Why does water give me heartburn?.....

Shua456
Shua456 Posts: 211
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
I'm not kidding, when I drink water I get the worst heartburn. I've always had this issue which is why I don't drink water like I should.

I'm trying to make better choices which includes giving up diet soda and other drinks but I don't know if I can handle drinking the water and suffering the results.

Tell me this happens to other people and more importantly tell me there is something I can do about it!
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Replies

  • Eyvette1
    Eyvette1 Posts: 76 Member
    try drinking it at room temp and not cold. That helps me.
  • Flacachica
    Flacachica Posts: 328 Member
    OMG... this totally happens to me. I thought I was the onlyl one! :) I don't know why either. If you find out, let me know! LOl
  • dracobaby82
    dracobaby82 Posts: 380 Member
    I know sometimes it does that to my hubby as well, don't really know of anything that helps it :(
  • tlrichardson
    tlrichardson Posts: 8
    Try just drinking little amounts and I do mean little. Maybe just a swallow or two every half hour. If you can make yourself belch after drinking water that would help as well. Hope this helps.
  • gapeach14
    gapeach14 Posts: 1
    If you can find out, let me know. It happens to me too. My husband can drink water all day long and it just makes him feel better. If I drink even a few sips with my medicine it give me heartburn.
  • givprayz
    givprayz Posts: 328
    It seems strange that you can drink sodas without heartburn, but water causes it. Is it a volume issue? Do you try to drink a full glass of water in the time you would usually sip only a couple of ounces of something else? Physiologically, fluids are more likely to reflux than foods, but carbonated fluids are more likely to reflux than water, so I'm stumped. I usually suggest taking fluids more slowly, eating crackers with them, staying up-right after drinking, but it is the fact that it isn't all fluids, just water, that throws out all my usual advice. I recommend a doctor evaluation to see how bad the erosions in your esophagus are if water causes you significant pain.
  • sharoniballoni
    sharoniballoni Posts: 163 Member
    I don't personally have this problem, but looks like a lot of people do:
    http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=324076

    A couple of theories I saw were:
    -water was too alkaline, so try putting some lemon juice in it (even though it seems counter-intuitive)
    -perhaps you were eating sugary or starchy foods and the water diluted your ability to digest properly; it's the food that gave you the heartburn, the water just made it easier for your body to react that way to the food

    Good luck!
  • serendipity74
    serendipity74 Posts: 4 Member
    Are you using a plastic bottle? Maybe try a glass container and see if that might help.
  • adhillman01
    adhillman01 Posts: 206
    I also get heart burn when I drink water. There are several over the counter medications that you can try. There's the good old standby - Tums. They work fast but not for very long though. You can pre-treat with something like Zantac that will last a little longer. You take it about an hour before eating and will last you through the day. There are also daily medications that you can take that will prevent heart burn. Prilosec OTC is one of these. You take them every day but they will take about three days to kick in. For the OTC version of Prilosec you can only take a two week course of them, but if you like them you can see your doctor and he/she can write you a prescription for them. ALWAYS CHECK WITH A DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST BEFORE STARTING ANY NEW MEDICATION REGIMEN, especially if you are currently taking any medications. I am in pharmacy school right now and even your local retail pharmacist can be a great information resource, I would check with them to see what they would recommend.
  • jmwolffyy
    jmwolffyy Posts: 212 Member
    Yes I get it too! I posted it a while back and only got one answer, but I have found a couple of things that have helped me a lot. I was using Crystal Light packets, (one packet, in a 20 oz bottle, so that it was a little less flavored and I was trying to lower that amount even.) Then I realized that it has aspartame in it and I am *trying* to lessen my use of artificial stuff. So I bought a little bottle of real lemon juice to flavor my water. I have also heard frozen berries kind of like ice cubes. The flavor makes it much more palatable for me.
    That said, after 8 weeks of gradually increasing my water intake, and adding exercise, I grabbed a bottle of room temperature water during my Zumba class the other day, and it went down so easily! I was shocked! That afternoon I also drank another bottle of cold plain water, and had no problem with it either. I don't know if changing to so much better food has made the difference, doing more exercise, or just getting used to it.
    Hope that helps you!
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    I get awfull heartburn from the 'city water' here. If I filter it through a charcoal filter and let it sit in the fridge over night its ok. Evian bottled water gives me heartburn too. I try to get a few gallons from the well at my place in the county when I can.

