Painkillers & Acid Reflux Symptoms: Unhealthy Relations

Hi. I'm suffering with acid reflux. I have crohns disease but take humira injections every two weeks. I was eating fruit and fibre for past 5 days and had bowel issues. Also was taking ibuprofen as I broke my wrist a month ago now. Is it the ibuprofen or fruit and fibre causing the acid reflux . Also take omeprazole for acid control.

When it comes to milk, it can't be just any milk it needs to be fat free for it to help with heartburn and acid reflux. So skim milk helps relieve acid reflux.

Hi Cindy, I realise this is over 10 years ago but wanted to ask how you are doing with your desmoid? I too have a desmoid in my shoulder/neck and dont want to do chemo and radiation.

I was taking Advil for 2 sprained feet for about 4 weeks and had to stop because I was getting acid reflux and stomach pain. Milk is good for acid reflux. It helps coat and calm the burning like mylanta. Or just take mylanta mint liquid. It works. The reflux and stomach pain should go away. :)

NSAIDs definitely cause Acid reflux and/or LPR. NSAIDs Weaken the sphincter in the stomach. I was taken Advil once a day to help with neck pain, I had stopped taking but soon found myself experiencing tight in my neck and throat, sinus pressure, acid taste in mouth, voice becoming weaker, feeling like a blob was stuck in my that, and a horrible sensation that I wasn't able to breathe probably(vocal cord dysfunction). The last symptom means that acid has affected my vocal cords and they don't want to open and close properly. It's awful to feel like you can't breathe! I took ppi's but found the made me feel like I was going to explode! Very unpleasant. Obviously, I had changed my diet at this point-no coffee, spices, etc. read Drop the Acid(borrow from library, not a book to purchase), then I scourged the Internet.

This is what I came up with that HELPED me, halls throat soother for my vocal cords, magnesium citrate to help relax the lower sphincter in the stomach and to keep bowel movements regular. Slow digestion can creat acid reflux by creating pressure. Same with spicy foods, coffee, etc. I also took l-glutamine, probiotics, and digestive enzymes. I found for me the digestive enzymes were good to take between meals as well. You can try and see if that works. I also purchased zinc carnosine (Pepcix). It is used in Japan extensively for acid reflux. It helps heal the damage done by the acid. I also read a study that melatonin could help acid reflux and took that a bedtime. I found drinking lots of water(to wash throat of acid) and elevating my bed of great benefit as well. I found taking apple cider vinegar a horrific experience, if you have LPR do NOT use acv! It will burn, burn, burn the already burned esophagus. Don't do it. I also bought gaviscon from Canada pharmacy online to chew up at night before I went sleep to create a barrier. I bought from Canada because the gavision in American has aluminum; I don't want to ingest aluminum. Sometimes I took digestive enzymes before I went to sleep to help with night time acid production. It took months and months to heal, but I blame that on doctors who insisted for months that I had asthma.give all of these things a try. Oh yeah, some people have success with DGL.

I found that I had severe acid reflux; then I read in a med.journal not to eat sweets or dark sodas or caffeen. This one time I went on a cruise and cheated on my diet and ate large amounts of sweets because they were so good. I just made it home in time to go into ER and have my gallbladder removed. The doctor said I was very lucky because if I had of still been on that cruise another day I would have died; the Dr. said my gallbladder was right on top of my liver. I still cheat on my diet and shouldn't because I found I have a tumor on my spine where it spread to my brain. I do herbs which help some. It's so painful from head to toe. The best results is much prayers. God Bless.

Re: Acid Reflux and Stomach Ulcers: Thank you for this information, have written it all down.

I would like to add that in my case I don't get heartburn etc I just get a bad stomach that comes and goes and dull bad headaches and blocked and sometimes painful ear. This is always the right ear - the one I sleep on. Sometimes face pain.

My appetite is great. Previously I would sometimes get my nose just suddenly running like a tap and then stop.

Yesterday in desperation to feel better I took three high dose biotics and hours later had a terrible stomach and my right ear is worse! So will not do that again.

Have been taking two fibre capsules a day but now notice that when I take them I am more likely to get nausea and a bad stomach after. Should I continue with the fibre capsules? Should I continue with two multi vitamins a day? Should I continue with my fish oil omega 3?

Thanks so much for being there, am feeling bad and it does help to know someone cares and is on your side.

Hi Carmel...Regarding your ulcer I would follow Dave from Fountain Inn's ulcer therapy and perhaps add mastic gum to it as well.

