Hiccups And Heartburn

[Totster]

I have hiccups and heartburn all at the same time..

Remedies please (milk isn't working for the heartburn)

totster

[FBN]

The hiccups can be due to the irritation of the lower esophagus by the increased acidity so an initial treatment with an antiacid such as Gaviscon may help. This antiacid actually forms a protective layer that remains on the surface of stomach content. In other words does not mix with the stomach contens and as such avoids the complications of other straight forward antiacids. This also means that the protective layer is in contact with the lower end of the esophagus, protecting it.

Alternatively, a short course of an H2 antagonist such as Ranitidine will reduce acid secretion.

Just a word of caution; aniacids or H2 antagonists should not be taken for a longer period than 7 days without a proper diagnosis.

This assumes that you have taken care of all the dietary aspects to reduce irritation such as spicy and deep fried foods, sugar and refined carbohydrates etc..

[george]

Totster, I'm definitively sure it's not because of excessive beer intake!

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I'll Get My Coat Now

[Tolley]

Try slippery elm capsules and make necessary dietary adjustments.

Quercitin will also help as it is an anti inflammatory antioxidant.

Beer is one of the worst things for this sort of condition!

[473geo]

When complaining to a friend about heartburn, I was surprised when she informed me she had solved her heartburn problem by giving up bread.

I gave up bread when in Thailand, as rice is the main filler, and I rarely if ever get heartburn these days

May not be relevant to your case, but worth a try if you eat a lot of bread and get heartburn

[Tolley]

When complaining to a friend about heartburn, I was surprised when she informed me she had solved her heartburn problem by giving up bread.

I gave up bread when in Thailand, as rice is the main filler, and I rarely if ever get heartburn these days

May not be relevant to your case, but worth a try if you eat a lot of bread and get heartburn

Yep bread is bad for heartburn and rice is a good option.

[Totster]

Totster, I'm definitively sure it's not because of excessive beer intake!

Well... It can't be the one or two small beers I may have had ..ahem

totster

[FBN]

I have always held the opinion that the amber liquid is medicinal..

(In "small" quantities, of course!!)

[phaethon]

When complaining to a friend about heartburn, I was surprised when she informed me she had solved her heartburn problem by giving up bread.

I gave up bread when in Thailand, as rice is the main filler, and I rarely if ever get heartburn these days

May not be relevant to your case, but worth a try if you eat a lot of bread and get heartburn

Yep bread is bad for heartburn and rice is a good option.

Bread and biscuits definitely increase my likelihood of heartburn (GORD). In the UK I found proper ciabatta bread and pittas were less risky and here in LOS I eat rice cakes and tortilla bread without major problems.

Also I cut back on my use of NSAIDs like Ibuprofen.

Go to a quack and get some meds to control the acid while the damage to the oesophagus repairs itself. Then address dietary issues while the healing is in progress.

Basically, eat less, exercise more and lose weight is the usual advice. Also raise the head of the bed a little to discourage reflux while you sleep.

For heartburn relief I have a stock of Pepcid AC from the UK which is famotidine (antacid) in calcium+ magnesium carbonate (for immediate relief) chewable tablets. Not seen anything like it here though. One quack put me on omeprazole which is available easily here. I used to like Tums which in the UK are mixed calcium and magnesium carbonate, but I found the USA version, pure calcium carbonate, much better.

But if I stick to Thai food (mai phet!) and limit excesses I don't really need meds.

[Soutpeel]

One quack put me on omeprazole which is available easily here.

Works for me as well, however only buy the generic brands ie Omsec or Omilzole.....THB 120 for 14.....do not buy "LOSEC"....these will set you back about THB 1400 for the same quantity/active ingredient

[FBN]

The use of PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) such as Omeprasole or the generic equivalents over long periods (a year or so) may give rise to a "rebound" phenomenon. This means that the reduction of stomach acid contents as a result of taking this medication, leads to the activation of a "negative feedback loop" reaction; this means that internal mechanisms that senses reduced acidity in the stomach gets activated and, as a result, more acid and other gastric enzymes are produced after the medication is stopped.

This effect may last for up to 3 weeks after the medication is stopped.

The solution may be to try and use a low a dose as possible and to vary that with a suitable antiacid to control hyperacidity.

Clearly, this is dependent on having a proper diagnosis made. The increased use of this kind of medication as an OTC remedy for hyperacidity is rife of course so a bit of caution is needed..

[Totster]

I have also had a problem with post nasal drip, normally present when I have heartburn ( which is quite regular). I already have a supply of Omeprasole which isn't prescribed but given to me by a friend with similar problems. IS heartburn connected with a post nasal drip ? smoking is also a factor.

totster

Edited December 7, 2010 by Totster

[phaethon]

Yes, Omeprazole and similar meds are really just to allow healing of burned tissue while you also identify and address the real cause (high BP, spicy food, too much sugar/salt, allergies and sensitivities etc.), not a life-long solution.

I should have said 'widely available' or just 'available' meaning on the advice of a quack rather than 'easily available' suggesting they were OTC (which in practice they are - TIT)

Smoking? Self-inflicted wound.

[Totster]

Smoking? Self-inflicted wound.

yup, understood..I'm a social smoker... however, i would really like to know if the post nasal drip is due to the chronic heartburn, or is it sometihng else ?

totster

[FBN]

As far as I am aware, there is no connection between post nasal drip and heartburn. Smoking definitely. Post nasal drip may also be related to smoking.

[ignoramus]

Milk and beer are acid-forming [though one or two small beers surely can't be bad for one...]. Here in oz Qwik-Eze does the job for me, but Gaviscon ih LOS recently worked well enough.

Thanks to those who mentioned bread's hitherto unknown effect.

[Northpoint]

My grandfather died from cancer of the esophagus at an early age. I had heartburn for ages and it worried me until i decided to have a Gastroscopy in the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital last year. You make an appointment at the GI & Liver Centre and the procedure takes less than half a day as an outpatient. After having had the procedure, I was given a clean bill of health and piece of mind.

At present they have a promotion at the Bangkok Hospitals (Bangkok, Pattaya, Rayong) and a Gastroscopy will cost you THB 8300 instead of the normal THB 15000. I had my Gstroscopy done in Pattaya by an excellent woman GI and Liver specialist by the name of Dr. Thitima Vinakthol (sp) and she was great.

The promotion at the Bangkok hospitals runs until the end of December, but if you pay in advance, I think you can have the procedure done unil the beginning of March at the reduced price.

The best deal at the moment is a combined Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy procedure for THB 15000, instead of the normal THB 28000. If your over 45 years of age you should have your bum checked every five years for colon cancer and pre-cancerous polyps as well.