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I've tried about everything medicinal and NOTHING works. It's all become about more than I can take, with 24/7 acid reflux. Eating, not eating nothing makes it better. I've had several tests that so far show little. I'm scheduled for one called the BRAVO the Monday after T'giving to test the PH in my esophagus, but in the meantime I need some relief. I've tried buttermilk (at a friend's urging) and (don't laugh) same friend suggested jagermeister even though I knew that was a dumb idea, I tried it. Needless to say, big mistake. I do not drink soft drinks, alcohol, and just one cup of coffee per day (which does not seem to bother me as much as plain water can at times). I've adjusted my diet, no luck. I've gone without eating, which was good for my waistline, but bad for me in general. I'm tired of taking expensive medicines that don't work. So, does anyone know of a home remedy that might help. What will reduce the acidity in my stomach? It burns constantly, as well. I feel pretty sorry for myself, so having a pity party tonight. Suggestions? Thanks!
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elevate your head when you are in bed.
do not eat and lay down (give 45 minutes at least)
eat less per meal (smaller meals more frequently perhaps)
include foods that are high in complex carbs
avoid high fat meals
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Thank you. I've done all of that. I've been battling this since February, with only short respites where it lets up. I have the head of my bed elevated, I rarely eat after 7:00 in the evening. I went to eating oatmeal for a while, but even that hurt. To say I am exasperated, is an understatement. This is paroxysmal, so conventional wisdom is not working in my case. That's why I'm hoping a natural/home/alternative remedy might work.
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Completly cut out: coffee, greasy fatty foods, heavy foods, protein heavy meals, dairy, wheat, citrus fruits, mint and chocolate. Sorry, but is has to be done. Also eat slowly and chew your food very well. Avoid liquids with meals.
There are several things you can try. Here are a few ideas:
-Take DGL 1-2 capsules before meals
-Broad spectrum digestive enzymes before meals
-Small frequent meals
-Food combining, this I am not a fan of but it does seem to work for those without any blood sugar issues. Basically you never combine starches and proteins, each meal is either starch and nonstarchy veggies or protein and nonstrachy veggies. Fruit is always eaten alone.
-Probiotics, a high potency brand (I take ProBio SAP by Nutritional Fundamentals of health, 3/day away from food)
-Any GI soothing herbal blend. Marshmallow root, plantain or banana, slippery elm, licorice and aloe would all be good herbs to have in a blend. I would take 1-2 caps before meals.
-Foos allergy testing, many people have IgG allergies, or delayed food reactions and eliminating them causes significant relief of symptoms. Ask your ND about ELISA food allergy testing.
Also very weird but true most relux is from not enough acid, not too much. Do not try this if you have a history of ulcers or IBD, but take a tablespoon of raw, unrefined apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice or a couple betaine tablets before every meal. Stop and reduce the dose when you feel heat in the abdominal area. Most people are so HCl deficient from poor eating habits and antacid abuse that the stomach acidity is a rebound effect. The stomach is deficeint and so the body overcompensates.
You also don't want to increase the pH of the stomach with all the viruses (H1N1) going around. It is a major source of nonspecific immunity.
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Hope is better than fear.
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My folk remedy book says apple cider vinegar helps that.
Can hardly walk. Need hip replacement.
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Thanks, Barbie. Chocolate was the first thing that went. I've held onto my one cup of coffee per day as it seems to have little to no effect on the reflux. The burning rarely stops. I have a constant sore throat, even though I had an endoscopy a few months ago that showed little irritation (the esophagitis was worse a couple of years ago when I had an endoscopy before). I've heard of the apple cider vinegar thing but was afraid to risk it as I found it hard to believe (I almost said swallow, LOL). But, I'll give it a try tomorrow and see if it helps. Thanks, again.
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I second the recommendation for Probiotics (friendly bacteria for the gut). They say 70% of our immune system is within our intestinal tract, so we really need these friendly bacteria fighting for our immune system. Modern diets destroy/do not replenish this good bacteria. Antibiotics destroy it too. Rebuilding takes time, so you will not instantly notice if it works. I started taking them about 3 months ago and am now noticing a definite improvement in my skin and energy level.