Your GERD problems are an entirely separate issue. Your doctor, like most doctors, has probably advised the wrong treatment for you. GERD problems usually always arise because of too little stomach acid and not because of too much stomach acd. You can get your stomach acid tested using the Heidelberg Test - I would strongly advise that you do this test. So taking cimetidine -- the wrong therapy -- to reduce stomach acid even more is bound to lead to many more health problems in the future.

If you have low stomach acid then your pepsin enzymes for stomach digestion will be impaired. More importantly if your stomach acid isn't up to scratch or is not strong enough then this means that your intestines will have no protection against any viruses, bacteria and fungus incoming with your food. Correct levels and strength of stomach acid acts to kill all pathogens in the food. If you therefore have low stomach acid then this means that your health will inevitably become worse because pathogens from your food will have a free and unhindered passage directly into your intestines.

You need to take betaine hydrochloride with pancreatin enzymes (with papain and bromelain) at every meal to secure proper stomach acid strength and to help digest your food properly. Taking betaine HCL will both help to restore proper levels of stomach acid and also help to protect against pathogens incoming with food.

Main stage digestion -- where everything gets digested -- occurs in the duodenum. When the stomach acid is at the right strength it triggers the pancreatic juices to secrete bicarbonates and enzymes into the duodenum. But if the stomach acid is too low or at incorrect strength this will not happen. The bicarbonates from the pancreas act to neutralize the chyme or stomach acid plus food in order to provide the correct alkaline to neutral environment so that the duodenal enzymes can do their job. If the acid stomach chyme has not been neutralized in the duodenum then the duodenal enzymes(which are also triggered by correct stomach acid strength) will not be able to do their job in an acidic environment. So the food just sits there in the duodenum undigested, stagnating and fast-breeding pathogens. And this is what causes GERD.

This is why you should also take 1/2 tspn Baking Soda(sodium Bicarbontate) about an hour after you have eaten every meal -- when stomach digestion has finished and duodenal digestion is ongoing. Doing this provides the optimum alkaline to neutral environment for the duodenal enzymes to work in.

Iodine is also necessary for the stomach to heal and produce gastric acid so taking a liquid kelp extract with water will also help you. Also taking Magnesium Chloride as Magnesium Oil (ten drops twice a day at mealtimes) will help to replenish your HCL stores in the stomach.

For more details and explanations on how to cure your GERD problems see this link:

http://chriskresser.com/get-rid-of-heartburn-and-gerd-forever-in-three-simple-steps

To Carmel from England;

Re ... ulcers;

I've fought off ulcers once and two other times when one was starting up.

Two things must happen when I deal with ulcers.

I get off all carbonated drinks and stop all acidic foods...ketchup; chili; tomatoes; coffee (even de caff) etc.

I eat steamed vegetables during this two to three month program. I can eat breads and butter but nothing that will cause digestive stress (no red meat). And no ice cream.

Basically, a bland diet.

Second: There are three things I must do by way of "nutrient" supplement. First, to kill the probable bacteria in stomach I drink on empty stomach, Colloidal Silver twice daily. I also drink four tablespoons of aloe vera juice. That aloe is a burn healer. I do that for a full two months. Especially important to take that on empty stomach and one of the daily doses before bed. I start feeling better without morning burn within a few days. And finally I take DGL which is a licorice extract. Three pills twice daily following the aloe drink.

I keep this up for at least two months and three if there is any indication the burning is still present.

Hello, I had no problems with stomach until I had a lot of sinus problems and the doctor kept putting me on courses of antibiotics and steroids. The next thing I new I had stomach ulcer(s) and then headaches and then silent acid reflux and headaches.

I am now taking cimetidine which helped for a bit and now does not. It is always worse on waking. Am looking into ways to get better naturally - hopefully.

In England very few of the doctors accept or believe there is any connection to diet and know nothing about nutrition etc nor do they accept there can be a connection between stomach and sinus/head/ears.

I have been taking ibuprofen for many years for bad headaches and never made the connection till today. This morning I had a bad headache and as usual I took several ibuprofen and about midday had bad acid reflux. I couldn't understand why because I hadn't eaten anything that would cause acid reflux. So I searched online looking for a good remedie for acid reflux when I came accross this article. Man oh man, now I know. Honey helped with my acid reflux and I'm going to get some ACV.

Thanks everyone. Yay!

Neglected to mention that I had read a doctor reported indigestion is caused by too many carbs in your diet. It would be a good idea to ask for the package insert for your medication--not the computer print-out. See if the ingredients include any kind of starch. When I started to have a lot of indigestion I learned it was from what the animals were being fed that I was eating. I am not going to go into detail here unless someone is truly interested. After I read what the doctor reported and started to pay attention to what I was ingesting I began to realize what he reported was accurate. I can report that this is what also caused me be to incontinent for a short time. Once I became aware and started to reduce my consumption of GMO's the problems ceased. It is difficult because all of our food has been corrupted. We are not only exposed to GMO's in our food, our medications and/or supplements come from this food. Organic is not safe and, for me, it was worse. This discovery was after phone calls, screening and very expensive purchases.

