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Farlsborough wrote:The problem with milk is it has a fair amount of fat in it, which will stimulate more acid secretion... I think...

I don't remember the exact physiology, but I remember a guy in a lecture in first year (!) telling us to go steady with the milk when you've got reflux - it soothes it initially, but then makes it worse. Or something.

Edit: Just seen Fairie's post about Gaviscon - good stuff for relief... people's preferences are interesting: I far prefer a good gulp of gaviscon than a chalky tablet to chew!

These indigestion things are all very expensive though, for what they are

The problem with drinking the milk is it curdles when mixed with the acid ... think orange juice and milk in a cup.... so does make it worse..
However i tried various stuff and would happily have paid triple the amount just to be free from it... Luckily i only had it when pregnant and sympathise with anyone who suffers regularly ..

F x

Farlsborough wrote:The problem with milk is it has a fair amount of fat in it, which will stimulate more acid secretion... I think...

I don't remember the exact physiology, but I remember a guy in a lecture in first year (!) telling us to go steady with the milk when you've got reflux - it soothes it initially, but then makes it worse. Or something.

Edit: Just seen Fairie's post about Gaviscon - good stuff for relief... people's preferences are interesting: I far prefer a good gulp of gaviscon than a chalky tablet to chew!

These indigestion things are all very expensive though, for what they are

I want to say "buffer" here, but can't remember enough chemistry to know why. Something about resisting a change in pH or something.

Think it's more to do with the fact that whole milk - which is the usual choice due to it's coating properties - has a high fat content. It's mildly acidic to start with, and when you start to break it down, probably becomes more so - you wouldn't want a greasy bacon sandwich when you've got reflux, would you?

...or would you? In which case, I think we've found the cause of your problems

my wife gets it bad..

a glass of skimmed milk before bed helps her.. and she sleeps with about 4 pillows to keep her head raised.

hot water she finds good.

also eating early.. before 7.30pm

It's not the stomach ulcers you have to worry about. It is Barrett's disease which can lead to throat cancer.
There. I just thought I would cheer everyone up.

I used to suffer from this and once had such a severe attack I was literally doubled up on the floor in agony. Had to go wait two hours to be seen in A&E and they ended up giving me some Gaviscon, which, by the way, is the most evil tasting substance ever and if it didn't actually help I would be protesting on the streets of London to get the stuff banned. Think liquid chalk and you're not far off. I also found that drinking milk helped me, but your mileage may vary.

mmmm that might explain why milk always sorts me right out......then it comes back ........but i still maintain omeprazole is best

I used to get reflux regularly. Eventually I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia. You really should see a doctor.

I take lansoprazole every day with occasional Gaviscon if something disagrees with me.

Barry

I had this also, quite common for males who have eaten c*** (not the best) all their lives I believe.

I have been taking "omeprazole" for 2 years now and not had a problem since. There are several similar items and I tried them as well. "Parriet" was another however omeprazole suited me best. You may need a little trial and error.

The difference is, Mylanta and Gaviscon, Quikeez etc settle the stomach acids. Omeprazole actually reduces the amount of acid being produced.

If all else fails, there is an op you can have where they tighten the "trap door" at the top of your stomach... sounds gruesome though.

Iv twice ended up in hospital due to complications from this. Once it took them 4 hours to sort out because they kept insisting I was proberly pregnant. 4 negative tests later, they will still discussing it as I was doubled up in agony. A consultant walked in pointed to just under my ribs and said 'Since when has a pregnancy been there???? Its her stomach' and then walked out again. I tried not to laugh

A lady called Henrietta Spink wrote a book about her 2 disabled children. One of her sons started banging his head against things at a young age and nobody could figure why. After a few years, she finally saved the money to privately see a specialist. He said the poor lad had severe acid reflux and the pain would have brought a grown man to his knees, never mind a young child. The acid had burned his throat so severly that it had narrowed it (due to scarring) thats why he suffered from life-threatening choking fits while trying to eat

I have mild hiatus hernia and go through random periods of reflux/heartburn. My version of "heartburn" is a scratchy throat that makes me cough.

I personally swear by Gaviscon Advance (not the ordinary Gaviscon, which doesn't do anything for me). As well as neutralising some of the acid, it forms a bubble layer that helps hold everything in the stomach where it should be.

Anything containing dimethicone (also called simethicone) will do the same, so you might find a different brand if you prefer. An interesting point about simethicone is that it's not absorbed by the body in any way, so it won't produce side effects or interact with any other drug or food. It's actually a form of silicone rubber.

Gaviscon Advance original aniseed flavour is preferable. The mint always tastes to me like somebody's tampered with it.

Some acid suppressants such as Zantac are now available over the counter. I don't use them myself, and I wouldn't suggest self-medicating with them for long periods of time, but they might help if you have short bursts of strong reflux.

If you're uncomfortable all the time, or getting actual pain, or find it's interfering with your life, see your GP. At the very least, you might be able to get Gaviscon Advance and acid suppressants on prescription instead of buying them over the counter. If you have a bad hiatus hernia, it could be worth getting it repaired surgically.

Ah phooey! Double posting and it won't let me delete one. Apologies to all.

No worries, allow me to delete on your behalf.....

Hooray! Nasty enough talking about acid belching without having to say it twice...

Terrible when things 'repeat' on you ! I know, I know, me, hat, coat, door....