Tips for reflux?

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Something that *may* help is paying attention to things at the other end. Try increasing your intake of fiber AND your intake of water. If things are sluggish in your elimination, that will slow down your stomach emptying and contribute to reflux issues.

It's not a cure-all, but it can be a contributing factor.

talk to your dr and get another medication. have you had any scopes done to see if you produce too much acid or too little? if not maybe that may be the next step so that they can find the right med(s) for you. They can see if its also caused by other issues including H pylori

What about chocolate?

Rocknut53 wrote: »

Ask your doctor for different meds. When I was weaning myself off Prilosec I alternated it with deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), then switched to the DGL and finally was able to quit all the meds. This was after losing 60 pounds which made all the difference. There's nothing worse than waking up with that burning in your throat. Here's a link you can check out to see if maybe DGL might be helpful: https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/dgl-for-acid-reflux
I get it at my local health food store.

yet the link you posted states" At this time, scientific studies on the use of licorice haven’t found enough credible data to gauge whether licorice is effective for treating any condition" its best to see a dr to see what the root cause of it is. some cases it can be severe enough and reflux/GERD can cause whats called barretts esophagus which can lead to cancer.

When I had it I was prescribed Nexium which worked like a charm - better than antacids like prevacid. I only took it for about 3 months then when I went off it everything was fine because Nexium also heals. Not eating 3 hours before bed may help as well as a glass of water before bed.

I, too, suffered from acid reflux when I was heavy. I went from the burning throat feeling to throwing up after a big meal to a chronic cough that lasted forever! I also had a wedgie pillow so I could sleep kind of sitting up. I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and reflux after more than a year of symptoms. Doc put me on Nexium twice a day. (After another doc had me on Prilosec for 6 months to no avail) Yay, it helped! After 6 months or so, I went to one a day, then none. I also lost 70ish pounds during this time. Every once in a great while, it will flair up (I did not do anything about the hernia) and I take Nexium for a week or two and it goes away.

I really never changed what I eat as far as considering what may have caused the reflux. I still drink alcohol, eat spicy food and chocolates and peppermints.

I suggest revisiting your doctor. Good luck!

P.S. I was a heavy smoker for years. I think that what I thought was a smoker's cough may have been that and the acid reflux.

mk2fit wrote: »

I, too, suffered from acid reflux when I was heavy. I went from the burning throat feeling to throwing up after a big meal to a chronic cough that lasted forever! I also had a wedgie pillow so I could sleep kind of sitting up. I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and reflux after more than a year of symptoms. Doc put me on Nexium twice a day. (After another doc had me on Prilosec for 6 months to no avail) Yay, it helped! After 6 months or so, I went to one a day, then none. I also lost 70ish pounds during this time. Every once in a great while, it will flair up (I did not do anything about the hernia) and I take Nexium for a week or two and it goes away.

I really never changed what I eat as far as considering what may have caused the reflux. I still drink alcohol, eat spicy food and chocolates and peppermints.

I suggest revisiting your doctor. Good luck!

P.S. I was a heavy smoker for years. I think that what I thought was a smoker's cough may have been that and the acid reflux.

could have been reflux being aggravated by the smoking? my mom had that issue. and as for some weight loss helps for others not so much.I wish weight loss would have improved mine as for your hiatal hernia it depends on where it is. hubby has one and they said its too close to his heart and surgery is too risky and as long as it doesnt bother him he should be fine. he wouldnt go through with surgery anyway

Rocknut53 wrote: »

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

Rocknut53 wrote: »

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

Rocknut53 wrote: »

Ask your doctor for different meds. When I was weaning myself off Prilosec I alternated it with deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), then switched to the DGL and finally was able to quit all the meds. This was after losing 60 pounds which made all the difference. There's nothing worse than waking up with that burning in your throat. Here's a link you can check out to see if maybe DGL might be helpful: https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/dgl-for-acid-reflux
I get it at my local health food store.

yet the link you posted states" At this time, scientific studies on the use of licorice haven’t found enough credible data to gauge whether licorice is effective for treating any condition" its best to see a dr to see what the root cause of it is. some cases it can be severe enough and reflux/GERD can cause whats called barretts esophagus which can lead to cancer.

@CharlieBeansmomTracey I first told her to see her doctor. When I talked to my doctor she was perfectly content with me staying on reflux meds. I'm not typically one to go with naturopathic rememdies, but I was literally desperate to find something to help me so that I could get off the Prilosec. Several attempts resulted in rebound reflux which is worse than just having reflux (I also tried the much acclaimed ACV remedy, worst mistake ever). The DGL and weight loss worked for me or maybe it was just mind over matter. Anyway, I don't have acid reflux at all; Besides, the DGL tastes like chocolate so I was able to get a chocolate fix as well.

Im glad you found something to work(I missed the part about seeing the dr so sorry about that). but my gastro would never go with the DGL. as for rebound reflux I have been there done that. its not pleasant. and ACV may work short term for those who dont produce enough acid(still dont recommend it) but those like me who make excessive acid ACV makes it worse. same with the betaine hydrochloride. I tried that before I knew I produced too much and OMG. as for anything licorice I would have to gag it down. just the smell alone is too much for me. not sure if that smells like licorce but if it does no thanks lol.I produce soo much acid that Im on a PPI and an H2 blocker and still some days its torture. I go back wednesday and Im going to tell her something needs done.

