Acid reflux

[OceanAnnie]

I have had some issues with acid reflux. It started last summer. It disappeared as quickly as it came. Now I have flare ups from time to time. Has this happened to you? Tried some different things, including a prescription med. (not anymore), but the best thing I've done is change my diet.

I eat smaller portions (I didn't think they were overly big before but). I've cut out all acidy foods. If I begin to get any symptoms I take two Tums or a tsp of apple cider vinegar in water if I'm out of Tums. It's worked! And I lost 5 lbs.. I haven't had a flare up in weeks. Knock wood. I'm so happy about it.

Eventually, I'd like to go back to eating spaghetti, pizza, tacos, sloppy joes, etc.. just every now and then and take a Tums first or something. But for now, I'm just glad it's under control.

If you have acid reflux, what has helped you? I'm open to ideas for the future.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have reflux and everyone is different. My dh controls his through diet but lately he is not realizing how much he coughs at night due to reflux. He is eating chocolate and drinking soda before bed, which is a no-no.

I take Nexium. There are some foods and drink that I can never do at all ever again. Same with my dh. He cannot have pepper or basil. It sends him to the hospital for a lidocane cocktail.

Knowing your serious triggers and moderate triggers is key. It is a process of learning what is good and bad for you.

Take Zantac instead Tums when you eat tomato based stuff. If you do moderation you may not have to do anything however if you plan to overdo it then take appropriate precautions. Like if you are going out for Mexican, drinking margaritas, etc....

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have reflux and everyone is different. My dh controls his through diet but lately he is not realizing how much he coughs at night due to reflux. He is eating chocolate and drinking soda before bed, which is a no-no.

I take Nexium. There are some foods and drink that I can never do at all ever again. Same with my dh. He cannot have pepper or basil. It sends him to the hospital for a lidocane cocktail.

Knowing your serious triggers and moderate triggers is key. It is a process of learning what is good and bad for you.

Take Zantac instead Tums when you eat tomato based stuff. If you do moderation you may not have to do anything however if you plan to overdo it then take appropriate precautions. Like if you are going out for Mexican, drinking margaritas, etc....

Thanks! That's what I'm looking for. I'm a relative newbie at this.

I stopped coffee for a long while. Then when things calmed down I went back. That's my only splurge. No symptoms with that, thankfully. One cup a day. That was a probably slight trigger, but I guess since I've given up everything else it's okay for now. Who knows how long it will last. But I'm happy. I do enjoy my one cup. Nice to have a zinger in the morning.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks! That's what I'm looking for. I'm a relative newbie at this.

I stopped coffee for a long while. Then when things calmed down I went back. That's my only splurge. No symptoms with that, thankfully. One cup a day. That was a probably slight trigger, but I guess since I've given up everything else it's okay for now. Who knows how long it will last. But I'm happy. I do enjoy my one cup. Nice to have a zinger in the morning.

You gave up coffee? OMG, I just can't, which is why I take Nexium daily.

Stress also contributes to reflux, if you did not know.

Also constipation.

Have fun!

 

[OceanAnnie]

You gave up coffee? OMG, I just can't, which is why I take Nexium daily.

Stress also contributes to reflux, if you did not know.

Also constipation.

Have fun!

Yes. I had more stress last year than I bargained for. I'm sure that helped things along. I'm looking at ways to de-stress, such as exercise. It's finding the time. I know it's important and all of that. But life can swallow that time if you let it. And then there is fitting in the stuff you want to do.

Rambling...

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

The best advice I can give you is do not eat/drink anything 3 hours before you go to bed. Even taking prescribed meds if I eat or drink, even water I will get GERD better known as acid reflux. An easy fix -- well some times--- is to place some blocks under the two bed feet at the top of the bed. There is also a triangle looking foam pillow you can place under the mattress at the top of the bed. I will even cough during night because of GERD. Remember when you feel the burn in your throat you are doing damage to you throat. The acid is very strong and will start eatting away at you esophagaus. ( Not sure is I spelled that correctly ). I hope this helps.

