Hello everyone, I am 78 years old , suffered a TIA a week ago but it was 5 days before I was asked to go to a Stroke clinic where it was finally confirmed that I’d had a TIA. Still feel surprised that no advice was given on anything. I am diabetic so believe I’m probably eating the right food. I still feel weak but getting better, don’t feel up to going for long walks and missing them.
My husband and I are booked on a coach holiday next week, the doctor at the hospital thought it would be a good rest for me.
Since the TIA I seem to be suffering from acid reflux and really would appreciate any advice about how to get back on track with life now
What helped me was baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
below is courtesy of AI, but it does more than what the article describes
let me just comment and say it did not raise my blood pressure
How Baking Soda Works for Acid Reflux
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a natural antacid. When it mixes with the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, it undergoes a chemical reaction that neutralizes the acid, providing rapid relief from the burning sensation of heartburn.
This is the same principle behind many over-the-counter (OTC) antacids like Alka-Seltzer or Tums, which often contain sodium bicarbonate or other neutralizing agents.
How to Use It (If You Choose To)
If you decide to try baking soda, it’s important to do so carefully.
The Mixture: Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in at least 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of cold water. Stir until it’s fully dissolved.
Timing: Drink it slowly. You can repeat this every two hours, but do not exceed the maximum dosage (see safety below).
Use Plain Baking Soda: Only use standard, food-grade baking soda. Do not use baking powder, as it contains additional acids and chemicals.
CRUCIAL Safety Information and Warnings
While it can provide quick relief, using baking soda for acid reflux comes with significant risks and is not suitable for long-term management.
High Sodium Content: Baking soda is very high in sodium. One teaspoon contains over 1,200 mg of sodium.
Risk: This can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, or those on a sodium-restricted diet.
It can also lead to fluid retention and swelling.
Acid Rebound: This is a common phenomenon. Your stomach is highly acidic for a reason (to digest food and kill bacteria). When you neutralize it forcefully with a strong antacid like baking soda, your stomach may respond by producing even more acid after the effect wears off, making your reflux worse in the long run.
Can Interact with Medications: Baking soda can affect how your body absorbs certain medications. It’s particularly dangerous to take it with:
Aspirin and other salicylates
Tetracycline antibiotics
Iron supplements
Certain diuretics (“water pills”) and heart medications.
Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before using baking soda if you take any prescription or OTC medications.
Potential for Toxicity: Taking too much baking soda can lead to a condition called metabolic alkalosis, where your body’s pH becomes too basic. This is a serious medical condition that can cause:
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle spasms and twitching
Confusion
Headaches
In severe cases, it can lead to coma.
Not for Chronic Reflux: Baking soda should only be used as a very occasional, emergency remedy. If you have acid reflux symptoms more than twice a week, you may have GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), which requires proper medical diagnosis and treatment.
Baking Soda vs. Other Remedies
Remedy
How it Works
Pros
Cons
Baking Soda
Neutralizes stomach acid
Fast, cheap, readily available
High in sodium, risk of acid rebound, not for chronic use
OTC Antacids (Tums, Rolaids)
Neutralizes stomach acid
Fast, convenient, various flavors
Can cause constipation or diarrhea, not for long-term use
H2 Blockers (Pepcid, Zantac)
Reduces acid production
Longer-lasting relief (hours)
Takes 30-60 minutes to work
PPIs (Prilosec, Nexium)
Blocks acid production at the source
Most effective for frequent/heavy reflux
Must be taken daily, not for immediate relief
When to See a Doctor
Do not rely on baking soda and see a healthcare professional if you experience:
Heartburn more than twice a week.
Symptoms that persist despite using OTC medications.
Difficulty swallowing or a sensation of food stuck in your throat.
Unintentional weight loss.
Chest pain, especially if it’s severe or accompanied by pain in the jaw/arm or shortness of breath (this could be a heart attack).
Vomiting blood or having black, tarry stools.
Lifestyle Changes for Long-Term Management
For sustainable relief, focus on lifestyle modifications:
Meal Timing: Avoid large meals and don’t eat within 2-3 hours of lying down.
Posture: Elevate the head of your bed by 6-8 inches.
Weight Management: Excess weight, especially around the abdomen, increases pressure on the stomach.
Clothing: Wear loose-fitting clothing.
The Bottom Line
Baking soda can be an effective occasional, short-term fix for a sudden bout of acid reflux. However, due to its high sodium content and risk of side effects, it is not a safe or recommended long-term solution.
For frequent heartburn, it is far safer and more effective to use approved OTC medications and, most importantly, to consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
@DaisyKate You aftecare has been dreadful, but that is becoming standard from NHS. Stroke or TIA recovery takes patience and a long time. Don’t expect to be back to yourself quickly and if you do, well done. There is also possibility that you will not get your old self back, but just accept the new version of you. I am stoke survivor and had to adapt. Good luck for your future
No aftercare whatsoever, I’m just taking things slow, and very relieved that I’ve found this site. I’ve been feeling very alone, my family don’t live near so don’t see much of them . Seem to have very little energy, I’m normally very active .
Hi@ DaisyKate Sorry to hear of your stroke but welcome to our community. We have a wealth of experience in the stroke world and I hope you will find this a useful place to be.
Sadly, aftercare and support following a stroke is a postcode lottery and many of the contributors here have found this to be the case.
I would just say that rest is very important at this stage in your recovery. You are eating well, so that’s good. Just try not to do too much and listen to your body and everything else will slowly into place and you will soon be going out on your walks.
