I have always had stomach issues even from a young child. My stomach creates excess acid resulting in heartburn. As a child anytime we had something cooked with animal fats or if mom made a Sunday bannana pudding ,later on in the afternoon I would develop a heartburn. In those days my parents would doctor my  symptoms with baking soda and water.They put a teaspoon baking soda in an eight ounce glass and I would drink it and got some relief.

As I grew older phameceutical companies and medical communites offered new products for heartburn, Pepcid.Tagamet, Zantax, and others I soon became an anti-acid junkie eating hundreds ot Tum, Rolaids, Maalox in every form available over the counter on the drug store shelves. I also had developed acid reflux. I would be in a sound sleep to be suddenly awakened by a rush of reflux that at times would take my breath. I was getting scared and afraid maybe the next time I might drown in my own stomach acid.

My wife worked at a summer camp for boys and each Sunday ice cream sundies were offered in the afternoon right after the noon meal. I ate a bigger than normal sundae one Sunday afternoon and soon developed severe heartburn which continued even after ingesting several Rolaids, I had gotten to the point after having taken so much antacid reducing products, they almost nauseated me.

When I went to bed that night, I decided to take my parents home remedy, a little baking soda and water and got out of bed went to the kitchenand made myself a dose. Normally I would find immediate relief after burping and go right back to sleep. I suddenly became sick to my stomach and barely made it to the bathroom to vomit.

When I vomitted into the commode it was pure blood. The sight of my own blood scared me and I told my wife,"Honey, you've got to take me to the hospital, I think I might be bleeding to death." She got up and drove me immediatedly to our local ER whwre. I was admitted and my blood pressure was very low; they did a lot of tests that night and wanted to insert a tube through my nose which a pulled out. The tube hurt and I jerked it out.  The next morning a gastro specialist did an endoscopy and found my esophagus had cracks and were bleeding. He also discovered a hiatal hernia and I had severe gastritis.

After my diagnosis and recovery from my bleeding esophagus I was given a prescrition for newer products that have vastly improved my quality of life and the acid reflux. First was Prilosec a great product that is now over the counter. I now take Nexium which my insurance pays a 90 day supply.

If you suffer acid reflux don't hesitate to see your family doctor and ask for one of the new acid reflux products.