 

[Christine]

I have GERD and have done everything. The only thing that keeps it under control is prescription medicine. I try to take the lowest dosage of that so I still get some breakthrough, but I do want to have SOME stomach acid so that my food properly digests and that I don't become defincient in certain things. Taking large doses of the PPIs can cause this as well as bone loss.

Anyway, I'm not overweight. I have been through periods of time where I've eaten a very austere diet. It helps, of course, but it doesn't really cure it for me. In fact, a glass of water can often set off reflux for me if I drink it with meals, no matter what the meals.

For most GERD sufferes, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has failed. You could eat soft, bland food for days and it's still going to force its way up. So GERD cannot truly be cured without surgery but you can certainly do a lot to alleviate the symptoms of when food starts working its way up. That's by putting very small amounts in at one time, keeping those small amounts fairly bland, and staying upright after eating.

 

[OceanAnnie]

The best advice I can give you is do not eat/drink anything 3 hours before you go to bed. Even taking prescribed meds if I eat or drink, even water I will get GERD better known as acid reflux. An easy fix -- well some times--- is to place some blocks under the two bed feet at the top of the bed. There is also a triangle looking foam pillow you can place under the mattress at the top of the bed. I will even cough during night because of GERD. Remember when you feel the burn in your throat you are doing damage to you throat. The acid is very strong and will start eatting away at you esophagaus. ( Not sure is I spelled that correctly ). I hope this helps.

You raise some good points. I do know about the burning and I am very conscious of what it does. I've even read that acid reflux can lead to cancer (sometimes it seems everything does) if not treated properly. I do try to stay on top of it. Those possible outcomes can get your attention! Thankfully, I haven't had the burn in awhile.

I have GERD and have done everything. The only thing that keeps it under control is prescription medicine. I try to take the lowest dosage of that so I still get some breakthrough, but I do want to have SOME stomach acid so that my food properly digests and that I don't become defincient in certain things. Taking large doses of the PPIs can cause this as well as bone loss.

Anyway, I'm not overweight. I have been through periods of time where I've eaten a very austere diet. It helps, of course, but it doesn't really cure it for me. In fact, a glass of water can often set off reflux for me if I drink it with meals, no matter what the meals.

For most GERD sufferes, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has failed. You could eat soft, bland food for days and it's still going to force its way up. So GERD cannot truly be cured without surgery but you can certainly do a lot to alleviate the symptoms of when food starts working its way up. That's by putting very small amounts in at one time, keeping those small amounts fairly bland, and staying upright after eating.

I had a very hard time getting off of the acid reducer. I can't remember the name of it. I had rebound acid from taking the med and I couldn't understand it to save my life. How could it be worse? Well, I looked it up and was really dismayed. Some people stay on it because it can be that bad. On the other hand, I do know that it does help people that have cases that warrant it. It could be me one day.

I could stand to lose maybe 15 pounds. I carry it all over so it isn't that bothersome to me. If it was, I would've gotten rid of it a long time ago. Yes, I'd like to lose the excess. It would probably help to do so. I'm around a size 8 or 10 depending on the brand names.

I pretty much do the bolded on your post. I eat a moderate amount. I do use extra pillows and don't lie down shortly after eating. I guess I'm doing all right.

Thanks to you both!

 

[SaraJayne]

The only time I have issues with reflux is when I eat tomatoes or radishes.

I understand the acid in tomatoes (sauce, chili, etc) but why would radishes cause acid reflux?

One thing I've learned to do is when I'm having tomato sauce or chili is make sure it's at least 3 hours before bedtime and drink lots of milk with my meal. I also don't lay on the couch before bed and make sure I stay sitting upright.

That seems to help.

 

[OceanAnnie]

The only time I have issues with reflux is when I eat tomatoes or radishes.

I understand the acid in tomatoes (sauce, chili, etc) but why would radishes cause acid reflux?

