Indigestion/heartburn problems

[Scarlett]

I have a hiatus hernia which means I constantly battle with acid indigestion. My throat suffers and my voice is gravelly, which is very depressing, as I am a teacher and do need my voice. I have tried various PPIs but when I take them, after a few days, I get a sensation of "on the verge" of getting indigestion. It's really horrible, as when I do get indigestion, it is massively painful and feels like a heart attack!
Any advice?
Thanks

[carlton23]

Ask your GP if he will prescribe Omeprazole Capsules, which I take to disperse acidity.

[Scarlett]

Yes, I have had omeprazole, lansoprazole and ranitidine. They work for 3 days and then I get really bad indigestion after taking them! So I stop!

[Sqad]

Scarlett...your hiatus hernia has been confirmed by a Gastroenterologist I presume.

Do you smoke?

Are you overweight?

[ethandron]

scarlett, i have exactly the same thing going on at the moment, and have an appointment with my doctor on thursday to see where i go from here - probably a scope down to have a good look :( i have had a poo sample tested and an ecg, both of which were normal.
i take gaviscon just before i go to bed to stop it happening at night - which it does - and always have it on hand during the day to take when i get that 'on the verge' feeling you describe. i find as long as i take it immediately, it stops it.
if i was you i'd go to the doctor and see what he has to say, there are more avenues to explore which should do the trick for you. anything which causes continual pain needs investigating as you just don't know what further damage is being caused.

[Scarlett]

Thanks Ethandron- I am seeing my Doc tomorrow, but I have seen him so many times and nothing seems to be changing. Sqad- Yes it has been confirmed, I had a gastroscopy to see the hiatus hernia, no and yes.

[Sqad]

Scarlett....right...so we are dealing with a HH.

The gravelly voice could be due to your HH, but also to under active thyroid, so perhaps blood tests may help.

If antacids and antispasmodics are not helping and life is becoming miserable, then one might have to contemplate surgery.

[Scarlett]

Hi Sqad. Yes, I feared that. But my raised BMI is a problem at the moment, so lowering that I think is the only option for now, and then see if surgery is still necessary.