help medico please

[mr. piper]

can someone such as medico tell me what to do about unbelievable heartburn ? could it be an hiatus hernia ? if so does it need surgery?

[AB Editor]

For all medical questions, we strongly advise you to seek professional advice from your doctor or a healthcare professional.  Please do not rely on, or wait for, advice from Answerbank users.

[Chillum]

I aint no medico, but I did have this problem last year. unlike normal heartburn, it didn't go away. Apprently, the most common cause is Acid Reflux, where the valve at he top of the stomach weakens, allowing acids to enter the gullet. In this case symptoms can be worse when in bed or lying down, as gravity does its work. I was told other causes could be a hiatus hernia, as you suggest, or an ulcer. In my case, non of the over-tyhe-counter remedies worked, and the doctor put me on "Volteron" (I think), which is used to treat ulcers. this was bleedin' usless as well. After 3 or 4 months of feeling like I'd a boiled sweet stuck in my gullet, I eventually had an endoscopy, a camera being sent down the throat to see what's going on. Everything was clear in that. The symptoms disappeared of their own accord about another 3 or 4 weeks later, which kind of suggests it may also be linked to anxiety. Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that this is pretty common amongst men and women of my age, (just turned 40), and does often go away by itself. Worth a visit to the doctor, though, especially if it's still there after a couple of weeks.

[Lindy Loo]

Best advice I can offer is go and see your Doctor asap....

S/he is the best person to help you on this. If the problem is a minor one no harm done, on the other hand, if the symptoms relate to something more serious the longer you wait for a proper diagnosis, the worse it gets, and it could prove harmful to your health.

[mr. piper]

thanks for your input. it was nice to hear that others are /have suffered as i. Thing is my doctor is so far away , will not discuss **** on the phone and i am unable to leave my farm for two weeks, the private dude wanted �200 for a visit and i have just maxed out my cards on the tsunami, i really needed to get a pharmacy delivery of something effective, still i will have to sleep like joseph merrick for now. cheers