Severe Heartburn question...

[letfuller]

My DM has had chronic heartburn for a while (year or two). She has gone to the Dr. several times, was put on Nexium (?) but that is not meant to be a long term solution. Plus, it doesn't always work and she really can't afford it for much longer. She was referred to a surgeon to possibly have some surgury to tighten the bottom of the esophogus, but she did not like the DR and he didn't seem to really want to assist her. In addition, she complains that when she has bouts of heart burn, she also has severe pain under her left shoulder. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions?


~Linda

 

[The Mystery Machine]

DH suffers from severe heartburn. The medication did nothing. In fact he says it worsened it.

The only thing that helped was changing his diet and avoiding things that gave him heartburn. He fought it for 5 years but relented. He gets bouts occasionally but it is from food he ate he knows he can't have!

 

[tiggersmom2]

Yes, I too have heartburn with the pain. Diet modification is a MUST! I also take a "cocktail" of Gaviscon extra strength and pepcid complete. I find these are very effective and they don't cost me an arm and a leg!!!

 

[lilallybean]

I suffered from Erosive Esophagitis for over a year and finally got it under controll. The number one thing that I have to do is really watch what I eat. It is important to stay away from: cinammon, tomatoes, anything with vinager (this includes soooo many things), carbonation, citrus fruits (which includes not only oranges, lemons, and grape fruit but also strawberries, peaches, pineapple, and apples), caffine, and mints.
I have the head of my bed raised 6 inches. I strongly recommend that you get her to see an ENT. Have them go an EGD (they take a look with a camera down the throat). She could have a hernia, or ulcers that need treated. Hope some of this helps!

 

[letfuller]

Yep, she has done all of that. She says she has lost over 25lbs in the last couple of months (at least since June) and feels that there really isn't anything she can really stomach. Also, she had the scope and a stress test to ward off heart issues. Really, it sounds as if she will need to just grin and bear it based on what you have responded.

Thanks for all your thoughts.

~Linda

 

[Kaybee]

I am a GI/endoscopy nurse and I strongly recommend that your DM see a gastroenterologist. Chronic heartburn can lead to a condition called Barretts espohagus which is a changing of the lining of the esophagus. Overtime this can lead to a precancerous condition. She should be scoped so that the doctor can determine the extent of damage from the chronic heartburn, and find the cause. There are a lot of new medications for heartburn and reflux which if one doesn't help another might. Surgery is really a drastic solution, there are other alternatives I would seek out first. There are also measures, we call anti-reflux instructions that we give pts after undergoing and upper endoscopy. See a gastroenterologist, as there is no reason for her to have to live with the chronic heartburn.

 

[MagicalMom]

Has she tried raising the head of her bed with books or blocks? If heard this helps.

 

[patsvette]

Ive had bad heartburn for over 10 years,it started out throwing up everything i ate,ended up in hospital for a bit then started strict diet and was put on prilosec,then switched to prevacid,then to nexium now im on aciphex.I finally just cant take it anymore and had a upper gi done a few weeks ago ,of course they tell me i have acid reflux,yeah like i didnt know that.Now im going to a gastroenterologist and have a scope down the throat done.Hes worried that i waited to long in between, started back in 89.Ive never really had a reason to really care about my health up untill now(baby on the way) now i do.Ive cut out so much of diet out now i only drink water ,decafinated tea no sugar at all,in fact 98% of my sugar intake has been cut out too.No spicy foods,and hardly any italian foods.The hearburn is better but not gone still very unconfortable after i eat.

 

[ripleysmom]

Tell her to drink lots of water. Water definitely will help decrease the severity of heartburn.

 

[Feralpeg]

Water tends to give me heartburn. If I drink a lot of water, it causes the acid to come back up. I'd be careful on the water thing.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I agree with others about staying away from spicy food, it should definitely help. Whenevery I get heartburn, I find that milk really helps.

 

[Chuck-PA]

I second what Kaybee said.

I suffered with heartburn for so long, I was on prilosec, then nexium before I went to a gastreonologist. He did the scope and changed my meds. Discovered I have Barretts Esopheagous.

I must watch what I eat. If I don't, I get chest pains leading up to the shoulder. I know it is not my heart, I have had it checked on several occassions because the pain had gotten so bad.

I have had several endoscopys done because they need to keep an eye on the Barretts.

I wish your mother well. There is no need to suffer if you don't have to.

 

[Christine]

I have reflux but fortunately it does not cause me severe heartburn. I just get horrible indigestion feelings. Belching, feeling of fullness, pressure, nausea. When it is really bad, I will also get a pain in my upper back area. I take Nexium. It doesn't cure it, but it helps. Sometimes I will pop a Gaviscon during the day.

Your mom definitely needs checking. Untreated heartburn will lead to damage of the esophagus and eventually cancer because of the erosion. A friend of mine had reflux so badly that the acid had washed up in her sleep and has pretty much ruined her trachea so she can hardly breathe (she is 62). She finally had the surgery to tighten the lower esophageal sphincter. I think your mom definitely should have some more tests.

 

[letfuller]

Thanks again to all of you who have posted suggestions. My DM has done most of your suggestions already. She said she would call her regular physician next week and hopefully with some of this new info, will be able find some resolution to her issue.

Again, thanks


~Linda