Acid Reflux (GERD)

bikermike5094

Anybody here have acid reflux or GERD related to being overweight? If so, what are you doing to treat it?

BeckyAnneGreenGables

Yup, I have reflux. Just had to go up to Prilosec x2 daily. Here's what I'm doing to treat it: keeping a food diary to identify trigger foods; cutting down to one cup of coffee per day; losing weight; no eating 3 hours before I go to bed. It's all helping.

2011Bluez

This forum is helpful because I was just told I had the same thing...my kitchen is empty right now. Have you changed your groceries much, or just cut back on certain things that you had been eating? I'm searching for different methods that may help me cope better...as we know it always seems easier to cut back on what you like vs. cutting it out all together & re-stocking. So if you have any advise to offer me it would be greatly appreciated!!! : )

shovav91

http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/heartburn_gerd_treatment_care

This site has links to some great resources. I hope you find some of it helpful!

Nerple

I used to have acid reflux, I didn't treat it at all medically, I just lost most of the extra weight (about 60 pounds thus far) and it went away.

chevy88grl

I have severe acid reflux. They thought it was weight related, but it has continued after losing weight. It has been determined that it is genetic (my real dad suffers too and he's NOT overweight at all) and there's nothing I can do to stop it, I can only treat the symptoms.

I tried everything under the sun to get it under control - raising the head of my bed, not eating before bed, watching my dairy, watching "spicy" foods, etc - everything they recommended and it continued. Now, I take Prilosec every single day. Keeps it in check.

I've had an endoscopy that found pre-cancerous cells in my esophagus due to the acid reflux. If you suffer, please.. talk to a doctor and see what they recommend. I suffered in silence for many years and have the damage to show for it.

supershiny

I have GERD and I avoid trigger foods. They can be varied from person to person; I know there is usually a generic list (don't eat acidic things/fatty things/alotta things), but my big ones are seafood and milk. If I eat any of those, I am in PAIN.

I also make sure to take a zantac if I know I am going to eat out and then sleep with my head and shoulders elevated.

Edit: like the above poster, I tried everything that was recommended by a doctor to mitigate it and nothing really worked to make it "stop". The only thing that really worked for me was to figure out triggers and avoid them completely. It's genetic for me as well (both grandfathers and all of my uncles have it...).

ALSO: Do NOT just take Alka seltzer/Tums/Rolaids for GERD-related acid reflux... it will help at first, but then it will make it worse I speak from experience.

alvin_grung

Key question: do you snore? If so, get to a sleep clinic and see if you have apnea as well. I was diagnosed and put on a CPAP machine. After that, acid reflux in the night - gone, gone, gone.

And of course, losing weight helps both problems.

However, in the experience of myself and my friends who also use the CPAP, the machine is an outright CURE for reflux, not mentioning the heart benefits of eliminating the apnea.

juicygurl1

OMG, YES i have GERD. my doctor switch my pain medication to non-asprine based. used to take naproxen, (stuff works great) but now everything is asprine free. no more tomatos, reduced the coffee intake, no more hot foods, forced to chew foods slower-well that is most likely a good thing. i have to make sure i take prilosec x4 aday.

Nerple

ALSO: Do NOT just take Alka seltzer/Tums/Rolaids for GERD-related acid reflux... it will help at first, but then it will make it worse I speak from experience.

I have a friend that found that out the hard way too, she treated her chronic reflux with Tums, and ended up developing kidney stones.

vicshawwill

I have GERD too and have just switched from 40mg daily of omeprazole (generic form of Nessium) to 20mg daily (which is equivalent to prisolsec). I would like to get to the point where I no longer need any medication at all, since the long term side effects of omeprazole include lack of bone density. I don't think it's weight related, since I am 5'10 and 150 lbs. But I have noticed that overeating gives me severe heart burn and acid reflux, so I joined my fitness pal to help deal with the evening cravings that I have. Stress is also a big contributor with me for reflux. Anybody out there figure out how to get off the medication?