    How much you drink at one time, and what activities you have during or just after drinking a lot of water can affect you too.

    I agree with the earlier poster that you should test your water, and treat it as you see fit.
  • glittersoul
    glittersoul Posts: 666 Member
    The only time this happens to me is if I have it with greasy food and in that case drinking hot tea helps and is one way to get your water
  • Leigh_b
    Leigh_b Posts: 576 Member
    It happens to me too... it was especially bad when I was pregnant. I started drinking peppermint tea (herbal so no caffiene) and it really helped. (helped my baby girl's colic when I was nursing too!). In the summer I make it iced tea :)
  • ethel64
    ethel64 Posts: 91
    it sounds like some of you might have GERD... water can cause reflux, if its very intense or you suffer daily you should check with your doctors to have it evaluated..
  • Shua456
    Shua456 Posts: 211
    In answer to some of your questions. I don't drink a lot at one time, I sip it throughout the day at my desk at work.

    I've been eating pretty healthy, no sugars or starches - lots of protein.

    When I drink the water with food I have no issues, it's only when it's just the water.

    I'm putting some Tums in my desk drawer today so I'll have that to help out at least. Maybe it's a matter of dropping a little more weight and getting used to it.

    I'm just happy to know I'm not alone in this!
  • CateDS
    CateDS Posts: 1
    Does it for me too... as soon as I have had about 3 cups of water, I start to get pain. But I can drink 8 cups of coffee a day with no problem, but as soon as I have had 3 cups of water ... ouch. Today I was drinking it with lemon juice, just a squeeze... slow paced, not gulping it down.

    It is cold. I don't like room temp water. But maybe it won't affect me so badly. :S

    Cordial is usually fine, same for any other drinks.

    Weird.
  • pjsatticPhoebeWaleskaGA
    pjsatticPhoebeWaleskaGA Posts: 1,701 Member
    In answer to some of your questions. I don't drink a lot at one time, I sip it throughout the day at my desk at work.

    I've been eating pretty healthy, no sugars or starches - lots of protein.

    When I drink the water with food I have no issues, it's only when it's just the water.

    I'm putting some Tums in my desk drawer today so I'll have that to help out at least. Maybe it's a matter of dropping a little more weight and getting used to it.

    I'm just happy to know I'm not alone in this!



    I have that problem, and I strongly recommend you, and the others with it get a check up. In my case the damage is done, and I have Barrett's Esophaugus. You may need to take a medication for acid reflux. Hernia may also be an issue. If you dont have heartburn at any other time, you may not need meds on a permanent basis. They do a better job of healing inflammation than tums alone. Good luck
  • sandisimpson
    sandisimpson Posts: 2
    I had that problem for the longest time. I could guzzle a mug of tea with no problem but a few sips of water would make me so uncomfortable! A few months ago I started dieting (just counting calories) and to be honest, because I'm trying not to eat so much, sometime my choices are not always good, ie lunch meat, junk food. But I did start taking a B-complex. I have not had the heartburn for quite some time now. That's the ONLY positive change I can think of that I've made. I did try the lemon juice to no avail. Propel in a 20oz bottle I could drink but not straight water.
  • AndrewAH13
    AndrewAH13 Posts: 1
    Heartburn is caused by acid leaking back into the esophagus because of partial relaxation of the valve between it and the stomach. Generally it is caused by fatty or spicy food, both of which cause the valve to relax.

    If a person drank a great deal of water and then compressed the stomach, or if the valve was relaxed otherwise, the acid/water mixture could rise through the valve and definitely cause a burning sensation. If this happens often, it would be a good idea to speak to a doctor about it. Acid reflux can cause serious long-term problems.
  • kimeh19
    kimeh19 Posts: 1 Member
    Try 1tbsp of apple cider vinigar in 4oz of water (1/2 cup)

    Heartburn and acid reflux can also be caused by low levels of acid, and drinking water could cause this by diluting your stomach acid. If this is the case for you things like pepto, tums and zantec which reduce acid may help a bit at first but can make the problem worse. I have the same problem and this helps me, but checking with a dr. is always a good idea
  • ILovePink77
    ILovePink77 Posts: 4 Member
    I am struggling with this as well. I can drink Diet Coke till I float and I am not kidding. But water cold or room temperature will give me a horrible stomach ache. Burns so bad. Occasionally it will come up into my throat but not always. The flavor packets or mio cause issues for me as well. I do not drink any juices with sugar in it as I am a faithful low carber for 9 years. I do not like tea and can drink coffee but need cream in it.