It doesn't taste or smell like licorice otherwise I may not have tried it. I hope you get some answers. I know that you are not having fun with this.

no I am not. it sucks and I hope I do too

This is me! It started about 3 years ago. I'm at a normal BMI and eat whole foods plant based with occasional lapses where sweets are concerned--have been working with the doctor on this, but I decided I don't want to take omiprazole, and it didn't help much anyway. I'm eager to read the suggestions here. I can keep the burning mouth tolerable by eating low calorie, no concentrated tomato products, no onions, no candy, and a lot less coffee, head of bed raised, ranitadine 2x day and occasional Tumms before bed. I got some Gaviscon from the UK and thought it helped at first but later decided it didn't do that much. I have not been able to give up a little cocoa in my favorite smoothie and have about 1 t. a day of instant coffee powder (very dilute coffee!). The burning tongue is maddening, though I've sort of gotten used to it, but I worry about what this is doing to my esophagus. It's extra incentive to stick to around 1200 calories a day, though.

nicolejo143 wrote: »

I started intermittent fasting last month (16/8), and I think that it has helped me a lot. I stop eating at 7pm and eat at 11am. I think its the not eating before bed for so long that really helps. I also lost around 20lbs this year and I'm not overweight anymore which helped a lot too, but I think even losing some weight helps. I don't have to take my medicine everyday anymore, every other day or so is ok now for me. However, I do still need medication and I was told I'll need it the rest of my life. Definitely ask your doctor.

I've done IF all my life(more than 3 decades) and for ME it doesnt help. as for any meds they are supposed to be taken everyday thats their purpose. for me weight loss also didnt help. but a lot of my issues started with H pylori and I had to take meds for that to clear that up. I dont have it now but flare ups can happen at any time and they are a pain to treat and diagnose as once you have it it will show up in blood tests active or not.so they have to take stool tests. my gastro when she did my scope looked for it and found none there so. also in my experience even missing one day of meds causing a lot of rebound reflux so that may be why when you miss one day you have to take it the next.especially if its something the doctor said you will need the rest of your life its probably best to take it everyday to prevent and treat the issue.but thats between you and your dr

What helps me is eating small meals throughout the day so I feel satiated but not full, limiting consumption of fried and fatty foods, and then stop eating 2-3 hours before laying down at night. That allows me to lay flat when I sleep at night without getting reflux.

I had terrible acid reflux. So bad that it got to the point where I couldn't eat any food at all, without it feeling like it was stuck in my throat. I took Prilosec, and then decided I had to lose weight and changed the way I ate. I stopped eating all fried foods, chocolate, spicy foods, no caffeine, no soft drinks, nothing acidic, no oranges, lemons, tomatoes, also I only ate things that were low in fat, and ate no dairy. I ate spinach often, as I was told this calms down acid. I also drank ginger tea almost every night after a meal with a teaspoon of honey. I didn't eat 4 hours before I went to bed and I raised the head of my head 6 inches. I also ate 5 tiny meals a day.

It took over 8 months of eating this way, and taking medication, and also losing 112 pounds, and when I had a recent test done, where they stick a camera down your throat, my reflux was gone and it's no longer inflamed and is pink and healthy in there and now I am able to eat most foods again. Though I stay away from fried foods, dairy, and caffeine, just because I feel better without them.

My GI doctor told me the ONLY things actually proven to really help you are:
-don't eat 3 hours before bedtime
-lose weight

I hope this helps. Acid reflux is a terrible thing. People don't realize how bad it can get. I literally could eat nothing but Ensure for about 2 months and I lost 40 pounds in those 2 months.

I was on Zantac for a few years prior to all this happening, but it just wasn't good enough. I would cough alot and Drs thought I had asthma, or all these other issues and it was all acid! For years.

So please take care of it asap! Don't let it get as bad as I did. Good luck!

amyjsparkles wrote: »

I had terrible acid reflux. So bad that it got to the point where I couldn't eat any food at all, without it feeling like it was stuck in my throat. I took Prilosec, and then decided I had to lose weight and changed the way I ate. I stopped eating all fried foods, chocolate, spicy foods, no caffeine, no soft drinks, nothing acidic, no oranges, lemons, tomatoes, also I only ate things that were low in fat, and ate no dairy. I ate spinach often, as I was told this calms down acid. I also drank ginger tea almost every night after a meal with a teaspoon of honey. I didn't eat 4 hours before I went to bed and I raised the head of my head 6 inches. I also ate 5 tiny meals a day.

It took over 8 months of eating this way, and taking medication, and also losing 112 pounds, and when I had a recent test done, where they stick a camera down your throat, my reflux was gone and it's no longer inflamed and is pink and healthy in there and now I am able to eat most foods again. Though I stay away from fried foods, dairy, and caffeine, just because I feel better without them.

My GI doctor told me the ONLY things actually proven to really help you are:
-don't eat 3 hours before bedtime
-lose weight

I hope this helps. Acid reflux is a terrible thing. People don't realize how bad it can get. I literally could eat nothing but Ensure for about 2 months and I lost 40 pounds in those 2 months.

I was on Zantac for a few years prior to all this happening, but it just wasn't good enough. I would cough alot and Drs thought I had asthma, or all these other issues and it was all acid! For years.

So please take care of it asap! Don't let it get as bad as I did. Good luck!

weight loss may help in some people but I know for me I had it when I was at a healthy weight.so weight loss wasnt going to be a deciding factor. as for spinach calming down acid no. your stomach acid has to break that down too. if these foods calmed down the acid these foods would not be properly broken down. your stomach produces acid for a reason. some people produce too much,some too little.