Constant Indigestion

[Kryptik]

I've been experiencing almost constant indigestion for a couple weeks to a month now. Doesn't hurt, just feels like I'm about to puke (hard to explain, it's like acid's starting to rise up, only no pain), only relieved by belching, then in a couple minutes starts up again. Happens mostly in the early afternoon or at night, when I'm not really thinking bout school/work/whatever and when I'm resting, laying in bed or just sitting on the couch.

Stress has been minimal (for a high school student), diet hasn't been that great but no alcohol, smoking, drugs, soda... most of the big stuff. Been having pizza a lot lately for dinner because I work at a pizza place and that's all I really have access too at night (been meaning to bring something from home, but haven't). Been tired a lot, but have been getting at least 6 hours of sleep every night. I know indigestion is normal, but to have it almost constantly is strange, especially for a 17 year old. I haven't been taking anti-acids or anything lately... zinc once in a while.

I'm just wondering if this might be something I need to worry about, or to have checked out. Has anyone else experienced this? I'd rather not go to the doctor, but better safe than sorry if this is too unusual.

[MasterD]

indigestion is not normal. It will certainly make you tired and affect your ability to concentrate.

it means that your internal organs are overloaded; For the long term a radical shift in diet is needed. First thing you need to do is eat very lightly for a couple of days (the hunger/cramps you feel is not hunger) and probably eliminate all gluten (that means no bread; no pizza).

[Honeywith4bees]

I was having a real hard time with indigestion for awhile too. Stomach pain every day as well as acid indigestion that was bad enough to cause ulcers in my mouth. I went to see my doc who told me to just start taking Zantac every day. Instead I have pretty much given up on eating wheat and started getting acupuncture. The problem for me is now pretty much in control.

Good luck!!

[babuji]

Hey Kryptik, I'd first try tinkering with natural cures before going with other medication.

Try a simple, but effective method of lemon and warm water in the morning. First thing in the morning, take warm water in a glass, and squeeze a quarter to a half lemon in it. Gulp it down. If you have the capacity to take down two glasses, even better.

Nevertheless, what this does, is that it has an alkalizing effect on the body and flushes out excess acidity and toxins. Try it for a day or two and see how your body reacts to it.

Hope that helps.

Just quickly googled a link, in case you want more info:
Lemon Water - Alkalising Superstar

cheers!

[H2Ogrl]

I personally know very little about this subject. But I would recommend if the aboved suggestions don't work maybe try Pepto Bismo and then talk to a doctor. Having it constantly like that doesn't seem like it is good. Have you talked to your parents about it? Maybe they have dealt with this and would have good suggestions too!

[Kryptik]

Thanks for the tips, guys.

Eliminating breads/gluten will be tough... my family is very much into the bread for breakfast/lunch, and I work at pizza hut every night so it's hard to get access to anything else. I can try though, this is getting pretty annoying.

Lemon sounds like a good idea, I'll see if I can get my mom to buy some haha.

But yeah, I'd like to see any alternative methods other than drugs haha.

[Jennihul]

If you eat a starch (bread, pasta, corn, rice, beans) with a protein (meat, milk, cheese, beans) the digestive juices for each of them cancels out the other resulting in non-digestion of the foods you have eaten.


Starch requires an alkaline digestive juice. Protein, an acid. They neutralize each other. The body keeps trying to produce more and more of both to continue the digestive process, and keeps failing. Soon the food kind of rots in your stomach which ideally likes to empty within two or three hours at most. Taking antacids only stalls the process even further and results in nearly zero assimilation of any of the meager nutrients found in the pizza.

A test would be to eat a meat and a non-starchy vegetable like broccoli, carrots, squash, etc.. and see how you feel after doing this test for a few days. Or a salad with grilled chicken, no croutons. No creamy dressing.

If your digestion returns to a more normal state, you have your answer.

It may not be what you want to hear though, if you have no desire to eat the way humans are designed to eat...rather treating your body like a garbage dump and shoving anything down your throat that tastes good instead of is good for you.

It's like saying "I keep smashing my hand with this hammer and I am in constant pain! What should I do???"

Jennifer

[MasterD]

Originally Posted by Kryptik

Eliminating breads/gluten will be tough... my family is very much into the bread for breakfast/lunch, and I work at pizza hut every night so it's hard to get access to anything else. I can try though, this is getting pretty annoying.

That's ridicilous man.

How are you going to look back on your life when you are dying? "Yeah, I didn't do much in my life, because everybody around me eats stuff which got me sick, but because everybody around me was eating it I ate it too."

See for yourself of course, but at some point you want to break out these 'social constraints'.

[Kryptik]

I DO wanna fix this, majorly changing my diet may be a problem. For a 17 yr old with no license, no store closeby, and no money, buying my own food is a problem. Plus my family always wants to eat meals together, and if I don't eat what my mom makes they get mad at me.

I don't eat sweets, drink alcohol or soda, and do drugs. I'm never home, so when I am they want me to eat with them. I'm either at school, work, the hospital, or search and rescue. The only food I have there is candy, pizza, or once in a while a salad (at the hospital). If I had access to different food I'd eat it... but starving myself while I'm working or whatever doesn't work either.

[Kaspian]

Have you talked to your mom about what you're experiencing and explained that you'd like to eat differently so you'll feel better? Ask her to buy you foods you can pack with you so that you can avoid the pizza, etc. She might even be willing to adjust what she fixes at home when you're there.

[Kryptik]

Originally Posted by Kaspian

Have you talked to your mom about what you're experiencing and explained that you'd like to eat differently so you'll feel better? Ask her to buy you foods you can pack with you so that you can avoid the pizza, etc. She might even be willing to adjust what she fixes at home when you're there.

I tried that today... out of luck as far as home meals go for the most part, but she did say she'd try to vary it a little more. Breakfast/Lunch still looks like bread unless if the salads at school get any better (I'd rather eat bread than their fake chicken and old lettuce salads). She said that if I can find money I can buy myself salads, soups or whatever for dinner on the days I work from the Safeway then I can get that instead of the pizza... so that will all depend if I have any money saved up or not.

[Jennihul]

If she gives you a cold cut sandwich, just eat the cold cuts with some baby carrots.

If she gives you a baked potato, just have the veggy and not the meat.

This could be a nice opportunity for you to help spruce up your family's diet as well.

Or a strong motivator to branch out on your own and give up dependance as soon as possible.

Jennifer