Connect
Severe GERD
Severe GERD has been my enemy for 15 years.
Doctors prescribed and I've taken the usual, and well known meds for GERDS, but none have given me any long term relief. The gas, nausea, stomach gurgling, stomach pain, bloating, indigestion, and gastritis had become my new normal. I've had all the usual tests for stomach, colon, and whatever else.....Results Always GERD! I think I've taken every med for GERD.
I stopped taking Prilosec six weeks ago after hearing, and reading negative reports on the long term use of these medicines.
Was seeing my Primary Physician for my yearly physical, and he questioned me about the Toprol 50mg XL. He asked me if the meds made me feel lethargic, depressed, any indigestion, any gas. My answer was YES, YES, AND YES to all the above. He gave no comments, but his questions caused some concerns for me and I called my Cardiologist with my concerns....taking Toprol for rapid heartbeat. Shared my concerns with my Cardiologist and he advised me to take half/25mg pill before bedtime.....I was taking pill in the AM after breakfast.....breakfast is a bowl of instant grits. Heartbeat has always been rapid after meals and I'd start to associate eating with heartrate. I had some serious indigestion and heartburn 2 weeks ago and tried the new Duo Fusion Chewables by Zantac. AND WHAT A RELIEF!!!!!! I now chew one Fusion after meals and absolutely NO Gas, No Indigestion, No Heartburn, AND NO RAPID HEARTBEAT.
I could get my heart rate down if I could manage to get that long belch out, the one that starts at the bottom of the leftside of my diaphragm and travels up and out....feels so good, but the Fusion prevents the buildup of air/gas for me.
The Fusion is the BEST and I feel GREAT. I'm no longer limiting my foods to white rice, green beans, and grilled salmon.....this has been my main meal for about 3 years, at least four times a week. CAN'T EAT ANY FRUITS, DAIRY PRODUCTS(Lactose Intolerant), most vegetables, wheat, nothing Red, and most breads, I'm okay with eating Flat Bread. No juices, nor sodas, but ok with Ginger Ale.
Do you think it's okay to chew the Fusion daily which gives me so much RELIEF? I don't believe they would be as harmful as taking the prescribed meds for so many years and had no healing nor relief.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.
Connect
Hi @megagrif,
Welcome to Connect. Here's some information from Mayo Clinic, about Zantac: http://mayocl.in/2n2GDWE
I'd also like to introduce you to a few members who might be able to give you some more insight; please meet @danybegood1, @doron, @betterb4, @saucy, @mcpucho, @dash99999, @cowboy1997, @lacey, @Pookith85, @probsolved.
@kdubois, you have written at length about drug metabolization polymorphisms, in another conversation; do you have any suggestions or advice?
@megagrif, what does your physician recommend?
Hi @megagrif, are you taking any other medications right now in addition to the Toprol and Zantac Duo Fusion Chewables?
Regarding your GI issues, in addition to the GERD, do you also have a hiatal hernia?
Cut out the rice!! Go to proteins and vegetables and Watch those,some can be very fast. No carbs or fructose including fruit. I've finally gotten off all meds.
Update: I am now off all medications after surviving the unnecessary prescription for Omeprazole! It took trying MANY new things. I found that Zantac, Tums and other antacids only helped for a couple hours or so, and then the heat came back worse! My theory is that I actually have low acid and also that my GI tract was devoid of healthy bacteria, depleted from the Omeprazole and other drugs. I suffered with heat from my stomach to my voice box CONSTANTLY, only varying in heat level from 2 - 9 on a scale of 1-10. As of today, the heat in my esophagus has been gone for 6 days since I added Probiotics. I say that cautiously as I have a true fear of it returning. I still have a bit of a sore throat.
Here is my routine: Oatmeal with a bit of brown sugar and Maluka honey, just recently added 1/2 Cup Simply Smooth Folgers coffee (what a treat!) with lots of lactose free milk (and I take supplements, calcium citrate to help strengthen my LES, and Magnesium), Lunch is a smoothie made with Spinach, Kale, apple, grapes, Maluka honey, water & ice, to which I add the GNC Utra 100 Probiotic Complex (this is what finally dissipated the heat!) (and I take L-Glutamine as it helps heal your gut and strengthens the immune system.) Before dinner I drink a couple TBSPS of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and Maluka Honey and then have a normal low-acid dinner. (Meat, and 2 vegatables) and I take a Betaine with Pepsin capsule with the meal (also to strengthen my LES) At bedtime I take 3 mg of Melatonin (also to strengthen my LES). I will keep you posted if the heat stays away and if my sore throat goes away. This has been hell, it is nice to start to feel better again. The problem is, I no longer trust doctors because of their rush to write a prescription. I will, however, keep an eye on the new surgeries to help hiatal hernia and GERD, especially the LINX procedure.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi @megagrif @betterb4,
I too suffered from severe Gerd for 11 years, and I am now drug free. I was taking Prilosec for many years, but it caused other issues, and then I went on 300 mg of Zantac daily. I couldn't miss a dose without feeling the burn. Not too long ago, I did research on conventional medicine and have completely rid myself of Gerd by doing the following:
1. I am on the Paleo autoimmune protocol (mild version of it since after the first 3 weeks I was able to add a lot of food back into my diet.
2. I take the following gut supplements as recommended by Kris Kresser (here is the link: http://my.chriskresser.com/the-supplement-guide/). I take the list for digestive disorders and the list for autoimmune.
If you have told me that I could get rid of gerd with no more medicine I wouldn't have believed it. By the way, the following also helped my bloating and pain due to messenteric panniculitis. I find that the only thing that triggers it is if I cheat a lot, including alcohol and have intense amount of stress. I hope I can learn to meditate but I am a type A person who is quite skeptical.
I wish you health. take care, Doron
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@doron, @magagrif, @betterb4, THANK YOU so much for the information! I will definitely look at this website. Right now i am willing to try anything. I haven't counted my prescription meds but it must 10-12 per day not counting supplements. How did you happen to think to try the paleo diet? Im so glad you found something to work for you. All my best,Judy
@danybegood1 I went on the paleo autoimmune protocol because I had another autoimmune disease and when I got messenteric panniculits, I just didn't want to start using some of these toxic drugs (specifically steroids). My understanding from this site is that not all versions of the disease are autoimmune but I suspect my version to be related. I went on the autoimmune protocol very strictly, and saw results within 6 weeks. I went from not being able to sleep or walk well, to running around with my kids. I did however lose too much weight, but started adding food back in. I cheat often and have relapses when I cheat too much, especially when I am stressed. During one of these stressful times, when my doctor was not around I did research and found out about functional medicine. I added all the supplements and probioitics, and then after 11 years of suffering my gerd disappeared. I still have too much stress since I am a technology entrepreneur, but the one thing that doesn't come back as long as I take the supplements is the gerd. I wish you the best.
How did you develop the program, quantities and amounts, of the supplements?
If you go to the link I supplied above, it lists all the dosages. I followed the digestive disorder and autoimmune lists. When they included the same supplements, I didn't double up. The instructions are quite clear and easy to follow. The only negative is that the supplements are not cheap, and one of them you can only get on his website. The rest you can purchase on Amazon. They use a soil based probiotic, and ironically the Paleo Mom recommends those as well.
@doron, do you think i should get a paleo book? And if so, which one, or just use Cris Kresser's website? I dont suppose this helped your hair did it? Im losing mine.
Judy