I mean, they never ever work. placebos?or not even that - at least placebo's work! I find Rennies, and all that jazz a waste of time and money. As you eat them they appear to soothe but that could just be the mintyness, then it's back to the same as before I often suffer with bloating etc and nasty pains due to my ibs, I bought a pack of those windeze thingys, and guess what, they don't do diddly squat!
Depends what the cause is, but yes, they will work if taken for the right problem.
I suffer from acid reflux, which is when excess stomach acid (and I have more than my fair share of it) comes up into the esophagus. Calcium or magnesium are good for the suppression of acid, but antacids like Tums or Rennies only work for short periods of time so aren't any use for my condition (for which I take Ranitidine, also known as Zantac, by prescription).
So, if you're suffering from an ongoing problem, you might want to go and see your doctor. It could well be something like reflux (which isn't dangerous if treated).
Windeze contain simeticone, which is an anti-foaming agent to relieve trapped wind. However, if they aren't working for you then either trapped wind isn't your problem, or you need something stronger.
Hello
Yeah actually I've had a gastroscopy as well, I've not got acid reflux, I did have hyper-acidity and prescribed omeprazole, which worked a treat but after subsequent visits the doc said I can't continue to have them at that strenght (20mg i was on) and that they're not to be taken long-term.
I've tried Rantidine but found it not strong enough.
I've always suffered with bloating and trapped wind, feel like a balloon after eating, particularly wheaty or fatty things though I'm not allergic to wheat or gluten according to doc.
so how does simeticone work exactly then? I mean when you have bubbles of gas inside you, it has to go somewhere??
*Ahem* the normal warnings - I am not a Doctor but have access to pharaceutical references & Internet forums are bad places for medical advice.
That out of the way - Nothing I've seen says that there's any danger with Omeprazole (or any of the other Proton Pump Inhibitors) with extended use (source), and while they were able to give rats an increased chance of certain types of cancer they were unable to see the same correlation in humans.
All I can suggesst is to get back to your Doctor and don't leave until he does something. He's acknowledged that you have a problem, withdrawn an effective treatment for no readily apparent reason and is now content to sit on his thumbs. If need be ask for a second opinion or if he thinks he's in that far over his head then a referral to a specialist.
In the meantime Omeprazole is available from your pharmacy generically or under the Zanprol brand but make sure you speak to the Pharmacist first and, while it sounds obvious, do your best to avoid your trigger foods :)
Oh, and it's my understanding that Simeticone works by breaking up the large bubbles of gas into much smaller ones. Your body is able to get rid of these (even though it's the same volume) much more discreetly
I find a glass of water with a spoon of bicarb works a treat. Or the cheap antacids from Tesco/Asda etc. 'specially after a night on the booze.
After a night on the booze, it is probably better to drink water. After all, a hangover is caused by dehydration, as alcohol is a diruretic. Once you re-hydrate, you should start to feel better.
You can also have a sensitivity to wheat. You don't necessarily have to have a full blown wheat allergy for it to have some kind of effect on you. Perhaps you could try cutting wheat out of your diet and seeing if that helps somewhat. I have seen a lot of people who suffer from bloating and other symptoms due to wheat, when they have also been told that they are not allergic to it.
Indigestion, retro sternal or epigastric pain, a burning like sensation linked with food.
If these problems persist you should se a GP.
Differential dignoses include
Acid reflux
Bile reflux
gastric ulcer
duodenal ulcer
hiatus hernia
disordered oesophageal function and or gut motility.
and rarely gastric or oesophageal carcinoma
A full history related to when this occurs and what the triggers are can lead to a likely cause and treatment plan by your GP. She will monitor progress and make a refferal for specialist investigation and opinion if your symptoms do not respond.
I would not just take bi carb, this is not a balanced ph buffer.
I quite like the rafting antacids that contain alginates as these create a cap to the stomach contents which provide a physical barrier to gastro oesophageal reflux.
If helicobacter is involved, you may need triple therapy for a course of treatment to erradicate the bacteria.
In general.
Do not eat fatty meals, this delays gastric emptying. Lose weight and avoid sitting or bending in such a way that increases your abdominal pressure. Always give up smoking. Avoid neat spirits. Avoid foods that you know are triggers. I have a realy healthy gut and yet two pints of lager, a large nan bread lead to a heavy bloating feeeling and some reflux. I am not overweight and I have never smoked. I am fine if I eat chapatti with my curry and drink plain water. Do not eat near to bedtime, allow at least two hours to allow your stomach to empty into the duodenum.
Treatments include
Simple antacids, which will buffer ph
Rafting antacids, which provide a physical barrier and buffer ph.
H2 receptor antagonists, good blockers of acid release from parietal cells
Proton pump inhibitors, same as above but more modern and more effective.
Pro kinetic agents to improve gut motility and stomach emptying.
Ulcer site binding agents such as sucralfate to provide a cap over the damaged mucosal lining.
Colloidal bismuth, from memmory this improves mucosal healing and creates and enviroment in which helicobacter has difficulty growing.
Anti helicobacter anti biotics to kill the helicobacter.
Surgical correction of hernia to recreate a pressure gradient at the gastro oesophageal junction and functioning sphyncter.
In the old days they used to use pharmaceutical liquorice extracts to aid healing of the gastric or oesphageal lining ( carbenoxalone, or deglycinerrised liquorice). It may be that chewing liquorice root is helpfull.
And as ever, I am not a doctor or pharmacist.
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