Does anyone have Gerd/Acid Reflux?

[JadenLayne]

My back has been hurting between my shoulder blades lately and it's accompanied by burping and burping and burping. My Dr. told me before that I had acid reflux but I haven't ever taken anything for it.

Now I think I need to take something. Can anyone recommend a good over the counter med? Prilosec or maybe Zantac? Which is best?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Changing your diet. Unfortunately I am serious.

I have reflux, I am on Prevacid, as it seems to be the only thing that works for me...why I do not know.

Now if I changed my diet like my DH has done, I would not have to takes meds or take my meds and not suffer so much.
I am so stubborn.

 

[jbmom]

My dh has been taking Prilosec for so many years I can't even remember. It was before it was available OTC. It helps him immensely. He used to pop tums by the handful and did that burping thing where his whole back, shoulders and chest hurt. He still does it every once in a while when he forgets to take his Prilosec. He tried Zantac once but it didn't help as much. I think it depends on the person. Also if you try Prilosec you have to give it a while for it to really work. I think it's like 14 days.

 

[Robinrs]

I've had it for years....not fun.

I started on Prilosec, but didn't like the idea of taking a pill EVERYDAY. I learned the foods that trigger it and stopped eating after 6pm and that really works!

I also found that creamy foods neutralize the acid if I eat it about an hour or two before going to sleep.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I do. My doctor prescribes Nexium for me. I have noticed a big difference since starting them at the end of Dec.

TC

 

[JadenLayne]

Thanks everyone! Right now it seems like anything I eat triggers it. I just ate a grilled chicken breast and it hurts. Seems like that wouldn't hurt it. I think it's just really acting up bad right now.

Robin, creamy as in what? It does seem to be worse at night.

Since I take 2 pills daily anyway one more isn't going to hurt but I want something that helps immediantely.....14 days of this is going to be bad, LOL!

 

[mickeyboat]

I swear my DH has this. He gets a pain in the upper left chest almost every evening. I know he needs to go to a doctor, but he keeps putting it off. I did some Web MD'ind and it looks like even a doctor would first try a diet change before doing any tests. I will talk to him again about it, but I am not sure he is willing to give up his onions, coffee or alcohol!

Denae

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks everyone! Right now it seems like anything I eat triggers it. I just ate a grilled chicken breast and it hurts. Seems like that wouldn't hurt it. I think it's just really acting up bad right now.

Says who?

For starters anything GRILLED is can cause reflux. My dh had to give up eating "charcoal grilled" because the charcoal gives him wicked heartburn.

We eat propaned grilled now.

As far as your chicken you ate, was it plain? I mean regular chicken no spices, no sauce, and reg. plain chicken. Not "fake" with injected broth garbage.

I can't make roast chicken anymore because they inject the hell out of it.
If I want to make a roast chicken I am going to have to go to an organic grocery store.

In fact I wish I could shop there exclusively. It would help us but they are so expensive.

 

[Boo'sMom]

you might want to have it checked again, your symptoms sound like it could be gall bladder instead of A/R or GERD.

 

[arminnie]

GERD is really serious stuff. If left untreated it can greatly increase the risks of getting esophageal cancer - which has a low survival rate.

GERD also can lead to serious lung problems if the acid keeps the lungs inflamed. That acid in the lungs can almost be as destructive as smoking.

I had asthma that would not get under control but no heartburn when I discovered that I had GERD. I've been fighting this about 15 years.

I've had surgery (twice) and take acifex in addition to several asthma medicines. Just in the past year I've found that I get horrible acid reflux (feels like a blow torch) if I eat chocolate or nuts just before going to bed. I ended up in the ER coughing up blood, and it took at least 6 months for it my lungs to heal.

 

[JadenLayne]

It scared me that it was my heart but after just having a normal EKG and no chest pain, breathing problems etc. and the fact that food and burping are involoved I'm almost sure it's reflux. Also and this is TMI but sometimes I'm constipated and other times I can't get to the bathroom fast enough.

