Anyone else suffering from Acid reflux/gurd?

[Alent]

I developed this a few years ago. Had what felt like a lump in my throat whenever i swallowed and chest pains and the doctor set me up an appointment within 30 minutes of me calling. It was just acid rising was causing the oesophagus to contract and feel like a lump so that was a big relief LOL. A couple months on Gavison did the trick. Now it only affects me occasionally.

 

[PeskyToaster]

I think dark chocolate caused mine. Is that a thing?

 

[Deleted member 4034]

Ew.

I guess I should turn things around since I guess I'm aheading toward this gross shit in a few years.

 

[Smylie]

I think dark chocolate caused mine. Is that a thing?

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Chocolate, coffee, citrus, spicy foods ... All those things plus more.

 

[sgtnosboss]

I recently developed this shit and it's the absolute worse thing ever. I'm so afraid to eat anything out of fear of triggering it. Could hardly eat anything for dinner tonight because I felt my food in my throat.

Any other sufferers of this disease?

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I take a 150mg zantac in the morning and night. Its awful OP and I am sorry you are now in the club. Yes I watch what I eat, but its also a side effect for me from another medication I take that I can't actually stop taking.

 

[FeliciaFelix]

My family especially dad have had it since I was a child. He buys Zantac at Costco in bulk. No spicy food, ect.

 

[Thrill_house]

When I drank pop and koolaid ALL THE TIME when I was younger, yes I had issues with this. I got lucky though, I cut that stuff out of my diet and now I very rarely have issues with it. I have a strange feeling it will become a problem as I age though regardless of diet.

 

[AkumaNiko]

This. H Pylori. Go to the doctor and get a urea breath test or, a stool antigen test. Also if you get put on any antibiotics, take probiotics during the treatment as it will help to alleviate some of the side effects experienced while taking the medication. If your doctor suggests Levofloxacin/Levaquin do not take it and instead, find a new doctor. This drug has FDA black box warnings and here are some of the documented side effects: Tendon rupture or inflammation warning, Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage), Central nervous system effects, etc.

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Not all stomach issues are caused by h pylori. I have chronic IBS-C (constipation) and it got so bad that i had BILE reflux. Caused chronic gastritis. Like OP, i was scared to eat anything and ended up dropping 100lbs in 4 years. Now im a healthy weight and im better, but thats only because i got my constipation somewhat under control

 

[Molecule]

I've had to deal with acid reflux for a long time. Go to the doctor if you can (gastroenterologist) and get checked for a specific bacteria, if that's what you have it can be fixed, otherwise it's probably diet related. You don't want to take meds for it long term. You should find out what kinds of food trigger it and limit those. Since I switched my diet to keto I've barely had to deal with acid reflux. For me, tomato sauce and bread (pizza for example or pasta) are a big trigger.

 

[Premium Ghoul]

I used to have it real bad (made my throat bleed and got blood in my stomach/stool, kept me from sleeping quite often) but luckily mine was due to a physical problem that could be fixed with surgery. Haven't had to worry about it since I had that done.

I had a hiatal hernia and a Nissen fundoplication surgery to fix it.

 

[mikehaggar]

I have acid issues. I've been on Pantoprazole/Protonix prescription for almost two years now. The weird thing about my condition is that I've never really had anything that comes up (reflux) or burning pain in my chest. It's just always been intense pain in my stomach. I was taking Zantac for years and that did the trick, but then it got to the point where that was no longer effective. I went to the doctor and had stool and blood tests done which showed no signs of H Pylori. I then had an upper endoscopy with biopsy done and that came back fine as well (my insides look quite healthy apparently). So... the doctors never explained what could be wrong.

The Protonix works like a charm for me. However, if I miss a single does (taken once each morning), my stomach typically flares up the same day in the afternoon. Crazy stuff. I sympathize with anyone that deals with this. Mine would typically flare up over night which would then ruin my sleep, but not enough to wake me up. I'd wake in the morning exhausted, laying in the fetal position clutching my stomach. I'd often need to call off of work. It can really be quite debilitating.

 

[Aomame]

I'm worried I might have developed it. For the past week or so, I've been dealing with chest pain and occasional throat tightness. I haven't noticed it being related to any particular foods, but about a month ago I had soda for the first time in a while and had horrific heartburn. I occasionally will have food coming back up, but not often enough that it has ever concerned me prior to the chest pain. I have had these small burps more often lately though.

I have a doctor's appointment on the third (why'd I have to get sick around the holidays...), so I'm really just holding out until then. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but this seems the most likely answer.

