If you ever get acid indigestion, don't take Nexium and don't take tums either.
@lookatdesktop (27134)
Dallas, Texas
July 5, 2016 10:12pm CST
I know from experience that acid indigestion is triggered mainly by stress and thus stress eating. The two work in tandem. The first thing you realize when you are stressed is you develop a sudden urge for carbs.
You then reach for the donuts or the pizza or the chips and soda.
Then you sit and watch the evening news and if that doesn't do enough to give you some degree of stress or boredom, then you will tend to eat late and suddenly find that your stomach is full of GERD acidity. No need to panic. Don't reach for the Tums because they only last a few minutes. The real problem is thinking a Nexium will do the job and that just ain't gonna happen. The reason is Nexium is a Proton Pump Inhibitor, that reduces the amount of production of stomach acid but takes several hours to work and thus will not work as fast as what I am about to tell you.
The solution in my opinion and from experience is, don't eat when you are nervous and become a nervous nibbler like me. Instead, make your last meal before 5 or 6 PM then if you get a sudden attack of acid indigestion, take a half teaspoon of Baking Soda in a half glass, about 4 oz of cold water, stir well and drink it down and sit up a few minutes until the feeling of burning goes away.
This is a good thing in a pinch but the real problem has to be attacked at the roots which means changing your eating habits and such. Don't sweat the small stuff, just take a half glass of soda water and you'll be good to go.
37 people like this
36 responses
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
In your case, there may be an issue of lactose intolerance or allergies to dairy. I know that it is said that one should not drink milk to stave off acid indigestion because in many cases the milk exacerbates the acidity making matters worse. Even drinking ice cold water tends to float the acid upwards into the esophagus causing it to burn up in that area more.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
If pie is the problem maybe a change from eating one kind of pie or another or eating it in the middle of the day instead may prevent this kind of reaction in the stomach. I have heard that chocolate can be the cause of many a person's bout of acid indigestion and that is why many people pass on chocolate pie and prefer to have sweet potato pie instead.
3 people like this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
6 Jul 16
@lookatdesktop i think its the pie crusts - i have told him not to eat pies anymore, but he insists
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
@enlightenedpsych2 I like aluminum as a foil to put on the bottom of the grill. lol Yes, you'd be quite surprised to realize just how often people don't read the fine print on the labels. The reason it is fine print is in hoping nobody will read the information and thus remain unfortunate victims of corporate greed and mass marketing gimmicks.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
6 Jul 16
Another sure cure @lookatdesktop is Apple Cider Vinegar, water and honey. Most acid indigestion is caused by not enough acid in the stomach and when food is ingested (and not chewed well enough), the food hits the minimal acid and splooshes it up the esophagus. A tablespoon of the vinegar in a cup of water with a squirt of honey; stir and drink. It can be done before a meal, during a meal, after a meal and/or at bedtime.
4 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
7 Jul 16
@Genipher What ever works best for you is best for you.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
6 Jul 16
My grandmother used that old remedy and passed it on to her children. I use it occasionally. Should do it more often. I stopped taking Omeprazole. Studies found it may cause dementia. No way do I want to walk that path. I took generic antacids, but can't take the ones made with magnesium. I had kidney stones that were made of magnesium. Was told to stay away from it.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
6 Jul 16
@lookatdesktop I haven't had a problem since they were removed. They were really bad. The nurse said I had stone kidneys.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
9 Jul 16
@ElusiveButterfly I think you got that backwards. lol
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Jul 16
@lookatdesktop Nope, my kidneys were loaded with stones. The urologist said the stones had been building up for years.
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (31968)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
6 Jul 16
I take Nexium 40mg prescription by the doctor and love it. Helps me daily
2 people like this
@carebear29 (31968)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
11 Jul 16
@lookatdesktop I take it as needed. I try to skip a few days if I can. Thanks for the heads up though.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
11 Jul 16
It does help if used only as prescribed but taken every day the rest of one's life only masks the real problem, the possibility of an esophagus erosion.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
11 Jul 16
@carebear29 I gave up drinking years ago and reduced sugar in my diet. These two restrictions in my daily diet resulted in permanent weight loss and eventual reduction of my GERD symptoms but stress has always been an issue and I battle it daily.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51969)
• Philippines
6 Jul 16
I did feel funny last night, a headache actually but probably because i was sweating like a pig and feeling cold from the fans
3 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
If you have headaches at night from heat and being in the path of fans maybe it's the fact that you are just plain too uncomfortable and the noise the fan makes could prevent you from getting quality sleep as too the heat and sweat. You may do well to take a cold shower or bath right before bed time but do not stand in front of the fan to cool off as this can cause in some cases chills. I take 2 Tylenol tablets for a bad heacache. The generic name for Tylenol is Acetaminophen. If you have a tendency to have stomach acid at times and take aspirin instead the aspirin may irritate the stomach or the esophagus as well so you should only take aspirin along with a light meal.