Trudyg, Have you tried apple cider vinegar (internally) for the pain? Some find it helps pain that is arthritis related. It may also help the reflux. (It keeps mine in check.)

Apple Cider Vinegar topically is also something we have found helpful for pain. We soak a cloth with it and cover with plastic and then another towel. Not very convenient for neck and shoulder... I think it reduces inflammation. We have seen this help very much many times.

Castor Oil and or Peppermint essential oil can also be applied topically for the pain.

White Willow Bark Capsules are a good herb for pain, but I find they only help with mild pain.

Alternating Hot and Cold (heating pad, then frozen rice sock) is something else that is good for pain.)

I do notice that sugar consumption makes my pain worse. (I have scoliosis and my back is always off, so I am often dealing with some kind of back or neck or hip pain. Peppermint oil and avoiding sugar, hot and cold have all helped me at different times.)

Hope you find something to help... Have a great day!

~Mama to Many~

Hi Trudyg, For your kind of problem, I suggest you apply Magnesium Oil on the area where you get pain. It will be still better if you mix DMSO 80% and Magnesium Oil 50:50 and this mixture's application will surely give you relief from the pain and no acid reflux.

Baldev

Trudyg, get up and walk around often. Do head/neck stretches often. Keep circulation going!

Just a suggestion---pain is inflammation... Turmeric and ginger are reported to reduce inflammation... they have worked for me but you have to keep in mind things you may be eating that contribute to inflammation.

I, too, get reflux from pain meds. I have neck and shoulder pain from injuries and now I work at a computer all day. My bad eyes make me hold my neck a certain way and boy, do I hurt. I got an ulcer from taking advil. I now take astaxanthin and serrapeptase, but still get reflux. I take heartburn ease for the acid, but not a fix. What should I take for pain?

Hi Puneet, Pain killers have the side effect of Reflux for some, because they create extra acidic environment in the system. To start with why are you taking the pain killers? If you can have some alternate for the problem for which you are taking the pain killers and in turn are having the Reflax and pain, logically pain killers should be stopped and some other alternate be looked for. Unless we know the reason which makes you to take the pain killers, it will be difficult to suggest any alternate. Good Luck

Baldev

Check your medication to see if you have fluoride poisoning. If so, you need to detox the fluoride to prevent further damage. Boron, calcium and iodine are very useful for detoxing fluoride. There are places in India where ground water is dangerously high in fluoride. Find an Ayurvedic doctor and stay away from western medicine.

I am having a lot of Reflux and pain after having Pain Killers, I would Like to try apple Cider Vinegar as suggested but there is no clarity as to when I should be having it... before having my medicenes or what. Please clarify so that I can start.

Why take such bad medication for Diabetic Neuropathy?

When you can take Evening Primrose tablets? I'm Diabetic and I take very few meds because the more meds the more side effects. Evening Primrose really works... You need about 5 or six days to notice the results.. And walk as much as you can to keep circulaton going. Pain killers all have terrible side effects. Ask your Dr if you can try Evening Primrose.. And just a normal daily dose. More is NOT better. Good luck :-)

My GI doc specifically told me that my use of Ibuprofen was most likely the primary cause of my acid reflux as I do not smoke, drink, or overheat. In fact I'm slender.

About 9 yrs ago, I went through a health crisis that left me with a myriad of symptoms which 4 medical doctors could not explain. I was weak, rapid pulse, could hear my heart beat in my ears, eyes sensitive to light, joint pain, trouble sleeping to name a few.

The reason was finally discovered: I had lost over half of my blood due to daily aspiriin use for sinus headaches for a period of over 20 yrs. I had a blood transfusion and felt like a new person!

I had to undergo a colonoscopy and endoscopy as the doctors wanted to find a bleeding site, which they never did, but 3 days after the endoscopy I suffered my first episode of hearburn at the age of 61. It felt like a heart attack, major pain in my chest, jaw and back. My Dr admitted that I could have sufferred damage from the endoscopy and confirmed my thought as to the cause of the heartburn.

I decided to eliminate all foods that could trigger heartburn, eventually finding out about ACV, a special Amish recipe that included garlic and ginger juices and it helped a lot. I also have been taking licorice root extract, (with the glycerin removed as it can cause high blood pressure). I also take a digestive enzyme. My last episode of heartburn was in January. I feel sorry for anyone who struggles with this sometimes very painful condition but want to encourage everyone to keep seeking a natural cure and don't get discouraged if one thing doesn't work. Keep on keeping on. Blessings to all.

