Acid Reflux anyone..??

[WindSheer]

Hi all,

I have suffered with acid reflux for over a year now and have been taking Lansoprazole every day.

Any ideas if this is going to affect my medical when it comes up. Am just taking the class 2 for now...class 1 will follow.

Cheers!!

[Niceman]

Windsheer,
You would be surprised how many of us have this sort of problem and as far as I know nothing is being done in the way of research. I put it down to poor diet, unsociable hours and on-going low grade stress driving to work! Also possibly spending long periods at partial pressure (I have been flying for just over 25 years).
I have been on Omeprazole for about 2 years no problem with medicals. However, there are other secondary problems with having acid sloshing around where it shouldn't. I am sure your GP is on it, but you should at some time have an endoscopy to make sure that there are no cell changes in the upper digestive tract. Also as a complication, reflux whilst sleeping has caused me polyps on my vocal cords which have just been removed.
Fairly minor Op and again no probs with medicals. Loking back I probably should have done something about reflux earlier.
Just talk it over with your GP/AME.
We will probably find out what is causing it in about 20 yrs!
Best of Luck.:ok:

[First.officer]

Hi Windsheer,

I have suffered with Acid Reflux for many years now, this is now being controlled by medication (Pantoprazole, 40mg) which is a PPI (proton pump inhibitor). This was discussed at the time of my Class 1 initial issue with the AME at Gatwick and presented no problem at all - i totally agree with the previous post about discussing the possibility of gastroscopy with your GP, any cellular change can possibly indicate the start of Barretts Stage 1 but if you are under treatment and regular screening then my understanding is that this should be more than adequate to keep any eye on things.

Hope this is of help !

[WindSheer]

Thanks for the replies guys!!

Am having 'the camera' within the next few months...looking forward to that!!
I didnt think the medication was of concern to the CAA, just wanted to check.

The annoying thing about this condition is that the NHS are quite happy to 'mask' the problem by issuing the medication, rather than looking at the cause. It was only when pressure was applied to my GP did he agree to transfer me to a specialist in due course!! Thank you NHS...:confused:

[Phone Wind]

WindSheer,
I've been on Lansoprazole for this problem for over 5 years now and it's no problem for the medical renewal. In some people it comes with being overweight, so if that's the case with you, dieting and increased exercise may help relieve the symptoms

[tescoapp]

My old boss had it and controlled it for years with drugs.

He got based in germany for a year and the first time he went in to get some more pills he got sent off for some key hole surgery to tighten up the sphincter at the top of his stomach. He never had even been told about the chance of the op in the UK. After that everything was fine.

Silly sod though he knew exactly what was causing it, which was booze and mexican food/ spicy food and some types of fruit. Whenever he started eating raw veggies we knew he was suffering.

[RobertS975]

I am a practicing gastroenterologist (USA). Acid reflux is generally very well controlled with one of the various proton pump inhibitor drugs which may have different brand names on different sides of the Atlantic. Usually once a day therapy suffices, although US/Canadian data shows that about 20% of the patients are taking these drugs twice a day.

There are surgical procedures designed to relieve reflux by tightening the lower espohageal sphincter, but there are many things that one should consider before agreeing to that option. First, if one's condition is indeed controlled with drug therapy alone, I submit that it is foolish to subject yourself to anatomy-altering surgery. Second, as many as half the patients who have the surgical remedy eventually require their medication again anyway. Third, a small percentage of patients who have surgery curse the day they made that decision due to complications or after effects of the procedure.

If you have suffered from reflux for a long period of time, years, than an endoscopic evaluation to rule out Barrett's espohagus would be worthwhile. Barrett's is a condition which predisposes someone to developing a certain type of espohageal cancer. Even if Barrett's is found, the overall risk of developing cancer is low, just that it is much higher than the general population.

[jack19]

There is an article written on how to avoid acid reflux.

http://www.browseme.info/acid_reflux.asp

[verticalhold]

jack19;

Good article. I had a problem with this for about a year and experimented with my diet. Lost about half a stone and stopped drinking coffee after 7:30 at night. Not had a single incident since.

[gingernut]

The annoying thing about this condition is that the NHS are quite happy to 'mask' the problem by issuing the medication, rather than looking at the cause. It was only when pressure was applied to my GP did he agree to transfer me to a specialist in due course!! Thank you NHS...

Sorry your annoyed.

It doesn't actually sound like your GP has treated you that badly- always difficult to say without the full facts.

He has to make a decision based upon your individual case. Hopefully, he has made that decision based upon the story you tell of your symptoms- he should be looking for certain "alarm bells" which would prompt investigation- weight loss, prolonged vomitting , loss of appetite.

If he is satisfied that there is a very low risk of anything sinister going on, then he can go on to treat you "empirically," although I am a little concerned that your symptoms have gone on for a year now.

It's not always poor practice, he's managing the risk. It doesn't sound like he has communicated this to you well.


Referral for immediate investigation isn't always the best of options.

[RobertS975]

Reflux is so common in our society. It is perfectly proper to treat the condition based on symptoms alone without any extra testing. This is empirical treatment. If the symptoms do not respond as expected to the appropriate medication, then further evaluation (a workup) is warranted. This assumes the absence of any "alarm" symptoms or signs: weight loss, anemia, trouble swallowing etc.

If someone has had reflux for years, even successfully treated, then an endoscopic evaluation to look for Barrett's esophagus is probably warranted, depending on your age.

[Niceman]

RobertS975,
Do you think that pilots may be particularly at risk from reflux? I have many friends who are in equally demanding careers; however, it is the aviators (particularly Airline pilots) of my acquaintance who seem to suffer most.
Given the unsociable/erratic hours, controling diet and caffeine intake is not easy at 37000ft at 3.00am local.

