Acid reflux/indigestion/heart burn

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Lately I seem to have acid reflux. Considering going to the doctor.

What is the FAAs stance on medicine similar to prilosec or conditions like a stomach ulcer?
Should I be worried for my medical?
 
I dunno... but as a former acid reflux sufferer, I can tell you that prescription Pravacid (this was before you could buy it OTC) worked like an absolute miracle. I also figured out what would set it off, and I don't do that any more.

For example... I can handle greasy food, OR acidic food, but not both at the same time. Coffee: OK. Donuts: OK. OJ: OK. Coffee and donuts... no. OJ and donuts, no. Coffee and OJ is fine though.

I keep some OTC Prevacid around now for occasional use, but haven't needed anything regularly in years. Good luck, I hope you and your doc figure out the root cause and fix it. That makes a world of difference.
 
I recommend that you see a physician. Indigestion can be from simple reflux but sometimes it is actually angina or heart pain.
 
Losing weight will help in a big way toward reducing the frequency and severity of the reflux.

As Dale suggested, start monitoring what food and drink tend to trigger the episodes and cut back on those.

Any chance you suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea symptoms? Before being diagnosed with OSA, I suffered for years with reflux, and was suffering several episodes a day doing OTC Pepcid AC by the case (and $15 a bottle isn't cheap). Now that I have been on OSA therapy, the frequency of reflux is down to just less than 10 per month and only when I consume a trigger food and an alcoholic beverage.
 
I noted a while ago that Pepcid isn't on the FAA approved list, while a number of others are.

Forgot to ask Doc about that at Gaston's. Wonder what the difference is in their mechanisms that makes Pepcid a no-no.

Much younger, I suffered from regular heartburn. A combination of diet change and less GAS* fixed it.

*Giving a ****, that is. Mine was stress-induced by believing too many lies. ;)
 
I am on a daily prescription for Pepcid (Not OTC. I am not over weight and I am very careful about what I eat, but I still get reflux). They sent me to a specialist for the diagnosis. I have disclosed this on my medical and there were no issues.
 
I have a hiatal hernia - no one ever claims surgery is the answer - because as soon as I lost 40lbs the problem pretty much went away - my only trigger is oily foods - they'll get me every time but its not bad - nothing a few tums wont cure - no reason to be on omeprazole the rest of my life -

though before I lost the weight I took prevacid til my insurer balked - tried omeprazole - got heartburn again fairly easily - so the insurer covered it again since I tried the cheap stuff - now its all basically OTC - go buy what works for you long term.

The basic issue is that the pylorus valve does not close all the way - allowing the gastric contents including acid to back up - it is very dangerous long term since if you have long term heartburn your chances of getting esophageal cancer surge. . . . for some reason also I have slow stomach emptying so I can eat a meal at 7p, go to bed and be awakened at 1a with heartburn - strange - there can't be anything down there - but it sure feels like it-
 
For the last couple of years, I've had the same issues. It's not weight-induced. Stress may be an issue, but I don't think so.

Strangely, I haven't found a trigger. Some days, I can eat pizza, and drink beer, and have a pot of coffee in the morning, and be fine. Others, that combination will just about kill me.

Tums work after the fact -- generic over-the-counter acid reducers work before the fact. It's annoying, but nothing you can't work around.
 
Hey Jay - I think your heartburn begins in DC . . .

my wife tells me it's because I voted for Reagan in my first Presidential election in 1980 and that since all of them just give me heartburn - she is probably right
 
comanchepilot said:
Hey Jay - I think your heartburn begins in DC . . .

my wife tells me it's because I voted for Reagan in my first Presidential election in 1980 and that since all of them just give me heartburn - she is probably right
Click to expand...

Haw! You may be right.

Hey...wait a minute. You ARE right. My acid reflux began in 2009, right after the election! :lol:
 
Prilosec is okay for reflux.

Stomach ulcer if you have it, is grounding until healed.
Pepcid has a high enough profile for sedation that FAA doesn't like it.

No worries, go to the doc. Hey no kidding, don't be missing the ulcer (if it's there). All manner of terrible stuff happens if you let one go.....
 
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