Does anyone have a recommendation for an OTC drug that I can try to relieve the chest pain until then? I have taken Tums and ibuprofen but they don't seem to help.

 

[Smylie]

I used to have it real bad (made my throat bleed and got blood in my stomach/stool, kept me from sleeping quite often) but luckily mine was due to a physical problem that could be fixed with surgery. Haven't had to worry about it since I had that done.

I had a hiatal hernia and a Nissen fundoplication surgery to fix it.

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Another Nissen person! How long has it been since your surgery?

 

[Guts Of Thor]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm 36 and 140lbs so I don't think weight is my issue. I don't really eat badly although I could definitely eat more fruits and vegetables plus drink way more water than I currently do.

Going to call my doctor and get tested for h pylori since my mother had it around Thanksgiving and I want to rule that out.

 

[Notyou]

I get it when I don't use my cpap. I have sleep apnea, and not using the cpap seems to trigger it for me.

 

[tsakiki]

I had terrible GERD issues for a number of years. Nexium helped significantly, but I didn't like some of the side effects and decided I had to address the underlying problems rather than just treat the symptoms.

Figure out your triggers using an elimination diet, and avoid those foods. Don't just follow the generic "these might be bad for acid reflux" lists, since they might not include your worst culprits, and might have you exclude foods that are fine for you. Oranges and apples were the worst for me, and too much refined sugar or white flour is bad as well. I was so happy tomatoes were ok. Eat smaller meals, more frequently, don't overfill yourself, and don't eat too close to bed time.

I'd have said lose weight, but that's apparently not a problem for you.

If it's a problem at night, if you're a back sleeper, try to raise the head of your bed, or maybe get a large wedge pillow to elevate your head and shoulders. If you're a side sleeper, stick to sleeping on your left side.

 

[Deleted member 34239]

Not all stomach issues are caused by h pylori. I have chronic IBS-C (constipation) and it got so bad that i had BILE reflux. Caused chronic gastritis. Like OP, i was scared to eat anything and ended up dropping 100lbs in 4 years. Now im a healthy weight and im better, but thats only because i got my constipation somewhat under control

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Yea but the op doesn't have ibs. The post suggests that this is a new development. As a result, its best if the op made a visit to a physician.

 

[tsakiki]

Speaking of bile reflux, you should also have your physician check your gallbladder functionality. Gallbladder problems can present themselves with GERD-like symptoms.

 

[Premium Ghoul]

Another Nissen person! How long has it been since your surgery?

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Pretty sure it was in January 2016. It took a while for me to be able to burp again but apart from that the recovery was pretty easy.

 

[AkumaNiko]

No doubt, just saying that

Yea but the op doesn't have ibs. The post suggests that this is a new development. As a result, its best if the op made a visit to a physician.

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no i agree, OP needs to see a doc, the sooner the better.

If he lets the fear of eating continue on, its gonna be real tough on him.

I good GI doc will hook you up with a fodmap plan to see what triggers your reflux

 

[samoscratch]

Start fermenting kefir at home, you can buy the grains on Amazon and it's really easy, it helps a lot.

 

[Guts Of Thor]

I'd like to add that getting old fucking sucks lol.

 

[TrailerParkRanger]

Not to be alarmist, but totally to be alarmist for your own good. Get your GERD treated, don't sit on it. I let my GERD go and never really addressed it. And then, I was diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma at the junction between my stomach and esophagus. Now my esophagus is attached to my small intestine.

No genetic history of cancer, but when cells are constantly forced to regenerate in on particular spot, the chance for mutations, like cancer, go up.

 

[Kuro]

Careful with prescription reflux meds. If you miss a dose or try to quit cold turkey the problem comes back ten fold. I was on them for a year for a different issue and had really bad reflux for a month after quitting cold turkey but everything has been mostly back to normal since then.

 

[Sidebuster]

Weird that this thread popped up. I'm seeing a gastroenterologist today about the same issue that I've had on and off for about a year now that has gotten way worse. I've gotten perscribed Prilosec, cut out meat/dairy and switched breakfast and dinner with a vegan shake replacement meal (with coconut milk, banana, fruit too). It's helped a bit, but I'm still getting it.

 

[Guts Of Thor]

I've noticed over the past few days that dairy and bread don't seem to do anything to me. Spicy and fried foods are definitely a trigger though.

