anyone else ever had out of control GERD?

[shell in SC]

I've had it for a week and 1/2 now. I was able to tolerate bland foods after a few days but at first anything I ate would cause reflux. I lost 5 lbs in 7 days (YIPPEE. . .the only plus). I messed up last night and ate something high in fat and not bland. Now everything fluxes. I've been taking Nexium since last Tuesday but that is either not working or hasn't kicked in yet. Last week at one point I took Nexium, Pepcid, Zantac, Tums and Malox (all at once) and got a little relief. Sleeping only happens if I take something strong like Vicodin.

Has anyone BTDT? Any advice? My dr. appt isn't till Monday and I'm already an emotional wreck cause I didn't get any sleep last night.

Thanks for your help!!!!!
shell

[Karin]

I just got diagnosed with this. :glare:First, don't eat and bend over. Don't eat and lie down. While my MD said don't eat for 1.5 hours before bed, that'd not enough. Try 3 hours (I read that elsewhere.) See if you can have the head of your bed raised 6 inches (I did that even though that's usually for pregnancy.) Avoid caffeine and other triggers. Avoid spearmint and peppermint. Stopping all peppermint has helped my sphincter somewhat.

Eat your veggies--I find that helps. I used to be so very, very good at eating well and haven't been the past couple of years for various reasons which I won't bore you with. There's more, but someone else may wish to post. I'm still new to this, but I'm doing an OTC only and it's helping. Can't think of the name of it but it starts with O and has been around. Be careful with how much stuff you're taking, too.

PS ignore the bossy tone of voice!!!!:D

[Laurie4b]

A few things that might help:
Drink small sips of cold water. The water neutralizes the stomach acid. Keep the water by your bed at night.
Chew gum. Saliva also neutralizes stomach acid.
Eat small portions of whatever you're eating.
The other poster gave you some other good pointers re: times for eating and raising bed.
I would not take all those medications at once. Just take one. Or none until you see the doctor.
Don't take any ibuprofen.
Ginger tea can be helpful. Small sips at a time.

[Karin]

Ginger tea can be helpful. Small sips at a time.

Ginger is good. I found, though, that the tea irritated my esophagus (perhaps the brand is too strong), so I started taking capsules and it does help.

[Amy in NH]

Try taking apple cider vinegar.

Many people think that GERD is because of too much acid, but it is actually the reverse that is usually the truth. The acid in your stomach is what digests your food and causes your pyloric valve to close properly. If you have too little acid in your stomach the food sits and anaerobically rots (ferments), and the valve doesn't close properly. Taking antacids only makes the problem worse. It is natural for stomach-acid content to decrease with age, hence more older people have GERD symptoms. I'd mix 1-2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar in a small glass of water before each meal. Braggs is a good brand.

HTH!

[KidsHappen]

Not trying to be contentious but really curious. I have acid reflux and any kind of acidic food makes it much worse especially citrus fruits, tomoatoes, coffee and tea and NSAIs.

[Adrianne]

I find dairy products and high fat foods exacerbates my acid reflux. I agree with eating more veggies. I find celery to especially soothing.

I would also try to avoid dairy including butter, cheese, milk too. Sometimes GERD can be a symptom of a food sensitivity. (wheat and soy being other culprits)

I hope you feel better soon!

[shell in SC]

Thanks for all the good advice! I've been searching online and I've read about a whole bunch of things to do but somtimes until someone says "That worked for me" they seem strange. I've been eating some veggies (they don't sit as well as fruit) and only drinking water (but I'll have to start taking smaller sips).

I did finally see a GI doc today. He wants me to take the Nexium 2x daily and is going to do a endoscopy Wednesday. I am SO ready for this to be under control! I want to be able to eat something good again (this banana thing is getting old!)

Thanks again!!!
shell

[Sunflower]

It is a product made from orange peels and developed by a Dr. for GERD. Her Dr. recommended it because it does not have the side effects of the Rx meds. She used to take it every couple of months but now only 1-2 times per year. I can check with her on the name of the product. I just remember thinking that orange peels would burn terribly on an irritated esophagus, but she swears it doesn't.

