New to Gerd

I began having heartburn about a year and a half ago. Ten months of that time I was on antibiotics, which had a side effect of... heartburn. I only became worried when I went off the antibiotics and still had heartburn and chest aching every day after eating. Heart tests and H. pylori were normal, and I'm on Nexium 40 mg. which helps some but not totally. I cut out all of the obvious problems from my diet (coffee, alcohol, etc,), raised the head of my bed, and pretty much did everything I could find online. I've seen a couple of online supposedly natural cures, (eg. cureyourheartburn.com) but am reluctant to try them for fear that they're not that natural, or they're just a sham. I've also read that drinking a teaspoon of fresh ginger juice every day in the morning works. Any experience with that, or other advice?

I've got a follow-up doctor's appt. in a few weeks, but I'm concerned that this often seems to be a long-term condition, and the medicine I'm already on is as good as it gets. My husband is constantly remarking on my bad breath, so even though I'm not suffering intense pain, clearly this is not good!

Any advice is appreciated.

-Alliee

Just wanted to update - I got a call from the doctor that I tested postiive for H. pylori after all! Started the antibiotics today - I'm hoping that will solve my heartburn.

I have had heartburn since I was 15 years old I am now 75. During all that time, I have tried almost everything to cure the heartburn and GERD. I had surgery in 1970 because of an Ulcer but that did not cure my heartburn or GERD. I have taken about every brand name antacids and yes, all those expensive Proton-pump inhibitors, to no avail.

I have learned that there is no "one fits all" cure because not every one has the same problem that causes heartburn. Therefore until you find the cause you are just spending your wheel jumping from one cure to another but when you are stuck, spinning your wheels is about all one can do.

The main cause for most heartburn is not too much acid in your stomach but too little acid. Without the proper amount of acid to condition your food to enter the small intestine it will stay in your stomach and gas will build up in your stomach. The gas will push the undigested food along, with what acids you have in your stomach, up into your esophagus thus causing the burning sensation. Many vegetables cause gas faster than meats. Therefore, all diets must exclude the gas building vegetables.

The reason you have heartburn and/or GERD is a group of small muscles at the bottom of the esophagus that closes and opens when you swallow. The name of those muscles is "Sphincters". There is a surgery procedure now that can help those muscles close the esophagus. If there had been that option when I was younger I would have opted for the surgery but now I will just do what I have to do to live as heartburn free as possible.

I have discovered if I sleep on my left side I do not have GERD near as often as when I sleep on my right side or back. I have also found eating an apple about an hour before bedtime helps. Another remedy I have found that helps is one that most will not believe and others will not want to try. I will reveal it just in case someone is brave enough to try. When I eat dinner I will eat a medium size pod of Jalapeño Pepper (it must be green and not pickled). It must be Jalapeño because of the different chemical it has that makes it hot. Of course, as I said above there is not a "one fits all" cure so it might not help you. It burns your mouth for a little while but if it works for you it is better than having heartburn and GERD all night.

I am afraid if you are looking for a cure you are not likely to find one other than the surgery mentioned earlier. You will just have to try different remedies until you find one that works for you and it may not be a permanent fix.