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Sainsbury's Fruit Flavoured Antacid Tablets
by katykicker
Sometimes I like to have a big blow out night with some close friends. This usually consists of one of my home-made curries, some nibbles and a big cake that my husband makes. Obviously all this rich food can sometimes cause problems, including indigestion. I like to have antacids to hand but a few months back I was over at my friends ... and she gave me these to try. I was pleased with the results and promptly snapped some up the next time I was in Sainsburys.
I wouldn't say that I suffer from indigestion often but from time to time I have problems and these are needed to help fix me up. I love a nice spicy curry and foods that don't really agree with me all the time so antacids are ideal for helping me enjoy what I love without having indigestion, heartburn or just feeling a bit peaky come the evening when I'm trying to go to sleep.
These tablets come in a little carboard box which contains 48 tablets. There are 4 blister packs and each one holds 12 tablets. This means that I can keep some in my handbag and have some in my medicine cupboard at home too for easy and quick access to them. The box contains all the usual information, including usage instructions, that I would expect and everything is simple to understand.
With regards to these tablets they should be sucked or chewed for best effect. With no more than 16 tablets to be taken in a 24 hour period. I usually pop 2 of these tablets in my mouth, suck them for a few minutes and then when I get bored of them I chew them up and the chalky texture gets all over my teeth. There are four different flavours in each box of 48 with cherry, orange, blackcurrant and lemon being on offer. Each of the tablets is a relevant colour based on taste and I find them simple to see and I always know what I am getting. These tablets are made from calcium carbonate 500mg and each tablet has a really thick chalky texture.
The first time I used these tablets, at my friends, I was a bit taken aback by the fact that they were so chalky and the flavour was so strong. The flavours are nice, strong but not overpowering. The lemon flavour is sore but this isn't a bad thing and takes away from the horrible chalky texture and taste that I would associate with that.
I have used these recently for both indigestion and heartburn. I've been really please with the results and find that as soon as I have chewed these up they get to work and within about 15 or 20 minutes I start to feel some relief and shortly after my symptoms have gone completely. I must say that the acid burps and pain of heartburn is removed quickly and effectively. The chalky texture is a little bit irritating and disgusting for me but I feel that it is worth it for the relief that these tablets provide. Having my chest go from feeling full and like its burns to feeling normal again is worth every penny for me. These are £1.80 which is far cheaper than 32 Gaviscon tablets that are over £4 usually. I love to save money and these are a real bargain that work effectively, quickly and leave me feeling fantastic again! 5/5 from me!
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HeatAid Self Warming Heat Pads
by Aliasfan
INTRODUCTION
I've always suffered horribly with period pain. I've tried all sorts of painkillers but direct, applied heat is definitely my best friend when the cramps strike. When I'm at home I can hug a hot water bottle, but what about when I'm out and about, or worse, at work?
PADS OR GELS?
From ... what I've learned, 'portable' heat technology works in one of two ways: either a reusable gel pack which has to be regenerated in boiling water, or single-use air-activated patches. Reusable gel packs are often sold in outdoors shops as hand/foot warmers and are bulky, heavy and expensive. Useless for my needs. However single-use air-activated patches are light, thin and cheap. For me they are a much better option, but again not every brand will do.
Quality and price vary wildly: some of the big brands can cost £3 for just one patch; some of the super-cheap ones throw out no heat at all. I want something that (a) doesn't cost too much, (b) that would stick to my clothing directly over the painful area and (c) a product that actually *worked*. I didn't think that was too much to ask!
THE ABC OF HEAT PADS
Problem (a) was solved quite easily. While expensive patches are sold in pharmacies, most discount toiletry shops like Bodycare and Savers sell heat patches, as do Poundland and Wilkinson. I found several brands retailing at £1 or thereabouts for 2-3 patches.
Problem (b) was trickier. Many heat patches are designed to be slotted into special holders on the body, particularly over painful elbows or knees. Poundland's selection are often of this type, but since they don't produce a holder to strap around a spasming uterus they're useless for me! However, some brands are designed to be self-adhesive and can be applied directly to clothes.
Problem (c) was the hardest to remedy. Heat patches work through air-activation, but if they haven't been packed properly they're exhausted before you even take them out of the packet! I've bought several £1 packs produced by various brands only to discover this had happened, rendering them useless.
The honourable exception to this is the Heataid brand. After three years of use I've never had a faulty pack.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Heataid heat pads come in a distinctive red box making them easy to spot in a shop display. Each £1 pack contains two pads, and since one throws out heat for around 12 hours, a couple of packs of this product will be enough to see me through the worst days of my period.
The back of the pack contains a comprehensive list of usage instructions and usage warnings. These heat pads contain activated carbon and iron, releasing heat through a chemical reaction which, whilst consistent, cannot be calibrated very precisely. CONSEQUENTLY, YOU CAN BURN YOUR SKIN IF YOU DO NOT USE THE PRODUCT WITH CARE! The instructions on the back of the pack are very clear, and if you are new to using this product please read them!
Inside the box are two, sealed plastic sachets, each containing a patch. Safety instructions are printed on the sachet too, so the manufacturer really has taken care to inform the consumer, which I think is excellent. The sachets are easily torn open to reveal the heat patch itself.
Once the sachet seal has been broken the chemical reaction in the patch begins. I've found it takes about 10 minutes for the product to heat up a noticeable amount, so it's worth getting a patch out before pain becomes unbearable.
The front of the Heataid patches is made of a soft, cottony material which does not catch or snag on clothes. The back is covered with a very sticky adhesive covered by two paper strips which are perforated down the middle. Easily removed, they reveal the glue which sticks easily to clothing. I've found it often takes me several attempts to position the patch directly where I need it, and the adhesive will tolerate this.
Inside the patch is a visible, black powder; the metal powders. They are well sealed within the sachet and I've never had one split.
USER EXPERIENCE
I apply the Heataid patches to either the inside of my trousers, or the front of my knickers, directly over my pelvis. Since they are so thin they are completely invisible and undetectable so I am confident wearing them out and about, and even to work. The constant heat they throw out is very soothing and relaxes my spasming muscles during bad period days.
After a few hours the powder begins to solidify and so I sometimes hear a slight crackling sound when I sit down or stand up! It's very quiet though, and no-one else ever seems to hear it, again meaning the patches are very discrete.
On bad period days I apply a patch when I'm dressing and find that it provides soothing heat right through until bedtime. I don't wear the patch overnight as the packaging warns that if you are asleep you could burn yourself whilst unaware.
The patch is removed by simply pulling it off my clothes. I've never found any residue or damage on any fabric I've applied the patch to.
CONCLUSION
An absolute life-saver for bad period pain.
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