How to get treatment?

Loanranger

Hopefully, all will be well.
I used to suffer dreadfully at night with my acid reflux and now as long as I take the medicine in the morning I don't even think about it.
I never eat a big meal at night these days, fish n chips is unfortunately not so easy for me to digest so I have just a half portion but I never get acid reflux with a big meal.
I can't recall the consultant's name now but it was towards your neck of the woods I had it. At Little Aston Hospital so not a million miles away from you but doubt it's the same guy fifteen years later and at a different hospital.

ripplyuk

Just to add to this,
A lot of the consultants I've seen have not insisted on a referral letter. I would tend to ring their secretary and ask if one is necessary before making an appointment. On the few occasions when one was required, I've rang my GP and the letter was left out that same day (for a £10 fee).

I hope your husband gets it sorted out soon OP. I assume the procedure is an OGD. I've had two and would thoroughly recommend sedation for it. For me even that wasn't enough unfortunately and it had to be done under G.A.

seven-day-weekend

Thanks again for your kind words, LL. I have read and duly noted them and will show my husband when i have finished posting.

Just to say the reason I was awake and posting at 3.30 am was nothing to do with worrying about my husband. It's because I have Restless Legs Syndrome and although it is now largely controlled with medication, the years when it wasn't have taken their toll and my sleep pattern is non-existent. I am often awake at 3.30 emptying the dishwasher, putting the bins out or changing the cat litter.

Thanks again xx

P>S. Shown husband your posts. He hates Gaviscon so says bicarb of soda will probably be preferable!

lessonlearned

Has your husband tried silicol gel.

You can buy it over the counter at chemists but you usually have to ask for it. It’s about £11 a bottle but worth every penny if you are in pain and discomfort.

It gently coats the stomach lining allowing it to heal and just calms everything down so it helps with both IBS and GERD.

It isn’t the easiest thing to take, it can trigger the gag reflex -well it does mine. TMI perhaps. :rotfl: I only need it if I’m having a flare up which thankfully is very rare now.

So if you can’t take it neat off the spoon then adding it to water helps it slip down, although taking it neat is preferable. .

Again you can take it alongside prescribed meds.

sheramber

What happened to going through Benenden?

ripplyuk

Some studies have shown that long term use of PPI's can increase the risk of osteoporosis and hip/other bone fractures. They are not recommended for long term use, especially over 5 years. My MIL has been on them for a decade and just recently has been diagnosed with osteoporosis after developing severe back and hip pain. She was originally diagnosed with a hiatus hernia. The pills are cheaper than fixing the problem.

seven-day-weekend

sheramber wrote: »

What happened to going through Benenden?

We have to wait for the NHS appointment to come through first and then, as I understand it, if the wait is too long they will help with fees towards a private appointment.

If he doesn't qualify for this my husband will go private anyway.

lessonlearned

custardy wrote: »

Sorry to jump in OP.
Thats interesting. been on Omeprazole for about 6 years as a preventative from pain meds.

Yes in such cases it’s used as a “stomach protector” because the pain meds can and usually do damage the stomach.

In these situations it’s a case of weighing everything up and going with the lesser of two evils. Destroy your stomach with the pain meds or risk the long term effects of reducing the stomachs ability to produce sufficient digestive enzymes.

The first is a given so hence the use of preventative measures. So in these cases they are not being used “indiscriminately” but are part of a planned treatment programme

When taking long term PPIs it’s a good idea to take a good probiotic to help maintain the right balance of flora in the gut and help maintain a level of “good” bacteria to assist with enzyme production.

And yes one of the side effects of PPIs is an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Manxman_in_exile

fred246 wrote: »

I am very perceptive and normally correct but I can't prove what exactly happened.

It must be very traumatic for you not being able to prove what happened.


Hang on! Why do you need or want to prove what happened?

fred246

This is a money saving forum. Visits to the GP are free. Drugs are free if you are over 60. Advice from the GP is free. Advice from a pharmacist is free. Endoscopy is free. Reflux is common. Omeprazole and lansoprazole are in the 10 commonest drugs prescribed. If you want to save money it would seem prudent to use the free services to your advantage.