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've got Barrett's and after years of popping PPIs, to no great advantage, my gastro doc has referred me to a surgeon who performs the Nissen Fundoplication procedure. I had a brief meeting with this surgeon who clearly explained the procedure. He made it sound as if the post op recovery was like a bike ride on a sunny day; I happen to know that it's more like being stranded on a dessert island with nothing, or very little, to eat--for weeks or months. Even fully healed, it has a number of side effects that affect quality of life. Not only that, the rate of success is not stunning.
So, like many of you, GERD has me between a rock and a hard place. I admit to not rigorously following an anti-reflux diet until just recently; with my new (incredibly boring) diet in place, I'm hoping to see some improvement. Still there's only so much you can do to tame this disease when you've got a mechanical defect, that is, LES.
My Barrett's is stable (I was recently scoped). And I plan to get scoped annually. I've also researched all the other GERD surgeries, including the less stringent (though perhaps less effective, too) Partial Fundoplication. It's dismal out there. I'm proactive, but it seems so hopeless at times.
What I'd like to know is 1) how you fellow sufferers feel about the surgical option(s)? 2) if you've been following a GERD diet--no acidic foods, small meals, avoiding trigger foods, etc.--whether that's made a decent improvement in your symptoms and has helped heal your esophagus?3) what coping mechanisms do you use to deal with the anxiety and depression that can accompany this chronic disease?
Other than this having this terrible disease and GERD induced asthma, I'm in excellent health. My diet is healthful and I exercise, etc. Meditation--I'm trying that. Laughter--I look for it. I love life. I'm slipping into a depressed state that I've never experienced before. My heartfelt thanks for any and all help.
Please tell me your story, give me your advice, share anything. I have all the empathy in the world for you, too.
So, like many of you, GERD has me between a rock and a hard place. I admit to not rigorously following an anti-reflux diet until just recently; with my new (incredibly boring) diet in place, I'm hoping to see some improvement. Still there's only so much you can do to tame this disease when you've got a mechanical defect, that is, LES.
My Barrett's is stable (I was recently scoped). And I plan to get scoped annually. I've also researched all the other GERD surgeries, including the less stringent (though perhaps less effective, too) Partial Fundoplication. It's dismal out there. I'm proactive, but it seems so hopeless at times.
What I'd like to know is 1) how you fellow sufferers feel about the surgical option(s)? 2) if you've been following a GERD diet--no acidic foods, small meals, avoiding trigger foods, etc.--whether that's made a decent improvement in your symptoms and has helped heal your esophagus?3) what coping mechanisms do you use to deal with the anxiety and depression that can accompany this chronic disease?
Other than this having this terrible disease and GERD induced asthma, I'm in excellent health. My diet is healthful and I exercise, etc. Meditation--I'm trying that. Laughter--I look for it. I love life. I'm slipping into a depressed state that I've never experienced before. My heartfelt thanks for any and all help.
Please tell me your story, give me your advice, share anything. I have all the empathy in the world for you, too.
I am sorry for what you are feeling now but we all understand.
I have a small hiatal hernia and it makes me even more prone to heartburn. I rarely get heartburn now. I have been really disciplined with the diet part and it is a hard thing to do but well worth it. I follow all the GERD rules and have really educated myself on this issue. It can be done with diet alone. I know other people on this site who have reversed their Barretts.
I am not keen on the surgery idea at all. I think it is a last resort after you give the diet part a good try for at least 6 months.
Going to a chiropractor made my heartburn issue jump to an even better level as well but it may be he adjusted the HH,, not sure.. The LES can tighten up again with a careful diet and the esophagus can heal but it takes time. It may be more work to get it to a good place once you have had Barretts though. Not sure about that either.
If you take a PPI you still have to be careful with the diet . I rarely have taken a PPI but I know they can help the esophagus heal more quickly.
There are a lot of GERD rules and a bunch of threads on diet in here. There is a lot you have to avoid as you may now. Even healthy things need to be avoided. I did a food journal and that helped a lot!
Keep working at it. You will get results. Hang in there.. If you dont have a Hiatal hernia you are way further ahead. Is that the mechanical issue you are referring too? If you dont have that, the LES can tighten up and you can prevent heartburn all together.
Once you stick to a really strict diet and you start to get better your anxiety will get better.
Just do the hard work now. I am pretty sure Barretts can be reversed. You do need to keep it in check but a diet change will make it better and prop yourself up at night while sleeping.
Make sure you get your scopes done reguarly.
It is all about diet.
Good Luck
Good luck!
If you go on the Hiatal Hernia site there are many who have had that done and it doesnt work for everyone. So you are very lucky!
Thank God mine is very small!