Anyone with GERD? (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)?

[ificandream]

I recently had a massive heartburn attack that my doctors are saying was that. I'd had a little problem with acid reflux before, but nothing like this. I've reformed my eating habits and made lifestyle changes, but I'm wondering does this ever go away? And can you ever eat pizza or cheese, two foods you're not supposed to eat) in small amounts?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. I can eat one slice of pizza. Any more than that, and

Last edited Sun Sep 24, 2023, 01:46 PM - Edit history (1)

I’m in trouble.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. Big time. Mine is stress related, though. Not food related.

If I pig out too close to bed time, there's a chance I'll get acid reflux overnight if I don't pop a Pepcid AC (or just a tablet of the active ingredient Famotidine - either works great for me) first, but GERD is different. My gastroenterologist attributed my first GERD attack to stress, and I really was stressed out at the time. I've noticed ever since how stress activates it. For that I take OTC lansoprazole.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Me!

Look for GERD Friendly recipes. Keep the fat low in your diet, eat small meals, and make sure you have 3 to 4 hours between dinner and bed.

I had a stress induced attack a few weeks ago and my throat has been burning since. Im going to my GI on Tuesday. In addition to GERD he's treated me for diverticulosis and polyps.

[Silent Type]

4. For decades. Until I started taking esomeprazole (Nexium) and Sodium Bicarbonate, it would hurt

so badly that I felt like I was having a heart attack. Chest pain, severe burning, nausea, etc. Now, I eat pizza, drink strong coffee, etc.

I think eating habits are mostly at fault, but the meds do work.

[Jeebo]

5. Pantoprazole.

Pantoprazole is what my doctors prescribed for me to deal with this problem. I was eating Rolaids like candy mints, way too many of them, and that caused a low hemoglobin problem and that's when the doctors told me to stop the Rolaids and prescribed the pantoprazole. I eat whatever I want and I rarely have heartburn or acid reflux any more, although I do avoid eating spicy foods too soon before bedtime. Don't want to tempt the fates.

-- Ron

[ificandream]

8. I'm supposed to take that twice a day.

I still haven't managed to get the second one consistently since it's well before my dinner. I need to fix that.

[emulatorloo]

6. WebMD omeprazole (over the counter generic)

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-3766-143/omeprazole-oral/omeprazole-delayed-release-capsule-oral/details

Ask your doc about it.

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Former GERD sufferer here

I started taking rabeprazole (aciphex in the US) about 20 or so years ago, and my symptoms disappeared.

I couldn’t take Prilosec or Prevacid due to side effects. All PPI’s are alleged to have some long terms effects, such as loss of bone density, but I had a specialist tell me “if I had to choose between loss of bone density and stomach/esophageal cancer, I’d pick loss of bone density”.

I can eat as much pizza as I want, don’t really care for spicy foods, and only have to avoid foods with a lot of onions. I might get mild symptoms once or twice a year, where as before meds, I had excruciating symptoms several times a week.

[ificandream]

9. Since the huge attack I had, my symptoms, if any, have been mild.

I hope that means it's under control. I'm going in for an ectoscopy in early October just to make sure nothing else (I have a history of ulcers) is happening, though I haven't had any strange things going on.

[unc70]

10. On long term medication - omeprazole

I have fairly severe GERD that was not attributable to any particular food. My GI specialist put me on omeprazole (generic Prilosec). Problem solved. I'm not particularly happy being dependent on this type medication, but it is far better than not. We tried various dietary and lifestyle changes, but only drugs eliminated the problem.

You really need to be examined properly before committing to omeprazole. There can be various other possible causes besides GERD. You might have a gastric ulcer which is now easily treated with antibiotics. On the other hand, one could have something like esophageal cancer.

For me with medication, I am not restricted in my diet at all.

[ificandream]

11. Yeah, hopefully the upcoming ectoscopy will end those questions.

[multigraincracker]

17. I've been on Prilosec for 30 years.

Hiatal hernia. They have a new surgery to repair it and am thinking about getting it. If I forget my pill in the morning, I know it by late afternoon. I get scoped every 3 years for Brady Esophagus. Doc says it has improved a bit over the years. Stay away from spicy foods and take my pill and I’m fine.
Just started taking B12 as the pills block some B12 from being absorbed. Feel better on the vitamin.
Good luck and follow the plan. I’ve had 3 friends die from esophageal cancer in the last 10 years.

[RKP5637]

12. I had a major Gerd attack, ambulance took me to the hospital. They thought it might be a heart attack

Did tests and xrays. After that I started taking one Famotidine 20mg, morning and night. Since then in my case I've not had a repeat of that episode.

[ificandream]

16. I was dumb enough not to go to the hospital right away.

A doctor I talked to later berated me. I deserved it. It was stupid.

[MOMFUDSKI]

13. Prilosec for years.

Diabetes causes sphincter at top of stomach to weaken. Take tramadol for the pain from sciatica sometimes but that stuff screws with your digestion. Try to not take it. Have had esophageal spasms here and there. I take baking soda in water and it goes away. One does what one can to stay comfortable. Old age is hard

[IcyPeas]

14. I'd like to add to this conversation: Aloe Vera juice.

My brother had this. He tried everything. Someone in a health food store told him about Aloe Vera juice so he figured.... what the heck, may as well try it. Just a little bit... couple of tablespoons. He did this every day. It helped him a lot. I've tasted it, it's not bad.

[ificandream]

15. I'll keep an eye out for that. tx.

[yellowdogintexas]

18. I have had a couple of rounds of it

One was pretty nasty and my doc ordered Prilosec equivalent for 90 days, which worked.

I have learned to avoid eating heavily close to bedtime, and not drinking red wine late at night. Acidic foods are the worst triggers. If I am hungry late at night, I have a few saltines, sometimes crumbled up in buttermilk or milk. Sometimes I have a banana.

A couple of other things that can help for a minor flare: plain yogurt, cottage cheese, or heavy cream (drink about 1/4 cup or so) These coat the esophagus and help neutralize the acid.

[rso]

19. RSO

Over the counter 20mg. Omeprazole once daily on an empty stomach when you wake up, works like a charm with no side effects for me.

[NCDem47]

20. I do!

Took prescription Nexium for years, all working fine. Then, out-of-nowhere, I had a sudden attack like you. It buuuuuurned after I ate. No matter what it was. Lost 15 pounds out of fear of eating. It took about three months to work it out. Saw a GI. Had an endoscopy (nothing going on in upper GI tract). Changed the meds to Pantoprazole and everything went back to normal. I was told sometimes you can have random flare-ups or sometimes meds you have been taking for years loose their effectiveness. I find exercise and other gut strategies to help as well.

[ificandream]

21. I do 10,000 steps a day

… and I’m over 70, so I guess I’m covered on exercise.

[ificandream]

23. In my case, it was pretty much a surprise.

I hadn't really had any advance symptoms except for the fact I noticed a bile taste in my throat. Nothing, though, like what happened in the attack. It was like a gas attack except it was all over. Then it disappeared. Doctors are still looking at what happened.

[Ponietz]

22. There could be an epidemic

Good people forced to swallow much gall since 2017.