    I read this, if you put acid in water it will not cause issues but if you put water in acid it will bubble up. So the theory is that when I drink the water it mixes with my stomach acid causing this. I would like to curb my diet coke addiction but not sure what to drink.
  • papbruin
    papbruin Posts: 1
    Finally, someone other than me has this issue. I did check with my Doctor who said he had never heard of this before (he is a young Dr. however), and has me on famotidine. When I was young I could drink gallons of water a day and never had a problem,and I loved water. For about 3 years now I Ihave been unable to drink any amount of water without getting indigestion. I take my medication and drink gatorade, however if I consume too much, I get indigestion. I will check with my Dr. again because I am beginning to have some trouble swallowing foods. Thanks to everyone for all the tips.
  • blanca186
    blanca186 Posts: 1
    I also have this problem! I thought I was a big weirdo. Glad to see I am not. I have been drinking water instead of coffee, soda, etc. When I drink it i get heartburn. Not a mild one either. It also causes me to burp uncomfortably.
  • missshyeviolett
    missshyeviolett Posts: 310 Member
    Happens to me sometimes too. I was once told that if you drink too much of it at a time, for some people it will spill upward and cause reflux symptoms.
  • codeblueprint
    codeblueprint Posts: 1
    I have had this happen to me to. i found something interesting.

    I usually drink filtered/tap water from fridges to water coolers and Brita. Recently i got a Zero Water filter. i filled both the Brita and the zero water.

    Drinking from the Brita i get heartburn.
    Drinking from the Zero Water, i do not get heartburn.

    I tried switching back and forth to keep testing and anytime i drink from other then the Zero, i get heartburn bad.

    This may be me, but i know if someone knew this and it would work for me, i would have wanted to know about it. I know the pain so i hope this helps someone else too.
  • 4trvlpk
    4trvlpk Posts: 7
    I think this had been happening to me as well. I just started mfp last week and upped my water intake to a healthy amount however since Monday I have had what I call gut rot (not quite nausea) and today I am starting to feel heartburn. Today I decided to take it easy on the water and will for a few days to see what the result is. Thanks so much everyone for the posts. It's good to know I am not the only one!
  • wrayla
    wrayla Posts: 1
    I have this issue as well. I have a hiatal hernia which causes frequent heartburn. A lot of people have mentioned tap water verses filtered water. I know reverse osmosive water does not give me heartburn. Not all bottled water is reverse osmosive, but auquafina is and it's all I drink. I used to have a reverse osmosive system at my last house which was great! Room temperature is better than cold too. I'm sure everyone's issue may be slightly different, but I hope that helps. Definitely see a doctor, this could be a symptom of some bigger issue.
  • MuseofSong
    MuseofSong Posts: 322 Member
    I agree with everyone who says it sounds like reflux. Talk to your doctor about it.

    I take the OTC prevacid or the generic version of the same medicine, and it really, really helped! My reflux was terribad before, and yes even water would bother me.

    Just remember, doctors need to know everything you take, including otc meds.
  • Ladyboomer2
    Ladyboomer2 Posts: 19 Member
    Well you know the saying-misery loves company ha ha.

    But I must say I am glad in a strange way to know that I'm not alone with this issue. People give me strange looks when I say water gives me vicious heartburn:ohwell:

    I think I will have to see if I pace myself and just take a bit of water at a time-coupled with getting the weight off-that hopefully should "cure" it.

    I'll keep u posted:wink:
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    The main reason people get heartburn from water is simply due to it's volume. If you fill you stomach up with lots of food and liquids, the liquids can reflux up your esophagus and cause heartburn. Don't lay down flat after drinking lots of water, and don't chug the water quickly.

    There are tons of factors that also play into heartburn. For example, certain foods like tomato sauce can cause it. So if the heartburn continues consider seeing a doctor to discuss treatment options.
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