Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Looking for help dealing with Heartburn

Hello anyone who happens to be around!

I have heartburn almost daily for which I take Tums.

I want to know if Tums has starch in it and would you happen to have other suggestions for stopping heartburn?

I know if I drink a pop or something with fizz in it, a burp will happen and the heartburn could possibly be stopped.

But I do not want to have to drink pop to stop heartburn as I do not need to encourage sugar diabetes. (I am not diabetic)

I am open to hearing your thoughts and suggestions.
Thank you for reading my post.

Hi Magician,

I take Omeprazole DR (Prilosec) 20mg daily to limit my stomach acid which helps me a lot so I don’t need as much antacids anymore. My doctor prescribed it for me but it can be purchased without prescriptions too. I also prefer to use Mylanta (liquid form) because it is not starchy and I take that once every 2 weeks or so. I do pretty good with this combo, but I have to be careful when it comes to certain foods that trigger GERD, or else I am back to using antacids daily. We also keep Pepto Bismol (liquid form) and that is not starchy too, but I don’t use it unless I have to.

We still keep Tums (or Rolaids) handy but I rarely need to use them anymore. I consider them as usually starchy. I say usually because ‘Tums Smoothies’ seems to have both starchy and unstarchy versions. I have not checked either of them with iodine though.

Tums Smoothies (probably unstarchy)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tums-Smo...-Antacid-Chewable-Tablets-60-Ct/10317002

Tums Smoothies (possibly starchy ingredients like maltodextrin)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/TUMS-Ant...t-for-Heartburn-Relief-12-count/46108496

PS: I never noticed trouble with maltodextrin but I heard other people have.

Hope this helps,
James

Thank you so very much, James, for your informative reply.
You have given me a lot to think about.

Personally I would really prefer not to have to use TUMS as often. I heard somewhere it can overwhelm any meds already taken. But still at times my indigestion is very uncomfortable and after I take a couple TUMS it settles down.

But I find Rolaids does not work as quick as fast plus I have false teeth and they are rather hard.

I have never tried Nexum and Pepto Bismul does work well when my lactose intolerance gets the best of me.

How do you like the new look of KickAS? I really wish more KickAS folks would come back.

Angie

Hi Angie,
I am sorry I am so late. I have problems with anxiety letting me communicate. I also wanted to go to the store to get more unstarchy Tums so I can check them myself.

I was able to iodine test Tums Smoothies (without starch or maltodextrin) and it was not starchy after 15 minutes.

I also tested an Equate brand of antacid comparable to Tums Ultra Strength (with maltodextrin) and it turned black instantly.

Tums appears to be safe as long as it does not say starch or maltodextrin.

I didn’t notice the new look of KickAS until you mentioned it. Thanks for letting me know. I use assistive settings to help me read so I missed it. I appreciate the secure login too.

I hope your heartburn heartburn gets better.

Take care,
James

Hi Angie, you might find something like lansoprazole will help with that. When I was getting heartburn and ulcers from meds, my GI specialist prescribed it for me to help heal things. My sweetheart also takes them, as he has a history of acid reflux.

If you want to try something herbal, take a look at a peppermint dandelion tea. We can get one here that is really good and helps a great deal when things start getting unsettled.

I hope you can find something.

Light and love.

Hi Angie, I suffered very badly form heartburn for years - I wasn't able to drink alcohol, tea, coffee, soda, even fruit juice, for a period of several years in the mid 2010's, along with a lot of pain, disrupted sleep, and a lot of other restrictions.

I discovered something that helped me enormously a few years ago - and I am now mostly healed and symptom free. I'm able to drink a bit of alcohol, and plenty of tea and coffee normally again, and no longer wake up with a sore stomach / esophagus each morning, it changed my life.

Drinking Bone broth before bed is what helped heal me - I drink a cup of it each night. I make it with an instant pot once every 10 days or so, keep it in the fridge, and warm it up before drinking it.

I've found beef bones are the best. Beef marrow bones work fine but the best are bone with lots of connective / joint tissue around them. All I do is roast them in the oven them until they're light / medium brown (but not black / burned), put them in the instant pot with water half an inch above the bones, along with a splash of white vinegar. I put iton "High" twice for 240 minutes. This could also just be done in a slow cooker, it just takes a bit longer. Afterwards I strain the liquid out and add half a teaspoon of salt for flavour. The broth will turn into a solid jelly in the fridge and you'll be able to take the top layer of hardened fat off without any issues.

I know it sounds odd but consider giving it a try It made a huge difference in my life and I started feeling better within a few days.

All the best,
Mark

Mark, that's really interesting. I've been wondering about bone broth. Thanks!

Love and light.