Indigestion

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 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.

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

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

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

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.

Up until a year ago I was getting regular and worsening heartburn/indigestion. I changed my diet, cutting out one particular food, and, apart from a relapse at Christmas (and a reoccurance of symptoms) I don't have problems these days.

Thanks welshwife think maybe the worry accounts for weight loss. I hope it gets sorted soon but as I say had endoscopy ultrasound and chest xray and still no answer. Doctors thinking of sending me for another endoscopy

Have you changed your diet because of this indigestion? Or maybe eating a lot less - I hope you get it all sorted soon.

I have lost a lot of wieght which concerns me. Never had indegestion in my life until a year ago. Nothing sms to work thought I washaving heart attack last week it was o painful

I had mine done with just the throat spray - tasted a bit like banana - that was sufficient for me - esp as they told me that with that I would be able to have a normal afternoon, whereas if I had the stronger dose I would need to go to bed for the rest of the day.

annsixty what did they do about your hiatus hernia? If you don't mind me asking. (Ignore if you do)

An endoscopy is best performed before long term treatment is started, once ppi treatment is started the signs and symptoms lessen and make diagnosis more difficult.

Ana You'll be fine then. I hope everything goes ok and the results are just something and nothing. Mine showed a hiatus hernia and some oesophagitis.

Thanks, annsixty, hadn't heard about that but it's worth knowing in advance!

I've already decided on that, pollyparrot, which is why I've asked DD to take me - don't want to worry about driving home afterwards!

I had an endoscopy a couple of years ago and although I wouldn't want one every week it wasn't as bad as the fear of it was. I did opt for a sedative though. The worst part although no- one else has mentioned it is the noise one makes when the air they are pumping in comes back up which cannot be delicately described as burping. It is horrendous. I was diagnosed with a large hiatus hernia.

I've had two endoscopies. My advice to anyone having one is to have the throat spray and as much sedation as possible. The problem is, you don't know how it's going to go until you're on the table. At least with plenty of sedation you don't care.

Ana brave girl. I am such a cowardy custard. As WW says, it probably sounds worse than it is. Good luck, not that you'll need it.

I had an endoscopy before Christmas. I have an awful gag reflex, sick at the drop of a hat, but was persuaded to go for the throat spray. It worked a dream. Not a pleasant experience but if you practice your childbirth breathing to relax it helps!!

It showed a small hiatus hernia. The doc said at least a third of people over 65 have hiatus hernias! I was prescribed Lanzaprozole but it really had no effect so I don't take it. What does work is five small meals a day instead of three. The grazing diet. Suits me fine! (Still endeavour to do my two 'starve' days)

Yes, that's more or less what I'm expecting, Welshwife (apart from dreading that they might find something terrible, of course...)

It does seem to be a case of trial and error, and like petra, nothing my GP has prescribed has worked. I was getting by OK-ish just using the Gaviscon Advance after meals and at bedtime, but then it suddenly seemed to make the problem worse, coughing and sneezing etc. so now I'm not taking anything.

The probe monitors the acid reflux and pressing the button just tells them when you have symptoms. The acid is still recorded even if you don't feel it.

Ana I had an endoscopy a few years ago and although I have a dreadful gag reflex it was not half as bad as I imagined - the people doing it were lovely but I did not take them up on the offer of watching what was happening on the screen! . in my case nothing was found and the consultant said just to watch what I ate and make a note of things to avoid. He gave me a few pointers of things which often did cause people a problem but that was all. This was in a proper hospital in the UK with proper doctors.

SlipperyElm Food used to be freely available during/after the war - my father had it regularly as he suffered with forms of indigestion - barium meal X-rays etc. it culminated in a burst ulcer which was then treated with Cimetidine till he died some twenty years later - seemed to do the trick and was prescribed and monitored by proper doctors at the hospital!

jingl I have bitten the bullet and am booked in for an endoscopy in March. Getting desperate now...