Reflux

[georgegeorgia]

I will probably wait until my next trip to the Philippines to see a doctor 

 

However I am lately getting a refund burning in my stomach.

This is NOT acid coming up but staying in the stomach 

And causing chest pain with indigestion type burning in the stomach., heartburn 

It usually happens after about an hour after I eat 

 

It could be the Cialis 5mg a day I take or that dreaded BPressure medicine 

 

I may have to go to get a Endoscopy to rule out stomach or eosphagul cancer 

Cancer symptoms seem a bit different but I may have to ring up a specialist urgently, probably the same guy who done my colonoscopy and my throat check earlier this year can do a Endoscopy 

 

 At this stage I'm sick of going to the Doctor who doesn't take my sicknesses seriously 

 

Any treatment ? I'm thinking NEXIUM which I can buy over the counter ??

 

Edited August 13 by georgegeorgia

[marin]

9 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I may have to go to get a Endoscopy to rule out stomach or eosphagul cancer 

Cancer symptoms seem a bit different but I may have to ring up a specialist urgently, probably the same guy who done my colonoscopy and my throat check earlier this year can do a Endoscopy 

 

 At this stage I'm sick of going to the Doctor who doesn't take my sicknesses seriously 

 

Any treatment ? I'm thinking NEXIUM which I can buy over the counter ??

 

You may have one of the worst cases of hypochondria ever seen in Australia. Your illness is in your brain and it is getting worse. Doctors may decline to see you for your physical symptoms. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

12 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

could be the Cialis 5mg a day I take

Easiest way to find out is to stop this medication 

 

13 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

At this stage I'm sick of going to the Doctor who doesn't take my sicknesses seriously

I don't mean to offend but Doctors tend to ignore hypochondriacs. 

 

[Doctor Tom]

Firstly, go see a doctor, as you don't know who is giving you advice here.  So here I go, giving advice, as I have experienced the same.,  It sounds suspiciously like you may have an ulcer.  Yes, the meds you are taking certainly won't help. Yes I use Nexium and yes, its freely available at a pharmacy. Check on google what dietary changes you can make to ease the symptoms. 

Here is my disclaimer, I am not a medical Doctor, I am a real one, that is a PhD. 

[georgegeorgia]

4 minutes ago, marin said:

You may have one of the worst cases of hypochondria ever seen in Australia. Your illness is in your brain and it is getting worse. Doctors may decline to see you for your physical symptoms. 

I have lost interest in these doctors in Australia 

I have a very good doctor in Pattaya who I will see a few times on my next visit who takes my health seriously!!! 

[georgegeorgia]

2 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Firstly, go see a doctor, as you don't know who is giving you advice here.  So here I go, giving advice, as I have experienced the same.,  It sounds suspiciously like you may have an ulcer.  Yes, the meds you are taking certainly won't help. Yes I use Nexium and yes, its freely available at a pharmacy. Check on google what dietary changes you can make to ease the symptoms. 

Here is my disclaimer, I am not a medical Doctor, I am a real one, that is a PhD. 

Thankyou Doctor Tom

How do I get tested for this ulcer ?

 

Unfortunately I had a bit of an argument with my current GP in  Australia after my recent Echocardiography so he doesn't like me to tell him what to do 

But I may have to get him to test me for a ulcer 

 

[Doctor Tom]

12 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Thankyou Doctor Tom

How do I get tested for this ulcer ?

 

Unfortunately I had a bit of an argument with my current GP in  Australia after my recent Echocardiography so he doesn't like me to tell him what to do 

But I may have to get him to test me for a ulcer 

 

An endoscope will either conform it or set your mind at rest. If during the procedure, they find one or more small ulcerations, they seal them using an attachment to the scope.  Its uncomfortable, but you can have some light sedation and it will be  pain free 

Edited August 13 by Doctor Tom

[Will B Good]

 

 

Been on the equivalent of Nexium for nearly 20 years.......absolute game changer.

 

Acid reflux/heartburn/GERD....can lead to Barrett's esophagus, which leads to cancer.......

[georgegeorgia]

22 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Been on the equivalent of Nexium for nearly 20 years.......absolute game changer.

 

Acid reflux/heartburn/GERD....can lead to Barrett's esophagus, which leads to cancer.......

What are you trying to say ?

 

Are you saying if I don't use the Nexium I could get Cancer ??

 

[Will B Good]

13 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

What are you trying to say ?

