GERD (Acid Reflux)

[BobBong]

What is GERD (acid reflux)?

"Gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD, or acid reflux, is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates (backs up, or refluxes) into the esophagus. The liquid can inflame and damage the lining of the esophagus although this occurs in a minority of patients. The regurgitated liquid usually contains acid and pepsin that are produced by the stomach. (Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in the stomach.) The refluxed liquid also may contain bile that has backed-up into the stomach from the duodenum. (The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine that attaches to the stomach.) Acid is believed to be the most injurious component of the refluxed liquid. Pepsin and bile also may injure the esophagus, but their role in the production of esophageal inflammation and damage (esophagitis) is not as clear as the role of acid.

GERD is a chronic condition. Once it begins, it usually is life-long. If there is injury to the lining of the esophagus (esophagitis), this also is a chronic condition. Moreover, after the esophagus has healed with treatment and treatment is stopped, the injury will return in most patients within a few months. Once treatment for GERD is begun, therefore, it usually will need to be continued indefinitely.

Actually, the reflux of the stomach's liquid contents into the esophagus occurs in most normal individuals. In fact, one study found that reflux occurs as frequently in normal individuals as in patients with GERD. In patients with GERD, however, the refluxed liquid contains acid more often, and the acid remains in the esophagus longer.

As is often the case, the body has ways (mechanisms) to protect itself from the harmful effects of reflux and acid. For example, most reflux occurs during the day when individuals are upright. In the upright position, the refluxed liquid is more likely to flow back down into the stomach due to the effect of gravity. In addition, while individuals are awake, they repeatedly swallow, whether or not there is reflux. Each swallow carries any refluxed liquid back into the stomach. Finally, the salivary glands in the mouth produce saliva, which contains bicarbonate. With each swallow, bicarbonate-containing saliva travels down the esophagus. The bicarbonate neutralizes the small amount of acid that remains in the esophagus after gravity and swallowing have removed most of the liquid.

Gravity, swallowing, and saliva are important protective mechanisms for the esophagus, but they are effective only when individuals are in the upright position. At night while sleeping, gravity is not in effect, swallowing stops, and the secretion of saliva is reduced. Therefore, reflux that occurs at night is more likely to result in acid remaining in the esophagus longer and causing greater damage to the esophagus.

Certain conditions make a person susceptible to GERD. For example, GERD can be a serious problem during pregnancy. The elevated hormone levels of pregnancy probably cause reflux by lowering the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter (see below). At the same time, the growing fetus increases the pressure in the abdomen. Both of these effects would be expected to increase reflux. Also, patients with diseases that weaken the esophageal muscles (see below), such as scleroderma or mixed connective tissue diseases, are more prone to develop GERD. "
-Medicinenet.com

So..I have this problem. It causes me to get sick in the morning..I'll even often wakeup practically already puking. Not fun i tell ya...
It's said a lot more people suffer from this than we think. So i'm curious, if this is a problem for you what have you found to be good diet/routine. How does it affect you?
...So how about it?

[lemonboy]

The real question here is... why didn't acid reflux disease exist 20 years ago?

Say it with me: Once treatment for GERD is begun it usually will need to be continued indefinitely.

Eliminate alcohol, take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar when you start to feel it (or two, it works), and for god's sake be careful before filling any prescriptions (read: drug company pocketbooks for the rest of your life).

[BobBong]

Well it started back in early Febuary actually.. i was getting sick every few days consistently for about 3 weeks. it's then that i eliminated alcohol from my life. I've had maybe 6 beers....since Febuary and even then, they were with dinners.I was put on a trial by my doctorr called Pantaloc, it worked well for about 3 weeks and then i began to show symptoms again.. not as often.. but still frequent enough.

Acid Reflux DID exsist 20 years ago..who are you to argue otherwise? I'm sure the knowledge of what it actually was or how to treat it wasn't nearly as advanced as it is now as most things are now in medical science. It's like saying DNA didn't exsist until we figured out what it actually was....it still exsists..

[lemonboy]

I'm saying that the terminology is an invention of the pharmaceutical industry to put people on pills for the rest of their lives. Used to be people got indigestion. We should be devoting serious funds to finding the cause of this plague if it has indeed gotten so much worse in recent years.

