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Managable GERD (Please share your success story for the others :) )

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 8/29/2011 6:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
many of us has the varies degree & different condition with GERD.
some even should had a surgery to get some revealed.

But some also get managed the symptoms with PPI.

I am currently struggling with Gerd about 6 Month, get diagnosed for gerd about 3-4 month ago. Still on intense treatment with 2times PPI a day, Sucralfrate etc. Got a little better, but still far away from being symptom free. Almost constant chest pain all day(getting a little better altough)

I just want to know how the story of people life with gerd for long time? can they manage it to almost symptom free at least,
Yes i know sometimes after many years goes, the GERD even get worst & some may get the surgery.

Can someone share their success story with PPI to manage their GERD on long run,
is it possible to get almost no symptoms of GERD with PPI maintenance or even with diet & lifestyle change?

Almost all the post here is asking or still struggling with all the symptom. At least we need the positive story here..

Regards,

Ahn
Posted 8/29/2011 7:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I agree we need some encouragement. Problem is the people who do well on drugs tend not to come on Healingwell; people seem to be here because they are considering surgery or because drugs alone are not enough.

I struggled for a long time with side effects of ppis but dealing with the side effects as separate entities (instead of trying to not use the drugs) has sorted a lot of things out for me. I am now tolerating Lansoprazole and my symptoms are about 80% covered by it. I'm trying other natural things alongside, partly because GERD isn't my only problem and I believe all my problems are connected.

There are some strong advocates of surgery around, and it may be the best route for some, but those of us who are not eligible for surgery could do with some positive support for the medical (non surgical) approach!

MMM
Posted 8/29/2011 10:00 AM (GMT 0)
My wife was diagnosed with GERD over 13 years ago. When she first had it it was a killer. After some trials and messing around she has been on omeprazole, just one tablet on the morning, and she stays away from whatever trigger foods would set her off. She makes sure to eat early in the day and she manages fine. If we go for a curry or something she'll take an extra pill. She might suffer some so we dont have it that often, but not enough to ban that yummy food altogether! She would say that over time she found what was the best time fo day to take the pill, when to eat, what to avoid etc, and she gets by mostly fine with it.

Meantime I think I inherited all the downsides from her and I got my wrap 2 weeks ago today! I doubt we'll be getting his n hers wraps though!

It can be done, forums can naturally attract the extremes of course, but there are many folk who manage on pills just fine. The trick for my wife was getting away from her GP and seeing a consultant. Good luck!

Kevin

Post Edited (daddypig) : 8/29/2011 4:21:35 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/29/2011 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ahn,
I was on medication for years before my reflux got the best of me and sent me looking for surgery. I was able to live very well on the meds for quite some time. Some people are successful with meds for long periods and some will find total success with meds. Unfortunately, some of us need to go to the next step. It took me quite a while to figure which meds worked for me. If the one you are given does not work for you, try another. Most likely there is one that will help.
Posted 8/29/2011 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
You're going to get a lot of confirmation bias here. If my PPIs had worked I wouldn't be looking for support here :)

Regardless, I'm not convinced that long-term PPIs are a good solution for most people. We have stomach acid for a reason, it helps us get nutrients out of our food. A lot of recent research has shown increased bone fractures after long-term PPI use, likely due to decreased calcium absorption.

Now some people surely do overproduce stomach acid, and PPIs are probably the best solution for them, but the rest of us just have bad lower esophageal sphincters and PPIs aren't going to fix that.
Posted 8/30/2011 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Ahn,

Well, I hesitate to speak too quickly, but I am on Nexium 40mg/day and I have been symptom-free for a staggering WEEK! Wowza! I know it's not a long period of time, but I haven't been symptom-free since this garbage dump of an illness hit me about 5 months ago.

I have also lost 40lbs and exercise daily. Bill suggested that maybe the weight loss/healthier lifestyle helped, I don't know if that's true or not (of course I believe Bill, but these dang symptoms seem to pop up whenever the feel like it). I also don't know if it's going to rear its ugly head near my period, either. Who's to say?!

Either way, I hope you're getting some relief. I still avoid triggers, just to be safe.
Ashley
Posted 9/1/2011 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thx for all the reply,

Yes i think some of us got symptom free from the medicine. Hope in the future there will be a better cure for all this pain.

LINX surgery seems promising. But it will be a long times before it available in ASIA.

@Povey: did you have symptom free for years with med? or med just help you at the bottom line of comfortable.(such as:Lump in the throat is really annoying)

@randy: yes i think so with the long term PPI is not the best solution, did you considering a surgery to fix this all?

@ashley: glad it works with you? did get 100% free symptom for the last week? i hope it keep better & better.

Wish all the best for us..
Posted 9/1/2011 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Yup, I got the wrap one week ago. It's still too early to tell the outcome but I am optimistic.
Posted 9/1/2011 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hey 4hn,

Well, what I can say is that my symptoms are manageable. I can't remember what it feels like to feel fine after a meal anymore, but I can tell you that I no longer feel uncomfortable all the time. I sometimes have the chest pressure, but it's only there occasionally at like a .5-1/10 instead of a near-constant 5/10 like it was before.

Thank you for your well wishes. I hope you feel better soon, too :)
Ashley
Posted 9/1/2011 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
4hn

things are not perfect...far from it.... but yeah... i guess i could say ive expeienced some success

avoiding the top 5 or 6 trigger foods especially chocolate, alcohol, carbonated beverages, mint and some of the spices was very important

loosing weight i believe helped significantly as i was fat

but the most important thing ive done ...consistantly... to help myself, is to raise up the head of my bed, and

i use a wedge sometimes, and usually start off the nights slep in a reclining upholstered chair, and then go to bed 3 or 4 hours later

my body rejects PPIs (side efects) so i get by with occasional H2s (famotidine) and antacid pills

im noty reflux free an probably never will be unless modern medical science comes up with a miracle

im thinking about fundoplication or linx...havent decided

best of good luck to you
Posted 9/2/2011 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
@ashley: hope everything getting better & better.
@Mock Turtle: why not try the Link? i would like to have the Link if it available here.. it reversible also..
Posted 9/2/2011 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
i like the concept of a magnetic band...makes sense and as you say its reversible
but

i dont know if i can wait that long
and

for decades, fundoplication has been a proven procedure

linx looks promising but still has yet to be time tested

maybe

just not sure
Posted 9/2/2011 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
yeah make sense..

where is your location mock turtle?

I am in Indonesia so i should be wait more longer than you.. (or even will not available in asia)

I already email torax twice without no reply yet..

so right now fundo is the only make sense for me :(

but i'll try the med first. hope things will calm down and comfortably manageable
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