heartburn

The best cure for heartburn is a change of diet. Quit eating junk food, soda and candy for awhile and see what happens. I bet your heartburn goes away. Take a little personal responsibility for your health and you won't need medicine,or a prop for your bed.

Dr. told me years ago to use Prilosec because it does not raise blood pressure. Everything else on the market will cause your blood pressure to go up. If you have high blood pressure (like me), you don't want to take an over-the-counter that will cause your already high blood pressure to go even higher.

A word about diet. I eat well. Very little junk food. But if I eat salads ... I get .. not heartburn, I get reflux. If I eat ice cream too late at night, I don't get heartburn, I get reflux. If I drink milk too late at night, I get reflux, not heartburn. If I eat bread too late at night, I get reflux, not heartburn.

Reflux is when that back-up stuff in your stomache comes projecting upwards like vomit and it BURNS like fire, cause you to choke, can't breath, snot and vomit run out your mouth, and you're running in circles trying to catch a breath! It scary to wake up from a dead sleep when this happens ... sudden, no warning, and then the burning, hurt, pain lasts for hours after that.

The secret is not to eat so late, and to keep a record of what sets you off. When camping I take Prilosec on schedule and never miss. At home I can miss, because food items are more consistent, eating times are more regular, and I can predict when and what will set me over the edge.

Now heartburn ... There's only 2 items that sets off heartburn and you may think this is funny, but its true.... Any Pepsi Cola products. Anything made by Pepsi Cola, and Anything made by Lays, like Lays potato chips! These do not give me reflux, but I do get heartburn within seconds after consuming either of these products.

I am an avid Diet Coke drinker, and that has never bothered me, ever, any time, day or night. And I can drink any Coca Cola product without incident. I know that sounds strange, but it's true.

In the camper, my solution is the Prilosec and not eating so late.

Peanut Butter will cause reflux if I eat too late, but not an issue earlier in the day.

I suppose, if you have a bed in your camper that is facing the front or back wall, you could always crank the camper up or down (by the tongue) (or 5er jacks) so the head is higher than the feet. But you'd have to test the limitations on this to ensure the refrigerator still worked properly.

I had an aunt that put concrete blocks under the front to feet of her bed. It was so high, I never could figure out how she stayed in the bed without sliding off the end.

mdamerell wrote:
I suffer from acid reflux and have to elevate the head of my bed 4". To solve this in my RV I removed the plywood platform from my bed. Cut a 2x4 corner to corner to make to 2 large wedges. Mounted them on top of the existing bed frame. Ran 2x4's between them to support the original plywood platform as required and remounted the plywood platform. The bed still hinges and opens like it use to so I did not lose any under the bed storage and if I sold the trailer I can easily restore it to it's original configuration.

This is exactly what I did also. I do take omeprozole, and I changed my eating habits. Spices aren't such a big deal, but acidy foods are. Our biggest meal is now at noon, then a light supper. Try not to have food or drink for two hours before sleeping.

Sounds like a lot of good ideas on here and my basic assumption is that people on here don't need to be told to consult a dr when you have problems. I'm fortunate enough to have a brother who is a Dr. in south west Florida. He has told me many interesting things and I will try to keep this short.

1. Always go to the Dr when you have a problem. Guys are worse at this.
2.When a Dr tells you something, go educate yourself about it.
3.If you have serious or surgical issues get a second opinion.
4.Try to avoid all medications. That does not mean don't use any but don't make them your first and easy answer.
5.Do everything you can to stay out of hospitals. Many people die not because of what they went to the hospital for but from secondary infections.
6. If you are in the hospital pay attention and be part of your treatment and work to get out asap.
7.Do not think that Dr's are gods.
8. Pay close attention to the moon/tide cycles when fishing in sw Florida for best results

Good health to all of you.

MC9 wrote:
Thanks for the replies. I'm currently undergoing treatment at U of A for high grade dysplasia. They got it before it turned to cancer. Two pillows gives me head and neck problems. Still working on a solution.

That's darned scary sounding but glad you're getting help. Best of luck to you! The proton pump inhibitors all read not to take beyond a few short weeks. DH and I have both taken Protonix for 13 years. There is controversy in the medical field about whether PPI's change the stomach lining permanently. Stomach acid where it ought not to be is horribly damaging, though. Esophageal cancer is greatly on the rise in this country and there isn't a consensus on the reason. DH and I have found that staying away from anything dairy in the evenings is helpful. We sleep on wedges, too, though I hate mine and seem to slip down off it in my sleep. We do what we can and then just cross our fingers.

Thanks for the replies. I'm currently undergoing treatment at U of A for high grade dysplasia. They got it before it turned to cancer. Two pillows gives me head and neck problems. Still working on a solution.

Moved from Fifth Wheel Forum

What we call heartburn can be serious and can be your body telling you of other things to come. I had heart burn used Nexium and other things and it helped. Changed diet and it helped. I am a power/distance walker and have been for 30 years. One night I woke up with real bad heartburn and then pain down my right arm. Well the short story is after a trip to the Cat lab. and a couple of stents heartburn subsided. So what I am saying is to make sure your symptoms, ie: heartburn are not masking some other issue. Yes I took all of the test, from stress test etc. even an ekg 3 wks. before and passed with flying colors. The docs are not always right. Take care.

Watch spicy foods. Most importantly NEVER go to bed or lie down right after consuming any food. I have been taking generic Prilosec for 10 plus years with no issues. OTC stuff(regardless of what they say)is not the same or in my case just didnt work as well.
Regards

Prescription Pantoprazole 40MG 1/day, after a trip to the emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack. Best I have been in years. Tried Ranitidine 150MG 2/day, but Pantoprazole works better.

None of the OTC aid reducers worked. Insurance company had me try them after the 30 day post ER run on the presciption. So they put me on it. It has been a year and a half and GERD has "left the building". Bye bye, I do not miss you GERD!

Chris