 

Are you saying if I don't use the Nexium I could get Cancer ??

 

 

If you allow reflux to continue without resolving the issue in some way, you are increasing the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

 

A more nuanced way of saying the same thing.

[impulse]

I take Miracid, which is a Thai made version of Omeprazole, available everywhere in Thailand and cheap.

 

As I understand it, Nexium was created by the same folks that made Prilosec when the latter went off patent, so they could keep gouging patients when generic Omeprazole went OTC.  Very little changed from Prilosec in form or function.  But then, I am a skeptic.

 

I've tried other brands of generic omeprazole in Thailand, but the Miracid has been the most reliable for me.  YMMV.

 

I've been taking reflux meds over 30 years, starting with Famotidine, then Omeprazole.  Various doctors have suggested I quit, but when I push back asking how to relieve the reflux, they relent and tell me it's "probably okay".  I am miserable without them.

 

Edit:  I'd add that I keep baking soda around (or sodium bicarbonate tablets) for instant relief of flare-ups.  The Miracid takes a while to kick in, and I try to take the minimum.  So if a Thai chef "surprises" me with a dish that's "just a little spicy", I can get instant relief.

 

Edited August 13 by impulse

[georgegeorgia]

Thanks guys

I will definitely have to get a ulcer check and the trouble of a endoscopy 

It seems to be reflux or Gord or Gerd the doctor called it

But he didn't give me anything!!!

 

[Will B Good]

6 minutes ago, impulse said:

I take Miracid, which is a Thai made version of Omeprazole, available everywhere in Thailand and cheap.

 

As I understand it, Nexium was created by the same folks that made Prilosec when the latter went off patent, so they could keep gouging patients when generic Omeprazole went OTC.  Very little changed from Prilosec in form or function.  But then, I am a skeptic.

 

I've tried other brands of generic omeprazole in Thailand, but the Miracid has been the most reliable for me.  YMMV.

 

I've been taking reflux meds over 30 years, starting with Famotidine, then Omeprazole.  Various doctors have suggested I quit, but when I push back asking how to relieve the reflux, they relent and tell me it's "probably okay".  I am miserable without them.

 

 

 

I can last 12 hours if I forget and miss a tablet.....only take 10mg........ then life isn't worth living.

 

My father had horrendous heartburn....no PPIs in those days.....and died a most horrific death from esophageal cancer......no intentions of going the same way.

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Thanks guys

I will definitely have to get a ulcer check and the trouble of a endoscopy 

It seems to be reflux or Gord or Gerd the doctor called it

But he didn't give me anything!!!

 

 

 

My doctor.....in Germany....asked how often did I get heartburn....I said five/six times a day like most people.....she went ballistic.....put me on 40mg of PPI and sent me straight for multiple biopsies.....

[worgeordie]

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

 At this stage I'm sick of going to the Doctor who doesn't take my sicknesses seriously 

I am thinking the Doctor ,with so many visits from you with a multitude 

of illnesses garnered from You tube ,will be thinking we have a real

hypochondriac here, maybe that's why he does not take you seriously.

 

It could be the Cialis 5mg a day I take ,  you only need to take the pill if

you are going to have sex ,

 

regards worgeordie

[impulse]

42 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

I can last 12 hours if I forget and miss a tablet.....only take 10mg........ then life isn't worth living.

 

My father had horrendous heartburn....no PPIs in those days.....and died a most horrific death from esophageal cancer......no intentions of going the same way.

 

I remember before Pepcid, when baking soda was the best treatment, but only lasted a few minutes to an hour or so.  Plus, I tried all the folk remedies like raising the head of my bed, not eating after a certain hour, etc.  I'm not sure I'd have made it to 67 yo without killing myself for the misery of reflux. 

 

Then, Pepcid came along.  Then PPI's like Omeprazole.  Even if some unknown side effect from 30+ years of those meds were to kill me tomorrow, I'd still be ahead in terms of quality (if not quantity) of life.  And so far, no doctors have pointed to any side effects on me after 40+ years of H2 blockers and PPI's.  Though, there are warnings on the box and on the interwebs.

 

And, not to put too fine a point on it, even with Pepcid, taking the oath and quitting booze helped...  But that's a trade-off many won't make and I don't blame them.

 

Edited August 13 by impulse

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

I remember before Pepcid, when baking soda was the best treatment, but only lasted a few minutes to an hour or so.  Plus, I tried all the folk remedies like raising the head of my bed, not eating after a certain hour, etc.  I'm not sure I'd have made it to 67 yo without killing myself for the misery of reflux. 

