General Medical issues thread

[Freq Flier 2013]

My mother has terrible heartburn. Somac and the like is not helping at all. Gavascon ect not helping. Gastroenterologist said next step is to have surgery to tighten the valve in the stomach but it comes with its own issues.
So bad that she can’t sleep flat at night. When ever there is a flair up it takes weeks to stabilize. Any suggestions?

 

[Pushka]

My mother has terrible heartburn. Somac and the like is not helping at all. Gavascon ect not helping. Gastroenterologist said next step is to have surgery to tighten the valve in the stomach but it comes with its own issues.
So bad that she can’t sleep flat at night. When ever there is a flair up it takes weeks to stabilize. Any suggestions?

I have scleroderma of the oesaphagus and on the same treatment. Consequently I've very much reduced the quantity of food I eat and also drink especially towards the end of the day. Helps a lot. I have memories of being on the Termini station in Rome looking everywhere for gaviscon. But sometimes I need to have extra pillows if I've been out with friends. The burning and reflux is awful.

Maybe look at food and drink consumption from 5pm onwards?

 

[Quickstatus]

Any suggestions?

Gastro Doc is right.....
Quite possible she has a bad hiatus hernia.
Need to get it fixed.
Not fixing = malnutrition, unwanted weight loss, increased risk of pneumonia and maybe even oesophageal cancer.

 

[hydrabyss]

Gastro Doc is right.....
Quite possible she has a bad hiatus hernia.
Need to get it fixed.
Not fixing = malnutrition, unwanted weight loss, increased risk of pneumonia and maybe even oesophageal cancer.

Left untreated can cause serious lung issues. It's something I have been asked a few times in regards to my lung condition.

 

[Quickstatus]

The other issue is long term use of antacids like Gaviscon and things like Somac can increase the risk of osteoporosis.

 

[blackcat20]

Still feeling awful so back to the GP this morning. Coughing until I retch which has been horrendous. They've hooked me up to a nebuliser so hopefully that does the trick

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Gastro Doc is right.....
Quite possible she has a bad hiatus hernia.
Need to get it fixed.
Not fixing = malnutrition, unwanted weight loss, increased risk of pneumonia and maybe even oesophageal cancer.

My mother does have a hiatus hernia but apparently not very large.
She did a study where they put a tube down her throat for 24 hours and each time she felt heartburn to press a button. The result was a very high correlation.

Any possible treatments or suggestions that are not surgical? Natural or otherwise..
Any other questions to ask the specialist gastroenterologist?

 

[Pushka]

I've often wondered why I sometimes get slight palpitations after eating lunch, and also if walking significant distances why I get somewhat stressed and dizzy. At that time I know I crave something sweet then cheese!

I started wearing the trial version of the glucose monitoring kit. It lasts for 14 days. Installed it just before lunch. Then ate lunch. When I got it I wondered if I'd have 'an event' that I was trying the capture. I needn't have worried. Two hours after lunch the app was beeping at I was into red territory with blood sugar levels. Ate a biscuit. Improved. Then it crashed again. Still early days but current assessment is that timing of it suggests Post Prandial Hypoglycemia or reactive hypoglycaemia. That is, too much insulin is produced. My stable BSL is 5 not fasting. Not looking at prediabetes Dr says, just a stupid pancreas managed by diet.