I don't challenge that you are in pain. I should have been more clear. Sorry!

[BobBong]

Agree'd. People still get indigestion though. This, is not indigestion. Waking up with vomit in your mouth for no apparent reason... is not indigestion. Personally, i'm not a doctor. The advancements in medical technology over the last decades have been out of this world though. Things like Polio,Tuberculosis and SmallPox (to name a few) pretty much don't exsist in the modern world anymore.

I guess sticking to old home remedies works for some...but some of us are genuinely sick and need to rely on the work of professionals.

[litespeed]

BobBong try some vinegar one or 2 tp full,, for an hour and see what happins
they sayed I had it and the kids where messing with me and put vinegar in my coffee
and and when it had cooled I took a big glup and went out of my mind and it help come to find out I did not enough (acid) and a lot ov people are the same way.

[BobBong]

My stomach physically creates excess stomach acid. mind explaining how drinking vinegar is going to help that?

[Stoner Shadow Wolf]

umm... something about... either... vinegar disolves stomach acid, or acid reflux is strangely caused by not having enough acid...

i dont remember...

[litespeed]

well the doc said to a lot people that they have to much or excess stomach acid,
that is not the case in a lot of people it is the reverse of that Not enoght acid in there body, So untill they try both ways the Don't Know... my doc. had me on pills that cost me 250.00 a month.

[chitownzflyest]

i get acid reflux from a poor dietary plan in affect on an every day bassis........my pysicain has also told me i have a preemphital hernia or something like dat.......it means a little part of your stoamach goes into your esophagaus and causes a fuckin horendus pain.......look into that too

[chitownzflyest]

My stomach physically creates excess stomach acid. mind explaining how drinking vinegar is going to help that?



is pretty much phisics.....for how idiotic that sounds, in almost all cases when you add an extra ammount of a different type of acid your stomach acid it pretty much cancels eachother out.........you digest the other acid from the vinegar and the stomach acid stops supplying because there is alreadi enough acidic compound in your stomach to handle the work..................that is how medicines like nexium and protonix work......................but nexium had a certain element that seals your acid ducts so you can have impacted stools when you take a shit......n thats not fun............and also reduce the acids iun your diet.......tomatoes, pasta sauces, citric juices, salty cheeses (such as feta) and so on and so fourth..............also the sweets are the worst to try and eat while having acid reflux spasms........................................if u got anymore questions ask me il help

[Stoner Shadow Wolf]

FUCK THE PHARMACY! and to hell with those of you who dont, you DESERVE the improper treatment they supply you, all they want is your money! >=(

[daima]

I got a lump on my head and a boot print on my chest
It's what the guys in here call the sf county lie detector test
Well i did my best but as you might of guessed it's a tough test not to fail
i'm sittin here waiting in the sf county jail

I'm hoping that she's not so mad now that she wont even pay my bail
If i were her i'm not so sure i wouldnt keep on moving down the track
i'm sitting here waiting in the sf county jail

dai*ma :p

[Green Love]

I have GERD too. Even had the surgery and still have problems.
Go Figure. :(

[BobBong]

Mmmmmm Yogurt...

Thanks to Iron_Lotus, I'm managing to have better mornings if i eat some good quality yogurt! Thanks for the suggestion Lotus ;)

I Owe ya a nice big Joint :D:stoned:

Bob

[birdgirl73]

Wow. Even though the first part of this thread's old, it's amazingly how timely this topic is in my life right now. I'm having GERD these days. And it worries me.

I had it 20 years ago for the first time when I was pregnant. Your whole digestive system slows down, and then your growing baby crowds the stomach up, making the reflux more likely. I took Rolaids and, I think, Zantac then. Had it for about a year and a half after he was born, too, till I got all the baby weight back off.

