At Fib and acid reflux

[mobyfool]

Hi been told to go back on to 1.25 Bisoprolol i have At fib and on friday went to see Gp because of feelings in chest again , the Gp said that i was having eractic heart beats again and to go back on to the drug . I,m on the waiting list to see cardiologist, problem is i do suffer from acid reflux, and sometimes my chest feels dreadful, just wondered if anyone else goes through the same problems and what do they do to ease it, trying to keep to a healthy diet to help but sometimes slip out of it especially when i,m getting stressed out.

[PadThaiNoodles]

I suffer from GERD. I had an endoscope to diagnose and to check for Barrett's oesophagus, which can cause other complications. The endoscope indicated a hiatus hernia (and no Barrett's), so my GP put me on ranitidine twice a day.

Ranitidine has since been withdrawn so I'm now on famotidine.

I was told that I could take lots of antacids containing just calcium carbonate, but warned that I had to be more sparing with those containing magnesium carbonate. I've recently discovered Tums "Chewy Bites", which don't leave as much of a powdery taste in your mouth.

Oh, and I was also advised to raise the top of my bed slightly over the bottom so you're sleeping at a small angle. I found that if I went much over 4" difference I migrated down the bed over night (I toss and turn a lot). But 4" is OK for me and definitely helps with the heartburn.

[mobyfool in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Thanks for that I,ll look into that

[Lowerfield_no_more]

If you are suffering from long term acid reflux which can be caused by a weak valve at the inlet to the stomach or a hiatus hernia there are things you can do to help your situation or better take medication to control it. I have reflux disease and have taken a PPI for 15 years or so and it controls my symptoms. However I also have learned that some trigger food are not good for me. So I suggest you keep a food diary to see if that helps. Things to avoid are foods/drinks including irritants, acidic, and bloating. I also try to avoid eating 3 hours before I go to bed. And posture is also important as in avoid compressing the abdomen, and avoid sleeping on your right side. Finally long term reflux disease, apart from being a nuisance , can cause cells to change as in first Barretts Oesophagus like I have got, or then worse cancer in the oesophagus and or throat so it is important that your doctor works with you to get things under control perhaps by prescribing medication.

[mobyfool in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thanks for that I,ll start a food diary and I,do try not to eat to late in the evening.

[Jalia]

I've taken a PPI - lansoprazole- for many years after Ranitidine proved ineffective.

I've learnt to eat only small meals, slowly, and never late at night. This has proved effective in limiting episodes of AF as well. Many people are unaware that sleeping on your RIGHT side is not good if you suffer from reflux. It needs to be left or centre left position. Drinking fluids too quickly should be avoided, however thirsty you may feel!

I'm sure you must be familiar with good old Gaviscon ! I find the chewable tablets by my bedside are excellent if the reflux ever prevents sleeping.

[mobyfool in reply to Jalia]

Thanks I,ll take notice of this.

[Poppy-Pops]

I have acid reflux was on esomeprazole for years, raised the bed head, I found chocolate was the biggest trigger for me and some fizzy drinks. Since being on clopidogrel I can’t take esomeorazole due to interaction, so now on lansoprazole which is working but esomeprazole is the gold treatment for GERD.

Don’t eat within a couple of hours prior to bed time, avoid tight clothing around the waist and as someone else mentioned keep a food diary. Sleep on your left side also mentioned above.

Gaviscon advance after meals and before bed works well until the PPI is up to the job.

I use to get the worst gastric pain that radiated to my back, which now seems to be under control.

[mobyfool in reply to Poppy-Pops]

Thanks for the advice, I am trying to start sleeping on my left hand side finding it a bit hard keep rolling over to right-side during the night .

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to mobyfool]

Yeah, I gave up on that part. I go to sleep on my left-hand side, but toss and turn all over the place during the night.

[Poppy-Pops]

Me too, I’m still sleeping on my back after a bypass so left side isn’t a choice right now and chocolate consumption is right down so that’s helped with reflux

[mobyfool in reply to Poppy-Pops]

That,s a thing I need to do is cut down on chocs,just ordered an acid reflux pillow see if that helps.