[Artchic528]

I recently read this article:

A Quick Freeze That Saves Lives: Preventing One of the Fastest Growing Cancers - NBC News

Now I'm freaking out because I get really REALLY bad heartburn, especially when I'm trying to sleep. It's actually worse when I don't eat anything for a few hours before laying down. Maybe the acid is more concentrated from having no foods and/or beverages to dilute it? It's so bad I sometimes throw up. Not fun.

Well, the article says those with bad Acid Reflux are at a higher risk for developing esophageal cancer, which is the fastest growing cancer around, or one of them. I think the rate is 10% greater or something like that.

The worse part is that we only have one esophagus and living without it is kind of complicated. I know surgical removal of an afflicted organ is a worse case scenario, but I tend to make mountains out of molehills really quickly.

Anyways, I would consult my doctor, but I have no GP, as the one listed on my insurance card won't take me as I've not been in a decade or so and they don't take new patients. I can't get a new GP cause I have to go to the one listed on my card. Catch 22, eh?

Any ideas on how to fix this problem so I can get to a doc who can look at me and ease my anxiety ridden mind?

In the meantime, I'm open to any ideas on how to ease my reflux problem. Like I've said, I've already tried not eat a few hours before bed to no avail, and have been using antacids like Tums and Pepto Bismol nearly nightly. I don't want to rely on them all the time (that really can't be all that healthy to constantly take antacids every night for weeks on end). Plus, they only give me a reprieve from my symptoms for about 30-45 minutes. If I don't fall asleep within that time, I'm back to square one. Heartburn central.

[unaluna]

Are you fair fat and forty? Thats when gallbladder problems show up (in chubby blondes!). Is your dinner high in fat ie fried foods? I have to stay away from those or else yeah i'll be up all night with heartburn too. About ten-twenty years ago or so, they made all the prescription heartburn meds into over the counter, like tagamet. They are not as cheap as tums but they work like gangbusters. You want to check that they dont interfere with your other meds though.

[Artchic528]

Originally Posted by unaluna

Are you fair fat and forty? Thats when gallbladder problems show up (in chubby blondes!). Is your dinner high in fat ie fried foods? I have to stay away from those or else yeah i'll be up all night with heartburn too. About ten-twenty years ago or so, they made all the prescription heartburn meds into over the counter, like tagamet. They are not as cheap as tums but they work like gangbusters. You want to check that they dont interfere with your other meds though.

Well, does two out of those three things count? I'm fair (redheaded and pale as Casper) and not exactly petite by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not a huge blob of fat, more so somewhere in between. I like to call think of my size as more so healthy than anything (it helps me cope with it better).

I do eat foods that are commonly in the fried category. Fried chicken, fried eggs, fried rice, etc. I also eat pizza rolls and salty frozen microwavable meals. Let's face it, who am I trying to impress with my cooking?

I'm going to look at buying that Prilosec OTC stuffs. They sure advertise it enough.

The products like OTC Zantac and Prilosec etc work much better than Tums or Pepto but almost anything would. So far I don't know anyone who has gotten cancer from longterm indigestion or excess acid so try not to worry too much. On the other hand throwing up etc is not something you need to put up with. I take OTC Zantac when I have really bad indigestion and it works for me. Plain crackers are supposed to help too.

[ChipperMonkey]

My brother takes nexium. He freaks out if he runs out because his acid reflux is that bad. He gets acid reflux from water. :-( I guess I ended up with better genes as I've never had heartburn before.

[Fresia]

If the acid is controlled, it will prevent the acid from eroding your esophagus and minimize or prevent your cancer risk. The three primary things you can do to help it are:

1. a change in diet;
2. medications;
3. sleeping with your upper torso elevated (there are foam wedges or mattress toppers that elevate your upper body, or putting the whole head of the bed itself up on brick or blocks; it just needs to be about 6-8 inches high), will prevent the acid from flowing into your esophagus when you lie down.

I hope you find some relief soon.