Hello, everyone. I've had reflux for 30+ years. This is what I am dealing with and how my gastro doctors at Mayo Clinic Florida are helping me with the various issues.

I had an endoscopy at Mayo 3 weeks ago, the first since 2015. Diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus in 2015 which is stable due to diet control, Schazki Ring in 2021 ~ scar tissue in a ring created by the esophagus for protection from damage caused by stomach acid and since gall bladder removal, liver bile. The body taking care of itself, protecting against rupture. That ring also causes me swallowing problems. At times, I have problems swallowing liquids or food. It gets stuck in the upper esophagus and I can feel it as it gradually, often quite slowly and painfully, moves down the esophageal tube. It gets stuck midway, at the sternum, where the ring now exists, and the Barrett's and makes a painful trip to the stomach when I change position or straighten up more. It helps to get the esophagus in a straight position so foods move down better.

Mother did help me work on my posture growing up....but over the years with herniated discs and broken vertebra, I've lost 4 inches in height, so I suppose there's some repositioning of the internal organs with that much change in space.

I also have a hiatel hernia diagnosed as moderate in 2015. The recent endoscopy doesn't show a hernia. Wild, isn't it? It's not gone, the docs say they don't heal themselves, but at times the hernia can't be seen since it sometimes folds itself up into the esophagus. I just found out my stomach will sometimes actually move into the esophagus when I bend over, and it does hurt, or when I use the diaphram muscles to get out of bed or raise up....it can be pushed up into the esophageal tube. I'm learning more to best handle those situations.

I will have a 2nd endoscopy balloon procedure next Monday to stretch the Schazki Ring as far as possible w/o rupture. That will help ease the swallowing. I questioned having another procedure w/sedation so soon. Both gastro and neuro have given me the ok, so I'm doing it for quality of life. I have severe sleep apnea and use a bi-pap nightly, so must have complete sedation for a breathing tube.

I have success handling reflux issues through the years with diet changes. It's not difficult, actually pretty easy, requiring a mind change. I had to make a decision about what was important to me. It meant not eating some favorites, being careful. I eat no cooked tomatoes, limit onions, NO vinegar in anything, that means no pickles, many sauces, no citrus at all anymore, no cucumbers, fruit is ok but only berries now, no melons. I often have Greek yogurt parfait for breakfast, with 4 different berries topped with granola. I get them at the grocery store - Publix...healthy, helps digestion, gut in general, helps w/IBS and antibiotics, yogurt neutralizes the fruits and is my source of Calcium due to milk sensitivity.

Your 'smoothie' with almond milk and fruit is wonderful. I do the same. I get fresh fruit, berries, always blueberries, bananas, clean/cut and freeze it in baggies, and use that with almond milk and unsweetened, no flavor added or vanilla protein powder. No added water or ice.This makes a wonderful, easily digested, smoothie for a meal. I don't do the same with veggies.

I use no spices now other than garlic powder, fresh ground black pepper, no salt for other health reasons, eat nothing spicy or very strong. I have to be very careful to stay away from most Italian foods due to sauces and tomatoes. Salmon and most white fish, chicken, nothing fried at all ever, limited chocolate, limited coffee-1-2 cups and green tea daily.

OK. That gives you an idea. Not much excitement in my foods, but I find I can eat well and healthy and enjoy the foods. It's a real change in life-style...oh, no alcohol ever!...but I live with less pain and no reflux attacks or return of food. I do take Protonix 2X daily and that with diet control the reflux fairly well. Also, I never eat after 6-7 at night, give my insides a few hours before lying down. I've lived for years with my head elevated, either on pillows or better now with foam wedges under the head of my mattress.

This is a long message for which I apologize, but I'm hopeful the information I've shared and my experiences will help someone who's having trouble with reflux. It's not easy, but you can keep it under control to some degree and give yourself some relief. I found I need both medication, as little as possible, and diet control. And, stay on top of annual endoscopy.

Blessings on your journey with this condition. elizabeth