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Gum - it's a miracle

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 4/12/2012 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
After suffering with reflux for so many years, just before my TIF surgery I heard, I think it was on Dr. Oz, that chewing gum will almost instantly neutralize the stomach acid and relieve the GERD.  I tried it several times and it really did work.  They say that chewing the gum produces neutralizing saliva you swallow  voila,  the stomach acid is gone.  I had also recently heard about apples so I had started eating an apple (I used red delicious) just before I went to bed and I don't know if it's a coincidence but the nights I did that I did not wake up with reflux!  Hey, it's worth a try to see if it works for you too.    smilewinkgrin
Posted 4/12/2012 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
I chew gum several hours a day. Yes, I feel I do get relief from it!
Posted 4/12/2012 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Gum is a serious help to me. I chew gum constantly. The only time I stop chewing gum is to eat and sleep. Just make sure it is non mint, mint tends to bother us GERD people. Also drink plenty of water
Posted 4/12/2012 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Do you find the gum helps the throat (lump) etc?

Posted 4/12/2012 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
absolutely, i rarely have a lump in throat feeling anymore really, maybe when I just get up since I have not been chewing gum or if I am not following my diet (after my bachlorette party whre I had 4 beers, I had the feeling for a day). Sometimes I get it when I am stressed as well. But as long as I have been chewing gum, the lump feeling is either very very mild or not there. And that was one of my primary symptoms. I still get chest pain and stomache pain though but that has been better for me with the diet, suppliments and gum.
Posted 4/12/2012 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Erica - thanks

Did you have the lump feeling constantly, or only when you swallow? Mine is predominantly only when I swallow -
Posted 4/12/2012 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
I had the lump all the time, I wanted to pull my hair out! It varied in it being mildly annoying to really really annoying. If I ate something I was not supposed to, man the lump was there in 2 seconds.
Posted 4/12/2012 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmm, I never felt a lump in my throat before my surgery.  I wonder what causes some to have it and others not to.  I never any trouble swallowing either, just burning in my chest and acidic reflux when I would lie down after eating anything.  So maybe if someone has a specific condition the lump and swallowing difficulty is present?

 

Posted 4/12/2012 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
From what I have read there is atypical reflux symptoms and typical reflux symptoms. The atypical is the lump in throat, chest pain etc. Typical is heartburn, acid taste in mouth etc. I do not have heartburn often , mostly its these atypical reflux symptoms. I have read that there is actually NERD and GERD (non erosive reflux disease) and that the two are similar but different. Both have reflux but the symptoms may be different.
Posted 4/13/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Since we aren't supposed to chew mint gum what kind do yo recommend and does bubble gum count? Probably not since I like it lol.
Posted 4/13/2012 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Xylitol gum is the best. I get it from Wholefoods store or from amazon.
Posted 4/13/2012 8:02 AM (GMT 0)
I started the gum chewing a few weeks ago and it really helps

SL

Posted 4/13/2012 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
i THINK ANY gum will work but if you have a weight problem probably should stick to something sugerless.  I usually use Trident, Fruit flavor because I like it - it's not the type of gum or flaver it's the chewing action that produces neutralizing saliva so when you swallow it takes away the acidity in the stomach on contact.   So in answer to your question:  yes, bubble gum will work and  you're right in that you should stay away from mint flavor because anything mint can create acid and defeat the purpose.   turn
Posted 4/13/2012 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
I guess to show how different we all are, mint gum doesn't bother me. I tried fruit flavored gum, but it lost its small flavor after 5 minutes. Some here have said that only natural mint flavors cause problems, so you may want to experiment.
Posted 4/13/2012 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
Chewing citrus and strawberry gum right now. Not so sure about the citrus part, but it was the only thing CVS had that wasn't mint or bubblegum flavored (which I hate). It seems to be helping, maybe because there is more saliva to coat my throat. Does the lump ever go away?!?!? I can handle the burping, but this is driving me crazy! I'm afraid the feeling will come back as soon as I stop chewing the gum.

I've also found non-mint hard candy (particulary Werther's Original) to be helpful, though it does increase the burping, perhaps because of air swallowing.

Off to the ENT after work today. Going to force him to look down my throat.

Posted 4/13/2012 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
You know what's funny, my wife picks on me about how much gum i chew...I never realized why I chew it all the time. The constant swallowing does help keep reflux at bay.
Posted 4/13/2012 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
bubble flavor or a fruit flavor is good. I chew trident water melon mostly but I also have Extra bubble flavor. Sugarless is best. If the mint doesnt bother you go ahead and chew away!
Posted 4/13/2012 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
lump goas away for me with the diet and gum
Posted 4/14/2012 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
Spry Xylitol based gum comes in non-mint flavors, such as fruits, green tea, cinnamon.. Xylitol is also recommended for gum health. I use green tea flavor.
Posted 4/14/2012 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
Kit have you tried to look in your throat. When I got home after my surgery besides my throat hurting like crazy, it felt really weird, so I took a flashlight, got under a bright light with a mirror and there was a coating on that little thing that hangs down (can't remember the anatomical name for it, Ive always called it a pallette (sp)?) anyway there was some white gunk like coating on it so I tried to get it off. I took a serated spoon and managed to scrape it off - it looked like rubber - it was iritated & red after I did that but that weird feeling went away once I got it off. I know it sounds really strange ... lol Maybe it was some remnant of what they did to me during surgery, I dont know but worth a try to see if yours has any kind of coating which feels kind of like a lump.
Posted 4/17/2012 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
I think the little hanging down thing (that's scientific lol) is the uvula - and I've had what looks like blisters on mine several times. Thanks for the answers on the gum - I forgot to look to see if bubble gum was all right until I was at the store -so I gut Juicy Fruit - next trip to the store I'll get bubble gum.
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