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[mountainguy]

Do other forumites have experience with Acid Reflux Syndrome/GERD??? There's a history of it in my family, and much to my chagrin, I'm beginning to see indications that I may have it. So far, my symptoms have been minor--just some occasional heartburn and a persistent sour taste in my throat in the evenings--but it is becoming more pronounced than it has been in the past. I'm sure part of it is stress-related (I'm currently writing a dissertation) and I'm going to start monitoring my diet more carefully, but I'm wondering what else can be effective for dealing with it.

[biomancer]

Do other forumites have experience with Acid Reflux Syndrome/GERD??? There's a history of it in my family, and much to my chagrin, I'm beginning to see indications that I may have it. So far, my symptoms have been minor--just some occasional heartburn and a persistent sour taste in my throat in the evenings--but it is becoming more pronounced than it has been in the past. I'm sure part of it is stress-related (I'm currently writing a dissertation) and I'm going to start monitoring my diet more carefully, but I'm wondering what else can be effective for dealing with it.

I don't, but my stepsister has it really badly, and my stepdad has it too.  Apparently they both have malformed inferior esophageal sphincters that can't close all the way.  SS has found that sleeping propped up a bit seems to help.  They're both on proton-pump inhibitor drugs.

[llanfair]

I've had it for a while now, MG.  I take Zantac - 150 mg twice a day - and it keeps the symptoms at bay nearly all the time.  The drug's never given me any trouble, either, which makes it a win-win.

Are you an IBS sufferer? GERD is frequently a motility problem, as IBS is, and there's a very high correlation between the two condtions.  This site has been very helpful (and I love the domain name).

[amewa_silk]

I had serious problems with acid reflux and periodically (every 5 years), I take prescription medication (Protonix) for it for a few months.  My tips are to avoid exercise after a big meal, to avoid meals before bedtime, and to avoid spicy foods. 

If you search Google, you may locate a list of vegetables which are likely to reduce acid flare-up.  I remember broccoli was on the list of beneficial vegetables.  You will also find lists of foods to avoid.

[juvenal]

Omeprazole works fine for me.

[marigolds]

Do other forumites have experience with Acid Reflux Syndrome/GERD??? There's a history of it in my family, and much to my chagrin, I'm beginning to see indications that I may have it. So far, my symptoms have been minor--just some occasional heartburn and a persistent sour taste in my throat in the evenings--but it is becoming more pronounced than it has been in the past. I'm sure part of it is stress-related (I'm currently writing a dissertation) and I'm going to start monitoring my diet more carefully, but I'm wondering what else can be effective for dealing with it.

I don't, but my stepsister has it really badly, and my stepdad has it too.  Apparently they both have malformed inferior esophageal sphincters that can't close all the way.  SS has found that sleeping propped up a bit seems to help.  They're both on proton-pump inhibitor drugs.

Mistergolds has this too, and does this same stuff.  (And avoids caffeine, which apparently relaxes the sphincter even more; no chocolate, no coffee for him, because it makes the "silent GERD" worse.)

[tenured_feminist]

Get yourself checked soon, MG. If it's not easily controlled by diet, you should be on a daily dose of whatever works. You don't want to end up with Barrett's or worse.  A lot of folks find that just taking a maintenance dose of a good OTC drug and an occasional double dose when you're eating trigger foods or under a lot of stress can keep you comfortable and avert the development of Barrett's.

This is not an optional, get-around-to-it-in-a-few-years kind of thing. Go to the doctor within the next six months if you don't have it totally under control!

[amlithist]

I have a bit of the reflux problem on occasion, usually when I'm really run-down or tired or stressed.

Here's something I found interesting, though:  I'm a smoker and for a couple of years, off and on, would cough--not a typical "smoker's hack," but a dry, tickly cough that I couldn't get rid of with cough drops/syrup, drinking water, whatever.  A friend I hadn't seen for awhile went out to eat with me and said, "How long have you been dealing with that refllux?"  I hadn't had any problems at all--no heartburn, nothing.  He said, "I had the same thing and was sure I had the beginnings of lung cancer; when I finally went to the doctor, he said that a nagging cough is one of the prime symptoms of acid reflux."

I started taking the OTC prevacid once in the a.m. and again once before bed, and the cough immediately cleared up.  I stayed on it for a month or so, then got off; now I just use it whenever it flares up, maybe a few times a year.