Then it didn't bother me for about five years. But then I had a ruptured appendix and bad peritonitis afterwards, and basically they ended up having to take out part of my intestines and a part of my stomach, too, and I was left with lots of scarring in my insides that slows my digestion down--and lots of ability to produce acid with the stomach that remained. If I didn't eat late at night, made sure not to eat greasy stuff or meat, ate acid-neutralizing foods (alkaloid-base foods like yogurt), ate plenty of fiber, I was fine. All that surgery also caused me to get thinner. which helped too. But still it would happen occasionally. And in recent months since I've been worried about my sister and now stressing about school, too, it's gotten fairly bad again. I hate it. I sometimes wake up coughing and choking, feeling that burning just rising in my throat. I have to sit up, chew Maalox till it passes, take one of the acid blockers (which I know some of you disagree with, but they've saved me from aspirating a couple of times).

I'm worried because I still can't stop it completely--and because chronic GERD is a really strong precursor to esophageal cancer, which is a killer. Our former Texas governor just died of it yesterday, only six months after being diagnosed.

I'm going to try the vinegar tip one of you suggested so the alkaline can help neutralize the acid (makes perfect sense), and I'd also be curious to hear what are particularly helpful yogurts. I don't want to get cancer, and I'd also like to be able to stay comfortably asleep. I'm pretty much destined to be stressed right now, but I do deal with that fairly well with exercise. I'm thinking yoga might help calm me, too, and possibly quell the acid production. More advice and/or recommendations would be very welcome!

[BobBong]

Wow. Even though the first part of this thread's old, it's amazingly how timely this topic is in my life right now. I'm having GERD these days. And it worries me.

I had it 20 years ago for the first time when I was pregnant. Your whole digestive system slows down, and then your growing baby crowds the stomach up, making the reflux more likely. I took Rolaids and, I think, Zantac then. Had it for about a year and a half after he was born, too, till I got all the baby weight back off.

Then it didn't bother me for about five years. But then I had a ruptured appendix and bad peritonitis afterwards, and basically they ended up having to take out part of my intestines and a part of my stomach, too, and I was left with lots of scarring in my insides that slows my digestion down--and lots of ability to produce acid with the stomach that remained. If I didn't eat late at night, made sure not to eat greasy stuff or meat, ate acid-neutralizing foods (alkaloid-base foods like yogurt), ate plenty of fiber, I was fine. All that surgery also caused me to get thinner. which helped too. But still it would happen occasionally. And in recent months since I've been worried about my sister and now stressing about school, too, it's gotten fairly bad again. I hate it. I sometimes wake up coughing and choking, feeling that burning just rising in my throat. I have to sit up, chew Maalox till it passes, take one of the acid blockers (which I know some of you disagree with, but they've saved me from aspirating a couple of times).

I'm worried because I still can't stop it completely--and because chronic GERD is a really strong precursor to esophageal cancer, which is a killer. Our former Texas governor just died of it yesterday, only six months after being diagnosed.

I'm going to try the vinegar tip one of you suggested so the alkaline can help neutralize the acid (makes perfect sense), and I'd also be curious to hear what are particularly helpful yogurts. I don't want to get cancer, and I'd also like to be able to stay comfortably asleep. I'm pretty much destined to be stressed right now, but I do deal with that fairly well with exercise. I'm thinking yoga might help calm me, too, and possibly quell the acid production. More advice and/or recommendations would be very welcome!

Hope this helps

http://www.aboutyogurt.com/lacYogurt/

to stoned and tired to get into detail ;) :stoned: :stoned:

[birdgirl73]

This helps a lot, Bob. Thank you!

[Delta9 UK]

I suffered with this a few years ago, in the end it was a small ulcer - totally treatable.

My doc (she was great btw) at the time put me on a short course of drugs to repair the damage done to reduce the cancer risk.

I was only 23 at the time and work, stress and eating late (very bad) were all taking their toll.

My take on it is that I was coming in from work - rushing some food - smoking and chilling and then eating munchies later on. The munchies were normally snack foods and eating them late really didn't help.

I would jump out of bed with a mouth full of puke~bile each and every morning. Not nice.


OK My Tip:
Also try putting some big-ass thick books (phone book is good) under the top of the bed - this should elevate your upper body a little (just a few degrees is enough) during sleep and give you a gravity-assist to keep all that stomach-junk out of the way.

Good luck - I was lucky I guess - jumped on it early, changed my lifestyle a bit and (touchwood) I haven't suffered now for over 5 years (I'm 30 now).

