Antacid abuse? When is it too much?

Lori,

As you must know, our exchange has meant a lot to me. Will it be all smooth sailing from here on, who's to say; at the moment, though, I couldn't be more pleased with how much better I feel today than I did only a few weeks ago. I too would like our conversation to continue.

If you like, my "civilian" email address send me a private message. Don't be misled by the ".edu," I'm not a college prof. I worked for going on twenty years for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, which is a program of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. That's why the ".edu." I'm retired now, however, making do on a modest pension, while supplementing this income by writing (and a little acting, when I'm offered a juicy role!).

Otherwise, I'm happy as a homebody. I have a life partner (a poet); she has a home of her own two miles from where I live. We have been thinking about combining households, yet protecting hers and my much-needed solitude. A challenge!

I'll stop at this point. I fear I'm at the threshold of Too Much Information. 🙂 I'll close, hoping also that somehow we continue our conversation

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

Hi Ray, please note that I removed your personal email address from your message above. We recommend not posting personal contact information in the public forum. You can use the secure private message function to exchange contact information with another member.

Hi, Colleen

I should have known that. My apologies. I'm sorry that you had to step in.

Best wishes,
Ray (@ray666)

Hey Ray, it’s me Brit. Was just checking in on your OTC gastrointestinal medication abuse. (Tums). I’m curious as to any tips you may have that got you through your time of abuse. Hope you are well and you have overcome your addiction. Hope to hear back from you soon. ——best regards, Brit

OTC antacids if overused may cause side effects: https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-9574/tums-oral/details

Have you tried a low acid, whole food diet yet?

Hi, Brit (@britnib), @baguette,

I’m glad you’ve chimed in just when you did! I’m embarrassed to say that recently I’ve fallen off the no-antacids wagon. I can hardly blame that on the holidays. I can only blame it on my slipshod willpower. Only this morning, taking myself to task for gobbling last evening’s Tums, I vowed (once more!) to quit. Finding your messages just now only adds to my resolve. If you don’t think I’ll bore you, I’ll send you (a post here) an occasional progress report. Maybe this time, eh? 🙂

Happy New Year!
Ray (@ray666)

Oh I. have slipped many a time on my low acid diet! It is hard to maintain 100 percent discipline whether diet or Tums. There is a science behind "slipshod willpower" so don't beat yourself up over it. Recognize what you did wrong and start over again. For convenience sake I have been eating processed food lately, like hummus, and most of this stuff has acid in it as a preservative, which does a number on my LPR symptoms. I need to empty the fridge and cupboards of these foods and start again. Meanwhile, I use Gaviscon Advance, the UK version, more than antacid tablets. It's more expensive but it coats my throat/esophagus and plugs up the stomach to keep the acid in its place. I am using it less and less, which is progress. Feel free to update on this thread whether you need a boost or want to share good news. Best wishes for the New Year!

Thanks for getting back to me! The holidays have definitely made it more difficult to ditch the antacids. It’s an everyday struggle that I’m trying to overcome. Any updates from you would never bore me! If anything they would be appreciated. Hope we can keep in contact. Via this forum or possibly email. Let me know what works best for you. 🙂

Happy New Year Ray!!
—— Brit

one more tip that works for me, and maybe for you. Chewing sugarless gum. I don't know if it's the additional saliva or if it relaxes the esophagus, but it helps me reduce reflux attacks and during exercise it helps me reduce or eliminate chest pains.

Ah, another excellent suggestion! Thank you. I'll try it. I'm collecting suggestions, eager to try them all. Have a wonderful day today! I hope to, too. ––Ray