Venting: non GERD sufferers getting on my nerves

Hi everyone,

I am having a hard last few days with regards to a few people in my life who are non GERD sufferers. I am so sick of the blank stares when I say that I can not eat something and the constant questions. I realize that most people are not aware of the Acid Reflux diet but I have explained it to these people many times.  And they still look at me blankly and say "Why?" Because I will be in pain is why.  Then it is usually followed up with, " I could never do that" and then I think to myself, well, if you were in pain like me, you would. I almost feel like they get angry with me when I say I can't eat something instead of just leaving it alone.  If I say I can't have it, then don't keep making it seem like I am insane. I don't want to eat this way, but I feel terrible if I don't. No matter how many times I explain it, some people just do not get it. One person asked me if my doctor told me to eat this way or did I "come up with it on my own" OMG I was fuming inside. My colleagues keep commenting on how much weight I have lost and how now I am "skinny" making me feel self-concious. I am just venting today. There are people in my life who really do understand but there are some many who dont who just get under my skin sometimes.

yep, I can relate.

Over easter I had to explain at a few different meals why I can't have tomatoes, or onions, or spice etc.

The real fun was telling people for the 100th time I can't eat any of the chocolate easter eggs.

I brought my own food to my finace's mother's house because I knew there would not be anything I could eat. As they all were stugffing themselves with cheesecake (which is my favorite) I had to remove myself from the table so that I would not start crying.

I definetly agree about the stress. I had a major flare up 2 months before my wedding which is when I decided to tighten up my diet. I may feel better after the wedding and I just may be able to eat some things I enjoy

I remember being told: "No" is a complete sentence. As in: "No." Usually, I am a little more political and say: "No, thank-you."

Sometimes people are just downright nosy and it's none of their business what I choose to eat/not eat or why/why not!

Oh I totally understand KitKat. When you have a condition, it is easy to get envious of non GERD people. I have caught myself wishing I had someone else's stomach. As for those who offer you food you can't eat....this happens often. I get sick of repeating myself. It is frustrating, This condition is enough to drive anyone crazy. Many people have reflux on occasion, this is much worse. I think because people have experienced occasional reflux issues that they assume that those with GERD feel the same. The amount of time I spend on managing my reflux is ungodly.

Hey everyone!

Acid reflux sucks, there's no doubt about that. While I'm taking the high road here, I've had to keep a few roundhouse kicks to myself when I hear "Just take some Tums!", if you know what I'm sayin.

The reason people don't think it's a big deal is because all the hear about it are the TV commercials where the fat guy eats too many spicy chili dogs. He's in pain. His family looks on in horror. Then he pops a Zantac 75 and eats another dog on camera with a huge smile.

Plus, we here on the forum are the unlucky ones whom still have symptoms despite our treatments. It sucks, for sure. Most people are able to pop a pill and it goes away no problem.

However, where I get irritated is when people think I'm overreacting after I've explained to them that it's a seriously painful condition. That does irritate me to no end.

Yeah, when I mention that I'm pushing for surgery after a horrible year, people really don't understand. I made a friend who has chronic back pain and she's really the only one who understands (besides you guys, of course). People think when you're sick, you should look sick, which is a horrible misapprehension. I hope society gets away from that mentality soon.

Also on my list are those who have heartburn, but it isn't that bad. Like people who say, "Oh yeah, I get that sometimes and I just ignore it." How nice for you. Sometimes my heartburn leaves me in tears.

Sigh. It's our cross to bear. Thank God we all have each other :)

@aeshelyrose

I agree on how "reflux" is potrayed in media. Most people think that you only suffer the "Pain of Acid Reflux" if you eat bowls of chili or two dozen chicken wings and pizza. And that it only bothers people in their middle ages who've had a life of sedentary activity and horrible diets.

Maybe if we walked around with glowing chests like E.T. then we'd get more understanding of how debilitating and frustrating it can really be for people.

Even one of my family members didn't really understand or believe the complications and symptoms being as bad. They couldn't believe I had to cut out so many foods, or sleep on an angle to try and help out.

G.

The comments in this thread are so true it is hard having to deal with GERD but even harder when no one seems to understand how much pain you are in, I once said to a family member when I was really low that sometimes I wish I had a terminal illness just so people would understand. I was diagnosed with acid reflux about a year ago although I have had symptoms for years I just put down to IBS or having a bad stomach never linked all the symptoms such to acid reflux, I went from about 15stone to 11.5stone in about 3 months I was in agony when this first hit me it was serious the pains I was getting at night would be awful so I just decided to stop eating so now I have to deal with acid reflux and the weight loss people everywhere I go say things like ''your to skinny you used to be such a big lad eat this eat that get a pint of lager down you'' I would give anything to get back to my old size I hate being skinny but thats never going to happen, the only good thing to come out of this is now I have a completely different out look at life as when I first had the stomach pains I was getting I actually thought I was die'n now I know I am not its like bring it on world give me your worst, stress contributes to about 70% of this condition, the rest is controlled by meds and diet, I have all my symptoms under control now thankfully so if any one says anything about your weight or because your not eating stay calm and collected and let them know the situation if they dont understand after you have told them a few times and still go on and on then they are people you need to cut out of life anyway.

I even had to take my own food when I was in the hospital for my Nissen (Toupet) surgery. There's almost no hospital food I tolerate. If I'm going to a catered dinner I always inquire ahead of time what's on the menu and ask for some very plain chicken and a simple salad with no dressing.

After many years of this I've gotten over the looks, and I just explain I have food allergies (easier than explaining in detail, and always accepted). There's usually something being served I can eat. Missing part of a meal is not going to kill me. I can smile and choose to have a good time. It's lots better than complaining.

Oh goodie. A chance to vent. 2 Nissens and recurrent symptoms, I'm now on anti-reflux and anti-dumping syndrome diets (I haven't been able to tolerate meat products or high-sugar items without occasional dumping). I have tremendous difficulty eating out at restaurants, because everybody cooks with things that I just can't handle. I am a professional student, and networking events are all centered around alcohol and greasy food. I won't touch either and feel like I'm constantly under pressure, and likely hurting my career prospects, because I'm sick. I'm glad to be able to vent with some people in the same boat.

I had to laugh (either that or cry) when reading this post because its so true. I've experienced similar comments and looks for years, glad im not the only one.

Well said