Who knew?  (not me!)

[bookishone]

As well as everything that's been said above, try not eating between meals. (Allow 4 hours at least between meals and no food at all after about 8 pm). Really. I used to browse/graze all day because having something to eat would quell the discomfort, but I've been able to cut way back on my PPI since shifting to a no-snacks policy. The first day or so was an adjustment, but it's totally worth it and now this pattern of eating seems normal. Side benefit: I lost a couple of pounds.

Also: sleep more. My sleep debt and my reflux are directly related, and yours may be too. 

[kaysixteen]

I have had this for at least fifteen years-- I had it formally diagnosed in 1997 by a specialist in a hospital who performed a specialized test for it.  Older types of antacids produced only limited temporary relief, and occasionally, esp. if I had had too much to eat or too spicy a meal, I would wake up in the middle of the night with a very very debilitating reflux incident-- astoundingly bad heartburn and difficulty swallowing a bile-soaked disgusting mess for several minutes minimum.  But Prilosec nowadays generally more or less eliminates the symptoms.

[bookishone]

One issue is that PPI use can reduce your body's ability to absorb vitamins, so if you are taking Prilosec or other regularly, make sure you check your levels of vitamin D, iron, etc.

[zuzu_]

I have had this for at least fifteen years-- I had it formally diagnosed in 1997 by a specialist in a hospital who performed a specialized test for it.  Older types of antacids produced only limited temporary relief, and occasionally, esp. if I had had too much to eat or too spicy a meal, I would wake up in the middle of the night with a very very debilitating reflux incident-- astoundingly bad heartburn and difficulty swallowing a bile-soaked disgusting mess for several minutes minimum.  But Prilosec nowadays generally more or less eliminates the symptoms.

Yes, this has happened to me too. Awful.


Well here is my GERD issue. I wonder if anyone has any insight. Because of course this forum is the best place in the world for medical consultation.

I've suffered with pretty bad reflux for the past 10 years (I am 35 now). When it started getting bad, I went on Prilosec, and it got better. But it has steadily gotten worse, and it is not controlled despite trying Protonix and AcipHex 2x a day, AND taking Zantac 150 and Mylanta when things get bad. About 18 months ago, I got scoped, and there were no abnormalities, which absolutely stunned me. (Although I was relieved not to have erosions.)

I finally had an appointment with my Dr. last week, and he said it just doesn't really make sense. He thinks it kinda sounds like a hiatal hernia, although that doesn't make sense because there did not appear to be one when I had the scope. I am only a teeny bit fat (BMI in the 25-26 range), and I make sensible eating choices (although I refuse to go on ultra-restrictive diets because they backfire on me). Small portions, nothing after 6:30 PM, very little alcohol, etc.

I live in the boonies, and my Dr. is fabulous and keeps up with gastro, so he is the default gastro "specialist" in town. He actually did my scope. But now he says I should go to Big City gastro to do more diagnostic work and consider the possibilty of surgery, which may or may not lead to symptom relief.

This is a huge hassle. I am putting off calling the gastro because I will likely have to have another scope and need my husband to drive four hours each way. I don't have anyone to watch my kids overnight. I don't know if this is just a wild goose chase--what could be wrong? What can they really do? Should I just suck it up and deal?

Anyway, my newest medicine is Dexilant, which seems to perhaps control symptoms a little better than AcipHex.

[kaysixteen]

If good meds like Prilosec are no longer working for you, and you are much younger and likely in much better shape than I am, then I would agree that there are probably non-GERD factors here.  I would see a gastro once to make sure.  No need to deal with this when there is probably better treatment available, and there is of course always the outside chance that there is something really serious wrong that would behoove you to take care of asap.

[fast_and_bulbous]

Ranitidine (Zantac) is a godsend for me. I get the cheapest OTC generic I can get and take the 75 mg tablets. Rarely do I need to take more than one, but I'll take a second if I need to. There are foods that almost always do it for me, so I often take one before eating them.

That stuff is a miracle worker. Heartburn just goes away. I carry some with me at all times. Never know when some spaghetti sauce or beer might be in my future.

[kaysixteen]

Zantac is good for the sorts of food-induced heartburn you allude to, but it is really not the solution for real GERD.  Prilosec and its kin drugs, the ones that specifically reduce the amount of stomach acid produced (I forget the tech term for the drug action here) were and remain a significant breakthrough in the treatment of this condition.