One thing I've learned to do is when I'm having tomato sauce or chili is make sure it's at least 3 hours before bedtime and drink lots of milk with my meal. I also don't lay on the couch before bed and make sure I stay sitting upright.

That seems to help.

Yep! Lots of my favorite foods are now on the no-no list. Pizza. That was a toughie.

Radishes is a hard one to understand. I'm with you on that. I don't get it.

The acid reflux is something that has been trial and error for me. If you deviate from what is working, you sometimes pay the price. I'm going to try ways to prepare and re-introduce some of those things in small doses. Baby steps.

It's a crazy thing!

 

[shortbun]

I eat the red sauce stuff for lunch OR never after 6pm. I make sure I have at least 4 hours after I eat before I get in bed. I've given up gum and most sodas. I never was a coffee drinker. I have an Acid reducer/antacid in my nightstand just in case but I rarely need it. Pepcid complete or Giant Eagles's brand. So basically, watch what you eat and what time you eat it. The timing thing has been hardest for me as we tended to eat late.

 

[Christine]

I had a very hard time getting off of the acid reducer. I can't remember the name of it. I had rebound acid from taking the med and I couldn't understand it to save my life. How could it be worse? Well, I looked it up and was really dismayed. Some people stay on it because it can be that bad. On the other hand, I do know that it does help people that have cases that warrant it. It could be me one day.

I am going to attempt to get off the medication myself. I have HORRIBLE acid rebound when I try. I didn't have this type of acid before I started taking it--just "indigestion." The acid rebound is a documented effect of the meds and I understand why it happens. Anyway, I see my gastro next week so I'm going to discuss it. I've been on the stuff for YEARS so I don't have a lot of hope. They don't call it "the purple crack" on the internet for nothing!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I eat the red sauce stuff for lunch OR never after 6pm. I make sure I have at least 4 hours after I eat before I get in bed. I've given up gum and most sodas. I never was a coffee drinker. I have an Acid reducer/antacid in my nightstand just in case but I rarely need it. Pepcid complete or Giant Eagles's brand. So basically, watch what you eat and what time you eat it. The timing thing has been hardest for me as we tended to eat late.

Yes. I've given up sodas too. Not gum though. I haven't noticed anything with gum for me, but I don't chew it very often. I think it's because the increase of saliva kicks in the acid? I read something about it a while back.

You're right. The timing does make a difference. For now, I'm off the red stuff. I miss it, but I don't miss the burn or the med..

 

[OceanAnnie]

I am going to attempt to get off the medication myself. I have HORRIBLE acid rebound when I try. I didn't have this type of acid before I started taking it--just "indigestion." The acid rebound is a documented effect of the meds and I understand why it happens. Anyway, I see my gastro next week so I'm going to discuss it. I've been on the stuff for YEARS so I don't have a lot of hope. They don't call it "the purple crack" on the internet for nothing!

Good luck with it!

I use a tsp of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water when I need it. It does help to neutralize the acid. You may want to give it a try. I found out about it on the net.

Anyway, gotta run. Will check in later.

Thanks to everyone.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I had very severe acid reflux. I was in pain CONSTANTLY--my throat burned every minute of the day. I am now on the GAPS diet (you can google it), and I am gradually improving. I am so glad to be off prilosec. I had horrible rebound when I came off of it, but with GAPS, I am healing my digestive system rather than just masking the symptoms. GAPS is a huge lifestyle change, and it took months of reading about it for me to work up the courage and self-control to try it, but I see progress and am committed to sticking with it so that I can heal my digestive system and be pain free (I have also seen huge improvements in my anxiety, eczema and sinus infections, which I now believe were all related with the reflux).

This is not something that everyone will want to try, but I do believe it works if you are interested.