Hi everyone, I am an acid reflux sufferer and ACV with baking soda works like a dream. I think it's really important to keep an eye on what you eat, for instance coffee can cause reflux problems and also greasy, fatty foods. I also take Aloe Vera juice and ginger root capsules.

Yeah, my GI told me that too, they all do, but they are wrong. Gerd is definitely related to NsAIDs, ibuprofen and the others. I think they just want you to keep taking them so you can keep coming back to them to get scoped and your ppi prescriptions. I got my gerd from aspirin that I took for years for a medical condition. My GI told me it wasn't the aspirin, but when I stop the aspirin the gerd gors away completely in a couple of months, when I take aspirin it comes right back. Doctors are not always right, and this is one they are very wrong.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your info and experiences. I have been an avid user of Ibuprofen for years and recently had minor surgery where I was prescribed Tylenol w/codene (sp?). I finished about 3/4 of the prescription and since then, I have been suffering the same symptoms as "Step in Houston" w/random vomitting, choking and coughing in middle of night, lump in my throat and acid reflux or heartburn. Since I am a very healthy person in my 40's, I was concerned this would may become a permanent condition. Now I am convinced that it was from the prescription pain killer and plan to try the ACV and lay off the Ibuprofen for awhile to see if I can get rid of it for good. Thanks again all you posters!

I have been on 20 mg prilosec OTC for 18 months. PRescribed by an ER doctor after a trip to the ER thinking I had a heart attack and it was heartburn. I thought the Prilosec was like an antibiotic and would cure and then one could stop. I had no acid reflex but after 2 months I experienced it I refused to increase my dosage and in light of new report of PPI I am weaning myself off of it. I am now on 10 mg of Omesparsole every other day after 3 weeks of tapering down. Any suggestions. I have the DGL lozenges and will try the vinegar drink plus the honey. PPI have reduced my B 12 and must take supplements so have to get off the PPI. Any suggestions would help. Think twice before starting on PPI when a lesser treatment might work. H2 inhibitors have side effects as well but are more tolerable. Wayne

Link between painkillers and acid reflux. Eight years ago I never had a problem with acid reflux, then I shattered my knee (top of the tibia to be exact.). The doctor prescribed me Norco 10/325mg for about four months (same as Lortab with less Tylenol) after that I had a horrible addiction to pain pills, six years later and I'm snorting six or seven 80mg OxyContin pills a day. Through that whole time I had acid reflux problems, every hour of everyday my throat burned, I drank alkaseltzer constantly and it would help for about an hour then it would come back. Anyway I've been clean for almost a year now and I still have acid reflux problems, I never knew that other people had the same problem after painkillers, but now I'm hoping that one day it will subside. Until then I'm gunna try raw ACV. Thanks for the tip.

RAW Apple cider vinegar

1-2 T vinegar

1/3-1/2 t Baking soda

4-6 oz water

Tall glass for fizz reaction and bang it down to Alkalinize your stomach. Must use RAW Apple Cider Vinegar to make it turn from an acid to an alkaline in your stomach. I spell relief "BURP"

Pure Turmeric with coconut oil. I make a lukewarm drink of Coconut (vanilla flavored)milk with a spoon of coconut oil to melt and 1/2 t turmeric. Mix and sip. If you like curry, this will taste good and comforting. Tummy ache from meds will be all gone.

I have acid reflux for over 20 years. Recently after minor sedated oral surgery it flared terribly. One day for reasons I cannot explain I took a tablespoon of honey.... I don't usually use honey for anything except BBQ. The acid reflux symptoms quit in under 5 minutes. I have been taking 1 tablespoon before and one after main meals for about a week now and no more acid reflux.... As well as I seem to be having much less joint pain. Concidering that I have multiple broken bones and diagnosed with referred sympathetic pain this is huge! Again HUGE! Hope this helps someone.

Hi Irene,

I too had a fundoplication surgery about two months ago and had the same huge hiatal hernia that you describe where my stomach was up into my chest. I do not seem to have the acid reflux anymore and can swallow, thankfully. However, just like you, I have had some very bad days. It's tough to stay positive and have also had a problem with constipation. I now have bleeding hemorrhoids due to the constipation. I'm very healthy, don't smoke, drink, don't eat sugary/white foods and have never had this problem before. I'm going to try the ACV and see if that helps. I am very low on iron, calcium and vit D due to the use of PPI's for over 3 years so I'm trying to increase my levels of those by using blackstrap molasses. I can get lots of anxiety about the operation since I just don't feel right in there. I've had tingling in my feet and legs which has been annoying and unsettling. I have done lots of research on the negative outcomes of the surgery and have found that if the vagus nerve in being pressed on, many of these symptoms can result. I'm hoping that the swelling will go down eventually. Let me know how you're doing and if anything you've found seems to be helping. Keep trying to be positive and support is key!

