Brief Answer:
Sounds like you have Reflux.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. From what you have described to me, it sounds like you have Esophegeal Reflux Disease. This is a problem where stomach acids will regurgitate upward from stomach BACK into the throat (esophagus), causing burning sensation, belching gas, acid taste in mouth etc.

The management has 3 basic components.

1) Lifestyle Changes
2) Medication
3) Surgery

I will talk about the first 2 in detail. If surgery every becomes an issue for you.. then we can revisit that.

1) Lifestyle changes to prevent reflux:


A. If you are overweight, losing weight may help reduce the severity and frequency of your symptoms because it will reduce pressure on your stomach.

B. If you are a smoker, consider quitting. Tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system and may make symptoms of GORD worse.

C. Eat smaller, more frequent meals, rather than three large meals a day. Make sure you have your evening meal three to four hours before you go to bed.

D. Be aware of triggers that make your reflux worse. For example, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, or fatty or spicy food. After you identify any food that triggers your symptoms, remove them from your diet to see whether your symptoms improve.

E. Raise the head of your bed by around 20cm (8 inches) by placing a piece of wood, or blocks under it. This may help reduce your symptoms of reflux. However, make sure your bed is sturdy and safe before adding the wood or blocks. Do not use extra pillows because this may increase pressure on your abdomen.

F. If you are currently taking medication for other health conditions, check with your GP to find whether they may be contributing to your symptoms of reflux. Alternative medicines may be available. Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without consulting your GP first.

2) Medications: These include:

A. Over-the-counter medications
B. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs)
C. H2-receptor antagonists
D. Prokinetics

Depending on how your symptoms respond, you may only need medication for a short while or alternatively on a long-term basis.

A. Over-the-counter medications: A number of over-the-counter medicines can help relieve mild to moderate symptoms of reflux. Antacids (eg Digene, Eno) are medicines that neutralise the effects of stomach acid. However, antacids should not be taken at the same time as other medicines because they can stop other medicines from being properly absorbed into your body. They may also damage the special coating on some types of tablets.

Alginates (Sucralfate) are an alternative type of medicine to antacids. They work by producing a protective coating that shields the lining of your stomach and oesophagus from the effects of stomach acid.

B. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs)

If reflux fails to respond to the self-care techniques described above, your GP may prescribe a one month course of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for you. PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid produced by your stomach.

Most people tolerate PPI well and side effects are uncommon.

When they do occur they are usually mild and may include

headaches
diarrhoea
feeling sick
abdominal pain
constipation
dizziness
skin rashes

In order to minimise any side effects, your GP will prescribe the lowest possible dose of PPIs that they think will be effective in controlling your symptoms. Therefore, inform your GP if they prescribe PPIs for you that prove ineffective. A stronger dose may be needed. In some cases you may need to take PPIs on a long-term basis.

C. H2-receptor antagonists: If PPIs cannot control your symptoms of reflux, another medicine known as an H2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) may be recommended to take in combination with PPIs on a short-term basis (two weeks), or as an alternative to them.

H2RAs block the effects of the chemical histamine, used by your body to produce stomach acid. H2RAs therefore help reduce the amount of acid in your stomach.

Side effects of H2RAs are uncommon. However, possible side effects may include:

diarrhoea
headaches
dizziness
tiredness
a rash

Some types of H2RAs are available as over-the-counter medicines. These types of HR2As are taken in a lower dosage than the ones available on prescription.

D. Prokinetics

If your reflux symptoms are not responding to other forms of treatment, your GP may prescribe a short-term dose of a prokinetic.

Prokinetics speed up the emptying of your stomach, which means there is less opportunity for acid to irritate your oesophagus.

A small number of people who take prokinetics have what is known as ‘extrapyramidal symptoms’. Extrapyramidal symptoms are a series of related side effects that affect your nervous system. Extrapyramidal symptoms include:

muscle spasms
problems opening your mouth fully
a tendency to stick your tongue out of your mouth
slurred speech
abnormal changes in body posture

If you have the above symptoms while taking prokinetics, stop taking them and contact your GP or out-of-hours doctor immediately. They may recommend your dose is discontinued.

Extrapyramidal symptoms should stop within 24 hours of the medicine being withdrawn.

Prokinetics are not usually recommended for people under 20 years old because of an increased risk of extrapyramidal symptoms.

Usually, the symptoms of reflux can be managed with just the lifestyle modifications, if these are not enough, then a proton pump inhibitor might be called for.

I hope this information helps, try the life style modifications and let me know how it goes. Feel free to follow-up

Vinay

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