COPD and Hiccups

[ddavid]

I am a former smoker, 67 years old, have COPD and recently (2 or 3 mo.) heartburn and hiccups. Can anybody suggest an effective treatment. Thanks!

DDavid

[Swerv]

Heartburn is quite common with copd patients, i used to suffer terribly from it. I now avoid all foods which could give me heartburn, but keep a bottle of gavescon in the fridge...just in case. Hiccups? No idea, but a glass of water with your meal should help.

Merv

[Azure_Sky]

I take two Rennies, most effective remedy I have found.

[janesilver in reply to Azure_Sky]

What are Rennies?

[Azure_Sky in reply to janesilver]

They are antacid tablets sold in the UK. Mostly I rely om Lansoprazole which is prescribed by my doctor. Sometimes if I am out and get heartburn, I take a Rennies, which I keep in my bag. They must not be taken within a couple of hours of taking Lansoprazole.

[kydam]

Im glad to read that heartburn is a common thing with copd. i was thinking of mentioning it to the doc.is it the same if you have asthma?

[O2Trees]

Yes you should definitely mention it to your gp. It sounds like acid reflux, which is often dismissed as just a bit of heartburn and as people say, very common with copd. What can happen is that continual exposure of your oesophagus to acid can change its cell tissue to make it similar to stomach lining. These changes are called Barretts Oesophagus and over time can progress to cancer though the percentage is low. I stress the low percentage, but no-one wants to be one of them! I have barretts and have an endoscopy every two years to check.

Your gp may want to put you on medication for it or just keep an eye on your symptoms.

Re asthma, it is thought that about 10% of asthma diagnoses are really due to acid reflux, which can breach the upper oesophageal valve and get into the windpipe and sometimes get as far as the tops of the lungs causing irritation.

[Bumley]

I have had reflux for some years now. Started to get treatment for it after a bypass with Proton Pump Inhibitors - Omeprazole at first and now Lansoprazole. Recently been sent to ENT where they doubled my dose because the acid had attacked my throat causing hoarseness and loss of voice. Now on a regular visit for camera down the throat.

[Klc1955]

1 tbsp oragnic apple cider vinegar in 6 -8 oz water works great for both