Indigestion

jingl the only treatment they offered me was lanzoprazole I started on 30mg and now on maintenance dose of 15mg plus Gavisvon advance at bedtime. My SiL had the repair done but paid for it. NHS either doesn't do it or is not keen on the cost.

Anya could you possibly tell us what it was you cut out? Just in case it would work for me! - or anyone else.

WW I first of all went on a low carb diet cutting out bread, rice, potatoes, sugar, etc.. This
was nothing to do with reflux, I'd sort of accepted that as part of growing older. No, the reason I started this diet was that Mr A was diagnosed as pre-diabetic (type2) and I wanted to help him reverse that. It was only after a couple of weeks I noticed I had no heartburn/indigestion any more.

Over the year I've reintroduced the odd potato into our diet, with no ill effects, but when I slipped and had bread then I suffered again. I now know that gluten gives me stomach pain and reflux. So I avoid wheat based products in particular.

I'm not suggesting this would work for everyone, but so long as I cut out gluten (and sugar) I'm fine.

PS I've me mentioned sugar too (as in fruit juices or mince pies!) as I've know for years these affected me, but it was finally cutting out gluten that has caused all my symptoms to completely disappear.

PPS Mr A us no longer pre-diabetic

Oh right annsixty. I guess the endoscopy just rules out anything really nasty. Hope yours isn't too bad. Thanks for reply.

I think that is right jingl After a certain age everything is suspect and I have known several people who have had cancer of the oesophagus (sp?). Better to be safe than sorry.

I wish I could do low carb. I just can't. I'm no great follower of complicated recipes. And I am truly scared of going high fat to replace the missing carbs. Food is my main enjoyment in life. I just try to keep it healthy along the usual guidelines. Diet wise I go by calories consumed over the whole day.

I've tried every elimination diet you could think of. The only thing that's reduced my reflux is cutting out alcohol. Alcohol irritates your stomach and it also relaxes your valves, so it's a double whammy where acid reflux is concerned.

I think basically, if your valves are knackered, you'll get reflux no matter what you do.

Having said that, taking medication and eating smaller meals helps me.

Anya thank you - I find I am much better with little or no gluten/flour stuff - that is easier to do in the summer. I have some coconut flour and I saw a recipe for a cake using that - must give it a go before we come for our trip back to UK I next month then if it is good I can buy a stock of it! If I could get to using it for a couple of things I am sure I could expand the repertoire!

Highly processed foods aren't known as good for any of us but unless you have Coeliac Disease, gluten is fine to consume.

I have just ordered a couple of coconut flour recipe books to see how we get on with that. I thinkpolly that you can have an intolerance to things without being allergic. If you find that every time you eat a piece of normal bread you get reflux etc it has to be causing something. We have a baker near us who makes a low gluten loaf and that I find better than the usual one and several bakers now sell loaves with more rye flour and they are less problematic as well as being delicious.

Sitting in the hairdressers today, I read their copy of the daily mail. There was an article that about how taking prescription drugs to treat acid reflux and indigestion may cause dementia. It made me think of you all. I'm dropping into the greengrocers for apples! Don't ask me to post the instructions on how to get to the article , cos I can't

here is the Daily Mail article

Before getting too alarmed, it would be wise to note this paragraph
"Dr James Pickett of the Alzheimer's Society added: ‘A growing body of evidence now suggests that some medications may be linked to slightly increased risk of dementia.

‘However, heavy users of this medication tend to be in poorer health anyway, with a higher risk of having diabetes and heart disease – both of which are risk factors for dementia.

‘It is, therefore, very difficult to look at these risk factors based on health records alone and determine how they influence the risk of dementia.’"

'Heavy users'...what does that mean?

Always best to stick to the lowest dose that works for you, of any drug.

Research sounds pretty rubbish though.

I doubt many people would buy high doses of ppi's otc long term. They're too damned expensive!

With respect PP you don't know what you're talking about. There is a whole continuum of reaction to gluten from Coeliac to intolerances that upset the digestion.

I found this interesting article about helping to prevent acid reflux in the Huffington Post.

Hope it helps

Anya There has been an explosion of interest in the effects of gluten on our bodies. The evidence that people with Coeliac Disease must eliminate all gluten from their diet is overwhelming.

However, the evidence to support eliminating gluten as beneficial for those of us who do not have Coeliacs, is sketchy to say the least. You can surf the internet and come up with "evidence" to prove anything. Individuals can also report their own anecdotal experiences, but actual concrete evidence that gluten is bad for us, if we do not have Coeliacs is difficult to find.

Many people seem determined to believe that a gluten free diet is somehow a healthy option, but for the vast majority of us that isn't true.

"A whopping 21 percent of Americans are currently making an active attempt to eat gluten-free, according to a Gallup poll published July 23. That percentage dwarfs the 1 percent of the U.S. population diagnosed with celiac disease — the only medical condition that requires gluten-free products for someone with the disease to live a healthy life.

More and more Americans are on the anti-wheat warpath trend, as the label "gluten free" appears on everything from craft beer to cat food. For those with celiac disease, a life-threatening autoimmune disorder that destroys the gastrointestinal tract, going gluten-free is critical to avoid damage to the small intestine. For everyone else, though, it is an unnecessary, and potentially unhealthy, diet."

Admittedly this is an American study, but a quick trawl threw this article up. I guess the arguments will continue about gluten, yet at present, as I said, the evidence is weak that gluten is bad for you unless you have Coeliacs.

That was an interesting article Anya, I came off PPIs because I worried about taking them long term. The article listed all the reasons I gave the GP for discontinuing the drug, seems my instinct could have been right.
In the last month I have not drunk alcohol or fizzy drinks and not eaten any spicy food and I have not had one episode of reflux. Small changes could make a difference.
If you completely remove gluten from your diet pre-diagnosis it makes it difficult for Doctors to diagnose the exact condition.

Thank you for that link from the Huffington Post, Anya, some of those recommendations are definitely worth trying.

Interesting that he gives 'stress' as one of the causes of or contributors to acid reflux, I've never seen it in black and white before although my own symptoms have definitely been worse during and after a stressful situation or event.

Thanks for the article anya.
I don't get reflux myself but I do like to read articles from doctors who think about what's going on and don't just dish out the tablets.

I know stress makes my reflux worse. It's been so much better since I retired from a stressful job.

I agree with pp about gluten.

Anya why do you think pp knows less about what she is talking about than you do about what what you are talking about?

Huffington Post definitely don't know what hey are talking about.

Stress makes no difference to my reflux.

For God's sake take no notice of the magnesium thing. Magnesium supplements are dangerous and we get enough in our excellent diets anyway.

Doctors will always rule out h-pylori. The test is easily done.

Gluten doesn't just affect coeliacs. There are plenty of us who have found that going gluten free alleviates symptoms.

I've had rosacea and IBS for donkeys years and gone through the usual merrygoround of antibiotics, creams, lotions and endured the misery of having allergic reactions to most of them. I've gone down the complementary/alternative route. Nothing worked. I went gluten free a few months ago and it's gone.

My doctor certainly hasn't ruled out h-pylori, jingl. I haven't had any blood tests, and she's never mentioned it.