Reflux

I take HCl pills with pepsin and digestive enzymes and I haven't had acid reflux in years.

I have had reflux every day for years but started a low carb diet and it has gone. today, I put my tums in a cabinet!

I can't really pin point what triggers mine, I tend to have it after most meals. However, I did get diagnosed with "helicobacter pylori" the year before last and apparently the symptoms stick around for a couple of years, and that was pain I'd never experienced before. Onions have a big effect on me, especially red. Also, certain types of wine and cider, not that I drink a lot of it! Have you been to your GP? I still take omeprazole for mine and it's absolutely incredible. It works wonders.

I get it really fiercely if I eat in the evening. Anything after about 5 pm has me suffering. My only solution is not eating after 5!!

I have reflux issues as well, I used to take a daily med, but after years since diagnosis I have figured out most of my triggers. Spicy foods (which I am still able to eat in moderation), acidic foods, greasy foods, too much tomato based food, and in general just eating certain things past a certain point in the day. I also realized that If I eat too fast it triggers my reflux. I've had some episodes that felt like (well in my mind) a heart attack, had me doubled over in pain, it hurt to sit or to lay.

I had it, every day, for many years. High fat foods, especially late at night. My favorites used to be a big glass of milk(16 oz) and a hunk of cheese(8 oz) . I tried to convince myself all the books said it would help me sleep. Yeh right!

Once I started on MFP and started watching what I was eating, when and how much,,,,,I finally figured it out.

eating veggies like greens seems to help me a lot, prevention, or during too.
like sauteed spinach or any other kind.

I had severe reflux for years, took meds that helped but had side effects that I didn't want to live with any more. I've now virtually eliminated fat from my diet, except for moderate amounts of healthy fats (http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm). I also drastically increased my water consumption but only drink room temp or even warm water as it's easier on digestion -a squeeze of fresh lemon makes 6 - 8 daily glasses of water more palatable. I don't drink much if any water within a couple hours of bedtime as that tends to make me feel bloated. Also eliminated processed foods of pretty much any kind......shop the perimeter of the grocery store! This 'cleaner eating' has brought me to the point that I generally only need a Gaviscon if I've eaten out, or occasionally treat myself to foods that I normally now don't eat. I also take a high-quality probiotic that I get at a natural food store, and that is kept refrigerated to maintain its efficacy. Also try eliminating wheat/gluten for a couple of weeks to see if you feel any better, and also try avoiding dairy for a different couple of weeks....turns out that both of these were causing big problems for me. Hope you find a solution....SOON......reflux is horrible!

I take two prescriptions for this and he told me to try to figure out my triggers. It happens at all times of the day and often seems like even water sets it off. Feels like an elephant sitting on my chest. I was checked for hpylori and it was negative. Very frustrating. The only thing I can figure out so far is the ranch dressing, tea (caffeine) and carbonated drinks. Thank goodness I don't drink a lot of either of those. I can eat the same thing two days in a row and one day it will cause pain, the next day it won't so this also leads to my frustration. I try to keep a log of food to help and my doctor is switching one of my medicines today.

Cardiac issues have been ruled out?

For the last several years I have been taking two prescription pills a day. I used to take just one until around three years ago. It no longer worked and I was prescribed two omniprozole. Anyway, I have lost fifty pounds and now only take one again. I am hoping as I lose more, I wont need them.

Weight loss definitely helps. The theory is that excess abdominal fat puts pressure on the stomach so that food backs up the esophagus. I think digestive issues have a lot to do with it as well. I lost almost fifty pounds (and almost 10 inches off my waist) and STILL had reflux until I went gluten-free.

I had seriously bad reflux when was 200 pounds...turns out it was caused by over-stuffing my tummy every time I ate. Since I learned to moderate my portions, I have no more issues. None.

One of the problems with having digestive issues is that undigested food stays in the stomach too long and it is thus very easy to get "over-full" even if one is not overeating. Since I stopped eating gluten, I never have that over-full feeling and my calorie intake is about the same.

The other thing I was going to ask was about your gall bladder. But that's not it either.
Hope you find some relief

Used to have chronic reflux, how have hardly any. I discovered that gluten is a big one for me so now I eat a low-gluten diet and I can eat onions again since my GI tract calmed down- woohoo! Eating no-processed to low-processed has also made a huge difference- I used to eat 'healthy' but it wasn't really, had a lot of frozen foods from boxes (like crumbed fish etc). So I cook 99% of things from scratch at home now and that has really helped.

Alcohol is still a big trigger for me so I don't drink often and keep it to a glass or two. Exercise helps as I can still get really bad reflux if my stress levels get too high. It's all been a process of trial and error really, and each change that you make should be evaluated for several weeks as everything will set off your reflux if your oesophagus is already inflamed.

Good luck!

Yes alcohol is a problem for many people because it relaxes the esophageal sphincter. Mint is another substance that can make reflux worse because it does the same.

I take Omeprazole and that works great except can't stomach alcohol or caffeine, Even a mouthful of either gives me terrible burning. Potatoes give a bit of indigestion but nothing major.

Before I took Omeprazole had reflux and burning indigestion nearly all the time was getting really worried that something serious was going on but all under control now :happy:

Mint can definitely trigger reflux. On the other side, though, it can help calm IBS. A lot of veggies can trigger but if you skin them it tends to minimize the reflux. Bell peppers is a big one for me, but if I skin them it's no problem. I take lansoprazole (Prevacid) for my reflux and it is wonderful. Hopefully losing all this darn weight will help. Have you had an EGD yet? Good luck, hope you find something that is effective!