The 300mg ones aren't teeny!

I bought my ranitidine from Tesco.

300!!! Fuck me! I thought I was going mad swallowing two of the 75 ones.

'Scouse my French. It was only meant for Ana's eyes.

Could you crush them between two teaspoons and disguise them with something nice (as a child that is how I was given tablets - in jam) Ranitidine works, and it is not very dear to buy Boots own version.

no. Not Scouse.

'scuse

I would get through a pack of Tesco ones very quickly if I took four at a time.

jingl I sometimes wonder whether my GP really understands silent reflux...

Elegran, I don't think you're supposed to crush them or I'd take them - I crunch paracetamol and other solid tablets.

Boots ones are loads cheaper than Tesco's! (Just looked)

You are not supposed to crush the effervescent ones, but it doesn't mention crushing or not crushing the tablets.

Silent reflux is the same as lanyngo-pharyngeal reflux for which I was referred to the local ENT consultant who twice did laryngoscopies which I was able to watch on screen - fascinating! Could you ask your GP to refer you, Ana?

PS Ana, you don't have to swallow the camera - it goes down through the nose which isn't as uncomfortable as it sounds.

I was trying to avoid going down that route, anno, and my GP hasn't mentioned it (yet) [coward emoticon]

It was she who told me I couldn't crush the tablets as they're supposed to go down whole - but as indicated previously, I'm not convinced she has much experience of this sort of problem. I may try and see one of the others in the practice.

Do you take your ranitidine at night? And what dosage?

What I do is keep a packet to hand and take one at bedtime or if I cannot sleep for rising acid or a cough - it is when I am lying down that I get reflux, but not always. I think the trigger is eating certain food, eating late at night, wearing a tight waistband. I prefer to take Remegal , but I vary them.

That's the trouble with silent reflux though, Elegran, you can't feel the acid rising so no idea when it's doing its damage...

In which case you have to take it regularly. It is the same with all preventive medicines.

I take Ranitidine 150mg at night and Gaviscon Advance last thing, even after brushing my teeth - consultant's orders. The point about silent reflux is that it could be doing the damage at any time. So it makes sense to deal with it before it happens - prevention, in other words.

I'm not having the camera down the throat, or up the nose job. That's why I buy some of my tablets. Daren't ask for extra from doc in case he mentions 'endoscopy'.

Thanks, Elegran and anno - yes I know the medicines must be taken regularly. I'm going to try the Lansoprazole again, but the lower dose (15mg not 30mg) and see how I get on.

I'll also buy some Boots Ranitidine tablets before going back to the doc's.

jingl, a laryngoscopy is nothing like as intrusive as a gastroscopy - I've had both and would have no objection to having the laryngo again, though would think twice about the gastro.

Nooooooo......... ! (scaredy-cat ) Thank you for thee reassurance though. I will keep it in mind if it does ever have to happen.

Nooooooo......... ! (scaredy-cat ) Thank you for thee reassurance though. I will keep it in mind if it does ever have to happen.

Sorry to have got slightly biblical there - twice too!

Hi folks. Sorry for the delay in contributing - I've been away with no wifi.
I never knew the F word was in the Bible jings but you live and learn

I'm glad you found the book helpful GrannyKnot and in answer to your question - yes all exercise should have some beneficial effect on the diaphragm but there are still a lot of fit people (including cyclists and runners) who suffer from reflux/heartburn. Yoga abdominal breathing is a more specific way of strengthening it. Still more specific are the exercises in the latter part of Chapter 5 which focus on the back part of the diaphragm, which wraps around the oesophagus. These are the ones I need to do for a minute or so every day to keep my tendency to heartburn completely controlled. Otherwise it's one of those two-tone Gaviscons at bedtime.
Some of the diaphragm exercises you find on the internet are good. Others are, well... odd. Don't do the balloon-blowing one, if you were tempted.
Yes Nansue, no surprise that weight loss helped - particularly abdominal weight loss, which is one of the best forms of self help. A little bit of extra pressure from below combined with a weak valve at the top of the stomach and you get increased back flow of acid. A toned diaphragm supports the valve, helps to pinch it and keep it doing the best possible job.

Amazing to see no mention of the fact that heart disease symptoms can masquerade as heartburn.

I wouldn't go to a chiropractor for advice on symptoms such as this and I would see another doctor if he or she did not seem interested or thorough.