Diagnosed with GERD

Mitzigan94

Just got home. So, was told by the doctor that I have GERD? Don't know what that is but she said it's a stomach problem. Anyways, doctor told me to avoid salty and sour foods! Even chocolates, sodas(COKE, ETC), juices, milks, Fish sauce(bagoong, etc), sardines, mackere!, any many more!
problem is....
How can I eat if all of my favorite foods are not allowed on the menu anymore?

uggh it's like a diet diet diet thing now. even cold water is not allowed


uhm

what are good foods to eat now? any advice would suffice..

QuilterInVA

GERD is acid reflux because the stomach valve doesn't close properly. Caffine, tomatoes, and the other things you mentioned make it worse. Since there are so many foods available, you learn to eat new ones. This can be a serious condition and can lead to Barrett's esophagus which is a precancerous condition that can lead to cancer of the esophagus. Follow the diet recommendations! I have it and if I only have a cup of coffee and I talk with a raspy voice for the rest of the day and feel acid in my throat. I love coffee but its not worth it. Chocolate has caffine. Coke is good for no one. The phosphorous is bad for kidneys in everyone. Put on your big girl panties and revamp your diet.

Brown523

I've been suffering from GERD since I was 19- I'm 32 now- and I have found that when I lost weight and kept my weight under 220 (I'm 5'3") it kept GERD symptoms away. For the most part. Once in a while spaghetti sauce and or orange juice would kick start a heartburn incident. You might find that just a little weight loss might help improve your GERD and you won't have to shy away from the things you love in moderation!

Panda_Rolls

I can't remember for sure whether or not I have GERD but I do tend to get terrible heartburn. I take an omeprazole (generic prilosec) every single day and for the most part that seems to do the trick. If I skip even one day it comes back with a vengeance.

estelle74uk

I have the same, IBS also, but the acid only started in May. I had another episode but it went after a week of taking omeprazole. Now im taking esomeapzole ? and it has helped alot. Having a camera soon. I have just found a coffee substitute, Caro, although it doesnt taste like coffee, it seems the same, also adding soya milk instead of normal. As for other foods, its just trying and seeing.

CrashArtist, I had the same, missed one day and the burning of the throat, acid in mouth came back nastily. So glad for the pills, although dont want to be taking them for rest of life!

MzPix

GERD is acid reflux because the stomach valve doesn't close properly. Caffine, tomatoes, and the other things you mentioned make it worse. Since there are so many foods available, you learn to eat new ones. This can be a serious condition and can lead to Barrett's esophagus which is a precancerous condition that can lead to cancer of the esophagus. Follow the diet recommendations! I have it and if I only have a cup of coffee and I talk with a raspy voice for the rest of the day and feel acid in my throat. I love coffee but its not worth it. Chocolate has caffine. Coke is good for no one. The phosphorous is bad for kidneys in everyone. Put on your big girl panties and revamp your diet.

Yes this.
I was diagnosed with GERD 10 years ago. I'm on 40mg Nexium twice a day (which is a high dosage.) I have to eliminate certain foods from my diet (primarily anything deep-fried, even potato chips), take my medication, and try to keep my weight under control. It isn't easy, but it is worth it.

My mother died last year of esophageal cancer. Her oncologist said her cancer could have been avoided, or at least postponed dramatically, if she had made lifestyle changes like losing weight, eating smaller portions, taking GERD medication, and eliminating certain foods from her diet. I can remember as a young kid when she would chew on Tums and Rolaids like they were candy and I never understood why. My father smoked himself into an early grave and my mother ate herself into an early grave. It is sad and frustrating to bury a loved one because they continually made poor lifestyle choices.

You can slowly start replacing some of the trigger foods. Replace coffee and soda with hot and cold teas. Replace citrus juice with apple or white grape. Replace fatty fishes with leaner types. Replace deep fried foods with baked ones. After a few years, I didn't really miss most of the trigger foods anymore because my mind started equating them not only with heartburn, but also the larger consequences.

Here is a really good website to get started learning about GERD and modifying your eating style: http://www.gerd-diet.com/

So, like the poster above said, make the lifestyle changes you need to make to keep yourself as healthy as possible for as long as possible. We can't be perfect, but we can do our best. I still mess up and indulge in foods that trigger reflux. I still have weight to lose. But I try to take my meds, stick to the good food list, exercise, eat smaller portions at a time, and because my case is so severe and I have a family history, I also go in for an endoscopy every 2-3 years to check for Barrett's.

Check out that website to get started. Good luck! :flowerforyou:

Mitzigan94

Thanks so much for the wonderful comments. Hopefully I lose my excess weight fast to get rid of the Gerd.

christianteach

I have it too although it hasn't bothered be much since I've lost weight.

Mitzigan94

I have it too although it hasn't bothered be much since I've lost weight.

Good for you:)