any secret drinking going off? Other stuff might be a cause too, such as spicy foods, nicotine and caffeine.
2007-01-14 09:11:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since he is refusing to see a doctor, I would look at his diet. Research foods that are lower, acid producing foods and try modifying his diet. Ideally, he really should see someone though as it may not be as simple as a handful of tums.
Good Luck.
2007-01-14 08:17:27 · answer #6 · answered by hanginwithstang 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my husband is exactly the same.when he went to the doctor he just prescribed a antacid tablet.He still suffers really bad with it and the only thing that helps is rennie.i also worry that it is something else but his doctor seems ok with it.
2007-01-14 08:10:24 · answer #7 · answered by Dooby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be an ulcer, he really needs to get checked out by a doctor.
2007-01-14 08:03:42 · answer #8 · answered by richard_beckham2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll have to tell him you're worried about him and that he needs to go to the doctor to make YOU feel better!
2007-01-14 08:41:30 · answer #9 · answered by Em 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
does he take motrin or another pain reliever similar? it caused permanent damage to my esophagas
2007-01-14 08:29:12 · answer #10 · answered by lynn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