Does anyone know of any good relivers for GERD?

Well guys, problem is, I'm getting sick of GERD now.

I'm 16 years old, and I've been having troubles with GERD for about 3-4 years.

I wake up every morning, feeling nauseous, and dizzy, and I have to sit at the end of my bed for a second to let the blood go to my head before I get up. Trouble is, I have anxiety, and I'm frightened to death of being sick, so when I feel sick in the mornings it really isn't nice for me and I don't like it to be honest.

Also, if I stay up late and I begin to get tired, I get terrible reflux and the back of my throat really burns, feels like someone's sticking a cactus down my throat, which also isn't very pleasant.

I would like to ask another question too, do any of the other GERD sufferers here get pain in the intestine area? I thought I could've had appendicitis at first, because the pains are a lot more frequent on the right, but the same pains began to happen on the left hand side, and as GERD is related to your digestive system, I've come to associate these pains with GERD, due to your intestines also being part of your digestive system.

And yeah, I haven't really tried any of the GERD reliving products yet, so does anyone have any recommendations to make so I can go out and try something? Because I genuinely have had enough of it now, it's not exactly an extremely terrible condition to have, but I do find it rather irritating and it's not the most practical thing to have.

Hello and welcome to HealingWell and the GERD/Heartburn Forum. I am sorry to hear you have been having issues for 4 years.



I have to agree with Joy, please do talk with your parents as you need to see your physician for a medical screening exam and to perhaps have some testing done to make a dx of GERD.



Also you may want to check out our thread at the top of the forum re " Do I have GERD?"



Again a warm welcome.



Kitt

I get a lot of gas problems. I swallow a lot of air thanks to my GERD.

Joy

Well guys, problem is, I'm getting sick of GERD now.

I'm 16 years old, and I've been having troubles with GERD for about 3-4 years.

I wake up every morning, feeling nauseous, and dizzy, and I have to sit at the end of my bed for a second to let the blood go to my head before I get up. Trouble is, I have anxiety, and I'm frightened to death of being sick, so when I feel sick in the mornings it really isn't nice for me and I don't like it to be honest.

You may be light headed from low blood pressure, anemia, or many other things - including med side effects.  My GERD has never made me dizzy.  I would also elevate the top of your bed so reflux won't come up into your esophogus.

Also, if I stay up late and I begin to get tired, I get terrible reflux and the back of my throat really burns, feels like someone's sticking a cactus down my throat, which also isn't very pleasant.

I would stop eating around 6pm along with no caffeine or acidic foods.  My throat has been burning constantly lately.  Really the only thing that helps is really cold drinks.  Like uber filled w/ ice.  I've also heard milk soothes it so I'm gonna try that here as soon as I'm done.

I would like to ask another question too, do any of the other GERD sufferers here get pain in the intestine area? I thought I could've had appendicitis at first, because the pains are a lot more frequent on the right, but the same pains began to happen on the left hand side, and as GERD is related to your digestive system, I've come to associate these pains with GERD, due to your intestines also being part of your digestive system.

Last week I got tremendous pain in my intestines for days.  The one day it was really bad.  I thought I'd have to go to the hospital.  It started in my upper intestines and moved down.  Then I would go to the bathroom and the process would start all over.  Took about 4 times before the pain subsided.

And yeah, I haven't really tried any of the GERD reliving products yet, so does anyone have any recommendations to make so I can go out and try something? Because I genuinely have had enough of it now, it's not exactly an extremely terrible condition to have, but I do find it rather irritating and it's not the most practical thing to have.

Get rolaids and keep them with you.  Even if you don't have symptoms at night, make sure you take one bbefore you go to bed.  And call you Dr!  Get him to refer you to a gastro Dr.

Jamie Leigh -- FWIW, you might want to give one of the natural treatments a try, if you haven't already. You have nothing to lose!

I've had GERS for about 4 years now. When I first was diagnosed, the doctor told me that I needed to be on a proton pump inhibitor (first Prevacid, then Protonix). The pill every morning seemed to control the reflux pretty well, although for some reason, after about 3 years, the reflux began occurring in the evenings as well. The doctor suggested taking a Protonix before dinner too, but I did a little research and learned about apple cider vinegar.

Every morning, I take 2 tablespoons of Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar (any unfiltered, organic brand will work), into which I stir about 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda (I buy bulk, low-sodium baking soda). I let it fizz for about 30 seconds, then I add another 4 ounces or so of unfiltered apple juice. I drink this down, followed by some straight apple juice or another beverage, to thoroughly wash it down and get rid of any residual sourness.

In the past 6 months of taking this every morning, I have not had one episode of reflux.

In short, don't accept everything a doctor may tell you. I wish I'd known about ACV from the beginning, but most doctors are either ignorant of its potential, or don't trust "natural remedies", or are in the pocket of the pharmaceutical companies who would rather I pay them $60 a month for Protonix and all of its possible side-effects, than spend $3 for a bottle of ACV that is totally natural and even has other health benefits.

Good luck!

dencha said...
...Gum is a no-no. ...

Just curious... I could have sworn that I've heard gum is good for GERD (as long as it doesn't have peppermint or something!) -- I think it has something to do with excess saliva production?  Why do you say gum is bad?

Jamie -- you've already received some great advice so I don't have a whole lot to add!  I have noticed that my GERD gets worse with stress/anxiety, and also when I eat certain foods (I'm still experimenting to find out what my exact triggers are!)  I'm also taking an Rx since the OTC medications didn't work for me.  Good luck and I hope you can find something that works for you soon!