Acid reflux

[KatieCollette]

I'm the same way. started up last summer out of nowhere. I bought target brand acid reflux pills and pop them when it flares up. I haven't really changed my diet but I probably should. Does stress have anything to do with acid reflux?

 

[Christine]

I'm the same way. started up last summer out of nowhere. I bought target brand acid reflux pills and pop them when it flares up. I haven't really changed my diet but I probably should. Does stress have anything to do with acid reflux?

When you are stressed out, your stomach increases its production of acid. Now whether or not that acid refluxes up into your esophagus depends on how strong your lower espophageal sphincter is.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

To put some of this in perspective, my mother had a duodenal ulcer when I was growing up in the 70s. She was followed by a GI specialist. Guess what the treatment was for it back then? A cream diet. For years. That was the best they could offer. It was a huge issue for her. In the mid 80s I remember getting a call that she was in the hospital getting blood transfusions - the ulcer had begun bleeding.

I also saw a LOT of GI ulcers as a new nurse in the 80s. You don't see too many any more thanks to these wonderful medications. GERD, yes. Bleeding ulcers, not so much.

Preventative measures are always best if you can figure out what your triggers are. But the medications, in the right dosages and amounts for each individual, can help a lot, too. They've transformed acid reflux disease in the past two decades.

BTW, my mother has severe arthritis. Disabling, actually, and she cannot function without medication for pain. Finding the right analgesics for her has been very challenging due to her history of bleeding ulcer. We literally spent years trying to find one that didn't make her sick to her stomach or otherwise disagree with her. What worked best after all that trial and error was plain ol motrin. We had many tense moments wondering if it would reactivate her ulcer. But fortunately with the advent of some of the newer GI medications taken conjunctively, she was able to take motrin without any difficulty at all. I think they actually helped heal the ulcer enough so that it's not really an issue any more. This was like a miracle for her.

So I do think the medications have their place.

For people who have chronic acid in their throats, that's not a good thing and can lead to cellular changes that lead to esophageal cancer (Barrett's Esophagus).

 

[daughtersrus]

A few of my friends swear by watermelon. For whatever reason, if they eat it, the reflux goes away.

 

[Callie]

You guys are scaring me here! I'm only 20, and have been on Nexium for a longggg time. I don't deal as much with the acid issues, as I do with the reflux, and food just coming up. Not puking, just coming up after I eat. It happens a lot, and they've run every test known to man and cna't figure it out.

I do notice if I don't take my pills, I get the horrible acid symtoms. Its just not fun to loose have your lunch to the toliet.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I take a prescription medication for my acid reflux. I chewed Tums for years but when it got to where I was eating 2 Tums every 3 or 4 hours every day I knew I had to have something stronger.

It works great and I eat what i want and never have heartburn.

 

[OceanAnnie]

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.

Thanks for passing that along! I am interested and will look into it. Glad to hear it is working for you.

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

I was on a acid reducer for about 3 weeks and I had a terrible time trying to get off of it. That's not to say it's typical, but I was surprised I had that kind of a reaction in such a short amount of time.

ETA- I do think the med helps people. I'm not trying to scare anyone into not taking it. If you need it, you need it. My case wasn't bad enough to keep taking it. I'm just sharing situation.

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!

Thanks for sharing that! I ate some almonds with lunch. I'll be eating them more often. I have a big bag already.

A few of my friends swear by watermelon. For whatever reason, if they eat it, the reflux goes away.

I like watermelon. That's good to know! Thanks.

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

One post caught my eye where the OP had to give up pizza because of the red sauce.

My favorite pizza came about by accident. We ordered a thin crust Hawaiian at Pizza Hut one day and the waitress said "Do you want sauce with that?"

It never occured to me not to have sauce but we said sure, do half with and half without. Well, it was great. The pineapple juices meld with the crust and the cheese and I love not having that tomatoey aftertaste.

 

[marcyinPA]

I was diagnosed with reflux about 6 years ago. I had the whole barium swallow/endoscopy thing....which determined that I had an esophageal erosion.

They put me on Prevacid, then Protonix. Once I was healed, I was able to eat foods by trial and error. What I found was that I could have a glass of wine, if I didn't have any other trigger foods that day. But, too many trigger foods in one day and I was a mess.

I weaned myself off of the meds, and now take generic OTC famotidine 20 mg, probably every other day or so.

I still cough a lot at night.

I drink coffee but I shouldn't. I don't do soda anymore. Even tea/iced tea gives me issues. Red wine is a killer. Peanut butter, red sauce, onions, spicy food....all bad for me.

One thing that has helped tremendously is regular exercise. I started doing Zumba twice a week about a year and a half ago, and I feel better than I ever have.

