Feel the burn

[The Mystery Machine]

Thank you all for your replies. I'm sorry that so many of you suffer from the same thing. He has been eating ice cream before bed, but after reading some of the replies I think he will discontinue that. He watches what he eats, and is very thin which is something else I worry about. I had heard something about apple cider vinegar and bought a bottle. He took a sip straight out of the bottle and I guess you know what happened. Talk about feeling the burn. What is the ratio of the apple cider vinegar and water, how long did you do it, and did it really help?

He needs to not eat ANY ice cream at all. It is a trigger food.

 

[Nohal]

He wasn't taking any other medication when this all started. He is being treated for severe acne and is using a topical and an antibiotic which he found out he is allergic to (severe itching all over). He has since stopped both of the medications. He will be calling the doctor tomorrow. Nothing showed up other than inflamation when they did the endoscopy but I am worried that something is wrong since he seems to be back where he was before he started this medicine. I'm hoping the doctors office will call the insurance company and somehow get them to approve the other medication he was taking at night.

 

[Tinkmom75]

I had to do a combination of the things I said above. I took the apple cider vinegar for about a month. The grossest thing ever. I probably dilluted it more than needed. It depends if he can shoot it or not. I put a couple tbs in a whole glass of water. It prolonged the ickiness, but I could manage better Plus I put Ice in it and kept is really cold and drank through a straw. It is not good to drink straight cause it can hurt the enamel on your teeth. I really don't understand why it is supposed to work.

 

[curious3069]

DS has been diagnosed with acid reflux. He has been dealing with this for over 6 months. He has taken Nexium which didn't help much and is now taking Pantoprazole twice a day. In Nov he had an endoscopy done which showed and inflamed esohpagus, the doctor told him it was severe for someone his age (26). He was also taking Axid before bed. The insurance company now refused to pay for the Axid or any other drug from the same family. The Axid would cost $130 for a one month supply. The nurse at the doctors office told him to take 2 Zanax before bed. He watches his diet closely. He seemed to be doing better but is now doing worse as it is keeping him up at night. If you also suffer from acid reflux, what do you do to ease the burn?

Has he talked to his Dr. to see if the Dr. can appeal to the insurance company about the Axid? Might not hurt go over his diet with the Dr and make sure there aren't any foods that seem bland, but aren't in there. I always thought bananas were bland..wrong, it's like eating nails.

Hopefully he can find some relief, it sounds like he's miserable!

 

[LindaR]

OP, there is a very good book that I purchased when I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and acid reflux.

"Eating for Acid Reflux" by Jill Sklar and Annabel Cohen

I learned SO much! Making changes seemed like it would be soooo difficult but after about 1-1.5 weeks, it was routine! AND (for me) I started losing weight (I needed to lose about 25 pounds) without any difficulty. I know your son doesn't need to lose but that was a great "side effect" for me!

I also bought this book for my sister when she was diagnosed with acid reflux.

VERY informative and VERY helpful!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

I was diagnosed with acid reflux almost three years ago. I started taking Aciphex, which helped, but then was dropped from our insurance. Nexium is not covered either. I'm on 40 mg Protonix once a day, and have been for about 2 years. I tried going without, but couldn't do it. I take mine in the morning, but I've been told to try taking it at night. I just can't seem to remember.

When I was first diagnosed, I eliminated all of the "no-no" foods and drinks. As I started feeling better, I introduced things back into my diet one at a time. If it bothered me, I eliminated it for good.

Some things that I absolutely can't tolerate: Soda, orange juice, peanut butter, tomato products, excessive amounts of chocolate, red wine , and excessive amounts of coffee and tea.

It really has been trial and error as to what I can eat and drink, and what I can't. And as mentioned in other posts, STRESS is a HUGE factor. I really pay for it when I am stressed out!

I really hope he can find something that works for him...it's a very cruddy thing to have to live with!!

 

[KAMLEM]

You said he take two xanax at bed time? That is pretty aggresive. I use a small dose of valium for muscle spasms, monitored. But with a flare in anxiety attacks, can only take a short term Ativan minimal dose to manage. The doctor would not perscribe a xanax.

She said that it was NOT xanax, it was Zantac.

 

[Snowysmom]

My DS was diagnosed with severe reflux at 16. He actually had alot of damage to his larynx and at night his throat would swell shut and he couldn't breathe. He ended up in Children's Hospital. They put him on Prilosec, 40 mg a day. Plus, he uses a wedge under the top of his mattress to keep his head elevated while sleeping. He also is not supposed to eat at least 3 hours before bedtime.
No caffeine, no chocolate, no spicy foods also help. He has been doing this for 8 years now and so far it seems to be mostly working. I am getting concerned that he is getting back that little cough he had before so he may need to up the Prilosec. There is also a new procedure they can do to tighten the sphincter that is less invasive than the usual surgery. They basically do an endoscopy and to in to tighten the sphincter with sutures. A good Gastroenterologist would be able to help your DS sort through his options.

 

[Nohal]

DS called Dr and they prescribed zantac which worked (he was using over the counter zantac). Finally after not getting a full nights sleep he was able to sleep last night. Of course insurance won't pay for the medicine but it was worth paying the $46.00 for a nights sleep. So hopefully between the pantoprazole (protonix) during the day (also not covered under insurance) and the zantac at night he is finally feeling better. If only there was a complete cure.

 

[castmemberb4]

OP, there is a very good book that I purchased when I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and acid reflux.

"Eating for Acid Reflux" by Jill Sklar and Annabel Cohen

I learned SO much! Making changes seemed like it would be soooo difficult but after about 1-1.5 weeks, it was routine! AND (for me) I started losing weight (I needed to lose about 25 pounds) without any difficulty. I know your son doesn't need to lose but that was a great "side effect" for me!

I also bought this book for my sister when she was diagnosed with acid reflux.

VERY informative and VERY helpful!!!

Thank You for recommending this book I went out and bought it this weekend.
I'm recently diagnosed too.

I posted earlier that I had been told to drink whole milk before bed. Well that can't be right the stuff i'm reading now says not to drink whole milk at all ! During a particularly bad episode the other night I got up and drank Soy milk, the only kind I drink, that seemed to help but who knows it may have just been the getting up and moving around that helped.