[lifelesstraveled]

I know people are going through much worse medical conditions, so I kinda feel like I'm whining about something minor. I'm not really seeking answers to specific questions, other than what have your experiences been with dealing with acid reflux and how long did it take for you to recover?

I was recently diagnosed with this but it was a pretty general diagnosis without much investigation by the doctor. I'm not happy about it. I know it seems minor (and I feel like asking myself "do you want some cheese with that whine"), but I seriously haven't eaten more than 1x or 2x very small meals per day since mid-August, and sometimes I'll go a few days or more with just water and tea. I've lost almost 30 lbs bc I'm so afraid to eat or generally just don't have an appetite. I don't know what might trigger the reflux. The worst symptom is not being able to breathe well. Almost feels like I'm suffocating.

Before I was diagnosed I had no symptoms that i can even recall, but I was trying to eat better and move more in an effort to support the work I am doing in therapy. For weeks (6 maybe) I was eating salads and drinking smoothies and eating fruit and veggies, taking vitamins, doing yoga and spinning, and despite feeling really good during that time--better than I'd felt in a while, one night my body seemed to reject it all.

Now after buying books with conflicting information i have no clue what to eat or not to eat. The foods that I love--most fruits (oranges, pineapple, most apples, grapes, bananas, plums, peaches etc) but also pizza and chocolate pasta, etc. I can't even drink my chocolate vegan meal replacements. Melons are probably the one safe fruit most recommend, but I'm allergic to all but watermelon. I can do without the pizza and chocolate, but even the healthy foods I love are considered trigger foods.

One book says bananas are off limits another says they are perfectly safe. I know I should do some trial and error but I'm terrified of not being able to breathe. The other symptoms I can deal with (mostly burping and some burning in the throat--no chest pain at all), but not being able to fully breathe, I can't. And I have no clue what will set it off.

I was put on prescription prilosec and after reading up on PPIs (how dangerous and addictive they are) I have no clue how to get off of them because I've heard the rebound effect is so bad that people go right back to taking them. My doctors have been useless as far as how to control my symptoms without meds and neither one mentioned weight loss, or lifestyle changes (i looked it up myself).

I'm in the process of trying to at least workout some to lose a bit more weight--I don't have much more to go at this point, and I'm doing yoga to help relive my chronic stress, and trying acupuncture Wednesday (I have 12 sessions booked), but I just don't know now how to approach the food issue. My therapist is concerned bc of how much weight I've lost and how fast I lost it and worries it will impact my emotional/mental healing bc I'm not getting enough nutrients. She gave me some info about a nutritionist, so I might call them, but my finances are limited since leaving my 7 year career a few months ago.

Most times I can figure things out on my own, but this I just can't wrap my head around bc for 6 weeks I was eating mostly fruits and veggies, rice, and pasta (in my salads) and had no known symptoms prior. I have no idea where to start or what to do. I just feel stuck.

[shezbut]

(((( LLT )))))

GERD may sound trivial to you, but it isn't. I've had it for years now & it is challenging!

Once you find the right medicine that works for your symptoms, stick with it. I have been put on several different meds, but the protonix is the only one that works for me. Otherwise, I'm fighting esophagitis, which hurts like mad!! I'm sorry if I sound negative. I really don't want that.

Check out this article, in case you haven't already. The information is helpful and accurate (in my personal experience).

What Is Acid Reflux Disease? | LIVESTRONG.COM

You aren't alone & your discomfort does matter.

[lifelesstraveled]

Thanks, Shezbut! I'm glad you've found something that works for you. Thanks for letting me know I'm not a alone and for reminding me this is a real health issue and it's ok to be upset bc it's challenging to deal with.

And thanks so much for that link. My symptoms seem closer to LPR. I feel like all of this started when I took a seasonal call center job a few months ago. And am wondering if it's the job (at least part of the problem). I read that ppl who use their voices for work have high rates of GERD/LPR.

As far as medication, my goal is to not stay on medication if I can help it. My doc said it's not recommended past 2 months bc of the complications that come it with when taking it for too long. I have been looking other remedies outside of prescriptions--slippery elm, DGL Licorice, chamomile tea, etc.

After reading info online and in books, I know I know can't just stop cold turkey, instead I need to wean off of the meds, but how? Then also need to figure out what foods are giving me issues, but how do I know that while I am on the Priolsec? None of this makes sense. I guess I'll have to get over this new phobia of eating to figure it out...

[splitimage]

GERD is no laughing matter, it's horrible. I've dealt with it for years. The worst of it for me is when I wake up in the middle of the night with my esophagus and throat burning. I take Tecta and it does help, as some diet changes I've made. But honestly my solution is to keep a giant sized bottle of extra strength Tums by my bed, and when I wake up in pain, I just chew a handful. Probably not the healthiest but it works.

Things that I've found helpful - no caffeine after 1 pm, no carbonated beverages after 4 pm, no eating for 3 hours before I go to bed, minimal tomatoes, no more hot peppers (sad), and avoiding wings for dinner. I can have them for lunch just not for dinner.

You might want to ask your Dr. for an endoscope of your upper GI tract. You may have a hiatal hernia (hole at the top of the stomach). That can be a cause of a lot of GERD.

Good luck with it.

splitimage

[lifelesstraveled]

Originally Posted by splitimage

GERD is no laughing matter, it's horrible. I've dealt with it for years. The worst of it for me is when I wake up in the middle of the night with my esophagus and throat burning. I take Tecta and it does help, as some diet changes I've made. But honestly my solution is to keep a giant sized bottle of extra strength Tums by my bed, and when I wake up in pain, I just chew a handful. Probably not the healthiest but it works.

Things that I've found helpful - no caffeine after 1 pm, no carbonated beverages after 4 pm, no eating for 3 hours before I go to bed, minimal tomatoes, no more hot peppers (sad), and avoiding wings for dinner. I can have them for lunch just not for dinner.

You might want to ask your Dr. for an endoscope of your upper GI tract. You may have a hiatal hernia (hole at the top of the stomach). That can be a cause of a lot of GERD.

Good luck with it.

splitimage

Thanks for this! I hope I didn't imply that GERD is a laughing matter. For me I feel like I am complaining about something small when ppl have bigger health challenges to deal with. It's just a bad habit I have. My therapist always reminds me to stop comparing my challenges to others.

Thanks for sharing what you do! I am going to try to make more adjustments. I just wish I knew what adjustments. I know I need to eat more, but I am terrified. I have my few "safe foods" and I'm pretty much sticking to those--they just aren't giving me the number of calories I need per day. I am going to ask to see if other examinations/test need to be done to make sure no damage has been done to my throat, stomach, digestive tract, etc.