Another poster mentioned almonds- YES! I also do this! Chew them until they are a paste. Then swallow. Also, papaya. That is supposed to help too!

 

[OceanAnnie]

One post caught my eye where the OP had to give up pizza because of the red sauce.

My favorite pizza came about by accident. We ordered a thin crust Hawaiian at Pizza Hut one day and the waitress said "Do you want sauce with that?"

It never occured to me not to have sauce but we said sure, do half with and half without. Well, it was great. The pineapple juices meld with the crust and the cheese and I love not having that tomatoey aftertaste.

Thanks for passing that along. I'll give it a try. I wouldn't have thought of it either!

I was diagnosed with reflux about 6 years ago. I had the whole barium swallow/endoscopy thing....which determined that I had an esophageal erosion.

They put me on Prevacid, then Protonix. Once I was healed, I was able to eat foods by trial and error. What I found was that I could have a glass of wine, if I didn't have any other trigger foods that day. But, too many trigger foods in one day and I was a mess.

I weaned myself off of the meds, and now take generic OTC famotidine 20 mg, probably every other day or so.

I still cough a lot at night.

I drink coffee but I shouldn't. I don't do soda anymore. Even tea/iced tea gives me issues. Red wine is a killer. Peanut butter, red sauce, onions, spicy food....all bad for me.

One thing that has helped tremendously is regular exercise. I started doing Zumba twice a week about a year and a half ago, and I feel better than I ever have.

Another poster mentioned almonds- YES! I also do this! Chew them until they are a paste. Then swallow. Also, papaya. That is supposed to help too!

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. No fun that's for sure. I had the same tests. Talk about no fun! Fortunately I didn't have any structural changes.

I was on Protonix. That was the drug, I couldn't remember the name of it for anything. I didn't like it. I'm sure it is helpful for many, and it probably helped me short term. But it I didn't like it a bit.

I am basically eating a bland diet with a splurge now and then. My only constant splurge is a cup of coffee in the morning. So far, so good.

I do love spicy foods, Italian, Mexican. They have all gone on the kibosh list.
For now anyway. And smaller meals. I had the best blue cheese bacon burger the other day. It was huge. But it was so good and dinner was so late I ate it. Indigestion city. Live and learn.

I have been lucky in the scheme of things.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I was on Protonix. That was the drug, I couldn't remember the name of it for anything. I didn't like it. I'm sure it is helpful for many, and it probably helped me short term. But it I didn't like it a bit.

I am basically eating a bland diet with a splurge now and then. My only constant splurge is a cup of coffee in the morning. So far, so good.

I do love spicy foods, Italian, Mexican. They have all gone on the kibosh list.
For now anyway. And smaller meals. I had the best blue cheese bacon burger the other day. It was huge. But it was so good and dinner was so late I ate it. Indigestion city.

Annie, have you done a trial of Prilosec? It seems a shame you should have to live this way when there may be help out there for you.

 

[bgirl29]

Just an fyi for all of you fellow sufferers. Folgers does make a lower acid coffee that is easier on the digestive system.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Annie, have you done a trial of Prilosec? It seems a shame you should have to live this way when there may be help out there for you.

Thanks.

It's sort of a come and go thing. I went for months eating whatever I wanted with zero effects. I did have a lot of stress crop up and the combo was a one two punch. So I'm just laying low for now. I think (hope) it's very temporary. When I do go back to eating normally, I'm going to be careful and plan ahead. I won't be stacking the trigger foods.

I'd like to stay off meds if I can. But if there comes a time I can't, I'll do it.

Just an fyi for all of you fellow sufferers. Folgers does make a lower acid coffee that is easier on the digestive system.

Thanks for sharing that. I have heard of low acid coffee. Didn't know who made it though. My coffee is on the weak side. I make it in a latte cup, but it's just a regular dose of coffee. Lots of cream. I tell myself it helps. I like it that way anyway.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It's sort of a come and go thing. I went for months eating whatever I wanted with zero effects. I did have a lot of stress crop up and the combo was a one two punch. So I'm just laying low for now. I think (hope) it's very temporary. When I do go back to eating normally, I'm going to be careful and plan ahead. I won't be stacking the trigger foods.

I'd like to stay off meds if I can. But if there comes a time I can't, I'll do it.

I didn't like protonix, either. But prilosec made a world of difference when I was having some problems, too. Eventually I was able to come off of it but it was a godsend when I needed it. I hope you'll give it a try.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I didn't like protonix, either. But prilosec made a world of difference when I was having some problems, too. Eventually I was able to come off of it but it was a godsend when I needed it. I hope you'll give it a try.

Thank you for mentioning it! I will definitely keep it in mind. If protonix is ever suggested again, I'll say I'd rather try prilosec! You can bet on that.