Everyone gets indigestion every once in a while - GERD isn't the same thing and IMHO is totally underrated with regard to the amount of misery it can bring on.

[LIP]

I have fairly bad acid relux, because when i was a child, and i supose even now i dont chew my food. So i have to take a pill after everything i eat, but im used to it now so its not a problem.

[FakeBoobsRule]

BobBong, I had a stomach ulcer and GERD for about 2 years starting back in 2000. I was taking Voltaren which can thin the lining of the stomach. I knew it was affecting me badly but I thought I could power through it as many people's body will adjust after several days on it. Well, after two weeks of Voltaren it tore a hole in my stomach as well as caused damage around the esophageal sphincter giving me GERD too. It is absolutely miserable as every time I forgot to take my medicine, I began to breath out fire! I occasionally still get reflux every once in a while and I know what that can lead to. I know this thread is old but here are some things. First, you should be on a proton pump inhibitor such as Prilosec (available OTC or by prescription), Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix, or Nexium. These are stronger than the other class of medicine used to stop stomach acid preduction which are called H2 blockers. Those are (in order or best to worst ) Pepcid, Axid, Zantac, Tagamet. Why I say some are better than others in this class is because Pepcid and Axid also slow down the production of stomach enzymes which in addition to the acid can eat the lining of the stomach. Overall though any of the proton pump inhibitors are better than the H2 blockers. The key is to take them every day as directed and not miss a dose. Once you have been on them for a few days, they stomach lining can began to repair but if you miss a dose then you almost leave this new buildup of stomach lining defenseless and it will be eroded. You may have weakening of the muscles around the esophageal sphincter and if there is damage to this lining (as well as the lower esophagus), the muscles will never heal. I really recommend taking Prilosec once a day every day for months. If you use antacids for immediate relief, avoid any that contain calcium. Tums and Rolaids have this incredible marketing technique. The calcium carbonate neutralizes the stomach acid but 30 minutes later the calcium causes an increase in stomach acid and you eat more Tums and it starts this cycle back up. This is why milk can make your stomach feel better than worse 30 minutes later. Yougurt is obviously a milk product but it also contains beneficial bacteria so it can sometimes help, as someone mentioned. There are also several drugs that can increase the tone of the muscles of the esophageal sphincter such as Reglan. This will help keep the esophageal sphincter closed and prevent the upward movement of stomach contents.

I saw people recommending vinegar. I have never heard that nor would I try it. If that is a old home remody or wife's tale it is a bad one. The elevating of the head of the bed by 18-24 inches though is a good one. If you are carrying extra weight around the midsection, try to lose it. This extra weight literally pulls the esophageal sphincter down and out away from your body causes a loss in muscle tone and upward movement of stomach contents. This is another reason why pregnant women will sometimes suffer from GERD. I also saw someone talk about how we didn't have this (GERD) 20 years ago. Well we did but the prevelence has gone up as obesity rates have gone up in the U.S.

Foods to avoid anything acidic like tomatoes and citrus. Caffeine is also bad for GERD. Sadly, chocolate can increase stomach acid production too as well as spicy food. Nicotine can worsen GERD while most studies show THC does not have a negative effect on GERD and ulcers. So can alcohol but if I had to choose between alcohol and nicotine, alcohol is staying.

Bobbong, let us know what you are taking in the way of meds for this. Although I don't advocate the taking of all prescription drugs on the market, I don't think the drug companies are out to get us either.

[Cyclonite]

Buy some pepcid complete or cheaper would be tums and a generic acid reducer (same thing). I get this all the time, iv eliminated coffee from my life and try to stay away from drinking too much. I still have a bit every now and then but its much less. Also over doing it on the antacids can make your body produce more acid on occasion since it thinks it doesn't have enough.
I didn't read the whole thread sorry if I repeated anyone. Oh and exercise.

