GERD (Acid Reflux)

[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.