 

[Lockness Mobster]

Yep sucks,I take an extra strength Tums smoothie chewable or two before bed if I feel it creepin up. My triggers are acidic foods and drinks and sugary foods and drinks like orange juice,lemomade,and acidic pasta/pizza sauces. Fuck waking up feeling like your choking and vomiting up lava.

 

[Smylie]

Pretty sure it was in January 2016. It took a while for me to be able to burp again but apart from that the recovery was pretty easy.

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That's great! I only started burping a couple of months ago, and it only happens randomly, about once a week.

 

[TFGB]

Had it for about 20 years but gave up with the Omeprazole. If I attempt to eat heavy carbs such as bread, rice, pasta, pastry, crisps, potatoes etc. then I suffer badly to the point where I need to fully vomit so I can get to sleep.

If I stay off the crap then I'm fine and can even sleep on my side.

 

[Moose the Mooche]

Arent there any probiotics at your place for the symptons? Here (Netherlands) we have a pretty wide variety of probiotics for all sorts of stuff related to your symptons.

 

[Chuchubabe]

I had and it was so shit, i didnt take nothing and now i have like a wound in my stomach, if i dont take meds( stomach protector pills) it hurts so much, i have to make one exame to my stomach, they say its the worst fucking exame , worst than the one shoving a tube up your ass.

 

[Smylie]

I had and it was so shit, i didnt take nothing and now i have like a wound in my stomach, if i dont take meds( stomach protector pills) it hurts so much, i have to make one exame to my stomach, they say its the worst fucking exame , worst than the one shoving a tube up your ass.

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If you're talking about an endoscopy, it's not that bad at all. Although I've only had it several times while sedated under general anesthesia. I've heard there are places around the world that do it while you're completely awake, which I couldn't do. I would die.

 

[Chuchubabe]

After 10+ years of acid reflux and a massive hiatal hernia making me absolutely miserable, no matter what I ate/drank, no matter how much I weighed, not matter how long I waited to lay down after eating/drinking, I had the Nissen Fundoplication surgery in October 2017.

This:

And while my stomach can now only hold 2/3 of what it used to, and there are a few dietary/behavior restrictions, I haven't had a single instance of acid reflux/GERD since, and haven't taken a single pill for it either. For anyone who's interested, feel free to PM me for more details, because there are lots of things to keep in mind, especially finding the correct surgeon to do this. You want someone who's done this hundreds/thousands of times. Not someone who can just stumble their way through it.

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Can i ask a question? how is a scar made by a surgery like this, i am afraid i can have this.

 

[Chuchubabe]

If you're talking about an endoscopy, it's not that bad at all. Although I've only had it several times while sedated under general anesthesia. I've heard there are places around the world that do it while you're completely awake, which I couldn't do. I would die.

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I as thinking doing it awake but some friends in work said its the worst fucking thing ever, its like you lose air and will sufocate. I am doing it in sleep now for sure.

 

[Ernest]

For me, in order to get acid reflux after I've gone to sleep, a perfect storm of 3 things must happen:

- have dinner after 7pm
- have a big/heavy/spicy dinner
- have more than one alcoholic drink (beer, wine, etc) with dinner

If I do ALL three, I am guaranteed to get woken up by spitting bile by 2 am (taking a shot of apple cider vinegar helps).
If I do 2 out of three, 50/50 chance of reflux.
No reflux if I do one - though usually, I try to do none (eat earlier, don't eat too much, keep it to one or none alcohol).

 

[Deleted member 33887]

I had problems with acid reflux. Changing my diet and losing 30 pounds helped keep it in check. I also sleep on a wedge pillow, as my problems mostly occur when I am laying down. Gravity helps keep my lower esophageal spichter from opening up all the time. So I'm pretty close to back to normal at this point.

 

[Smylie]

Can i ask a question? how is a scar made by a surgery like this, i am afraid i can have this.

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I had mine done laparoscopically, so it involved several small incisions around the belly. There's a good example of what it looks like here, but mine look a lot better than those.

In certain situations, I know they have to do an open surgery, which means they basically open you up from the collarbone to the belly button. But that's relatively rare, and yet another reason to select a surgeon that has extensive expertise doing this surgery.

 

[GodofWine]

You could try a good digestive enzyme with all meals. You might have a lowering amount of natural enzymes, making food sit around, making your body up the acid to try to chew it up.


The other option, a daily dose of whichever OTC product for this you prefer, prevacid etc

 

[FTF]

Yeah I have (usually mild) acid reflex, it's annoying. Zantac is my new best friend :/

 

[Xam3l]

I've been having acid reflux from som years and it was agravated recently. I had a severe anxiety attack a few months ago, when both my granpas died just one month apart, and for a few weeks my chest/throat/stomach was burning almost 24/7.

