Anyone else with acid reflux?

It seems that I can't eat anything without aggravating it :(

any helpful advice? I have to bring tums with me everywhere I go.
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Replies

  • Pedal_Pusher
    Pedal_Pusher Posts: 1,166 Member
    does not sound fun at all..............
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    I have it. I was diagnosed in March after I started having a lot of chest pain after eating. My doctor strongly encouraged me to stop drinking soda (I used to drink a LOT) and eat better. He put me on Nexium which I took for a couple of weeks. I also switched to a plant based diet starting during the two weeks that I was on the Nexium. After two weeks I quit taking it and have not had a problem since. I am still on a plant based diet, and only have a soda very rarely (maybe once a month).
  • Uuuhlexis
    Uuuhlexis Posts: 90 Member
    I don't drink soda and I've been a vegetarian for over a year. I am trying to cut back on carbs, wine, and cheese..but that's going to be a process. Is there something that I can eat that suppresses the acid build up, or am I doomed to a life of tums?

    edit: and I don't really like doctors, I'd rather not get a prescription if there is something natural I can do.
  • joannathechef
    joannathechef Posts: 484 Member
    I would try glutin free diet for 2 weeks
    If that does not work add yeast to your no eat list
  • Uuuhlexis
    Uuuhlexis Posts: 90 Member
    I would try glutin free diet for 2 weeks
    If that does not work add yeast to your no eat list

    I have actually been considering going glutin free for some time because I have other issues processing foods..I'm just not really sure how to go about it! Isn't glutin in like..everything?
  • fatty_to_fitty
    fatty_to_fitty Posts: 544 Member
    Is your sports bra too tight? Doing too many crunches?
  • joannathechef
    joannathechef Posts: 484 Member
    I would try glutin free diet for 2 weeks
    If that does not work add yeast to your no eat list

    I have actually been considering going glutin free for some time because I have other issues processing foods..I'm just not really sure how to go about it! Isn't glutin in like..everything?
  • daughterofthesea
    daughterofthesea Posts: 82 Member
    I don't have it but my fiance did, it led to gastroparesis ... they put him on erythromycin (sp?) to help it. Hope it helps x
  • Corryn78
    Corryn78 Posts: 215
    Prilosec is over the counter and comes in generic/store brand. Take it once a day, and you should start getting relief. Also look at what foods you are eating, a lot of vegetables have a high acid content...such as tomatoes. Also alcoholic drinks...those always give me trouble.
  • thehairfairi
    thehairfairi Posts: 7 Member
    I have it, and the change in diet does help I also take prevaid or something similar before I eat a meal that will set it off, even if I take it during the day
  • twinmom14ek
    twinmom14ek Posts: 174 Member
    This may not be the most helpful comment, but I do think the thing that made the biggest impact on my symptoms was losing a significant amount of weight. My soda/coffee intake is pretty much the same as it ever was, but I can finally deal with the occasional symptoms without the daily Prevacid capsule.

    I've definitely cut back on alcohol and fried foods since the beginning of the year, and I believe those are also some pretty major acid reflux triggers. If you consume those sorts of things regularly (for me, it used to be daily), maybe consider indulging just a couple times a week. Good luck finding a solution--I definitely feel your pain. :flowerforyou:
  • joannathechef
    joannathechef Posts: 484 Member
    I messed that up....
    Glutin free is quite easy they even have a glutin free ailse in my Super Market.
    Start with no bread and pastries and read veery label it is in a lot of processed foods and sneaks up on you like breadcrumbed chicken.....
  • recriger
    recriger Posts: 245 Member
    You can get Omeprazole over the counter at any store with a pharmacy. I've had acid reflux for many years. Nothing seamed to help me but the pills once it got to the chest pain point. There is Zantac-75 (or 50 i believe) you can try. I take those (zantac) twice a day, or the Omeprazole once a day. Both are over the counter and work much better for me than Tumms.
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    My husband had it terribly. We just assumed it was from fatty, spicy or acidic food but so far it's completely gone away since removing bread from our diet -- well, limiting it in his case, I'm pretty sure he eats bread away from the house -- even though I cook with a lot more fat now. Or maybe it's not the bread specifically but just reducing carbs in general since I stopped cooking with brown rice and potatoes at the same time? Or maybe it had nothing to do with reducing our carbs and it's the increase in fat that's helping?

    Not sure how helpful that is considering our diet changed so drastically and like I said, we can't be sure what actually stopped the acid reflux every night.

    ETA:
    He was taking Prilosec before we changed our diet and that seemed to help him more than anything else we tried.
  • Uuuhlexis
    Uuuhlexis Posts: 90 Member
    I messed that up....
    Glutin free is quite easy they even have a glutin free ailse in my Super Market.
    Start with no bread and pastries and read veery label it is in a lot of processed foods and sneaks up on you like breadcrumbed chicken.....

    Guess I'm going grocery shopping!

    And I do think that some of it is due to weight gain, but I have had it for 2-3 years now..it's just escalated in the last few months.
  • makenziewhicker
    makenziewhicker Posts: 29 Member
    I was diagnosed as well, they expanded my esophagus.. strange though, after i had my gallbladder removed I haven't had issues and ever since I have been eating healthier across the board I haven't had any symptoms. I don't take medication anymore.
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    I have had issues with acid reflux, and have been on medication for it in the past. Wheat would set me off, but I have not had a flare up since I started losing weight. I would recommend seeing a doctor, as untreated it can cause complications.
  • chocolateandpb
    chocolateandpb Posts: 438 Member
    I don't drink soda and I've been a vegetarian for over a year. I am trying to cut back on carbs, wine, and cheese..but that's going to be a process. Is there something that I can eat that suppresses the acid build up, or am I doomed to a life of tums?

    edit: and I don't really like doctors, I'd rather not get a prescription if there is something natural I can do.

