1. < Digestive Health

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

kbro2010 | @kbro2010 | Dec 29, 2023
In reply to @kbro2010 "I stopped taking Famotidine and pantoprazole 40mg twice a day. I had bad rebound reflux for..." + (show)
@kbro2010

I stopped taking Famotidine and pantoprazole 40mg twice a day. I had bad rebound reflux for about 2 weeks. Now I’m back to how I was before. I had no improvement while taking the meds and the side effects were worse than the silent reflux. My symptoms are Globus, gurgling in my throat and congestion. I actually I do have EGD w/Bravo scheduled for Jan. I had to get off the meds for the test anyway. I just did it 2 months early. I use Gaviscon advanced from Amazon and also Gaviscon extra strength chewable. My GI doctor was the one that suggested the Gaviscon advanced from Amazon. He said to use it after meals and at bedtime. I’m hoping the test shows when I’m actually refluxing since I can not tell. I never get heartburn. But my esophagus showed damage from reflux when I had the EGD in August. They also dilated it. But unfortunately that didn’t help my Globus.

Jump to this post

I have also had an esophagram that showed I did reflux 4 times in a 2 mins time period. This was while I was on the medications. So this also made me think they were not working for me. I have had ct scans of my face and throat too. I have over $4,000 in medical bills right now.

REPLY
kbro2010 | @kbro2010 | Dec 29, 2023
In reply to @saucy "I had severe Gerd and was on high doses of PPI's for 20 years. There are..." + (show)
@saucy

I had severe Gerd and was on high doses of PPI's for 20 years. There are side effects for all of them and the more they are studied the more they find! Zantac is one of them. I had a Linx devise put on my esophagus in 2014 and it failed last year causing ulcers. There are several surgeries for Gerd. After I had the devise taken out last summer, my doctor did food allergy testing. I was shocked since many of the foods I was allergic to I ate daily like eggs! This has helped me to get off the drugs. Now I take a Pepcid if I ingest something I shouldn't. The test is a simple blood test so instead of listening to doctors that just know how to prescribe drugs find one who will investigate your diet!!

Jump to this post

What food allergy test did you have done?

REPLY
mikaylar | @mikaylar | Dec 30, 2023

I have had gurgling in my throat for years and the doctor said there is no connection. That is so untrue and just confirmed by you.

REPLY
1 reply
kamommy | @kamommy | Dec 30, 2023
In reply to @kbro2010 "I stopped taking Famotidine and pantoprazole 40mg twice a day. I had bad rebound reflux for..." + (show)
@kbro2010

I stopped taking Famotidine and pantoprazole 40mg twice a day. I had bad rebound reflux for about 2 weeks. Now I’m back to how I was before. I had no improvement while taking the meds and the side effects were worse than the silent reflux. My symptoms are Globus, gurgling in my throat and congestion. I actually I do have EGD w/Bravo scheduled for Jan. I had to get off the meds for the test anyway. I just did it 2 months early. I use Gaviscon advanced from Amazon and also Gaviscon extra strength chewable. My GI doctor was the one that suggested the Gaviscon advanced from Amazon. He said to use it after meals and at bedtime. I’m hoping the test shows when I’m actually refluxing since I can not tell. I never get heartburn. But my esophagus showed damage from reflux when I had the EGD in August. They also dilated it. But unfortunately that didn’t help my Globus.

Jump to this post

Food diary. Stop eating what causes it.
Organic licorice root (not the candy) or (and?) papaya.
I use them both at different times. Unfortunately, supplements cause it now for me.
Got rid of the toxic drugs.

REPLY
1 reply
kbro2010 | @kbro2010 | Dec 30, 2023
In reply to @kamommy "Food diary. Stop eating what causes it. Organic licorice root (not the candy) or (and?) papaya...." + (show)
@kamommy

Food diary. Stop eating what causes it.
Organic licorice root (not the candy) or (and?) papaya.
I use them both at different times. Unfortunately, supplements cause it now for me.
Got rid of the toxic drugs.

Jump to this post

I did keep a food diary for three months. I cut out all the known reflux foods. Only ate small meals. I lost over 25 lbs and I’m now underweight. My problem is that I do not know when I’m actually refluxing. I do not get heartburn. When I had the esophagram it was on an empty stomach. I couldn’t eat or drink for 8 hours before the test. I could not feel the reflux. The doctor showed me on the screen that I was. And it showed 4 episodes in less than 2 mins.

REPLY
1 reply
kbro2010 | @kbro2010 | Dec 30, 2023
In reply to @mikaylar "I have had gurgling in my throat for years and the doctor said there is no..." + (show)
@mikaylar

I have had gurgling in my throat for years and the doctor said there is no connection. That is so untrue and just confirmed by you.

Jump to this post

I even make the gurgling noise when I drink water. It’s usually first thing in the morning.

REPLY
1 reply
mikaylar | @mikaylar | Dec 30, 2023
In reply to @kbro2010 "I even make the gurgling noise when I drink water. It’s usually first thing in the..." + (show)
@kbro2010

I even make the gurgling noise when I drink water. It’s usually first thing in the morning.

Jump to this post

These doctors are clueless. Good thing we all have each other here.

REPLY
kamommy | @kamommy | Dec 30, 2023
In reply to @kbro2010 "I did keep a food diary for three months. I cut out all the known reflux..." + (show)
@kbro2010

I did keep a food diary for three months. I cut out all the known reflux foods. Only ate small meals. I lost over 25 lbs and I’m now underweight. My problem is that I do not know when I’m actually refluxing. I do not get heartburn. When I had the esophagram it was on an empty stomach. I couldn’t eat or drink for 8 hours before the test. I could not feel the reflux. The doctor showed me on the screen that I was. And it showed 4 episodes in less than 2 mins.

Jump to this post

Wow!
My first questions (for dr) is how does that happen on an empty stomach- theoretically no stomach acid to digest food, so why?
This is a rough one if you don’t feel it. Hoarse voice at all?
I guess I’d buy a truckload of papaya and chew on those tablets when not eating pineapple (digestive enzymes).
Organic
Himalayan Licorice Root (not the candy) helps sooth the esophagus and is a digestive enzyme.
Or… many companies sell herbal digestive enzymes - usually it’s take one previous to a meal or during.
Peppermint (stay away from the candy) is known to help keep a person awake as well as helpful for digestion.
I use a combination of these things when I’m having concerns.
Pharmaceutical PPIs have nasty sides, including deterioration of bones.
I Hope something here is helpful!!

REPLY
saucy | @saucy | Dec 31, 2023

My doctor ordered me a product called Acid Block. Really works and fast! I take a Pepcid before dinner and if I have reflux during the day I take the block. I have severe Gerd and after Linx removal gastrointestinal doctor wanted me back on PPI’s. I had ulcers and stage 3 esophagitis. Once it healed went off PPI’s and seems this works fine.

REPLY
1 reply
spudmato | @spudmato | Jan 1 10:56am

I suggest that you raise the head of your bed 6 to 8 degrees to combat the rise of the acid in the evening.
My ENT suggested that i take "Reflux Gourmet" nightly. It has helped

Best

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.