I drink Metro mint water when my GERD kicks in occasionally. I know you are supposed to avoid mint but it is very cooling and soothing and helps much more than the otc products.

[Amy in NH]

Not trying to be contentious but really curious. I have acid reflux and any kind of acidic food makes it much worse especially citrus fruits, tomoatoes, coffee and tea and NSAIs.

I think it's cuz your system is out of whack. Once you've restored the proper pH to your system, the acidic foods shouldn't bother you anymore.

Just imagine what happens if you add an acid (vinegar) to a base (baking soda). That's kind of what's happening in your digestive tract right now when you eat acidic foods. Your system is supposed to be acidic, but now it's a little bit too basic because you're not producing enough acid naturally. You need to maintain quite an acidic pH to prevent overgrowth of certain types of bacteria, and to prevent fermentation of food. And since the food is fermenting, it is producing gas.

You need to get that fermented food out of there (high fiber/veges) and slowly work your system back to the proper pH (small dose of ACV with each meal).

Disclaimer: Although I used to be a medical transcriptionist, I am not a medical professional. I am also skeptical of/cynical about the medical establishment.


"In health, the stomach is generally devoid of a significant microbiota, containing only low numbers of lactobacilli (ca. 102 CFU/ml of contents) and, in a subset of the human population, Helicobacter pylori (12, 28). The normal duodenum (27) mainly contains lactobacilli and streptococci (ca. 102 to 104 CFU/ml of contents). Microbial cell population densities increase along the jejunum and ileum; colonic contents harbor up to 1012 culturable bacteria/g, the majority of which are strict anaerobes. Bacteroides spp. and bifidobacteria are the main culturable organisms in this part of the intestine (19), although molecular analyses indicate that eubacteria, clostridia, and other gram-positive bacteria predominate in the microbiota (29, 30).

Low pH is generally considered to be important in preventing significant microbial colonization of the stomach (32). Indeed, a gastric pH of <4 is considered to be an effective barrier to microbial overgrowth (8). However, a number of potential pathogens have evolved multiple acid resistance mechanisms to increase their survival during gastric transit (2). Other innate defenses of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract include enterosalivary nitrate circulation (34) and peristalsis. Lack of normal mastication leads to reduced peristalsis and reduced production of gastric acid and saliva. Saliva contains nitrate concentrations typically in the region of 1 mM (3), around 30% of which is converted to nitrite by oral facultative anaerobes (20), including lactobacilli, on the tongue (33). When swallowed, nitrite is converted to nitric oxide and other compounds (20) and exerts an antimicrobial effect in the stomach (34)."

http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/71/8/4777

And check out these too:

http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200212/ea20021223.html
http://www.foodallergysolutions.com/food-allergy-news0212.html

[Faithr]

I don't know about the apple cider vinegar. I thought that was kind of wive's tale. I don't think it's been accepted by the regular medical profession (and I can understand some cynicism, I am too.) But I really can't eat acidic food. I react to citric acid not only with acid reflux but my tongue breaks out in sores and if I keep eating it my face will start to break out. I go very easy on tomato sauce and I don't drink any oj.

I have a prescription for aciphex and it is wonderful. I just take 200 mg sometime before bed. I sleep with 3 pillows too and I try very hard not to eat anything a couple of hours before bed. But sometimes something will trigger it and it takes a few days to quiet down. I also can't eat anything spicy.

I hope, Shell in SC, you feel better soon!

[Karin]

In Prescription for Nutritional Healing (by an MD & his wife) he refers to taking the apple cider vinegar as a test to see if you have too much or too little acid in your stomach. I don't remember the amount, but if you take it and feel better, you have too little acid. If you take it and feel worse, you have too much.

[KidsHappen]

I have never heard this before. I have always heard that people's systems today were too acidic and that we needed to make the more alkali. I will check out the links that you have provided and see what I come up with. Thanks for the info.