I have been suffering with persistent heartburn since July. I started on Prilosec 2x/day which made a big difference, then my doctor switched me down to Zantac which wasn't as effective. I'm now back to Prilosec and would like to think I won't have to take this forever. I just got heartburn out of nowwhere, though it could be related to all the meds I was on following brain surgery.

I have cut out caffeine, soda and citrus but am wondering if folks have had luck with other things aside from medication that help with this. My doctor said it hasn't been long enough to start taking any prescription meds or worry about damage. I'm also working on anxiety and stress levels with the hope that once those are better my digestive system as a whole will also improve.

KJ

Isn't it weird how this just came out of nowhere? Me too. Used to walk right on by that antacid aisle in the store, don't believe I've ever even had heartburn before this summer. Symptoms started July 1. A barium test found GERD and a hiatal hernia, and my wonderful doc gave me six weeks of Nexium samples. When those ran out I got sticker shock at the price of the prescription, and I tried Prilosec OTC, which the doc said was second best. After a couple weeks, broke down and sent in my Nexium prescription, but three weeks later I just found out today that my insurance company denied it and is telling me to take Prilosec instead. Aargh! (I'll spare you my rant on the state of national health care, drug companies, etc.) Anyway, this last week I've felt pretty good. Seems like throughout this I'll have a few good days, then a few more bad, no matter what I do. Now the good are more than the bad, and the bad isn't as crushing as it was. So I guess I'll go to Costco for another mondo box of Prilosec OTC. (Is OTC different from the Prilosec you're using?) Sure can't afford the $153/month for Nexium on my own.

I think the biggest help has been changing my diet. Gave up coffee and pop entirely, which has been really tough for this NW girl. (Occasionally I'll have a cup of tea, but no decaf coffee, as the acid seems worse than the caffeine.) Very little fat, which was a big change from my old junk food ways. I'll have a little butter on my toast, and cook with a little olive oil, but that's it. I try to have no more than a few fat grams in anything I eat. Didn't even have a garden tomato this summer. :( Drinking lots of water really helps too, especially during an attack. I eat a lot of plain yogurt, applesauce, peach smoothies, cereal, and chicken breasts. Lost ten pounds without exercise. Would recommend making a food journal and steering away from your own trigger foods.

I've also taken magnesium/calcium supplements (look for threads on this subject from Harry on this board.) Gotta admit I keep forgetting to take them every day, but they do seem to help when I make the effort, and the price is right. I've tried chewing deglycerinated licorice pills, but can't say they've helped a lot.

Good luck to you. It seems like this is a long haul, and we'll probably never really be over it entirely. But after three months, I can honestly say that things have gotten better, so am hopeful.

Yes, Prilosec OTC is what I'm taking but I have found that you can buy generic brand (Oemprazole) at CVS but probably not at Costco. It is a bit less expensive and is the same dosage and active ingredient. You might want to look for that.

My doctor hasn't prescribed any medication for me yet, hasn't been long enough or serious enough I guess and I haven't had any GI testing done.

I have tried to change my diet (which I need to do anyway by eating less sugar) but I don't eat that badly and I do have a food journal but sometimes it doesn't make any difference what I eat. I have cut out alcohol too as that did seem to make it worse.