[RobertS975]

I do not see why pilots are at increased risk to get reflux per se. One factor that promotes reflux and increases the severity of reflux symptoms to to lay down soon after eating, say within 2 hours. Obviously, many a pilot schedule would have one at the breakfast buffet at the hotel followed by a good long nap.

Many drugs can contribute to reflux... but most of them would not be common in the pilot population. Pilots rarely take strong antipsychotic meds and strong calcium channel blockers for blood pressure. But other meds can also contribute, such as Viagra.

[Niceman]

Thanks for that Doc,
Not sure about the viagra back-hander though!

[RobertS975]

Merely for future reference, of course!

[Jinkster]

My father, uncle and his son suffer this, my granddad suffered this and I'm starting to suffer - the females in the family don't suffer!

Perhaps this could be hereditary also.

Doesn't happen all the time to me, I can't put it down to anything but fruit juice, oats, cereal for breakfast will turn it on, give it a couple of hours of being awake and I can eat anything.

[Loose rivets]

Maybe it's not the type of food, so much as the fact you're starting to devour yourself in the early hours. Given a bit of time vertical, and the gurgling mess gets away from the sore patch.


I've used Cimetidine (Tagamet) for what seems like half my lifetime. I've tried the more modern pills, but the sickness/diarrhea reaction is more than I want to cope with.

It seems this drug also has several beneficial side-effects - ranging from helping to combat viral (specifically flat) warts, male pattern baldness/alopecia and cancer of the gut. It seems our hormones have a lot to answer for, and suppressing them can be to great advantage.

I have no firsthand knowledge of anything but the fear of running out of the stuff. No pills, and 5AM, I'm eating myself.

[VH-MLE]

Hi all,

For probably the last 15-20 years, I very occasionally wake up "choking" i.e. cannot breathe and gasp for possibly 30 seconds or so before the condition clears (but it feels like minutes!). Once it has occurred a number of momths or perhaps a year will go by before it occurs again.

It is very scary at the time but always comes good. I've had sleep tests (for sleep apnoea - which I have to a mild degree), barium swallows but no official diagnosis has ever been made, although I am on reflux medication but itstill occurs from time to time. It is sometimes accompanied by a strong acidic taste but sometimes not. The common factors associated with these episodes are (i) tiredness; (ii) spicy meals; (iii) alcohol but not always (ii) and (iii).

Would love to get a formal diagnosis but haven't to date. I have an endoscopy and colonoscopy in the next 3-4 weeks so will see what the endoscopy reveals (as I have regular colonoscopies)

Cheers.

[sirius3]

Hi
Last year i had couple of attacks. Realised it was due to intense snoring. Lost couple of kgs through exercise. Snorings stopped and the airway was clear. Regulated the dinner diet to fruits and salad only. Strictly NO alcohol at night. Conditions improved immediately.
All the best.

[Simon10]

Your vocal cords spasm (laryngospasm) when being irritated by acid reflux during bedtime. Not dangerous though, it will not kill you as when you faint due to lack of oxygen, the spasm Will end. See an ENT-doc or a anthsiesologist (wrong spellt?)

[gulfairs]

Give all the prescribed remedies away the side effects are worse than the symptom.
The best digestive cure of all for almost all digestive problems, is ALOE VERA
JUICE .
NO SIDE EFFECTS AT ALL.

[pulse1]

ALOE VERA JUICE . NO SIDE EFFECTS AT ALL.

That may be true if you are not already taking other medication, such as TKI's which put the liver under stress.

[VH-MLE]

Hi Simon10,

Thankyou for the diagnosis - I have always worried if the day would come when I couldn't draw in enough air to remain conscious when having one of these episodes.

It's pretty scary at the time but fortunately only usually happens a couple of times a year and always clears - eventually...

Regards.

[Loose rivets]

I know I'm not alone in having sherry trigger the spasm. It certainly gets one's attention.

[veloo maniam]

My wife had it for a long time until she tried xango, the mangosteen juice.
Google xango and see what u can get out it.
My 2 cents.

[VH-MLE]

Hi Loose rivets,

From one perspective it's comforting to know that I'm not alone with this - have never heard of anyone else suffering my symptoms before.

Agree on the sherry - my favourite drink (although I'm trying to give it up).

Cheers.

[White Knight]

I had acid reflux! On Losec daily! Lost 10 kilos - and no reflux and no more tablets:ok: Simple cure!

[Parapunter]

Same here. I have had it for years. My dad had an ulcer, my mum doesn't suffer. I take 75mg of Ranitidine twice a day & still munch my way through 100 Bisodol tablets a month. I had a barium meal in my twenties & it showed nothing wrong. Definitely aggravated by alcohol.

I would gladly take any advice on what has become part of my daily routine.

[gingernut]

Definitely aggravated by alcohol.


You probably don't need our advice pp:}

[moreflaps]

If you are overweight, acid reflux is more common. Try losing weight -there are lots of other benefits to losing weight too.

[Weary]

Sedentary lifestyle - long periods of inactivity - plus sitting upright and eating in that posture, over many years can leave your esophageal sphincter lax. Also, food digests more quickly when you are vertical and moving about, which is exactly what we don't do of course.
I guess it just comes with years of being an airline pilot.

[medagog]

suffering too...i start spending at least one hour for myself. Do yoga, stress relief exercises, meditation daily and get at least 50% cure.

[Rule3]

Ranitidine aka Zantac, Ranid etc was the old treatment pre Omeprazole aka Losec, Omizac etc. It suppresses the acid production in the stomach, and is prescribed to cure, yes cure ulcers. Try it for a couple of days, you will be amazed by the results. I only ever need it if I have a combination of rich food, garlic or chilli and wine.:{ It is available over the counter in many countries.:ok: