Horrible heartburn help!

[6kiddos 18]

I started with heartburn yesterday at 4pm. I am already on Protonix 40 mg once a day. I tried eating thinking it might be hunger, it went away temporarily. Then it came back. It is bad enough right now that I cannot sleep and I am constantly sipping Water to relieve it. I won't have to worry about water intake! lol.

Suggestions? Can I take something else? Tums, etc?

[KathyM 14]

I have had some trouble with reflux as well and am also on Protonix once a day. For me it is worse at night, occasionally in the afternoon when I am napping. Here are some things that I am doing that seem to be helping.......

Take my Protonix in the evening (I have more trouble at night than during the day)

Nothing to eat after 8pm, but I will continue to drink Water

Make sure that the last meal I eat for the day is not too acidic - no Tomato sauce, etc.

Do not lie down for at least an hour after eating - this increases the chances of refluxing. 2 hrs is better if possible, gives that tiny tummy more time to process the food through

I hope some of these will help you too, reflux can be a nuisance. If it doesn't get better, talk to your doctor.

Kathy

[emilygrace 5]

Mine has been horrible lately - it was well controlled on nexium twice per day, and stupid me thought I could drop one dose since i hadn't had any reflux since postop. Cue awful reflex! Restarted but didn't resolve.. added zantac as well as nexium.. didn't resolve. Have had constant annoying throat clearing/dry cough since then which is driving me CRAZYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I am now going to go see a GI doc, may need some kind of upper GI test. I did have a hiatal hernia (that I wasn't aware of) fixed at surgery.

I am 4 months postop, started getting worse at about 3 months. Also definitely haven't lost any weight this month despite counting calories, carbs and Protein grams which is driving me batty. I am not more "hungry", but with acid rolling up my throat I am eating to try and keep it suppressed.

[mp8btpc 32]

I went through a period where I was taking two Prilosec a day and it still wasn't helping, I tried Nexium and nothing. I went to the doctor and he prescribed me a month of Dexilant which he said is twice as strong as the highest mg of Nexium. Once it got the acid under control (that happened very quickly) I took the medicine for a month but since I was getting ready to go out of town and I didn't want to risk not having the meds he gave me two more weeks. I came home ran out of the meds and have not taken a PPI in over three weeks now. He said it was one of the newest strongest PPI's. Maybe bring it up to your physician?

[emilygrace 5]

Thanks for the info, I'll be sure to ask the GI doc about it!