[qdavid]

GERD must have a few different symptoms, causes, and remedies. It think the term is a general diagnosis for a few stomach illnesses. I had heartburn whenever I ate anything. The doctor explained there is a one-way flap at the top of your stomach and when you eat and the food goes in, the flap is then supposed to shut. In my case the flap isn't there. I might have "burned" it off. So he gave me perscription Prilosec. I was in the Air Force then and they went to some stuff called Aciphex. It neutalizes the stomach acid so the contents don't bubble and splash so much. That was about '98 I started it. I've been taking one a day since then and don't see any side effects. I really don't care about a drug company conspiracy or whatever I just know it works. I hope you can find something that works for you Bob, it sounds like a real hassle. Good luck. Cheers.

[FakeBoobsRule]

So he gave me perscription Prilosec. I was in the Air Force then and they went to some stuff called Aciphex. It neutalizes the stomach acid so the contents don't bubble and splash so much.
Actually, Prilosec and Aciphex are in a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. These drugs block the formation of hydrogen ions by the stomach cells that is the source for hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This will raise the stomach pH from about a 2 to around 4.5-6.0. A pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic and the lower the number the more acidic it is. Anything from 7 to 14 is a base and the higher the number the more basic. An antacid is usually a base that undergoes a chemical reaction with the stomach acid to form neutral salts in the stomach. These provide an immediate effect but the effect is very short lived and does not raise the pH of the stomach as much as the proton pump inhibitors. There is also a class of drugs called H2 blockers which includes Pepcid, Axid, Zantac, and Tagamet. They too block the production of stomach acid but in a slightly different way than proton pump inhibitors. Some of these H2 blockers also come in a formulation that includes an antacid such as Pepcid complete.
Then there is simethicone which helps to reduce gas in the GI tract!:)

[qdavid]

Yeah thanks, what he said. Or I kinda said that, but simple terms . But he did. But I did. No him. No me. Whatever. Shut-up........I wonder if they got a drug so I don't talk to mysef. Yeah. Nope. Maybe. Shut-up.

[ziRomE]

im a chain smoker (cigs), my acid gets worse with every smoke, so dont smoke cigs (dont think u do) and listen to these guys. we all talk to ourselves, some just do it out loud

[Breukelen advocaat]

OK, here it comes again like a broken record: TRY A GLUTEN-FREE DIET! And, if that helps, go Casein (a protein found in milk) free, also.

There is no scientifically proven evidence that GERD can be helped by going gluten free, but it works for some people, and can't hurt you to try it.


http://www.remedyfind.com/treatments/55/1863/

[birdgirl73]

I think I'm in the process of developing gluten-free post intolerance, Breuk. . . .

[Breukelen advocaat]

I think I'm in the process of developing gluten-free post intolerance, Breuk. . . .

II would really like more people to take advantage of the health improvements that are easily within their reach. It's the single most important step many people can take, and I wish I'd known about it years ago.

I've just sent, at my own expense, packages of information to my own neurologist - dietary information for treating autism, MS, and other disorders that her and her husband have had little luck in treating through their otherwise very successful, celebrated practices.

The secret is going to come out eventually, regarding this information. It's known in Europe and other parts of the world. For now, it's word-of-mouth because the medical professionals in the U.S. have failed to see it. I don't blame them for their lack of training, but there is no need to allow it to continue for political reasons.

I've smoked more than many of the people here put together, literally a mountain - and it helped me cope, and healed me to some extent, but it did not CURE me. A simple, drug-free, dietary change has accomplished this, and I'm just trying to help others sooner, rather than later - or, unfortunately, when it's often too late.

[birdgirl73]

Maybe it's different down here in an area where allergies and environmental sensitivities are almost in fashion these days, but none of the medical professionals I know have failed to see or acknowledge gluten sensitivity and/or celiac disease. In fact, two of the people we know who have celiac disease are physicians themselves; one's a rheumatologist and one an internal medicine doc. Gluten reaction was one of the first things the allergists I've gone to since adolescence ever looked at as a possible cause of my eczema and allergies, which I've had for years. (It wasn't caused by gluten intolerance.) I think it's important for informed people not to assume it's the possible root of all illnesses.