I have just recently started having somewhat the same symptoms you are experiencing. However, mine does not have the burning sensation at all, mine is pure raw pain at times. The lump in my throat is very uncomfortable and the pain in my chest right around my esophagus can be excrutiating at times. I have arthritis in every joint and I have been taking ibuprophen pm everynight to help me rest since there is no comfortable position. I have just recently started investigating this and was deathly afraid of cancer of the esophagus. Have apt set to see Dr. This has relieved me tremendously, but I sure sympathize with the pain.

Since last November, five months, I have had a non-productive cough that would not go away, mucus in the throat and generally felt 'half a bubble off' all the time. I thought it must be a cold or the flu, maybe strep throat. A friend thought it could be a heart problem.

I avoid doctors, but did go for the first time in four years about three weeks ago. The Doc checked me over and informed me I had acid flux. Not sure if he could tell...I thought he was crazy. Even so, I took the samples of Kapidex. He said to come back in two weeks and if that works we'll get you on something cheaper. Well, I had no intention of getting on anything. I did take the Kapidex for about ten days. Still not believing his diagnosis completely I did a lot of reading on the internet and started several home remedies. Apples and apple cider vinegar seemed to help the most.

About six, seven days ago I chanced upon a connection between Ibuprofen and acid reflux. A follow up search showed a ton of people were developing acid reflux after taking Ibuprofen. One site had nine pages of posts from all kinds of people with the same story.

I had been taking Ibuprofen for a couple years for SI joint pain, 600mg every other night. The anti-inflammatory effect would allow that joint to shift back and it worked as a sleep aide. I knew it could cause stomach problems and was alert for that. Never had even a hint of stomach problem.

With this new info I stopped taking Ibuprofen about a week ago. In the morning I felt lousy and the SI joint was out big time. The following day was worse. Last Monday I got up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. About three that afternoon I began to feel better and I was able to get the SI back in place. Tuesday I felt like a new person. My guess is I have just gone through withdrawal. The acid reflux is nearly gone. I just hope there is no permanent damage.

Here's the point of this story: Maybe I didn't read the label well enough. I had no idea Ibuprofen use could result in acid reflux. I never had 'stomach upset' problems and I don't recall seeing 'heartburn' listed though now I see it is listed last as a side effect. Should have been listed first! Even if I had known that, I didn't know that a dry cough and mucus with no fever are symptoms of acid reflux. The truth is in many cases, maybe most, the first side effect that manifests is heartburn. Apparently there are a large number of people in the same boat. I thought Ibuprofen was a God send...actually it's dangerous stuff to be taking. I did it on my own, but in many cases a doctor prescribes that much or more.

I wish someone had told me to watch out for a cough and mucus because that is acid reflux and acid reflux is often the first nasty side effect you will notice from over use of Ibuprofen. And you will be going through withdrawal after long time use when you quit. Or maybe 'do not take for more than a week or two, even if a doctor tells you it's ok'. It's not ok.

Had a Nissen Fundoplication in Feb. 2010 and it seems to almost be the answer to a GERD nightmare. Had a sliding hiatal hernia that had started causing damage to my escophagus and 3 doctors said it would lead to cancer. No brainer to have the surgery. Only drawback is that my mouth after a week or so after surgery began to feel like it was hit with a blow torch. Understand the acid can now just slide right up into the mouth and, if not controlled, could cause damage to one's teeth. As for ibuprofen which is so often mentioned, I can't take it as it causes photo-synthetic reaction to sunlight.

When I was 12-15 years old, I was prescribed ibuprofen for what was diagnosed as "rheumatoid arthritis" from overuse of my shoulders. I was actually told by my doctor that it would "fix" it. Being a kid, I didn't know any better and just swallowed pill after pill per the instructions of the doctor. I was given prescriptions for 800 mg Ibuprofen to be taken twice daily. I was provided no advice on therapy and no other instructions other than to take it with food if it was bothering my stomach.

At age 18, I began continuous reflux. Despite following the general template for advice that GI doctors provide, I showed NO improvement.

I also have tried apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, and digestive enzymes with no success.

I began weaning myself off proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for the past year but I still have to take a 20 mg dose every 3rd day.

Now there is actual clinical data that supports D.O. theories of PPI side effects. PPI causes dependency so I'm now weaning off with Ranitidine 75-150 mg a day to extend the period of PPI intake intervals.

