heartburn...

What is the magic cure? I'm eating healthy, but everything causes it.
I go through this everything few months; to the point that I wake up with it.
Even water causes it. I've tried Zantac, Tums, Pepcid...

They help but not long lasting.
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Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Have you seen your doctor lately? I would start there.
  • SuzieBel
    SuzieBel Posts: 2 Member
    I have had the same problem, though cutting down fatty foods is supposed to relieve heartburn :/ I have been eating things like tomatoes and oranges which are acidic though, so perhaps that is the problem? I intend to buy some peppermint tea, that helped with my heartburn when I was pregnant, so hopefully will do the trick.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Have you seen your doctor lately? I would start there.

    Yes you really want to start there. I had the same issues for a long time and when I finally talked to my Dr she was very up-front (and non-judgmental ). She told me it would improve if I lost some weight, ate smaller amounts at a sitting and was mindful of the types of food that triggered the acid. She prescribed otc prilosec short term which helped a lot. I have lost some weight (not a dramatic amount) and am less likely to overeat at any one meal (I still eat too much but working on it). I'm doing a lot better no longer taking prilosec and while I still have some heartburn I can manage it with occasional tums. There's really no magic cure but this was pretty close for me :)
  • danielle0400
    danielle0400 Posts: 47 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Have you seen your doctor lately? I would start there.

    I had a full work up in July, the last time this happened. Everything was normal and good. She said to eat FODMAP style, and have me Zantac, both of which helped. But it appeared again. I don't eat fatty foods very often (other than nuts), nor so I eat large meals. I can't seem to find a rhyme or reason, it's very inconsistent. I have noticed that nausea does accompany it at times, as does consipation.

    I've gained about 12 lbs over the last year; while I'm not overweight- I'm working to lose this.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    Maybe ask your Dr. about using prilosec for a while? Zantac didn't work for me at all.
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  • Unknown
    edited October 2016
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  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Prilosec worked for me, but it takes 2 weeks to work.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Prilosec worked for me, but it takes 2 weeks to work.

    This is true.

    Noel, the OP had a medical workup and everything was normal. No one is suggesting that she start taking pills or supplements without consulting her Dr. Heartburn is pretty common, and it's not unreasonable to ask what worked for other people.
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  • rhtexasgal
    rhtexasgal Posts: 572 Member
    During your doctor work-up, did you have just bloodwork done? Did you have any x-rays or GI tract testing done? The reason I ask is that, as someone with inflammatory bowel disease (in remission), I had similar symptoms to yours for about 5 years before it finally got worse. For those 5 years, there was no rhyme or reason ...

    My experience is a worst case scenario but I share it to simply illustrate to delve a little deeper into the why's of it all. On a side note, after I healed, I have rarely had heartburn or indigestion. When I do, I take a teaspoon or two of coconut oil. Actually, I consume coconut oil every day anyway ...
  • OldeDarrell
    OldeDarrell Posts: 7 Member
    Try a few days of avoiding raw cabbage, raw broccoli, raw radishes, etc. that really helped me. Raw cruciferous didn't like me.
  • danielle0400
    danielle0400 Posts: 47 Member
    Thanks everyone! I was able to get in on a cancellation (and favor to my mom) to an DO tomorrow and she's starting with the food allergy test. Which is something I wanted for a longtime.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    Excellent! Hope you find your answers!
  • danielle0400
    danielle0400 Posts: 47 Member
    Has anyone else done this test?
  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,702 Member
    we drink aloe vera juice, 4oz before meal & no liquid during meal. I also just put it in my water. The regular kind, not flavored. What works best is a little baking soda in water before bed
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    What is the magic cure? I'm eating healthy, but everything causes it.
    I go through this everything few months; to the point that I wake up with it.
    Even water causes it. I've tried Zantac, Tums, Pepcid...

    They help but not long lasting.

    Go to the doctor, please. I went for the MD for heartburn, which turned out to be a symptom of a bigger medical issue.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Have you seen your doctor lately? I would start there.

    I had a full work up in July, the last time this happened. Everything was normal and good. She said to eat FODMAP style, and have me Zantac, both of which helped. But it appeared again. I don't eat fatty foods very often (other than nuts), nor so I eat large meals. I can't seem to find a rhyme or reason, it's very inconsistent. I have noticed that nausea does accompany it at times, as does consipation.

    I've gained about 12 lbs over the last year; while I'm not overweight- I'm working to lose this.

    Are you still eating low FODMAP? Did you do the elimination for a specified period of time then add in certain high FODMAP food groups to see what was causing your heartburn?
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    mph323 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Prilosec worked for me, but it takes 2 weeks to work.

    This is true.

    Noel, the OP had a medical workup and everything was normal. No one is suggesting that she start taking pills or supplements without consulting her Dr. Heartburn is pretty common, and it's not unreasonable to ask what worked for other people.

