GERD treatment: Diet vs. drugs

I'm eating a low acid diet for Gerd and Barrett esophagus. For fruit I eat ripe bananas because they have less acid in them. I also eat mixed melon. Stay away from lemons or limes because they burn the throat and esophagus on the way down. I also eat blueberrys with raspberries and a ripe banana in a blender with unsweetened almond milk which neutralizes the acid in the fruit. I got that recipe from the acid watcher diet book written by a Dr. My last upper scope they saw NO sign of Barretts esophagus so it must work. Great info in the book for Gerd people and it tells you about myths like lemon and limes are good for you! Good Luck!

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

I also don't eat a lot of salt and no black or red pepper. It was a total change of diet for me after getting gerd and Barrett's.

I think you and I are proof how important diet is in treating and living with Gerd. And, that it really makes a difference, Don't know about you, but it didn't happen all at once. I was shocked into it, somewhat, by the fact when I ate the wrong thing, payment was very high and tough. I learned soon I had to take some control over this issue. When I did, it helped.

I don't think there's really any other way, is there? You take meds, too? I take protonix am/pm. Couldn't survive w/o it. Still have problems, but I can usually work through it. I do find at times the gas issue is severe. Don't know if that's a usual part of this or not, but it is for me. I do something funny....drink about 1/2-1 diet coke daily. That helps my digestion, helps me burp and release gas. No idea the cause of the gas as I am so careful re foods, but it's very real and can be tough. Diet coke helps. That's the only thing I do for it. Funny.....

I wish you well on this Gerd ship. I hope your diet control will help keep the worsening to a minimum. I think it has for me, as I'm really pleased with the general look of the esophagus. And, Barrett's is controlled at present.
Blessings and may this new day be good. elizabeth

I take 40mg pantaprazole 30 min before supper. I was eating before bedtime, drinking 5-6 diet dews a day, drinking 5 or more coffees too. I was taking too much motrin which burned a hole in my small intestine and thats when i found out its time for a change in diet. No more soda for me, its the number 1 enemy for gerd patients. Good luck!

Thank you, I just found out I have a ulcer and acid and inflammation in my stomach. So I’m trying to figure out what to eat

Thanks for posting that recipe. I will definitely try it.

You are smart to avoid drugs. It’s only a bandaid fix. Gastros push PPI but they have horrendous side effects. I can’t stay on them longer than 3 months. It keeps me from absorbing magnesium and I get horrible leg cramps. It can keep you from absorbing B12 also have to get shots. I was just on for 3 months again and I had to stop. Not sure if there is any real cure for this problem. Trigger foods are different for everyone.

Hello,

I also have had GI problems with GERD and esophagitis. I also make smoothies in a blender. I use a combination of Kefir and an Atkins shake for the liquid (rather than almond milk). The Kefir provides probiotics and the Atkins shake provides protein and fiber. I generally add fruit such as berries and bananas.

Kefir is quite sour to drink alone, however, mixed in a blender with other ingredients the sour taste is not noticeable.

Has anyone else tried Kefir?

My recipe is
1 cup of blueberries and or raspberries
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup almond milk (neutralizes the acid from berries)
Put in blender and grind