Daily Column

August 5, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My doctor is treating me with Prevacid for acid reflux but I feel no heartburn at all. I just cough up phlegm. Do you have a better idea?

DEAR READER:
There are numerous ways of dealing with this condition. You can place blocks under the legs at the head of your bed; modify your diet to avoid spicy foods that trigger an attack; or take an over-the-counter medication such as Prilosec or TUMS.

Perhaps as a first step, the blocks, coupled with the Prevacid you are presently taking, will reduce or eliminate the phlegm. If not and you remain dissatisfied, speak with your pharmacist for a suggestion on the best remedy he carries. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

July 28, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Your advice to the woman with the distended stomach, lower back pain, aching legs, and constant tiredness in which you suspected Cushing Syndrome may very well be correct. However, there is another possibility. These are also side effects from the drug Nexium which she claimed to be taking. I had symptoms just like hers while I was taking it. I am now on generic Prilosec and my stomach is going back to normal and my tiredness is slowly lifting.

When the patent on Prilosec was about to expire the formula was “tweaked” just enough to receive a new patent which was then marketed as Nexium. This “tweaking” caused the Nexium to have some side effects that the Prilosec did not.

I would like to be off the medication but diet, exercise and over-the-counter antacids don’t work. Do you have any suggestions? [Read more...]

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Daily Column

June 11, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 34-year-old male and, to my knowledge, am healthy. I have smoked for 18 years. My problem now is I feel sick to my stomach and vomit every morning when I get up. This has been going on for eight years and my doctor can’t find anything wrong with me.

I have had a scope and upper GI done, both of which were normal. I have a known hiatal hernia and ulcer. I’ve been on Prevacid 30 mg daily for acid reflux disease that seems to help sometimes, but not always. Maybe you can help me figure out what is wrong and why I feel this way.

DEAR READER:
Let me start by saying that your scope and upper GI could not have been normal if you have an ulcer and a hiatal hernia.

Hiatal hernia refers to a defect in the middle of the [Read more...]

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