    Shoot, Prilosec never worked for me, neither did a prescribed stronger medicines.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Thanks everyone! I was able to get in on a cancellation (and favor to my mom) to an DO tomorrow and she's starting with the food allergy test. Which is something I wanted for a longtime.

    Good job! I hope you find out what's going on. Please keep us posted. :)
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
    edited October 2016
    What is the magic cure? I'm eating healthy, but everything causes it.
    I go through this everything few months; to the point that I wake up with it.
    Even water causes it. I've tried Zantac, Tums, Pepcid...

    They help but not long lasting.

    Digestive Enzymes. If you pay attention and notice that fats cause heartburn more the carbs or proteins then make sure it has ox bile in it. A lot of people do not digest their food well. This can cause heartburn. Food allergies can also cause heartburn. It can take up to two enzyme capsules per meal to keep heartburn from happening (it can also take a week or so of taking them for the heartburn to not recur). Eventually, your body will work its way through it after having enzymes for awhile and will start making more of its own. How long that takes depends how bad it is to start with. I have one child that started out on 6 enzymes a day (two per meal) and 7 years later can get by with one a day. I have another that started out with one per meal and in just a couple years has never needed them again (they were used for chronic constipation for her). So it's very individual. But, they're easy to try and most people can find good ones local to them.
  • subcounter
    subcounter Posts: 2,382 Member
    You probably have acid reflux. Its genetic. For sleeping, I would recommend you to sleep on your left side, this will help reduce the heart burn.

    As for food, well, no deep fries. Coffee also triggers it. Make sure you don't drink acidic drinks, nor carbonated stuff. As others mentioned make sure you see your doctor about it. You might need an Endoscopy to see whats going on.
  • kavin_ni
    kavin_ni Posts: 3 Member
    I strongly recommend you talk to a doctor about it. What worked for me is exactly pills; I tend be extremely skeptical of naturopathic stuff that is being pushed around the web. I had REALLY BAD heartburn starting July last year that almost knocked me out of work and caused some esophageal bleeding. I had to take a proton pump inhibitor to ward off the worst of it and gradually started to lessen the dose. Afterwards I switched to a H2 antagonist and gradually started weaning it off.

    Avoiding to eat certain foods (citrus fruits, chocolate, onions, etc) can prevent the reflux from happening, but once the acid kicks in medication is needed.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    kavin_ni wrote: »
    I strongly recommend you talk to a doctor about it. What worked for me is exactly pills; I tend be extremely skeptical of naturopathic stuff that is being pushed around the web. I had REALLY BAD heartburn starting July last year that almost knocked me out of work and caused some esophageal bleeding. I had to take a proton pump inhibitor to ward off the worst of it and gradually started to lessen the dose. Afterwards I switched to a H2 antagonist and gradually started weaning it off.

    Avoiding to eat certain foods (citrus fruits, chocolate, onions, etc) can prevent the reflux from happening, but once the acid kicks in medication is needed.

    You realize the OP has a doctor app tomorrow, right?
  • kavin_ni
    kavin_ni Posts: 3 Member
    mph323 wrote: »

    You realize the OP has a doctor app tomorrow, right?

    Yes.

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Keep us posted OP. I had terrible reflux until I started eating less and lost weight here. I also eat my last food earlier (at least 2 hours before bed) and it seems to help a lot.
  • lilheidi76
    lilheidi76 Posts: 28 Member
    I was experiencing heartburn along with other symptoms such as nausea, bloating, pain in my chest and at times my back. After visiting my doctor mine ended up being diagnosed as a hiatal hernia aswell as h pylori bacteria which is a cause of stomach ulcers. I'm still experiencing some symptoms but am definitely managing it much better knowing what is causing it. I hope you get some answers from your doctor and have some relief soon.
  • danielle0400
    danielle0400 Posts: 47 Member
    Tracking my food obviously helps, but there doesn't seem to be a huge common demonator. Fatty and fried foods don't really bug me, sour candy and lemon juice do it at time, carbs are the same. So confusing. Either way, I'm trying to follow more of the fodmap guidelines.
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    I developed heartburn like this last year as well (after getting to my goal weight, ironically enough). The first recommendation is to avoid the foods that cause it, but like you, there appears to be no rhyme or reason to it. It wasn't like I'd eat/drink something and immediately get heartburn (except for very few exceptions, usually drinks). I actually cut out every single thing on the heartburn list that I actually consume (booze, coffee, chocolate, marinara sauce, fried foods, etc.) and decreased my fat intake. I still got heartburn. I really wanted to avoid medication, but the OTC prilosec (where you take a dose a day for 2 weeks and it's good for 4 months) is what worked for me.