Gerd

[AustinTink]

1. Do you have it?
2. What do you take for it?
3. What dietary changes have you made? How well did they work?
4. What lifestyle changes have you made?

I'm new to this GERD thing, but it seems to be getting worse. I've been coughing up acid all day.

 

[HardShell]

1) Yes
2) Zantac 150mg daily, at bedtime, 20+ years now *
3) I stay away for the spiciest of foods (which I love) most of the time (and suffer for it when I don't!)
4) Nothing beyond the above


* It should go without saying, but medication and the efficacy thereof is a very personal/individual thing. Zantac was the second medicine prescribed to me (the first was ineffective) when first diagnosed with GERD years ago, it worked well and has served me well since; I know others for whom Zantc did nothing but who had success with other prescriptions and/or therapies. Also, Zantac is available OTC now but was not back then.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I have it quite bad and at times wake up with acid pouring out of my nose ewwwwwwwwww

I have been on numerous prescriptions and have had the most success with prescription previcid. My doctor currently has me on tecta and it does not seem to be as effective as my previcid was.

I avoid spicy food, acidic food, carbonated beverages but at times water can be the culprit so some times i just give in and enjoy and double up my pills. I miss all the stuff that are triggers for me, simple stuff like tomato sauce, oranges, steak spice etc etc.

I have regular testing for esphogeal cancer as acid refux seems to be a cause of it. There are people in my family who have had their esophugus wrapped due to it being so severe and i hope mine never gets to that point as they can only do that once in your lifetime and as a last resort.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

1. Do you have it? YES
2. What do you take for it? Prevacid and Ranitidine
3. What dietary changes have you made? Eat small meals more often. How well did they work? It works 90% of the time.
4. What lifestyle changes have you made? Walk a LOT more, sleep with my head and upper body in an upright position. Understand there will be bad days!

I'm new to this GERD thing, but it seems to be getting worse. I've been coughing up acid all day.

My answers in purple. Have you tried some extra tums for now and I would sleep upright tonight and if your current meds are not working, make sure to let the doctors know, but sometimes you will just flair even though you are doing everything right. Hope you feel better.

 

[gdulaney]

I have GERD and Chronic Cough....

Currently the GI doctor has me trying a combination of Lansoprazole (generic for RX Prevacid), which is a Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) and Famotidine (generic for RX Pepcid), which is a Histamine-2 (H2) Blockers.

My best tip -- sleep on your left side in a slightly elevated position. That puts gravity on your side.

Good luck!
Ginny

 

[AustinTink]

Thank you all for the replies! I've been trying to get by, through eliminating problem foods. But, this isn't working for me anymore. It seems like everything effects me now. I had an episode this weekend where some of the acid went down my windpipe and I was literally choking in the movie theater. Scary and embarrassing. I was having popcorn and sprite. I should have known better.

We're going to Universal for a week. I'm not sure if there is anything I can eat there. Between the gerd and my allergies to gluten and shellfish, I'm a mess.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thank you all for the replies! I've been trying to get by, through eliminating problem foods. But, this isn't working for me anymore. It seems like everything effects me now. I had an episode this weekend where some of the acid went down my windpipe and I was literally choking in the movie theater. Scary and embarrassing. I was having popcorn and sprite. I should have known better.

We're going to Universal for a week. I'm not sure if there is anything I can eat there. Between the gerd and my allergies to gluten and shellfish, I'm a mess.

Let's see, I had to give up ANY lemon lime soda yrs ago. In fact it was the first REAL thing I totally gave up.

My list for food elimination grows with each yr. Last yr I HAD TO GIVE UP WINE. (insert crying smilie) I also had to give up "chocolate cookies". For whatever reason, they are lighting me up.

It sucks.

I take Nexium as needed and constipation makes it worse.

 

[AustinTink]

Let's see, I had to give up ANY lemon lime soda yrs ago. In fact it was the first REAL thing I totally gave up.

My list for food elimination grows with each yr. Last yr I HAD TO GIVE UP WINE. (insert crying smilie) I also had to give up "chocolate cookies". For whatever reason, they are lighting me up.

It sucks.

I take Nexium as needed and constipation makes it worse.

Yep, I stay away from soda, or any carbonated beverages. But, I decided to walk on the wild side and have a few sips of sprite. Bad idea. I'm also done with anything fried, spicy, tomato based or with too much sugar. Add to that no gluten and I'm a joy to go out to dinner with. Oh and I can no longer eat ice cream, it makes the gerd go crazy for me. Just shoot me!

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

1. Do you have it?
Yes.

2. What do you take for it?
Took Aciphex for 4.5 years. Now use chewable papaya for rare flare ups

3. What dietary changes have you made? How well did they work?
Eliminated caffeine and reduced tomato intake. With the removal of caffeine from diet I was able to come off of Aciphex within 2 weeks. I have not had to go back on it and I gave up caffeine in December.
For the occasional flareups, I use the chewable papaya, but the flareups are very rare.

4. What lifestyle changes have you made?
I have Celiac Disease so in addition to being caffeine free I am also gluten and dairy free. I was not diagnosed with Gerd until my carb intake was reduced post Celiac diagnosis.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yep, I stay away from soda, or any carbonated beverages. But, I decided to walk on the wild side and have a few sips of sprite. Bad idea. I'm also done with anything fried, spicy, tomato based or with too much sugar. Add to that no gluten and I'm a joy to go out to dinner with. Oh and I can no longer eat ice cream, it makes the gerd go crazy for me. Just shoot me!

Isn't it fun? My dh has been living this way for 20yrs and controls his with diet.