Just FYI for the people who have never heard of this, but aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminofen, etc, even willow bark extract, can cause a rebound effect. That is, when you take a pain killer for a headache, when it wears off you get, surprize...a headache!, especially if you take a pain killer often.

I have had a lump in my throat for about 4 months now and have some discomfort at my sternum (where the sphincter is in your stomach). I have been taking many brands of medications for reflux and nothing helped. I am a healthy, active, slim individual in her 40's and in the past could eat anything including spicy foods. But for the past 4 months nothing would work until I started reading all of your recommedations for Apple Cider Vinegar. I thought it was a crazy idea but at this point I wanted to try anything to make this discomfort go away. And to my surprise this is the only thing that helped. Started helping the first day. Took two teaspoons of ACV in a glass of water 3 times a day. And now I read about the connection of Acid reflux to ibuprofen. I have been taking ibuprofen for migraines and sinus headaches for over 15 years now. Usually every other month. That is the only medication that works for my headache. Very scary thought that this may be the cause of my symptoms. It seems my symptoms and use of ibuprofen sounds like the rest of you. I will now look into other medications for my migraines.

I felt as if I was reading this about myself. I have been fighting pneumonia for over a month now and have been to the hospital a few times with chest pains, sore throat, trouble breathing, and a feeling of tightness in my chest.

I have been taking several antibiotics for my bacterial infection and this is when all the trouble started. I definitely felt there was a link in the drugs and what was causing all the other symptoms.

Thank you for letting me know I am not alone in this Acid reflux nightmare.

have you tried salt gargle I had lump in my throat for a long time I gargled with salt and it was cured in days

Hello Lisa, Your suspicion of ibuprofen causing your stomach upset is probably right for it is an NSAID and the whole family of them are notarious for causing stomach problems ranging from acid regurg to outright bleeding peptic ulcers. It may sound strange but cayenne pepper will probably be kinder to your stomach than the prescribed medicine that you said isn't helping much.

For future reference, MSM also has an anti-inflammatory action but without the side effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also a natural substance found in our bodies, but the NSAIDS aren't.

IMO why pain-killers make you have gastric problems may be because they delay digestion and then the food sits in your stomach longer and may even start to rot and give off gas, acids, etc. before it gets digested.

I had a very similar experience. I have NEVER had any stomach/acid reflux problems. No matter what I ate. A month ago I had some body pains so started taking ibuprofin (over the suggested limite, I took 8 in one day the second day I was taking them). I also mixed it with Vikoden. Well, I developed irratated stomach lining (not an ulcer yet) and have had acid reflux now for about 3 weeks. I dont know if it well ever go away.

For clarification, I was only on ibuprofin for 2 days and only mixed them with 1 pill of Vikoden twice. I stopped all medication after the stomack issues.

Symptoms include:
Coughing
Feeling of something in the back of my throat
Waking up at night choking
Random vomiting

Steps Taken:
Elevated bed, mattress and multiple pillows
Sleep on left side (this REALLY helps)
Take Whole leaf aloe
Eat last meal 4 hours or more before bedtime

Hello Christine,

Most all the NSAIDS from aspirin on can cause acid reflux and worse problems such as bleeding PUD (peptic ulcer disease) causing anemia. I think your back problems will probably fare better painwise as well as acid regurge wise if you replace that NSAID with MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). I think you will find few to no adverse reactions to it also.

I am responding to Christine from Colorado. I had very bad reflux which even caused asthma for yrs. It was due mostly to a hiatal hernia which was very large. Even though I've fallen many times in my life, I never broke a bone till last summer. Since then I broke my left wrist twice in 6 mo. and found out it was the result of taking Nexium and other PPIs for yrs. It keeps your body from absorbing calcium and other important minerals , so I decided to have surgery. I researched and found the "best" surgeon on the East Coast in Ocala, Fla. and had several procedures done at the same time. A new surgery called EsophyX where they put a special instrument down into the esophagus to make a new valve; and then I had a laparoscopic procedure called Nissen fundoplication. My doctor does a loose wrap so that you can burp and pass gas (one of the negatives of the older versions of the Nissen. My hiatal hernia was so large that half my stomach was protruding into my chest, pressing on the lungs, therefore the asthma and breathing problems I had. Well, it's 8 wks. post surgery--it's a long recovery--the surgery itself is not too painful afterwards. It's just the 6 wk. semi-liquid and soft food diet (good for losing weight) and I still had lots of burping and gas and some burning. Last week, I started eating some normal foods like salmon and mashed potatoes and salad and felt great for a week or so; I assumed I was healing, but I've had a relaps e the last 4 days and have that annoying gas and burning feeling and constipation (which has been a problem since surgery). I would say this could be a solution, but I am not going to recommend it at this time. I do NOT take Nexium or PPIs any more though, but do have to take gas pills and an over-the-counter pepsid once or twice a day on the bad days. I will never take those prescription pills again.

