heartburn and indigestion

[Scarlett]

I have been prescribed pills for this- one a day to be taken at night. however, I have noticed that if I forget to take one, my symptoms come straight back! Is it possible to get pills that will sort out the cause, rather than just treating the symptoms on a daily basis? I don't really want to be taking these forever!

[bednobs]

it depends on your reason for the problem. for example my husband has a fundoplication surgery to prevent heartburn which sorted out the cause, but hids problem was able to be treated by this surgery.
If its helicobacter pylori causing the problem, you can have triple therapy to cure the problem. If its too much acid then i think tablets are the only option forvever

[Le Chat]

There are many foods that need to be avoided and also some alcohol! (If not all) Heartburn is caused by the muscle at the end of your oesophagus not being tight enough, so acid and other yuk from the stomach comes back up! (nice!) There are various foods that make the muscle relax, therefore making the problem worse. However, there is a new homeopathic 'drug' only available in the USA, made from orange peel (D-limonene) which puts a film on the stomach contents and stops the food rising back up the oesophagus. I have just ordered some myself from www.lfe.org (Life Extension is an American journal) and it is quite cheap in itself but obviously you need shipping and tax etc.
I think heartburn is manages rather than cured completely, as an operation to tighten the offending muscle is a big job, so I am led to believe.

[shylock73]

I have the same problem and am prescribed Omeprazole by my doctor and they work a treat even if I miss a day, but that's very seldom. Have you had a heart examination as your symptoms could possibly be a warning. Get your doc to fully exam you. I would play safe if I were you.

[Scarlett]

Shylock- how do you mean, a warning?

[tickledtrout]

I was prescribed lanzoprazole for a month and still had symptoms so got another months supply and a blood test was positive for helicobacter pylori. Now on 2 sets of antibiotics as well as lanzoprazole. Know exactly what you mean, hate taking tablets but I hope this will make my acid problem go. Why don't you go back to The GP, apparently this thing affects a quarter of the British population