I suffer with realy bad heart burn and acid?

Question

especially after drinking alcohol and eating certain foods. I have suffered with this for at least 5 years and have never been to the doctors about it because i take gaviscon which i buy my self or i use my grandmothers ranatidine tablets, these have started to have no effect or if they do its for a very short time.
I am embarassed to go to the doctors due to the amount of years i have had the problem for and havent told him about it, what should i do? Could it be serious? or is it normal? I am 27 years old and used to drink quite heavy.

I have been stopped smoking now for 5 weeks

Answer 1

Drink apple cider vinegar! I know it smells weird and doesn't taste all that good, but it WILL work! Mix 1-2 teaspoons of ACV in with about a shot glass full of water and down it. Within a few minutes, your heartburn should be gone.

If you get heartburn frequently, then this will also help to correct the underlying acid reflux problems as well. Although vinegar is an acid, when it gets into your stomach, it alkalizes and becomes a neutralizer, thus keeping the stomach acid at bay.

Answer 2

First of all it sounds as thought it could be sellf induced from the drinking and eating of certain foods (spicy, chocolate, fruit,?). Eat bland food for a few days and try knocking the alcohol on the head for a few days at least.

You ought to get yourself to the doctors as it sounds that you have acid reflux which can if left untreated can become acute and very painful. Meanwhile try raising the head of your bed by an inch put some books underneath the legs of your bed.

This helps to prevent the acid from regurgitating back into your stomach and throat.

Don't be embarrassed by going to the doctors as most of us don't going running until we feel really ill.

I have the same as you but I also have a hiatus hernia which is a nightmare and very hard to rectify once you have one. Watching the weight also helps. However no bending over as this could cause you to get a hernia as the acid weakens to stomach sphincter.....muscle in between the small intestine and the stomach..

You doctor will probably prescribe Nexium or some similar prescribed drugwhich when taken as prescribed can reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach dramatically but you have to help yourself by taking preventative measures as mentioned.

All the best and you are still only very young so I guess it will get better sooner rather than later.

x

Answer 3

You really need to avoid wahtever it is that starts it off. I have suffered terribly with this to the point of barely being able to function. I took Gaviscon and Ranitidine too and they lost their effectiveness. I would advise you go to your doctor and ask about Proton Pump Inhibitors (tablets that stop the acids being produced in your stomach) and possibly an endoscopy (camera down your throat) to rule out anything serious and check for scarring of the oesophagus. If left untreated it can lead to a condition called Barretts Oesophagus where the cells become pre cancerous, like the cells on the cervix can. Please don't be embarrassed about seeing the doctor he or she won't judge you about not going before. Sometimes the alcohol can casue the spincter at the end of your oesophagus to stay open thus allowing the acids to come up and burn you. The same with smoking. I think this can cause a temporary problem that rights itself over time. But please see your doctor before you suffer like I did.

Answer 4

GO TO YOUR DOCTOR .. AND GET AN EXAMINATION PLUS AN ECG(ONLY TAKES 5 - 10 MINS.)
I had similar problems and my Dr also suggested Gaviscon.. for 2 1/2 yrs .. then demanded further examination ..after ESC and two short exasminations by a specialist I underwent a QUADRUPLE heart by pass !!! .....
Home within five days, about 3 months to get back to normal (no pain just a little tired some days) ... Had suffered big heart attack without knowing it !! Now ... feeling great and back to enjoying my life.
Even if after examination it is confirmed that you do only have indegestion .. no harm done just a few minutes of you time used

Answer 5

I have the same issues. I don't think its from drinking. I did go to the doctor but he was a shitty one. I told him an article on the net suggested I had peptic ulcers, and all he wanted to do was argue with me (because really, who do I think I am trying to find out stuff without paying him). Turned out I was right and I also had H. Pylori, an infection associated with the ulcers. I have done everything I know to help myself, the antibiotics he gave me MAY have killed the infection but I have day and night heartburn. I did alot of research and theres numerous things it could be caused from but have had no luck yet curing it. I have no insurance but if I did I would have them look inside my stomach. I can't remember what that test is called. Thats the best way to find out what the problem is. And if you can't find the answer that way, don't rule out candiasis, an overgrowth of yeast that causes that too. Most docs still won't acknowledge it but its very real. Also I had my gallbladder removed so that wasn't my issue. Someone else told me I may not be getting enough fiber but I can't seem to make myself take it everyday like I should yet.

Answer 6

Sounds like it could be IBS or acid reflux or similar. Alcohol, tomatoes, fatty foods, coffee and eating too much or too fast are common triggers. Go to the Dr - I reckon they'll give you something like Omeprazole which will line your stomach and ease off the acid production for a little while, a bit like Pepto-Bismol. Don't be embarrassed, they'll have heard it all before and if you only have a mild case be glad you don't have to describe your bowel movements in graphic detail!

Answer 7

This sounds weird, but throwing up will sometimes make heartburn go away. (Don't do anything to induce vomiting, but don't take anything that will prevent it from happening or fight it if you know it's coming.) If that doesn't make it go away, you probably have a more serious problem and need to see a doctor. Don't be embarrassed about the doctor finding out how long you delayed seeing them; heck, I once had an ingrown toenail for two months before I got it fixed and the doctor didn't get mad or anything. If you go to a nice, caring doctor, they'll be more concerned with fixing your problem than lecturing you about not coming in sooner.

Answer 8

There are two easy things you can do.

Try a tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water.
Avoid the alcohol and foods that make you sick.

What you need to be aware of is heart burn over a long time can lead to esophageal cancer.

If you cannot stop drinking and eating foods which bother you, at least treat yourself with the baking soda right away to nip the acid in the bud.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Heart burn is a very serious problem. It can cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (chronic bronchitis, emphysema). If aspirated, it can also cause pneumonia (usually happens durring sleep). It can also burn the lining of your esophagus. You need to see your doctor and get a prescription that will control your heart burn. Don't be embarrassed about how long you have waited. The doctor won't care. They see it all the time.

Answer 10

Check this natural method to get rid of acid reflux http://acidreflux-cure.info
Usually, heartburnThe most common symptom of acid reflux disease (also known as gastroespohageal reflux disease, or GERD). Heartburn feels like a burning pain in the center of the chest. It is caused by acid from the stomach backing up into the esophagus. is a symptom of acid reflux disease (GERD) Also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Describes the condition of backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus which frequently happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes more often than it should and/or at inappropriate times. The symptoms of acid reflux disease typically occur on 2 or more days a week.. And if you suffer from persistent heartburn on two or more days a week—and you’ve treated it and changed your diet—it could be due to acid refluxBackflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. Acid reflux frequently happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes more often than it should and/or at inappropriate times. This allows harsh stomach juices to back up into the esophagus. disease. But only your doctor can tell you if these are signs of acid reflux disease.