Heartburn

[Kannon]

What works for occasional heartburn? I get a bad case of it once every couple of weeks or so and Tums or Rolaids doesn't seem to work. I don't want to start one of the prescription or over-the-counter meds that need to be taken every day 'cause this doesn't happen very often, but when it does I'm usually hurtin' for a couple of hours, can't seem to find anything that gives relief. Last night I was up for two hours and took 8 tums during that time with no apparent effect.

What works for you?

 

Thanks,

[RockBottom]

Zantac. Takes about half an hour to kick in though.

[Kathy R]

What works for occasional heartburn? I get a bad case of it once every couple of weeks or so and Tums or Rolaids doesn't seem to work. I don't want to start one of the prescription or over-the-counter meds that need to be taken every day 'cause this doesn't happen very often, but when it does I'm usually hurtin' for a couple of hours, can't seem to find anything that gives relief. Last night I was up for two hours and took 8 tums during that time with no apparent effect.

What works for you?

 

Thanks,

 

#1 Do not overload the stomach - stop eating before you are too full

#2 Avoid triggers (varies person to person) (for me tomato sauce, red wine, .....)

#3 Don't eat within 4 hours of laying down for sleep

 

When you have an attack....

 

Take a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda on a spoon and lay it (don't breath while you do this!) on your tongue. Drink about 1/2 cup of water slowly, without swishing. The point is to make a little baking soda sludge that goes down your throat. It will put out the fire immediately. Repeat as needed.

 

CAUTION:

Allowing heartburn to continue is dangerous and can, long story short, lead to a nasty cancer. TREAT IT by getting your doctor to examine you and to tell you what you should be doing. Even if you don't feel the burn you can have acid in your esophagus - NOT GOOD. They put a scope down my throat and took a look. I'd recommend that to anyone, if you want to know exactly what is going on. I have a Hiatal Hernia . Some folks know how to move that back into place, which solves the problem when it *pops*.

 

Best of luck and, please, treat it.

 

 

[Dan5620]

What Kathy R. said.

 

Is heart burn a medical diagnosis by an MD? If not, get it checked out before self medicating. You could have numerous other possibilities such as Helicobacter Pylori and/or GERD and others. There is always a possibility of serious underlying pathology with these types of symptoms. Get it checked and treated professionally.

 

Merry Christmas!

[Hermes]

Like Kathy said.

Although I would'nt self medicate, prescription drugs such as Nexium or similar work fast by decreasing the production of stomach acid. No need to fear those.

 

Don't mess with heartburn, and don't eat for a minimum of two hours before bedtime. If it persists, get it checked out. The heartburn can do serious damage to the esaphagus, including cancer.

[PLW]

Maalox, I've used it for years. Works great.

[Quinn]

Kathy has covered things the best. I'd only add that alka-seltzer works for me when self-control fails.

 

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[majrosebud]

Bruce, please see your dr asap. I too have some heartburn. I thought mine was on the mild side. Turns out it wasn't. I ended up seeing a ENT who scoped my esophagus(sp?) and said it was bad, really bad. I don't want to scare you, or maybe

I do, but the doc said this most likely would have ended up in cancer. Please go see your doctor. please... there are plenty of things he can prescribe for you that will alleviate your symptoms. Let me know.

 

 

[Dave McReynolds]

I used to get mild heartburn fairly often when I had a job that was more stressful than the one I have now. I found that drinking a bottle of Calistoga Water, which is naturally carbonated flavored water, took care of the heartburn as effectively as Alka Seltzer, without the need for whatever medicine and other ingredients are in Alka Seltzer. Calistoga Water worked better than Tums or Rolaids. Tums or Rolaids seemed to wear off pretty soon after I chewed them. I don't even know if they make Calistoga Water anymore, but they probably make other brands of flavored carbonated water that would work just as well.

[ESokoloff]

I don't even know if they make Calistoga Water anymore

[HYJACK]

Funny as a kid while visiting the Grand parents in Calistoga us kids hated the water.

Of course it was from the tap & flat, not out of a fancy bottle all fizzy & flavorful. [/HYJACK]

[Traveler1]

I used to get mild heartburn fairly often when I had a job that was more stressful than the one I have now. I found that drinking a bottle of Calistoga Water, which is naturally carbonated flavored water, took care of the heartburn as effectively as Alka Seltzer, without the need for whatever medicine and other ingredients are in Alka Seltzer. Calistoga Water worked better than Tums or Rolaids. Tums or Rolaids seemed to wear off pretty soon after I chewed them. I don't even know if they make Calistoga Water anymore, but they probably make other brands of flavored carbonated water that would work just as well.

 

Check this out: Calistoga was bought by a French company and then: http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/05.10.01/water-0119.html

[elkroeger]

Greasy food causes my heartburn. You can set your watch by it.

 

I just eat a few tums, and take a OTC tagamet, or equivalent, when symptoms occur. Works great!

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000628/

[Kannon]

Thank you all for the information and advice. I usually have an annual physical in March, will discuss this with the Doc. In the mean time you've given me some short term stuff to try.

Thanks,

[Ewell D.]

What Kathy said!

 

I used to have acid reflux so bad I would sometimes get up from bed and try to sleep in the recliner to keep the gastric fluids from coming up into my throat. I got relief from prilosec but, like the OP, didn't like the idea of having to take something like that long term. Through change of diet I have completely eliminated the problem and only occasionally experience heartburn (usually the result of too much salsa)

 

For me the two main culprits were coffee and dairy products. I used to enjoy a bowl of icecream in the evening. I may as well be gut shot as to indulge in that. Coffee before noon only and no more evening heartburn. YMMV

 

Good luck

 

Ewell

[Redbrick]

Here's what we use....They work well for us..Same active ingredient as Zantac...

Antacid