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.

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Ph testing

poorlygir4l
poorlygir4l
I need some advice as I had a letter from the hospital about a ph monitoring test. Im not looking forward to it but need it to be considered for the Nissen fundoplication surgery. The letter states however that I need to stop my PPI 7 days before the test. I can't do it as I have very bad reflux and a hiatus hernia. I also have gastritis. Im in agony with burning pain most days whatever I take. Also when I first had my gallbladder out I stopped taking the PPI and a lot of acid just came up,after only a few days. I had severe chest pain and oesophaghitis. I had a lot of pain,vomiting and hardly ate. I can't risk it happening again. I don't know what to do. As I have a hiatus hernia how can I get rid of all this pain without the op? Has anyone else been through this? I think its unfair as the doctors know my symptoms. I just want to get rid of this.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Have you asked your doctor what he suggests? Unfortunately it's not "unfair" -- meds decrease the amount of acid in your stomach, so taking the pH test while on meds would not yield accurate results.

Have you tried any treatments besides meds? I have GERD and a small hiatal hernia, but diet has helped me much more than meds! Every person has different GERD trigger foods, but here's the diet I follow to get you started:

http://www.dailystrength.org/people/508274/journal/1912231

Plus a few other tips:

http://www.dailystrength.org/people/508274/journal/1997732

You may also ask your doctor if there's any natural remedies that won't intefere with the test results. Some common remedies I hear about (but haven't tried myself) include ginger, aloe vera juice, B vitamins, probiotics, digestive enzymes, etc.
poorlygir4l
poorlygir4l
Hi Geekchick Ive been trying Aloe vera and it hasn't made any difference. Its flared up again and Im in agony. I don't know what to do. Maybe Ive eaten the wrong thing I don't know. Some days it flares up when I haven't had a trigger food. I will try to follow the diet a bit more but its not easy.
poorlygir4l
poorlygir4l
Hi I have had the test which was awful. Ive got to wait for the results. Unfortunately I got very stressed about the test and my pain and symptoms have got worse. Ive been getting reflux too so I hope the doctors can do something,even the op. I can't go on like this. I had to take a Pantoprazole during the test and still had acid reflux. I hate it. I don't know how I can get over this. The doctor said not to take Slippery elm as it could stop the absorption of the meds. So I will just stick to the meds for now.