Pashen4fit

Yes I've been told by my doctors that's why I may have it he said part of it is due to being over weight,, caffeine & acidity foods

I have been on prevacid for almost 5 months and I was tied of running to the emergency room because it was that bad.

I have change my way of eating

Avoid alot of food with alot of acid ,

I don't drink soda and more

And I have lost weight

I have taken any medication in 1 month or more :-)

ashley67203

I have severe acid reflux. They thought it was weight related, but it has continued after losing weight. It has been determined that it is genetic (my real dad suffers too and he's NOT overweight at all) and there's nothing I can do to stop it, I can only treat the symptoms.

I tried everything under the sun to get it under control - raising the head of my bed, not eating before bed, watching my dairy, watching "spicy" foods, etc - everything they recommended and it continued. Now, I take Prilosec every single day. Keeps it in check.

I've had an endoscopy that found pre-cancerous cells in my esophagus due to the acid reflux. If you suffer, please.. talk to a doctor and see what they recommend. I suffered in silence for many years and have the damage to show for it.

I am right there with you. My doctor practically yelled at me for not going in about it sooner because I'd caused so much damage from not treating it. Mine also has nothing do with weight or what I eat. All I can do is take the pills. Anyone else with this problem should see their doctor immediately.

gregavila

I did... My solution was to lose 30 pounds. The heartburn and acid reflux has all but gone away.

tinyjourney

I had it badly in high school. My doctor refused to consider that there could be a real problem because I was 17 years old, 5 1.5" and 94lbs. Obviously mine was not weight related, but I had all the symptoms. I was treated with Nexium and slept elevated until the summer after graduation. I had a scope done which found a hiatal hernia. I had surgery to have it repaired, had a difficult recovery, and now 10 years later I eat the spiciest foods I can with no issues.

Get into a Gastrointerologist!! There may be more that can be done. I don't regret surgery at all, one of the best things I have done for my health.

emily356

I had it terribly after my pregnancies. Went to the gastro Dr., got scoped, put on Rx meds, and had to take them faithfully. I was so sick of them and was looking for something else. I know I will probably get flamed for this, but I started taking Digestime (I think that is how you spell it) with every meal for a few weeks. It really worked! I figured I would have to take it forever as bad as my acid reflux had been. Well, I started trying to skip it sometimes, and guess what, still no GERD!! I quit taking it and still have no symptoms. It is like the medicines had kept the acid away, but messed my stomach up in the process. I have tried some natural things before, but never got the results like this. I absolutely was blown away that it works so well. This is what worked for me. Certainly may not for everyone, but it is just stomach enzymes and acid. And what pushed me was a new study about the problems people have after long term use of the acid reflux meds. Freaked me out!!!

bcampbell54

I had reflux bad until I lost my weight. I hope the solution is that simple for you, but there is only one way to find out.

kdelost630

I was recently told I might have GERD (or IBS, I haven't been to a specialist yet for it to be determined). I was actually looking for ways to keep in control. I currently take Prilosec once a day. There are so many foods they tell you to cut out that I didn't even know where to start--mine isn't related to being overweight as it just recently started after I lost 50 lbs. If anyone has advice on ways to narrow down my "trigger foods" I would be eternally greatful! (Message me instead of replying to this thread as sometimes its hard to catch responses...)

Micheller1210

I had severe acid reflux, I quit eating fried foods, bread also triggered it, bananas etc, and gave up coffee too, started drinking one capfull of apple cider vinegar to a tall glass of water sipped it one in the morning and one at night. and it has helped immensely, also eating celery or foods that helped cool my system down. I noticed having fried foods sometimes or even a cup of coffee dosnt hurt my tummy or cause flare ups, and if i do have those foods I drink the apple cider vinegar, and again only one capfull. I did not want to rely on drugs. But that is how it has helped me I wanted to heal my gall bladder and liver not throw drugs at it.

HonkyTonks

It makes me happy to see the reflux will go away after the weight does. Just another added bonus

robinogue

I have it bad, can't say it's due to weight since I've listed thevweightnbutnthe GERD is still here. I'm on medication and try to stay away from trigger foods.