[Breukelen advocaat]

Maybe it's different down here in an area where allergies and environmental sensitivities are almost in fashion these days, but none of the medical professionals I know have failed to see or acknowledge gluten sensitivity and/or celiac disease. In fact, two of the people we know who have celiac disease are physicians themselves; one's a rheumatologist and one an internal medicine doc. Gluten reaction was one of the first things the allergists I've gone to since adolescence ever looked at as a possible cause of my eczema and allergies, which I've had for years. (It wasn't caused by gluten intolerance.) I think it's important for informed people not to assume it's the possible root of all illnesses.

It's much more common in Europe to test children and adults for gluten problems in a variety of medical situations. My brother in law is a therapist that works with Autism in England, and whole families go Gluten and Casein Free if their child is autistic.

Not all illnesses are caused by gluten, but it's way beyond just "classic" Celiac, which I have. My wife humored me until she took a test herself and is now on the diet. I was a naysayer myself until I became more familiar with the wide range of illnesses that are caused by this.

There are only a few facilities in the whole country that are experts on this, and most of them are not publicizing the the gluten "sensitive" people, who are the ones most at risk, because they don't have the celiac intestinal symptoms - and by conservative estimates that's at least THIRTY PERCENT of the population.

If it were only the official 1 in 133 people, several million people, with classic Celiac, I'd be less likely to make this effort. The actual number of people that should be gluten free is much higher than the two or three million that the medical pundits and Celiac gurus officially recognize. I think that itâ??s political, because the hospitals and universities have sponsors that would not like the American people like to hear the truth about the American diet.

Over 50 percent of our diet now has cow's milk and gluten grains. It is not going to be popular with the corporations that produce them when people find out that they are poisoning themselves.

They don't consume it in Japan, and outlive us. In fact, they have the longest lifespan in the world.

[Purple Banana]

II would really like more people to take advantage of the health improvements that are easily within their reach. It's the single most important step many people can take, and I wish I'd known about it years ago.

I've just sent, at my own expense, packages of information to my own neurologist - dietary information for treating autism, MS, and other disorders that her and her husband have had little luck in treating through their otherwise very successful, celebrated practices.

The secret is going to come out eventually, regarding this information. It's known in Europe and other parts of the world. For now, it's word-of-mouth because the medical professionals in the U.S. have failed to see it. I don't blame them for their lack of training, but there is no need to allow it to continue for political reasons.

I've smoked more than many of the people here put together, literally a mountain - and it helped me cope, and healed me to some extent, but it did not CURE me. A simple, drug-free, dietary change has accomplished this, and I'm just trying to help others sooner, rather than later - or, unfortunately, when it's often too late.

It may help a few people, but as one who works heavily in the medical field, I can assure you that telling a GERD patient to go on a gluten-free diet would not work. Gluten is digested in the large colon, not the stomach. It is broken down after it passes through the pyloric sphincter (Gateway from the stomach to the large colon) and many foods can trigger GERD- even a gluten free diet wouldn't help if the person ate chili peppers everyday. I have GERD, I've tried every concievable diet for it, no results, and many people I see with GERD are not affected by dietary changes other than spicy and fatty foods.

Taking anacids or indigestion aids everytime you have an episode will only hurt your stomach more because of the heavy amounts of harsh basic solutions that are contained in the meds- the body isn't used to those harsh chemicals; same with some of the Rx GERD meds out there. The yogurt is good because it provides lactobaccilli and other good bacteria (as well as milk) which lowers the acidic content of the stomach by having a gentle base byproduct of the bacteria, with the added base from the milk. For some people, a simple bacteria-laced pill once a day will do it, and sometimes even eliminate the problem. The whole "sleep with your head elevated" thing really does work; it keeps extra acid out of your esophagus.

If you do enjoy cannabis, I HIGHLY (pun intended) recommend brownies- no gastric irritation, longer high, and you get 100% of the THC rather than 60-ish% when smoked. I mainly eat brownies, and have become a strong advocate for them, although I do enjoy the occassional bowl.

I try not to be skeptic about radical miracle claims, but it helps when you have those idiots like Kevin Trudeau writing books about curing cancer and AIDS with dietary changes...

[Purple Banana]

Gluten-free is good though, I am gluten, soy, milk, egg, and peanut intolerant, and I actually lose weight now, but my GERD isn't nearly as bad since I started taking the bacterial supplements.

