Acid - don't let it take all the bubbles out of your life (My experience of GERD)

Member Name: thriftyminx13

Product:	My experience of GERD
Date:	04/01/09 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: seems to be dietary that works the best

Disadvantages: avoid fizzy drinks and chocolate - top tip

GERD -Gastroesophageal disease otherwise known as Acid reflux is an unpleasant condition that in my case arose due to stress.


Basically this is where your stomach produces too much acid and the muscles (sphincter) don't work properly and prevent the oesophagus closing over properly. If the sphincter does not close properly, food and liquid can move backward into the oesophagus and cause heartburn and other symptoms known as gastroesophageal disease (GERD). This is why acid can come up and burn your throat - resulting in a sore throat, or cause heartburn - in your chest.

MY SYMPTOMS ***

For a few months I had been experiencing nausea and when i went to the doctor with other ailments such as chest pain, this was not diagnosed. However, when all the other symptoms had been treated and I was left with sypmtoms of pain in my chest, nausea, burping a lot, not feeling hungry (when usually I had a good appetite) a strange bright red tongue tip and generally uncomfortable the doctor suspected acid reflux.

I was prescribed Lansoprazole. 30mg (15mg twice a day) for a week and then to move on to 15mg. I found that this was very hit and miss. After 2 months I had days when I still felt sick and still do and have lost 1stone (not that I'm complaining about that!).

Advice***

Avoid all fizzy drinks and chocolate. These are the two worst culprits for me. Although in addition it is recommended to avoid caffeine, alcohol, citrus fruit, spicy food, onions, tomatoes and peppers.

From these I do have three cups of tea a day or 2 cups and one cup of coffee and nothing after 7pm. I avoid all citrus and the veg/fruit above so I cannot comment on their impact.

They do recommend eating fruit and veg though to try and combat the acid and i find apples and bananas particularly useful.

In addition my doctor has recommended taking three tablespoons of natural yoghurt morning and night and already I find this a help.

Lots of water as usual. and i have started (yesterday) enjoying a couple of glasses of wine. I find that chocolate is worst than the wine!

If however, you don't feel well go back to the doctor. I went back and have an emergency supply of a second drug. but while my tongue pattern is returning to normal and i can enjoy a glass of wine I',m trying to wean myself off medicine.

TOP TIP *****

If you have a particularly bad attack of heartburn drink two glasses of water and a glass of milk to neutralise the stomach and dilute the acid!!

If anyone has any problems with acid reflux and wants to talk please send me a message.

Summary: don't let the heartburn get you!!