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DCNGA wrote:Thanks, Barbie. Chocolate was the first thing that went. I've held onto my one cup of coffee per day as it seems to have little to no effect on the reflux. The burning rarely stops. I have a constant sore throat, even though I had an endoscopy a few months ago that showed little irritation (the esophagitis was worse a couple of years ago when I had an endoscopy before).
I've heard of the apple cider vinegar thing but was afraid to risk it as I found it hard to believe (I almost said swallow, LOL). But, I'll give it a try tomorrow and see if it helps.
Thanks, again. D, I have periodic bouts of this too. In my case, I believe stress brought it on in the first place. Stress can attack so many different areas of our bodies, causing headaches, joint aches, etc. My stress goes straight to my stomach. I had a bunch of tests a few years ago. Nothing much showed up but a little redness on my esophagaus and it seemed as if my doctor didn't really take me seriously. My daughter gets it once in a while and says chewing a piece of spearmint gum helps her. Who knows. I have no luck with any of those reflux meds, even prescribed ones. I hope you start feeling better.
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Thanks, everyone. Stress is a contributor and may have been the trigger several months ago, but I'm not at all stressed these days--quite the opposite. It just came on one night after eating a very small bowl of Bryer's chocolate ice cream (a weakness of mine). Needless to say, I have not had chocolate since February. The apple cider vinegar did not work (AT ALL). My stomach and throat are on fire, so I'm thinking that was not the magic bullet for me. Guess I will move onto probiotics. My husband takes pancreatic enzymes due to his CF, I wonder if I need digestive enzymes too? I have a small hiatal hernia which goes hand in hand with acid reflux. I'm thinking the LES is lax or stays open all of the time and the acid splashes back into my throat. I also have a slight cough from it. The PH test after T'giving will tell how much/often the acid is splashing back. Just TOTALLY dreading something being put in my throat and attached there until it falls off on its own in a couple of days. I fear a huge, 48 hour panic attack. I went to have the old timey PH probe test with a probe put down the nose to hang in the throat (attached to an external monitor) for 24 hours. I was able to let her get it down my throat then went into a panic attack with it there and I made her remove it immediately. She said people without a throat phobia have a hard time taking it so she suggested the BRAVO that I'm having. Still, not sure how I will do with that and I will be under MAC anesthesia so won't know until I wake up. SIGH.
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DC, I don't know much about this, but a few years ago my aunt had some type of surgery because she had severe acid reflux. I wish I could remember the details, but I do know that her life has been changed for the better, and very soon after the surgery. She said the "recovery" pain was better than the reflux had been. It was the weirdest procedure, and sounded much worse than it was I think. I think I will look that up. I know that is a drastic step, but she did say she wished she had done it years earlier.
 "Annie Bean Sprout"
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I think I know the procedure, they take the top part of the stomach (fundus?) and wrap it around the end of the esophagus to tighten the sphincter muscle area (called surgical fundoplication, I think). There's an endoscopic procedure that is supposed to work and a couple of other new ones that have come out in the last few years for the LES (if it is floppy or loose). I guess I'll have to wait and see what the BRAVO shows (pray I have a LOT of reflux those two day--I'll be eating ketchup and chocolate-two triggers and drinking wine for sure those two days) how bad it is. What I migh consider is: Endoscopic Assisted: Endoscopic Assisted Reflux Therapy including EsophyX and EndoCinch are incisonless surgical methods.
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DC, I just looked it up and I think my aunt had this: In 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two endoscopic devices to treat chronic heartburn. The Bard EndoCinch system puts stitches in the LES to create little pleats that help strengthen the muscle. The Stretta system uses electrodes to create tiny cuts on the LES. When the cuts heal, the scar tissue helps toughen the muscle. The long-term effects of these two procedures are unknown.I was just on the phone with my mom and forgot to ask. I sure don't remember this being a new procedure my aunt had, but I know whatever it was she had those "cuts." I just remember her getting these little cuts all over (internally). She explained why at the time and I have forgotten, but it must be the same thing with the scar tissue toughening up the muscle. Personally I like the incisionless surgery you may consider. That sounds less invasive.