Meditation, peace and a good diet has been very helpful.

 

[Jerm]

I keep getting what I assume to be acid reflux after I eat or drink anything at all, even water, since about March. I thought it was heart issues for about 3-4 months then I realized it's some type of issue like acid reflux or GERD. It causes me to have panic attacks at least once or twice a week even though I've sort of learned how to deal with them since March where I had essentially locked myself in the house. It gets more painful and incredibly more frequent by the week instead of just "uncomfortable" when it shifts around but I'm already so indebted to the local GI clinic I can't afford to go back. I've been eating like 10-15 Tums a day. I hope to get it seen about next year.

 

[Pet]

Yeah, I had awful acid reflux back when I was super stressed. Ended with a diagnosis of GERD after an endoscopy revealed (minor) damage to my esophagus. There were weeks when I'd wake up and just puke all day, even with nothing in my stomach. One time it was so bad I was dehydrated to the point of needing to go to urgent care and getting a couple saline bags IV'ed into me.

I gave up my morning coffee and reduced my consumption of boba milk tea (QQQQQQ). I didn't stop eating tomatoes and chocolate and spicy food, but had to give up garlic.

I also set more boundaries at work and refused to work over 85 hours in a week even during busy season.

Prilosec kinda helped, but the long term effects turned me off. Apparently acid reflux can be either a physical or mental condition in that it can be triggered by foods but it also can be triggered by stress. So, I went for a two prong method.


Now, I only get acid reflux maybe once or twice a year, usually around the times when I stay up late and eat crappy food.

 

[Teriyaki Blues]

I had a misdiagnosis of acid reflux/GERD for many years, and all the home remedies, over the counter medications, and prescription drugs weren't helping. Finally ditched my doctor and started seeing specialists. Turns out I had h. Pylori and gallstones. After getting those treated, I seldom have acid attacks, probably around 2-3 a year. I still have IBS and am prone to get gastritis if I eat a trigger food, but taking probiotics and fiber help me out.

 

[Droidian]

I'm afraid I might have this.
2 maybe 3 years ago I went to the doctor for a check up and told him about this acid like reaction I kept feeling in my throat which he just said its part of my diet especially if I eat tomato. In a way I felt he just wanted me out of there with that explanation.
Since I saw this thread I feel I've had this every night since and wake up with that feeling I want to vomit even though there is nothing. Do I have what you guys are describing ?
I have woken up with that nasty stuff in my throat but I was too tired to get up so I just went back to sleep.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Yep, it's great fun.

I took Zantac for a while but I found it didn't last particularly long or do that great a job. I'm now on a relatively low dose of esomeprazole every day. And I've had the full complement of GERD tests, too, from the barium swallow to the full-on endoscope and even the wonderfully uncomfortable 24 hour pH monitor (I do not recommend that one, you have a tube up your nose and down your throat for a full day).

I may get surgery to tighten up whatever sphincter is the cause - eventually, anyway. Given that medication seems to do the job I'm okay doing that...even if it's been nearly a decade at this point.

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Miracle drug. Changed my life.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

A ton of people.
Go to the Dr and get on some long term meds. I take a pill twice a day for it and am fine. I also love hot sauce.

 

[Omegasquash]

I'm seeing a GI specialist next week, actually. I've been on over the counter meds, but they're not working the same way. Doctor is pretty sure that it's GI, so I'm getting it looked at. And praying that they don't say "stop eating the hots".

 

[Shola Akinnuso]

I'm probably going to need to see doctor soon too. The pain the last few nights has been unbearable, and i've been living with this for a very long time. Always feeling gassy, always watching what i eat and when i eat...painful swallowing in the morning if it's the first thing i eat (because esophagus is completely ruined), stomach feeling tight...

I used to drink Apple Cider Vinegar water to calm the acid but lately I've had to chase it down with a spoon of yogurt which definitely helps for a while. But yeah, at 44, this is starting to scare me.

 

[Ernest]

A ton of people.
Go to the Dr and get on some long term meds. I take a pill twice a day for it and am fine. I also love hot sauce.

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Fuck that! I've never been on a medication in my life, and I'm not going to start now, especially if I can take care of the issue with a simple dietary/lifestyle change instead of paying for medicine I don't need.

 

[Falcon511]

Yeah. I usually take tums before bed.