 

Then, Pepcid came along.  Then PPI's like Omeprazole.  Even if some unknown side effect from 30+ years of those meds were to kill me tomorrow, I'd still be ahead in terms of quality (if not quantity) of life.  And so far, no doctors have pointed to any side effects on me after 40+ years of H2 blockers and PPI's.  Though, there are warnings on the box and on the interwebs.

 

And, not to put too fine a point on it, even with Pepcid, taking the oath and quitting booze helped...  But that's a trade-off many won't make and I don't blame them.

 

 

 

Absolutely....my father had Bisodol which I guess was baking soda.....useless.

 

I went through the same thought process as you......If I contract something now as a consequence of PPIs and die in 12 months......it was worth it for the last 20 years being free of reflux.

[Will B Good]

6 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I remember before Pepcid, when baking soda was the best treatment, but only lasted a few minutes to an hour or so.  Plus, I tried all the folk remedies like raising the head of my bed, not eating after a certain hour, etc.  I'm not sure I'd have made it to 67 yo without killing myself for the misery of reflux. 

 

Then, Pepcid came along.  Then PPI's like Omeprazole.  Even if some unknown side effect from 30+ years of those meds were to kill me tomorrow, I'd still be ahead in terms of quality (if not quantity) of life.  And so far, no doctors have pointed to any side effects on me after 40+ years of H2 blockers and PPI's.  Though, there are warnings on the box and on the interwebs.

 

And, not to put too fine a point on it, even with Pepcid, taking the oath and quitting booze helped...  But that's a trade-off many won't make and I don't blame them.

 

 

 

You can, on the NHS, have an implant fitted to stop reflux......but only if PPIs stop working.....that brought me some comfort.

 

I panic occasionally at the prospect, that one day, they stop working.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 13 by Will B Good

[Lacessit]

I was on pantoprazole for years for GERD, decided I was taking too many medications.

 

Solved the problem with simple strategies.

 

* Always allowed three hours to elapse between eating and lying down in bed.

* Used a good quality pillow to keep my head elevated.

* Avoided heavy meals. Stopped before I felt full.

* Kept a bottle of water by the bed to sip, if my throat felt dry.

* Had half a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a glass of water just before going to bed.

 

I have not had gastric reflux for 4-5 years. I've still got some pantoprazole, it's probably out-of-date.

 

From the OP's description, I'd put money on an ulcer.

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

The OP's description does not sound like GERD.

 

In GERD the acid goes up into the throat.

 

If it persists, might be gastritis but needs endoscopy to be sure. 

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

The OP's description does not sound like GERD.

 

In GERD the acid goes up into the throat.

 

If it persists, might be gastritis but needs endoscopy to be sure. 

 

 

The doctor I remember said something unusual or maybe I heard it wrong ...I'm sure he kept saying Gord ? Not gerd ..not even sure if there is a Gord?

[georgegeorgia]

Ulcer 

I think you guys are right.

All the symptoms suggest that 

 

Yet the doctor gives me a Echocardiography?

And suggests I take Nexium !

 

According to google I should be on antibiotics because I have a bacterial according to google of helicopt pylori 

 

Gives me Nexium this doctor ...I could be getting stomach cancer says google !!

 

These doctors in Australia are useless 

 

Can't wait to get back to Pattaya to see Dr Olivier .

Edited August 13 by georgegeorgia

[Ralf001]

17 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

 

 At this stage I'm sick of going to the Doctor who doesn't take my sicknesses seriously 

 

Any treatment ? I'm thinking NEXIUM which I can buy over the counter ??

 

 

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

 

Yet the doctor gives me a Echocardiography?

And suggests I take Nexium !

 

Gives me Nexium this doctor ...I could be getting stomach cancer says google !!

 

 

 

yeah right.............

 

how much alcohol is involved in these posts ?

[HappyExpat57]

14 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I am thinking the Doctor ,with so many visits from you with a multitude 

of illnesses garnered from You tube ,will be thinking we have a real

hypochondriac here, maybe that's why he does not take you seriously.

 

It could be the Cialis 5mg a day I take ,  you only need to take the pill if

you are going to have sex ,

 

regards worgeordie

One of the WORST things I can hear in a pharma ad:
 

"Ask your doctor if <fill in the blank> is right for you."

 

Isn't that the doctor's job to recognize what I need?!?