Something my husband and I found very helpful following my stroke was attending a weekly Stroke Support Group in our local area. The age group varied from 18 -75, some people came with partners or carers and some came alone. We learned some very useful information and met some lovely people and often went for a meal out or met for a coffee and we both found this to be a useful experience. Speaking to people who know exactly what you are going through is worth it’s weight in gold.
I wish you and your husband well and hope you enjoy your coach holiday next week.
@DaisyKate hi and welcome to the community. Sorry to hear of your TIA. I think Stroke/ TIA support can be very hit and miss and often once you have been to the clinic you are left to find your own way. This is where I found this community to be a godsend as they answered many questions that I had which the stroke consultants or Hospital Staff just haven’t answered.
It is natural to feel tired after this sort of event. I had a TIA two years after my stroke and I found the tiredness overwhelming for a few weeks. You’ll probably find you need to rest more for a while and just take things generally easier. In relation to your coach holiday I would say go for it and have a good time and just try not to worry. It’ll probably be a good distraction from everything else that is going on for you at the moment. Just take it a little bit easier than you would have done normally perhaps.
Ask away if you have any questions there is usually somebody around that can help.
Hello @DaisyKate - Hallo and welcome to the community.
This is a quick reply as I note you are experiencing acid reflux which is something we believe my Mum is experiencing right now. She is a stroke survivor and has been so for 6+ years. The acid reflux is a new condition for her and today her GP was going to prescribe Gaviscon to help with her acid reflux.
Gaviscon is actually an off the counter medication and no prescription is required.
I am not suggesting this might address your problem, but it may well help. There is information on the NHS website - see link below and you can talk to any pharmacist who will advise on this
Gaviscon has helped me inthe past usually after I have eaten too quickly, but now even the liquid gaviscon isn’t helping. I think some of my problem was caused by lack of exercise as I finally plucked up courage to go for a short walk today (it is a week since my stroke) and I also have Bisodol tablets. Slowly feel I’m returning to normal. I am finding this site amazing, so friendly and so many willing to share advice .
It’s a good idea to return to normal slowly - there is absolutely no need to rush. Here we might want to be a bit like the tortoise rather than the hare
You are absolutely right about this site, it is absolutely amazing.
I had my stroke just short of 3 months ago. The care at the time was amazing like I’ve said before. But this last 4 weeks it’s dropped off completely. I’ve had to see my Dr twice in the last 2 weeks and on ringing them have got an appointment straight away. I’ve had acid reflux for many years and was on Omeprazole 20mg twice a day. From the stroke day they changed me to Lansoprazolae dispersible 30mg and since that day I’ve had no issues. Touch wood it stays. I’ve managed to get back to work on a phased return. Managed Mon Wed and Friday last week for 4 hours max each day. Could I have done more hours. No the tiredness comes over you and once back home it’s feet up time. Thankfully I only work 15 mins from home. Are work supporting me. 100%. All I will say is take it easy and listen to your body.
Sounds like your return to work is going well. It’s great that you have such a supportive employer I know I found that made all the difference when I returned and actually two years on it still makes a big difference because I still need the adjustments that they put in place for me.
Don’t be in too much of a hurry to increase your hours further if you’re finding four very tiring. Just build it up very gradually and don’t be afraid to drop it back down again if building it up is too much for you.
I find I still get extremely tired after being at work for the day but I can cope with the work better now than I could when I first returned.
Welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your TIA and that the care you’ve received hasn’t been great.
I hope you’ll find this community helpful for your recovery, we’ve had a few conversations on here about acid reflux recently so I’m sure there will be some useful conversations for you to look at. I hope you and your husband get on your coach trip and have a lovely relaxing time.
If you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
@DaisyKate The very little energy is normal. As time passes you should become stronger and possibility of more energy. You have to build yourself up. I use to be 100 miles an hour at walking and tasking and it took a lot of patience for me to adapt. Good luck
The energy is slowly returning now, but I do seem to take a lot of rests in the day. Not sleeping well because of the acid reflux which I think is due to the clopidogrell tablets the hospital gave me, tempted to discontinue them but we go away for 5 days soon and made an appointment to see a doctor on the return. I’m taking Bisodol and I think maybe too often sometimes during the night. This community is truly a Godsend for me thank you everyone for being so caring
What time are you taking the meds? I was taking them in the evening and had acid reflux at night when I first started on clopidogrel, so I moved to taking them in the morning which seemed to work for me. Of all my meds the clopidogrel is the one I’d be most reluctant to stop taking without strong assurances from the doctor. Good to hear that your energy is returning though, and I hope you’ll feel well enough to really enjoy your trip.
Hello DaisyKate, I feel for you, I too had rubbish aftercare after my stroke nearly 3 years ago. It’s very hard at times and you do need to rest….a lot. I’m taking Clopidogrel I’ve not had any reflux, probably because I was taking Lansoprazole before my stroke, you could ask your GP about it. Don’t stop the Clopidogrel because that’s your blood thinner, only time I stopped it was for a shoulder operation but took 75mg of Aspirin instead, my surgeon told me it would be ok.
Go on your holiday it will do you good and take your mind off worrying because we all do. We had a week in Lanzarote 3 months after my stroke and it was lovely, nothing to do and I did feel much better. It was just unfortunate that a man died on our flight .
Wishing you the very best and listen to your body, take care x Ann x
CRUCIAL Safety Information and Warnings
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