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
7 Jul 16
@lookatdesktop America's medical/pharmaceutical complex has a vested interest in treating us for our ills, not in curing us of them.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
9 Jul 16
@DWDavis But still we take and take and take more.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471496)
• Switzerland
6 Jul 16
Thank you @enlightenedpsych2 for sharing. Soda water is the only thing I always drink during the day, including lunch and dinner. We eat a lot later in Europe, but we eat very light in the evening to avoid stomach problems.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jul 16
Tums usually works for me on the rare occasion that I have heartburn. Since I am not a snacker and never drink soda, that is not a cause for me. We never eat dinner before 7 PM, so I guess I am lucky.
3 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
If you allow yourself a few hours before going to bed at night then you will likely have given the food a chance to fully digest. Eating late right at bedtime and lying down right after will increase anyone's chances at heartburn. Some of us have a weak esophagus that tends to allow stomach acids to go up from the upper part of the stomach because when you lay down and are relaxed so too is the esophagus, relaxed, and I heard recently that drinking coffee sometimes actually causes a reflux condition but am not also sure how the caffeine stimulates the production of stomach acids. There is much to learn about the human digestive system.
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
I don't recommend taking anti acids of any kind for long periods, it only masks a more serious health related condition that suggests immediate attention by a skilled physician.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
Perhaps the FDA and the CDC are more inclined to the truth. lol
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
6 Jul 16
@lookatdesktop I've never had indigestion or taken any tablets of any kind so I guess I don't really need to worry.
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@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
@boiboing You are extremely fortunate not to have to.
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
In your case it would be different but then you could just make sure you do not go to sleep for at least 3 hours. In my case, I go to bed around 10 PM so I should not eat past 6 PM which is roughtly 4 hours before bedtime. It is all dependent on your personal time frame and work schedule.
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
6 Jul 16
I seldom has problem with this, but it's really good to know for future use. Thanks for sharing.
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
If you don't have acid reflux, indigestion or an ulcer you are very lucky and this shows how well you manage your lifestyle. If you could write an article on how you keep healthy from good eating habits and exercise I bet people would read it.
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
6 Jul 16
Since my weight loss surgery ... I have to take Prilosec at least one year, now. This prevents acid reflux. A lot of people take it ... I think one has to be careful when they take baking soda if taken often. I've done that in the past, and it works.
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
Not often, only in an emergency. Too much soda can raise blood pressure of course.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
6 Jul 16
A glass half full of cold milk works for me.....
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
For a mild case indeed this will work. For some people the exact opposite is true. I guess it all depends on one's own body chemistry you know what I mean?
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
6 Jul 16
I like the idea of using baking soda against acidic stomach. I always suffer it, so I will try your suggestion.
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 16
Do not take it more than one time in about 12 hours. You know that introducing the sodium into your body will eventually need to be eliminated so have water to drink throughout the day instead of coffee or tea or cola which exacerbate or rather, make worse the condition of excess stomach acid and the pain it causes. If you have a kidney condition or swelling in the feet or legs from heart disease or hypertension medications that cause swelling it should be advised that you talk to your doctor or a pharmacist before trying any new regimen even something as simple as baking soda and water for stomach acid. In my wife's case, she has congestive heart failure and was told by her doctor it was best for her to take a dose of soda water for heartburn aka acid reflux, when needed and that it was recommended she discontinue taking Nexium which is a Proton Pump Inhibitor.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
7 Jul 16
@acelawrites Well I never chewed on an oregano leaf but I do like celery a lot. I prefer to dip celery in ranch dressing and munch a bunch on that.
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
7 Jul 16
@lookatdesktop you know I have found the best remedy for hyperacidity: I just chew a leaf of oregano or a celery stick and a glass of water and it's gone!
1 person likes this