I live in the house of bland. No sauces, gravies, spices, etc....

His triggers are spices. Basil and pepper are his devil's and send him to the hospital. He gets heartburn so bad he has to get a lidocaine cocktail, which is why he had to change his eating long ago. He gets the "I am having a heart attack pain".

 

[marcyinPA]

1. Do you have it? Yes, for about 7 years now

2. What do you take for it? Used to take prescription Protonix, but it was too expensive so I switched recently to OTC famotadine 20 mg a day and it works pretty well. I tried weaning myself off of meds completely, but after a week without, I was a mess. Sometimes I can go every other day, if I don't eat a lot of trigger foods. It's really been trial and error for me...

3. What dietary changes have you made? How well did they work? I haven't made a lot of changes, but I do know what foods/drinks trigger me. I have to watch my quantities of coffee, tea, soda (which I never drink anyway), acidic juices, peanut butter, tomatoes and tomato based sauces, spicy foods, onions, garlic and chocolate. Oh, and wine. Red wine. Such a bummer because I LOVE it, but it doesn't love me

4. What lifestyle changes have you made? I work out more now than I ever did...I do Zumba twice a week, and I walk once or twice a week. I'm not sure if it helps my reflux or not, but I do feel better than I have in a long time.
I also try not to eat anything or drink anything that will bother my stomach at night.

 

[Robinrs]

1. Do you have it? YES, for about 10 years now.

2. What do you take for it? I used to take Prilosec or Nexium.

3. What dietary changes have you made? How well did they work? I separate my carbs and my proteins and do not eat anything after 6pm. If I do I have to take a pill.

4. What lifestyle changes have you made? See above. I also have less issues if I eat something creamy before bed, like yogurt or lactose free ice cream. Seems to neutralize the acit.

Good luck. Try to find lifestyle changes instead of depending on a medication.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Nexium

 

[PrincessKsMom]

1. Do you have it? Yes. 20 years
2. What do you take for it? Nexium 40mg 1x day (occasionally 2x a day)
3. What dietary changes have you made? How well did they work? Honestly, not many. But I do know what triggers it. Tomato sauce, alcohol, fatty foods, peppermint/spearmint, caffeine, smoking, tight pants, being overweight
4. What lifestyle changes have you made? Spent many years sleeping in a seated position propped against the wall. Try to stay away from my triggers as much as possible, don't smoke, etc. Only very recently have I begun to work out. I know the weight isn't helping, but this all started when I was in my early 20's and much, much thinner so I don't think it will ever go away. Scheduled for my endoscopy on June 7. I also take Tums at night as my gastro said it was also a good source of calcium.

I'm new to this GERD thing, but it seems to be getting worse. I've been coughing up acid all day.

I feel your pain, literally. It's a horrible existence when it's at it's worst. Nothing like vomitting acid and having it come out your nose. I think you best bet is to see a GE and get some help. I was able to take Zantac through my second and third trimesters when I was pregnant too and it was a HUGE help.

 

[fall08CP]

I've suffered from GERD since childhood, and no medicines helped. I recently went vegan and GERD has completely, 100% disappeared. I understand that's not practical for most, but it made such a difference that I plan to stick with it.

 

[minnie56]

I have it as well as a 'dismotility' problem. When it is really bad I have to take a pill before every meal and again at bedtime...in addition..I take a pill called 'Tecta' once daily. When it's not bad..I just take the Tecta. It is miserable...I sympathise.

 

[castmemberb4]

Yes for about a year now, so I'm a rookie compared to most who have answered. I started with Previcid then switched to Nexxium. About the same time as the switch in meds I also propped up the head of my bed. Don't know which worked best but I'm a lot better now, have even been able to add back some trigger foods. I really feel it's the bed that has helped most. I expect my Dr to switch my Nexxium from daily to as needed on my next visit.
I get my worst response when I over eat.

Good Luck

ETA - The book Living with Acid Reflux which is half infoormation half cookbook, help
me a lot in understanding GERD and how to control it.

 

[marcyinPA]

Do you all think that stress plays a significant role in your reflux? I tend to be a worrier, and not very laid back (type-A...) and I think that my reflux is worse when I am over stressed.

Just wondering if you notice the same...

 

[castmemberb4]

Do you all think that stress plays a significant role in your reflux? I tend to be a worrier, and not very laid back (type-A...) and I think that my reflux is worse when I am over stressed.

Just wondering if you notice the same...

I can agree with that.
At the time mine was it's worst, second degree
burns on my vocal chords ! I was also going through
pretty bad pre menopause depression. Thankfully I've
gotten help for both.

On the same train of though how about sleep apnea?
My ENT diagnosed me while I was in treatment for GERD.
I've had a CPAP just over a year now and everything in
my life is so much better

 

[scottishduffy]

1. Do you have it? My DH has it pretty severe.

2. What do you take for it? He takes Prilosec for it. But will get a Fundoplication done sometime next year to hopefully fix it.

3. What dietary changes have you made? How well did they work? He eliminated Coffe, spicy foods, and dairy. They helped some (especially the coffee) but he still had symptoms.

4. What lifestyle changes have you made? He maintains a BMI in the normal weight range. He exercise a bit more. He reduced stress in his life (that helped the most as stress triggers it often for him). That also helped to reduce it some.

He went from having symptoms of reflux 3-4 times per day and being in pain, to now having symptoms maybe once or twice a week. Though he does still have the constant belching. He will have a fundoplication done next year because the valve to his stomach is basically completely incompetent. He does not wish to be on meds for his whole life since he is only 30, so we will take a surgical route to fix it.