Lower acid reflux?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Has anyone on here ever had lower acid reflux? Lower down between your rib cage around your belly? Been having mild discomfort for about a month and the odd 'poke' like pains which sometimes spreads down towards my back. went to the doctors and he checked my blood pressure, breathing ect (why do they actually do this out of interest?) and basically said it's acid reflux but lower down than normal. He gave me omeprazole 20mg and been on it for 2 weeks but I feel it isn't really doing anything. Although I heard it can sometimes take up to 3 weeks to work? Getting a bit worried, I'm a 23 year old male with a good diet and exercise daily. Let me know! Thanks

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4 Replies

  • Posted

    I have this, never had the normal heart burn you get with reflux or throat problems just burning and discumfort in my stomach and nausea. Unfortunately I've had it for over a year and been on ppis the whole time and I'm no better at all, no idea when it's going to go away. Hope you get yourself sorted!
  • Posted

    Hello Rob, and Abbie,

    My gastritus pains can include what you both mention, and pains that are more widespread in the ribs. Just in case the measures I have improved my troubles with might help you, though I still have them to variable degrees, they are these:

    Several small or medium meals per day (I have seven, one every two hours or so), rather than fewer bigger ones, so you don't overfill your stomach and aggravate the issues. Eat relaxed, chew well. Be sat upright for and after meals, not bent or slouching, so you don't squash your stomach and press its contents upwards.

    You might find some foods are ok or bad with you compared to other people, so it's a matter of experimentation, but fried foods, high-fat foods, high-salt foods, carbonated drinks, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate can all impact on stomach and reflux troubles. Spicy and hot foods can also hurt some people. Minty foods relax the lower eosophageal muscle which can let acid up easier, so they are bad. I use a fruity toothpaste.

    Wholewheat bread, cereals, bananas, hardboiled eggs are a few of the foods that suit me, but there are pulses, rice, various beans (not kidney beans apparently) and many other things you can try. Chicken is one of the best meats to try due to its lower fat content, though even that can hit me and is not eaten lately.

    Stress and excercise that pressure and squeeze the stomach are also to be avoided. Be as calm and stress-free as you can.

    Having your last meal a few hours before bed can prevent or lessen reflux at night, but I found that waiting to be too empty caused hunger discomfort and kept me awake. Because of this I lie-down about an hour and a half to two hours after last meal, and this is much better. I lie raised a bit on three pillows, on my right side, which is best for me, but maybe not for everyone.

    Another thing that helps me greatly is to not burp after ten minutes after eating, as this can bring acid up and cause heartburn.

    I hope some of this might help with your awful troubles. Best wishes.

    • Posted

      Thanks for the advice Paul I've been doing all these for a few months and it's easing very slowly.. I had quite a bad case of gastritis which is taking an extremely long time to clear up but hopefully if I continue to follow these steps it'll go!
    • Posted

      Yes, patience is definitely required, and trial and error with foods. I've had many set-backs when trying to add new foods to make my diet more pleasing and give me a bit more weight. Nutrition drinks from the dietician, Fortisips, are a good help at the moment too, and I'm better than I was. You hang in there.

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