I will give periodic updates on my progress. I do understand from reading blogs on the type of surgeries I had that it could take at least 6 months to feel better. There are ups and downs, so when I'm in the down period, I naturally feel that maybe this isn't working. I'm trying to be positive though. I take every digestive enzyme and probiotics on the market, baking soda, DGL licorice and nothing seems to help this gas, and hence the burning. Any other remedies out there? I'm tired of spending so much money and not getting help. Thanks, Irene

I am just now finding out that I have acid reflux. I shattered 3 neck vertabrae and ruptured a disk in the thoracic area of my back. I was prescribed Lortab and 800mg Ibuprofin. I started feeling this constant urge to have to swallow about 2 yrs ago and felt like everytime I took my pills, it would get stuck in my throat. I was just diagnosed yesterday. Do you have any advice for me? Thank You.

Hey, if you want my opinion, and want to see what others have said too, look up the wonders of molasses on this site. It seems to be helping lots of people including myself with very painful menstral cramps. (1-2 T. full a day is what I've read.) Much as I'm sure the birth control pills would probably work, they too are a drug! They mess with the delacate hormone balance and tend to cause estrogen dominance, leading to mood and other physical problems. Not to mention, if you're like me and want more "blessings from above", that is a really bad suggestion. No offense to the person who said it, but it just may not be for everyone. . .

I've been doing the same as you and even taking Advil for headaches etc (to the point it was pretty much everyday). Then all this stuff started and no more. Anyhow, for cramps I got on birth control last year (nuvaring to be exact) and I LOVE IT! No cramps!

Hi Ross from Vancouver. Please be aware that there is lots of controversy with prolonged use of Tyelnol (acetaminophen) even at recommended levels. Too much tylenol destroys the liver. It is also recommended that you never take it on an empty stomach. Why are you taking all these pain medicines for such a long period? If it's joint pain or post-traumatic arthritis type pain, consider MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) instead. One fellow I got started taking it for post fracture/repair pain liked the way it worked so well that he gave it out for Xmas presents that year. It is a whole lot safer than NSAIDS or tylenol.

I used Ibuprofin for at least 20 years ( Ate them like candy.Thought they were like crack for pain)Then I developed Reflux.Tried everything. Until I stopped taking any NSAIDS there was no respite.What has worked for me is boiled ginger root tea, strained and kept cool,after a meal.(3oz) This has really helped me and the reflux is now barely noticable.I now use tramadol and Tylenol for pain. ( I have diabetic neropathy (sp?) so I need some relief fror that). No connection with those painkillers, but definitely with Ibuprofin.

Up until two months ago, I had never experienced acid reflux. I've spent almost 50 years eating almost nothing but chocolate, citrus and several cans of diet coke a day.I then developed a sudden onset of acid reflux attacks -- to the point that my throat was closing up, causing me real terror for about 48 hours as I struggled to breathe. I am writing to relate what I think may have caused the problem (which I now seem to have on a regular basis but less severely).

I had minor cosmetic surgery that involved removing some of the "matrix fat" in my lower abdominal area. To put me to sleep for the surgery, I was given one Benedryl tablet. After the surgery, I had acid reflux -- although it remained mild and went away in a couple of weeks. I attributed the problem to the one Benedryl tablet. After the acid reflux went away, I thought maybe the Benedryl had been falsely accused. So I took a tablet to sleep one night, and the next day was fine. That night I took another Benedryl, and I had acid reflux the next day.

I stopped the Benedryl and was fine in about a week. I then had further cosmetic surgery and more matrix fat was removed from my abdomen. I took just one more Benedryl tablet for this surgery. The next day my throat was closing up and I've had daily acid reflux for 3 weeks now.

I am sure the Benedryl is part of the problem. I may also have been exposed to some bacterial infection in the doctor's office where both surgeries were performed under not overly sterile conditions (but then I've had plenty of surgeries in other doctors' offices with no problem re it not being very sterile). I'm just saying its possible I was exposed to some acid reflux causing bacteria in this doctor's office. It's also possible that the removal of the matrix fat itself somehow removed some sort of protective hormone in this fat -- just a theory.

I've also noticed that eating Flan seems to badly trigger the acid reflux (although I ate the same Flan constantly up until I took the Benedryl for the first time without a problem).

