GERD: What helps long term?

Posted by littleonefmohio @littleonefmohio, Apr 19, 2018

Does anyone know what I can take for GERD long term? I never had it until they removed my gallbladder. Since then I have been living in hell. I cannot take pain medication, antidepressants, of course certain foods. I have tried prilosec, nexium, and now take tums and zantac. I have severe GERD where I feel i am having a heart attack. I think it was in October of last year I was taken to the hospital with it because it seem much worse than before. At that time they ran every test for heart problems and thank God I do not have heart disease. I Cannot bend over to work in my yard like I love too mostly because of that. Also wanted to ask if anyone heard that Tums would give you Alzheimers? I will have to take 3 or more sometimes to get the pain to stop. That is the only thing I found that works with the Zantac but I am worried about the Alzheimers since my grandfather had it. I also need to get my teeth pulled but am scared to death of the pain since I cannot take pain killers.

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riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | Apr 26, 2021

In reply to @bonnieh218 "I’m looking for anyone that is successfully treating their reflux with diet or supplements instead of..." + (show)

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.

ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Apr 26, 2021

In reply to @riflemanz64 "I also don't eat a lot of salt and no black or red pepper. It was..." + (show)

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

riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | Apr 27, 2021

In reply to @bonnieh218 "I’m looking for anyone that is successfully treating their reflux with diet or supplements instead of..." + (show)

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!

trene | @trene | Apr 27, 2021

In reply to @riflemanz64 "I'm eating a low acid diet for Gerd and Barrett esophagus. For fruit I eat ripe..." + (show)

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

Nanny23 | @nanny23 | Apr 27, 2021

In reply to @riflemanz64 "I'm eating a low acid diet for Gerd and Barrett esophagus. For fruit I eat ripe..." + (show)

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

Nanny23 | @nanny23 | Apr 27, 2021

In reply to @bonnieh218 "I’m looking for anyone that is successfully treating their reflux with diet or supplements instead of..." + (show)

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.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 27, 2021

In reply to @ess77 "Hello, everyone. I've had reflux for 30+ years. This is what I am dealing with and..." + (show)

@ess77

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

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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?

riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | Apr 27, 2021

In reply to @bonnieh218 "I’m looking for anyone that is successfully treating their reflux with diet or supplements instead of..." + (show)

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

ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Apr 27, 2021

In reply to @nanny23 "Thanks for posting that recipe. I will definitely try it." + (show)

I love that combination of berries and sweet banana and almond milk, too. I add a tablespoon/scoop of vanilla or unflavored unsweetened protein powder and after buying fresh berries, banana, I clean and cut up the fruit, stick it in ziplock baggies and put in freezer until I'm ready for a smoothie. By freezing the fruit, I get the really cold effect that I love w/o adding ice which waters down the drink. I love this smoothie and do this a couple times weekly. It's really delicious, feels like a treat and is so good for me.

I also take several supplements, after blood-tests for deficiencies and to see what I need to add. I take script potassium, script B12 shot I give myself every 2 weeks, Vitron+C -for iron deficiency, D3, B Complex, zinc, magnesium, biotin, Centrum Silver for Women, glucosomine-chondrointin, I eat a greek yogurt parfait with berries and granola several times weekly for breakfast, which helps my digestion and offers protection as I'm often on anti-biotics , steroids or other meds. I have also added a probiotic, which I lucked up on since they are so different..but, for years I had serious gut/IBS-D and since , don't.

I seem to have hit a good system for me with this issue. Trial and error. There are some foods that can cause you specific issues. But, the gastro doc had a list of the ones most likely to cause Gerd problems. I have my own list that's just added to the general list.

Interesting, I can't drink any carbonated waters or drinks other than diet coke. Coke is known to have a soothing effect of the stomach. That may be part of it, don't know. But, the carbonation in this drink helps me with gas and bloating. Other carbonation cause serious Gerd issues.

That's a breakfast or maybe a mid-afternoon small meal. I also eat small amounts always. My gut will rebel like crazy if I eat what used to be a full meal. I eat 4-6 times daily, small amounts, varied items/tastes. And, not after 6ish in the evening. I drink water/green tea iced or hot throughout the day, about 64 oz of liquids daily.

Hope you all find you own personal system that works for you. blessings, elizabeth

riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | Apr 27, 2021

In reply to @nanny23 "You are smart to avoid drugs. It’s only a bandaid fix. Gastros push PPI but they..." + (show)

I also started to get severe leg cramps at night. I'll wake up feeling like I've torn my calf muscle screaming in pain. I thought it was from me walking too much and never thought to question the ppi I'm on. Now I know.

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