Good for you for actually doing research on gluten-free, Breukelen advocaat, and hopefully your Celiac improves; that can be quite a handful if you've a bad case :\

[birdgirl73]

it passes through the pyloric sphincter (Gateway from the stomach to the large colon) ...
Hey, Purple Banana! I enjoy the heck outta your posts and your clear, straight-talk when it comes to health stuff. You're well informed and level-headed. But it's actually the small intestine (jejunum, duodenum, ileum) where the gluten digestion begins--and which the pyloric sphincter opens into. We're just been taking the gut apart piece by piece in anatomy. It's the ileocecal valve that opens into the large colon downstream another 22 feet or so at the end of the small bowel. I figure you already know that well and just got your colons temporarily switched. That's always happening to me! Slippery devils, those things. (LOL!)

[Breukelen advocaat]

Gluten-free is good though, I am gluten, soy, milk, egg, and peanut intolerant, and I actually lose weight now, but my GERD isn't nearly as bad since I started taking the bacterial supplements.

Good for you for actually doing research on gluten-free, Breukelen advocaat, and hopefully your Celiac improves; that can be quite a handful if you've a bad case :\

I've already had "allergy" tests in NYC for milk, egg, and soy - which were negative. I stongly suspect that I have a casein intolerance, which is very common with Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Because my cholesterol tests showed somewhat elevated borderline/high numbers, I've given up my previous hard-boiled egg, which I had 5X times a week. I still consume some soy, but never have the soy milk - that's too much for my system.

I recommend Vances Dari-Free, which is a milk substitute made from potatos.

I also take vegetarian, non-dairy bacterian L. acidophilus NAS called Natren Mega Dophillus. It benefits the small intestine, which is very important to maintain for people with Celiac and other food intolerances.

Do you know of any other good labs, besides Enterolab, that do food intolerance tests?

[Purple Banana]

Thanks, birdgirl, you're right, I did mess them up. I was smoking a bowl while typing that, so pardon me :P

Breuk, I don't know of any other labs offhand, but I can check in the database where I work to see if I can't find any others; I'm sure there are more other than Enterolab, even if they are one of the larger ones.

Any sort of natural bacterial flora are excellent with stomach issues, I love taking my bacteria and having laypeople ask what it is ;) They get pretty grossed out.

I WOULD try the potato based milk, unfortunately, I am also very insulin resistant, so very few, if any carbs for me, otherwise, it's Type II diabetes later on... So my food options are extremely limited, but I figure its worth feeling better and living longer. I'll check out the lab on Saturday and see what I can't dig up.

[mogeen]

improved 90% within 1 week, stopped taking the meds in 3 days and after 3 months I'm normal except with some occasional heartburn. Strange enough though when I went on vacation and it went away as well. No smoke on vacation and I didn't eat 3 hours before bed. I had a long break from the vaporizer and and within 2 days of firing it up I'm getting heartburn again. Maybe it is the munchies and eating too late or there is something about the vapor that irritates the throat sphincter. Still trying to figure that out since giving up smoke would be a drag. Apple cider vinegar cures many people and I always found that green apples made me feel better. Something about too little acid causes the same symptoms or that the vinegar helps you digest quicker and properly. I also found that B12 Complex helped me immensely along with Folic Acid. On vacation I didn't have the vinegar, I ate and drank everything I wanted including Danish hot dogs and beer, just took the B12 and the Folic Acid and didn't eat close to bedtime, ate a big breakfast but stayed away from Fruits in the morning and I was 100% normal, no IBS no GERD.

[HippyNsoldier]

The thing is though, Ive seriously tried everything from ACV,L-glutamine to every single RX they could hand me...they work for about a week then wham its worse and Im told take more...Ive had GERD since 2003. I turn bright red,vomit like crazy,cant breath...this happens when I drink WATER!!! so, they finally removed my gallbladder in Oct 2010 because I had huge gallstones guess what still have lovely ole GERD. It REALLY screws with your life, like I cant move without hurting....then somehow I ended up with IBS I eat really well, really good balence, plenty of fiber....changed my diet 1000% nothing helps.......I take probiotics everyday drink the probiotic yogurt etc etc so sometimes it doesnt matter what you do your still SOL