I have been using ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) for acid reflux for over 2 years. I started having reflux after I had a sore foot and was prescribed 600 mg of Ibuprofin 3 x daily. prior to that time I could eat anything. After a couple of weeks of the large dose of Ibuprofin I could not eat anything without severe Reflux. After using antacids for a long time I tried 2 TBS. per 8oz ACV to Water 1/2 hour prior to eating. It worked better than all of the antacids to releive the symptoms and the reflux slowly went away.

All of a sudden, I found myself taking Mylanta 4 or 5 times a day. Before this, I was taking Tums which did not seem to help after awhile. I was getting heartburn day and night, no matter what I ate. It progressively got worse over a 3-month period. I said to myself, "it is time to visit the doctor." Before doing so, I went onto the web and looked up natural remedies for acid reflux. I found your website: Earth Clinic. I tried _______'s apple cider vinegar 3 times a day with a 1/3 glass of apple juice and a little water. The first time I took this combination (in the morning), I felt lousy. Nothing hurt; I just didn't't feel good for 15-20 minutes. Then, I felt great. This "bad feeling" happened again and again, each time for a shorter period, and eventually not at all. (This lasted about 4 days.) The first week I did a lot of belching. I am still taking the apple cider vinegar (about 3 - 4 weeks) and will continue to do so because last year, after a first time attack of asthmatic bronchitis, I came down with laryngitis. For one year, my voice has been hoarse, sometimes with a hoarse -type cough at night when I'm lying down. The hoarseness now seems to be going away, very slowly, and the cough is almost gone. After a more thorough reading of your website, there were some comments on taking ibuprofen. About a year ago, I started taking Advil (at night - 4 to 5 times a week) for leg pains which was probably from exercising (avid exerciser). A few months later (as best as I can remember) I started to get heartburn on and off. I have not taken Advil in approximately one month and do not intend to after what I read on your website. Remarkably, I am not getting the leg pains since I started taking the apple cider vinegar. Thank you for your informative website. I hope this information may help.

All of a sudden this past week I have been waking up in the night with bad acid reflux. I have rarely ever experienced this in my 25 years of life. I decided to look online for some natural remedies and I came across this site with a message from someone who had a similar situation and attributed it to ibuprofen. I also started taking ibuprofen this week to relieve menstrual cramps and think this must be the cause of my acid reflux! I will try the apple cider vinegar and see what happens! Thanks!

i was taking aspirin because i have a family history of heart disease and my sister who is a nurse suggested it to me. My acid reflux occurred two months later for the 1st time. i stopped the aspirin and now i am waiting patiently for it to rectify itself.

I am just starting to try Apple Cider Vinegar and pickles for my acid reflux. My husband and I were both diagnosed about a year ago, and have been on various medications, Prilosec being the one we have gravitated to. We were led to believe that being on the Prilosec for short term would heal our acid reflux, but every time we try to get off, it flares up almost immediately. My husband is a carpenter, so Ibuprofen has been a constant means of relief for him. I have had horrible menstrual cramps in the past and was told by my doctor that I could take 4 ibuprofen at a time during those times. We both believe that ibuprofen was the cause of our acid reflux problem. I am very hopeful that by using vinegar, pickles, and pickle juice that we can wean ourselves off of the Prilosec.

I took Ibuprofen every morning for a year or more and started having stomach problems and I still do til this day. I am struggling with my diet and can't hardly eat alot of things. I did buy the apple cider vinegar but didn't continue because I thought it would make the acid worse. I went to the doctor and all they told me was to take Zantac twice a day to no end. I quit taking it because I believe there is an answer. If you have any extra advice let me know.

I've been taking a number of prescription meds including aspirin for years for high blood pressure and under- active thyroid. The latter is the result of radium treatment for over-active thyroid and I believe agreeing to that treatment is the biggest mistake I've ever made! Last year, in addition to all the other medication, I was prescribed anti-inflammatories and pain-killers after I suddenly developed osteoarthritis(?) in my lower spine and knees and, almost immediately, I had crippling indigestion and reflux which prevented me from sleeping. I became afraid too eat and The medication which was then prescribed to counter the effects of the anti-inflammatories and aspirin caused dreadful insomnia so sleeping became an even greater problem. I stopped taking the anti-inflammatories and was soon unable to walk despite spending a fortune on physiotherapy, osteopathy and acupuncture . Eventually, I returned to the anti-inflammatories because they took the edge off the pain in my knees and back and I was immediately back to square one with reflux etc

After reading your website, I realized why I have suffered for a year with this condition. For the last 3 years I was taking a combination of Ibuprofen and tylenol for chronic sinus pain, and I was working a very active healthcare job... so I needed to be pain free. After many over the counter remedies, I came upon the ACV in a health food store and it has subsided the acid/ulcer problem along with the sinus pressure and pain!I never would have believed it!!!