    Coconut oil!!!! It sounds like we eat similarly; I too do not drink soda and am vegetarian, but still suffered from acid reflux whenever I'd eat certain things (usually with cooked tomatoes, like spaghetti, or pizza). I started adding a tablespoon of coconut oil to my protein shakes in the morning and it has completely cured my acid reflux!!! It's amazing. And natural! :smile:
  • Hi :) I had it and took Meds for years. I started taking a probiotic and have not been on Meds for 3 months! I have been taking Vital Dopholis from Klaire Labs. Super effective! Hope this helps
  • It seems that I can't eat anything without aggravating it :(

    any helpful advice? I have to bring tums with me everywhere I go.

    There are a few foods that trigger me so I looked up natural treatments online. The most effective one I have used is eating an apple. If I eat one of my trigger foods and then eat an apple shortly after, it always prevents reflux. Applesauce has helped too, but not as much.
  • Drussander
    Drussander Posts: 266 Member
    I used to have Acid reflux and heartburn all the time but it went away when I gave up excess processed carbs and sugar. I used meds like Omeprazole, etc., but they seemed to mess up my digestion in the long run. I have read that you need your stomach acid to do its job and digest properly.

    I never take those meds now and don't seem to have acid issues now that I restrict carbs to fairly low and avoid sugar like the plague. There are several good books out there, such as what not to eat when you have AR, but I found the best thing was just changing my diet. Now I can eat spicy and acid foods no problem. In fact, eating vinegar and other acid foods seem to help some people.

    Obviously exercise and losing weight will help too.

    Good luck!

    Druss
  • TexanThom
    TexanThom Posts: 778
    Braggs Organic Apple Cidar Vinegar. 1 to 2 tsps. in 8 oz. of water, (with honey if needed). I HAD reflux for 20 years until I started to do this in Feb. I have not taken a pill since then.
  • spikefoot
    spikefoot Posts: 419
    used to have it for years, had tests that proved it, was on medication... changed my eating and no sign of it.
  • Uuuhlexis
    Uuuhlexis Posts: 90 Member
    I don't drink soda and I've been a vegetarian for over a year. I am trying to cut back on carbs, wine, and cheese..but that's going to be a process. Is there something that I can eat that suppresses the acid build up, or am I doomed to a life of tums?

    edit: and I don't really like doctors, I'd rather not get a prescription if there is something natural I can do.

    Coconut oil!!!! It sounds like we eat similarly; I too do not drink soda and am vegetarian, but still suffered from acid reflux whenever I'd eat certain things (usually with cooked tomatoes, like spaghetti, or pizza). I started adding a tablespoon of coconut oil to my protein shakes in the morning and it has completely cured my acid reflux!!! It's amazing. And natural! :smile:

    I was just looking at the benefits of coconut oil last night and was already considering adding it to my diet. Now I definitely will!
  • obeserat
    obeserat Posts: 218 Member
    I've had this for about 10 years , my doctor sent me for a camera down (small camera on a long tube that you swallow) this showed a hiatus hernia , my doctor put me on lanzoprazole and I can eat what I want without it bothering me, I eat a lot of spicy food and on this medication only struggle when i forget to take it. The specialist said I could either have an operation or lanzoprazole I decided to take the capsule. It does improve as you lose weight though or it does for me.
  • LovesGG
    LovesGG Posts: 241 Member
    I was diagnosed with acid reflux about 9 years ago at 11 years old. My doctor put me on Prevacid and it worked like a charm. Popped one in the morning and I was good for the entire day/night no matter what I ate. Now? I can't afford it. I don't get so much of the burning feel anymore but my throat closes up and makes it a little hard for me to breathe after a pro-acid-reflux meal.
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    Try Prilosec OTC and see if that helps. My doctor diagnosed me with dyspepsia and now I take prescription Prilosec once a day about 30 minutes before my first meal. I don't get heartburn at all anymore. It works! Maybe it will work for you.
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    I don't drink soda and I've been a vegetarian for over a year. I am trying to cut back on carbs, wine, and cheese..but that's going to be a process. Is there something that I can eat that suppresses the acid build up, or am I doomed to a life of tums?

    edit: and I don't really like doctors, I'd rather not get a prescription if there is something natural I can do.

    Sometimes diet isn't a factor. Some people with recurring heart burn just have stomachs that produce more acid than is necessary, regardless of what they eat. You might be able to reduce how much acid your stomach produces through diet, but overall, you'll most likely end up treating with OTC meds after the heart burn happens. Continual treating like this could potentially lead to ulcers and damage to your esophagus. I know doctors suck, believe me. But it's worth preventing these symptoms so they won't cause you more damage in other areas of your body down the road. Good luck to you.
  • konerusp
    konerusp Posts: 247 Member
    Im a beleiver of natural remedies,i did not take any medications here are some changes i made.

    1.cut out alchohol-occasionally have wine if i have to
    2.Cut out coffee/caffeine
    3.alkalize your food-ie more plants based foods
    4.cut out baked goods/soda/junk food
    5.eat well before bed time
    6.sleep on left side of your body-this makes your stomach position in such a way that it will minimalize reflux

    heres a list of alkaline to acidic foods-try eating 70% alkaline

    http://lifespa.com/2009/01/alkaline-foods-for-health/

    im almost free of acid refluxes these days.
  • IngaRobertsdottir
    IngaRobertsdottir Posts: 9 Member
    I controll my acid reflux with Intermittent Fasting, www.eatstopeat.com. My doctor also recomended yoghurt in the evenings and I feel that milk also has good effect. Mine is a "birth defect" as the muscle above the stomach does not close all the way as it should. I find that stress is WAY worse than any food item I have ever eaten! Loosing weight also helps immensely :).