"Annie Bean Sprout"
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DC! Hope you get this resolved...stomach issues...ugh. I know the gut has it's own never center that reacts, just wish it didn't! Yours may be that physical problem that can be corrected. Fingers crossed. Mine are stress related on and off, but no reflux, so I can use the unfiltered Bragg's apple cider vinegar I get at The Vitamin Shoppe (I LOVE this stuff!), probiotics, Activia yougurt in my vitamin smoothies, and really good vitamins/supplements. Excellent sugggestions everyone...I learn so much here. Let us know what you decide. I need to get this bio-feedback program to help me handle my stressful home situation....like I read in another post, stress ages and debilitates. It's a real battle. Can I just permanently move into some Zen center?
Pay no attention to Caesar. Caesar doesn’t have the slightest idea what’s really going on. Kurt Vonnegut
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Hi ya, Shaz. Sorry the stress is bad. You are a real trooper, so hang in there. You're doing an admirable thing with your mom, some would not. Annie, I was not sure how long ago they started doing the endocinch, glad it's been a while. I'll have to do some research to see what docs here do what procedures. I know I don't want to be cut open, so if they can't do it down my throat or through an endoscope, I don't want it done. I really think it is an LES issue, but things that stress me come out in my gut too, Shaz. I've had virtually no stress in the last two months so no reason I am flaring so badly. Work has even been good and that's saying a lot. I have not been able to get the reflux under control at all for the last 72 hours and I'm MISERABLE. Sorry to be such a whiny ass.
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I was just reading about Pro DGL last week. Try this link. http://ezinearticles.com/?Get-Heartburn,-Indigestion-and-Ulcer-Relief-Using-DGL&id=133828
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Thanks, Isles. I read that same article and I hate to sound like I'm throwing up road block after road block, but I bought DGL lozenges right after all of this started several months ago--no luck. sigh. And let me add, they taste NASTY!! I really think I've tried about everything recommended on the Internet and nothing seems to work for me. It's irretractable at this point (for the last three days).
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DCNGA wrote:Thanks, Isles. I read that same article and I hate to sound like I'm throwing up road block after road block, but I bought DGL lozenges right after all of this started several months ago--no luck. sigh. And let me add, they taste NASTY!!
I really think I've tried about everything recommended on the Internet and nothing seems to work for me. It's irretractable at this point (for the last three days). A DGL lozenge isn't going to be strong enough. Take a concentrated chewable DGL tablet before meals or a herbal blend before meals.
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Aww...DC...thank you. She's a sweetie, and I'm lucky to have good friends and support from DH. You're not being whiny...you're hurting and miserable, looking for a solution! Hope the right one comes. Your gut may be kinda conditioned for stress from the past. GERD issues are SO hard to pin down. Keep trying!!
Pay no attention to Caesar. Caesar doesn’t have the slightest idea what’s really going on. Kurt Vonnegut
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Thanks, Barbie. I actually went to a local organic health food store and bought the DGL and I also bought licorice root and chewed it because I read (on the Internet) that it is the purest way/form to get DGL. It might have helped a bit, but not enough to deal with splinters in my tongue (LOL). It was actually sweet, not nearly as bitter as the lozenges--these were actually discs that you let sit in the mouth and dissolve, so my description might be wrong when I say lozenge. I read not to chew, but let it dissolve in my mouth as the saliva activates the DGL. So, I let them dissolve and suffered the horrid taste. They did nothing for me. The root did more, but not enough to last more than 15 minutes or so. You've all made such great suggestions. Please, keep them coming, there may be something I have not tried yet...I keep hoping.
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We have to find the cause of your symptoms. Have you had an endoscopy or a barium x-ray? Maybe your symptoms are not lifestyle related.
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