Humm I never thought about Gallbladder. Does burping all the time come with gallbladder problems too?

The chicken was just a plain chicken breast. I baked chicken last night, just a skinless boneless chicken breast with NO added salt (I hate salt). It did have a little pepper, not alot. I just ate it with a piece of bread.

 

[Robinrs]

Thanks everyone! Right now it seems like anything I eat triggers it. I just ate a grilled chicken breast and it hurts. Seems like that wouldn't hurt it. I think it's just really acting up bad right now.

Robin, creamy as in what? It does seem to be worse at night.

Since I take 2 pills daily anyway one more isn't going to hurt but I want something that helps immediantely.....14 days of this is going to be bad, LOL!

Anything creamy, like pudding or soft ice cream... a spoonful or two does it for me.

Doesn't get worse at night? Mine doesn't even show it's nasty head until nighttime!

 

[AuntPatti]

Try Pepcid Complete. My acid reflux acts up if I have too much lemon juice..After chewing one Pepcid Complete, I'm feeling much better within 10 minutes. I wasn't going to get started on a pill that I would have to take everyday, and that I wouldn't feel presults from for up to the first 14 days, when my reflux or heartburn is so rare. I tell everyone to try Pepcid Complete!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The chicken was just a plain chicken breast. I baked chicken last night, just a skinless boneless chicken breast with NO added salt (I hate salt). It did have a little pepper, not alot. I just ate it with a piece of bread.

Pepper is on the BIG NO-NO list.
No spices or herbs at all...none.
No sauces, no gravies, nothing tomato based. Includes spaghetti and BBQ....

YOU SEE WHY I HATE THIS!

Plain means...plain.

 

[Boo'sMom]

Humm I never thought about Gallbladder. Does burping all the time come with gallbladder problems too?

I've been diagnosed with Acid Reflux and have taken protonix for a couple years, recently, I've started having more symptoms that are making us think it's actually gall bladder now, not AR

Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease

• steady, severe pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours
• pain in the back between the shoulder blades
• pain under the right shoulder
• nausea or vomiting
• abdominal bloating
• recurring intolerance of fatty foods
• colic
• belching
• gas
• indigestion

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I've been diagnosed with Acid Reflux and have taken protonix for a couple years, recently, I've started having more symptoms that are making us think it's actually gall bladder now, not AR

They go hand in hand....

Let me tell you, my reflux did not get like this until I had my gallbladder out.

 

[JadenLayne]

MM so you think having your gallbladder out caused your reflux to get worse?

The chicken was plain, nothing but the bit of pepper. I'm not big on sauces but then again my back has been hurting for about a week now so it was acting up before I ate the chicken.

I don't have any frontal pain, no right side under my breast, no right shoulder, no dizziness, nausea etc. Just the back pain that is def. associated with the gas, using the bathroom.

 

[Boo'sMom]

They go hand in hand....

Let me tell you, my reflux did not get like this until I had my gallbladder out.

and I was thinking if i had my gall bladder out, all these issues would go away
thanks for the info

 

[SillyMe]

I have the pain in my back. Sometimes it's under my right shoulder blade, sometimes center of back. It's usually a sharp stabbing pain. Had a HIDA scan and my gallbladder isn't functioning properly, so that's what they said is causing my pain. They didn't do an endoscopy, though, so sometimes I wonder if it's the reflux, b/c I have some acid reflux symptoms, too. It's frustrating and the back pains are scary. You're always wondering if you're still being misdiagnosed.

 

[SillyMe]

and I was thinking if i had my gall bladder out, all these issues would go away
thanks for the info

See, I've been wondering the same thing. Is my reflux caused by my malfunctioning gallbladder? If I have my gb out, will the pain and reflux go away? Or is the reflux going to get worse. I'm supposed to go see the surgeon, but I've been putting it off.