hello i need help i've had this problem for about three weeks now. it started with a tightness around my throat like i was being choked for about two weeks and now this week it has changed to heartburn non stop everyday.i go to my neighbors and drink coffee and he changed the coffee to hole bean and he grinds it up .this started after i started drinkin the coffee .could this prob be the coffee
2/10/12 6:14pm
If you have been getting these reflux problems frequently for three weeks, you should see your doctor.
Coffee is one of the most common triggers for many people. De-caffinated is better but it's probably better to forego this beverage for the time being.
You will probably be prescribed with a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) like omeprazole at 40mg for a few weeks to reduce the burning. If this subsides, the dose may be reduced to 20mg (minimal maintenance dose).
But if the heartburn is continuing, he may send you to have a gastroscopy to ensure the esophagitis hasn't caused any serious damage.
3/ 5/12 6:28am
Hi again Valerie,
I'm not familiar with medican. US often has different names for drugs than UK but I'm assuming it's more of a tranquiliser than an acid suppressant.
If you have to pay for your own medicine, I recommend you ask for the cheapest omeprazole OTC from your pharmacy. I don't know but suspect somewhere like Walmart may sell their own cut price version rather than having to pay for Prilosec or Zegerid. (You just pay more for the brand name. The drug's as good.) Most of UK large supermarkets have pharmacies selling their own label drugs.
OTC omeprazole is only 10mg whereas you may need more initially to knock things back a bit. It is safe to double the dose.
You won't notice results immediately: it'll take a couple of days and you'll need to take them for a few weeks to really see the benefit.
An alternative is Ranitidine. This works in a different way to reduce stomach acid by blocking the signals to the acid producing cells rather than stopping production of the cells themselves. Again you should be able to find a cheaper generic drug than Zantac. OTC versions are 75mg but again, if necessary, it is safe to double the dose.
You may decide to take omeprazole in the morning and ranitidine in the evening.
But constant acid reflux is not good. There is a small chance it could eventually lead to cancer of the esophagus. I don't know how much an endoscopy would set you back but it would see what state your esophagus is in.
All the best
Chris
3/ 6/12 12:09am
hello again i just can't figure out whats going on the heartburn is almost gone well thats a good thing but the things the doc told me to do just made it worse.i took all the samples and i have only zantac but when i don't have heartburn and i take the medican it gives me terrible heatburn.and when i lay down to sleep it go's away.i don't know what this is i just hope it stays away.thank you for all your help.
3/ 6/12 12:09am
hello again i just can't figure out whats going on the heartburn is almost gone well thats a good thing but the things the doc told me to do just made it worse.i took all the samples and i have only zantac but when i don't have heartburn and i take the medican it gives me terrible heatburn.and when i lay down to sleep it go's away.i don't know what this is i just hope it stays away.thank you for all your help.
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By valerie— Last Modified: 03/06/12, First Published: 02/10/12
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ya i went to the doc and she put me on medican and i alsi took a stress test. the medican calmed it down and i took all of it but i still have heartburn 24-7. i have no insurence for a perscrip if she writes one but nothin has helped yet and it's been about 5 or 6 weeks.