GERD & Heartburn Support Group
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is defined as chronic symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. This is commonly due to transient or permanent changes in the barrier between the esophagus and the stomach. If you are afflicted with GERD or heartburn, join the group and find support.
I have acid reflux and am getting an endo and colonoscopy in the next month or so. I've read horrible stories on the taking of PPI's and scared of them at this point. I did take nexium for about two weeks but almost felt like it was making my acid reflux worse, though I do have anxiety about taking meds now. I'v seen a couple of good stories about the PPi's but not many. Any body out there that fixed there acid reflux all natural. Some one said to take a teaspoon of vinegar a day but really don't know about that one, scared it might do damage or something. My acid reflux affects my breathing so it's really bad. I've read before that it can cause breathing issues but really did not believe it, but when I mentioned it to my gastro doc he said oh yes it can certainly cause breathing issues. I'm just shocked some how that acid reflux heartburn can do that. I've listened to commercials for years about acid reflux and always thought what is the big deal so you get a little acid reflux, wow was i wrong this crap can make you really sick!!!! It has caused me breathing issues and I think anxiety who knows just really sick from it and want to fix it. I just don't know where to start. I watch what I eat but still not good about all my food would just a little bit of chocolate muffin every day make a difference. To me that just not seem like that little bit of chocolate cause that much distress. Thanks for any input at all!!
I have a small hiatal hernia and have had heartburn flare ups. I have learned to be really careful when I travel. That is usually when I have ended up with a flare up and it can be bad. Everything I eat annoys it for the first 2 days etc.. Now I take tecta/dexilant when I travel in order to prevent anything from happening. The key is preventing the esophagus from getting inflammed.
So, I have gone a long period of time without any problems by really sticking to a careful diet. It can take 4 months for the esophagus to heal. So when I am in a flare up I eat low acid smoothies.. (melon and spinach and banana etc) I try not to eat for 1 day to start..fasting for a few days really helps heal the esophagus more quickly(same effect as the PPI's). the esophagus needs a break and then I also eat pureed low acid soup.. like carrot and potatoe. You have to be really careful not to eat something that starts heartburn again. It can take 2 weeks of smoothies and soup.. then it gets better and then a good whole wheat bread and honey is good and eating soft and low acid/fat things are the key until the esophagus heals. I eat sof t things mainly for a month and then it is a lot better. You have to make sure you dont have reflux at night or it starts the cycle again. Stop eating at 6 pm and have low acid small meal at that time to stop refluxing at night and prop yourself up 30 degrees.. The key is to stop eating early and dont eat chocolate anything! it relaxes the esophagus and has too much fat in it. Same with coffee, alcohol, pepper, onion, fatty food, milk products, carbonated drinks, berries and peppers etc, citrus fruit, red meat and red sauces. Once you have a break from all these foods your esophagus will heal but it can take 4 months and you will be hungry but it works. I found after 5 months I can treat myself carefully again to foods like a small amount of chocolate or chips and some red sauce etc and milk products are good after 1 month or so. It gets way better and I do treat myself without starting another flare up. Honey helps to heal the esophagus. so does aloe. apple cider vinegar doesnt work on an already inflammed esophagus for sure!
You have to stick to the small meals for about 4 months and the diet has to be disciplined most of the time. You can eliminate the GERD cycle by discipline and eating fairly small meals. Once it is all healed you can make the meals a bit bigger.
I am an avid exerciser and I have had a slight breathing problem in a flare up. Apparently some people say the acid can go into the lungs but this can also heal. Once the esophagus heals and it has a break for a week it gets way better. It has something to do with the irritated esophagus/acid and the diaphragm tightening for me I think. I go to an osteopath right away if I have a flare up because i notice a tightness all deep inside there and it has something to do with the relationship between the esophagus and the diaphragm and what the acid is doing to the esophagus and I get better way more quickly. This may be more of an issue for me due to the small hiatla hernia not sure..
Meds have their place. They do heal the area fairly quickly as well. Once the esophagus is healed you have to be really careful not to annoy it again and start the cycle all over again.
It can be done! Stay positive and work hard at it.. Let the esophagus heal that is the key to the GERD problem. There are some natural things you can take like slippery elm and marshmallow tea that coat the esophagus etc.. however they may have some other effects like the meds do. I dont try anything that I am not too sure of, I would rather be disciplined.
I hope you are feeling good today and having a good weekend!
Keep working at it. When you feel you cant control the diet part, talk to yourself about patience and healing and it is a 5 month process but the rewards are at the end of the tunnel. It is a long tunnel and it is a lifetime of being careful but the esophagus wants to heal and it does heal sometimes in a few days, depending on how bad the heartburn is and how long you have had it.
Vicki, I find having whole wheat noodles and some chicken(low acid) fills me up more at my last meal. I shake a little bit of parmesan on it or put organic chicken broth in it. protein is way more filling. For a few people whole wheat causes more heartburn but for most it does not and sometimes a good whole wheat bread can eliminate burning in the stomach or esophagus in the morning. Whole wheat is an acid absorber. Peanut/almond butter fills me more as well but you may get relfux from peanut butter until the esophagus is better. You have to watch how much peanut/almond butter you have as well due to the fat content and may need to wait until the esophagus is better to eat it.
Do whatever feels right for you. If meds are the right approach then do that. My issue may be different than yours. My stomach pushes up on my esophagus(from years of weight lifting), causing it to dysfunction and open when it shouldn't. If you have gastritis and upset stomach only then you can eliminate the problem by diet. An alkaline diet can heal the stomach and esophagus. I agree about the weight. Some people get hiatal hernias from that, it is too much pressure on the stomach and esophagus with extra weight and causes the esophagus to stay open.
I agree re the over the counter stuff. In Canada we can get Gaviscon tablets without aluminum. They have no bad stuff in them except some sugar. I find they work really well to put a barrier between the stomach and esophagus. But the esophagus need to heal first and then Gaviscon helps to prevent another flareup.
The night time issue is a big one and it will help the esophagus heal more quickly if you stop eating before 6pm.. Huge difference.
Just do the best you can and take baby steps if you have to. Over time the discipline will come more naturally. Add a good walk everyday. The food moves out of the stomach more quickly that way and then less acid, especially after that last meal. Try chewing a non minty gum when you get hungry.
Good Luck, it will get a lot better!!