 

[OhMari]

I am going to attempt to get off the medication myself. I have HORRIBLE acid rebound when I try. I didn't have this type of acid before I started taking it--just "indigestion." The acid rebound is a documented effect of the meds and I understand why it happens. Anyway, I see my gastro next week so I'm going to discuss it. I've been on the stuff for YEARS so I don't have a lot of hope. They don't call it "the purple crack" on the internet for nothing!

What? Are you saying that being depended upon Nexium, will actually now make your acid reflux worse if you go off the meds?

 

[elizke]

I had trouble for years, and took prescription acid reducers for most of those years. If I'd skip a single day I'd be miserable. Even water would cause trouble, and any time of day.

Eventually I decided to try and go without the medicine, and this time I was not having trouble. Cautiously I stopped altogether and was pleasantly surprised to not need it. I get that full feeling there, but not really the pain.

But recently someone gave me a bag of coffee beans, and I had stopped grinding my beans at home a while back, just got tired of doing it. And suddenly the heartburn came back. Stopped the fresh grinding, and it went away again. So I've finally discovered that for me, and for whatever reason, it's grinding the coffee beans fresh that does it. I can drink coffee, just not the freshly ground.

Of course everyone is different, but it's something to try if you happen to be a bean grinder or often drink coffee from places that do.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

What? Are you saying that being depended upon Nexium, will actually now make your acid reflux worse if you go off the meds?

YES. They actually have studies where they gave reflux meds to people who did not have problems for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, a large percentage of them (over half, but I can't recall the number) had reflux! It took some of them up to 3 months for the reflux to calm down.

The meds act much like a dam. When you stop them, you release the floodgates, and it takes a while for everything to normalize. It took over a month for mine to calm down after stopping Prilosec (it was even more painful than before I started them). It's best to try to decrease gradually, but you may still have problems.

As strange as this sounds, acid reflux can often be caused by too little stomach acid in your stomach (this leads to problems, including the weakening of the LES, which leads to reflux). Any reflux in your esophagus or throat is too much, but this can be caused by having too little in your stomach. In addition to the GAPS diet, I am also taking HCL with Pepsin, which is stomach acid, and it helps. You can also try drinking a warm glass of water with freshly squeezed lemon before a meal or Apple Cider Vinegar as someone previously mentioned. There's lots of info online about this.

 

[Christine]

What? Are you saying that being depended upon Nexium, will actually now make your acid reflux worse if you go off the meds?

Yep. It is temporary (but a LONG temporary). Here's what happens.

When you go on a drug like Nexium, it turns off your Proton Pumps. Proton Pumps are all over your stomach lining and they secrete acid. Nexium shuts them down. Your body doesn't like this because it WANTS you to have stomach acid so the less acid you have the body tries to make more by increasing a chemical in your bloodstream called "gastrin". The lower your stomach acid goes the higher your gastrin goes. If you do a gastrin blood test on anyone taking PPIs (Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid), their gastrin levels will always be very high.

So, one day you decide not to take your Nexium. Little by little your little pumps turn back on but they release a HUGE amount of acid because their little friend, gastrin, is cracking the whip on them because the gastrin levels are so high. Until the gastrin levels come down, you will produce an earth-scorching amount of acid. While you are doing that, you are probably causing damage to your stomach lining and esophagus.

When trying to wean off the PPIs, it is recommended that you use other medications, such as Pepcid or Tagamet, in the interim. They do not affect teh proton pumps or gastrin levels.

 

[focusondisney]

Uggh, I know where you're coming from OP. Been there, done that. Did the OTC Prilosec for too long & eventually stopped cold turkey. The heartburn continued but after going thru heck getting off the Prilosec, I just stuck with Tums for it. Early last year I made dietary changes for other health reasons. Cut way back on fats in my diet & lost 15 pounds. I started eating almonds almost every day. I didn't have any heartburn for months. Now I only get it if I eat too much butter, like on toast.

I have since read almonds will give relief from heartburn. When I do get the occassional burning, I eat a few almonds & get almost immediate relief. I have told a few friends & it works for them, too. Good luck!