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Supplements for GERD, what does everyone take?

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Posted 10/24/2013 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!  I am wondering what supplements everyone is taking for their GERD, to get off PPI's?

I have started taking DGL, and just got a book about supplements instead of PPI's, but would like to here from others what they take and even brands and how much if you don't mind.  I know everyone's body is different and amounts can be different..

Thanks everyone for the help..

Candy 

Posted 10/24/2013 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Candy,
I currently am taking magnesium 400 mg, papaya digestive enzymes by American Health from Amazon, Camomille Tea with Agave Nectar, alkaline water (there are many brands, I use a lot of differnt ones depending on the grocery store stock), B12, citrical and a very specific diet free of acidic foods, fried foods, carbonated beverages, caffine, gluten, lactose (I can handle some cheese) and greasy high fat foods. I take the b12 and citrical because I have been on PPIs for a long time and I am still weening off. I also use a bed wedge, eat small meals and use gaviscon at night.
Posted 10/24/2013 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Candy,

I am taking DGL Ultra (Enzymatic)(1-2 before each meal), Mastic Gum (Jarrow Formulas)(2 in the morning), Probiotic (Nexabiotic by Bio Propser Labs)(1 before breakfast, 1 before lunch), Prebiotics (Fiber Choice)(1 after each meal + 1 after afternoon snack), and a multi-vitamin (Nature's Way)(1 after each meal). I eat 3 meals a day plus an afternoon snack and sometimes a mid-morning snack.

I have been on them for about a month now after stopping PPI's myself. I will stop taking the Mastic Gum probably after another month and the DGL once symptoms start to diminish completely but will most likely keep taking the probiotic, multi-vitamin, and maybe the prebiotic. It depends on how things go during my recovery. Hope this helps.
Posted 10/24/2013 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Erica! For the magnesium that is just once a day, correct? I am also going to be starting on those, may start with a smaller dose at first to get body used to it.. Is the B12 and citrical together? I also have been on PPI's a long time, want to get off them!
We have an RO system in our house so I think I am good for water..
I appreciate your advice..

Candy
Posted 10/24/2013 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Javery.. Thanks for the info.. Yes, it does help. I do the DGL 2 before each meal, and I am going to be starting some of the other supplements also, just nice to know the better brands that have worked for others.. GERD is no fun and it will be great if I can get off the PPI's..
Thanks for your time!
Candy
Posted 10/24/2013 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Candy,
I was on PPI's for almost 8 years and quit cold turkey due to some of the major side effects I found out about. Our bodies are made to produce acid in order to break down food and by taking PPI's, you are not allowing the body to do what it needs by restricting the acid production. I will tell you that in my experience, the first week was by far the worst I have ever experienced for heartburn. I have been off for about 5 1/2 weeks now and have been improving for the most part. What has helped me the most is staying away from any grain based foods and eating more fruits and vegetables. For meat, my diet has mostly been white meats, chicken, turkey, and fish. I have been introducing beef with little troubles but everytime I eat something that is grain based, I feel the heartburn come on. I have been researching about getting energy from fat vs carbs and am now trying that path to see how it goes since meat gives me less problems than grains.

I wish you luck and hope that everything goes good for you. Some days it has been a struggle for me but all I can think about is being hopeful that it is worth it in the end. :)
Posted 10/24/2013 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Javery.. Isn't it funny how you would think the doctors out there would know this info, but I think they are not educated "deep" enough on the subject and treat as they had learned about..
I hope you completely heal also, nothing worse than stomach trouble. I actually have been on them for years also, I actually started taking zantac and it was for an ulcer that developed(stress) and then they stopped working and they put me on the PPI's.. about a year ago I had my first bought of heartburn and went into the doctor and she had me have a scope done, it came back fine, he did not see anything bad, so they switched me to a different PPI, and it went away, but fast forward a year and I have started to have heartburn again, woke me up one night and that has never happened.. So now I am finding info on how bad the PPI's are and I want to get off them and perhaps this is the reason I am having heartburn/GERD, as I was on the PPI's for the ulcer and it turned into GERD years later... GRRR.
Thanks for the chat and info..
Candy
Posted 10/25/2013 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Javery.. I was wondering on the probiotics from Bio Prosper Labs, on the label does it say to take just one in the morning on an empty stomach? Also with that brand I find them at Amazon for 19.76, is there a cheaper place you get them or it that pretty cheap?

Thanks for the help.

Candy
Posted 10/25/2013 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
apple cider vinegar (Brags) mix with water Start with 1 tsp with little water You can take anytime. I take it at night as I find it helps with insomnia

stay away from sugars, sodas,(especialy diet) tomatoes, pasta, chocolate Our western diets are high in acid food.

Raise your head board about 6 incles off the floor

although the ACV is an acid, it is alkaline forming which helps I am 90 % over it.
Posted 10/25/2013 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks alsky! I have been tempting to try the ACV but am a little nervous, even though a lot of people do it and also I just saw it on Dr. Oz..
I have to chuckle when I read, "raise your headboard 6 inches", because we have one bed and it is a king size, and my hubby told me it will be a cold day when he will sleep on an incline! HA! I am going to get a wedge that a previous poster mentioned..
Have a great night.
Candy
Posted 10/25/2013 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
Candy,
The probiotics says to take 2 a day on an empty stomach. I split it up to take them at different times instead of both at once. I don't think the bottle specifies when you need to take them. I get them on Amazon for that price. I don't consider it a bad price since there are 19 strains of bacteria in them compared to a lot of others that contain 10 strains or less. It's up to your beliefs I guess. I think more is better. You could possibly take only 1 and it would last 2 months instead of 1 month after you get your bacteria built back up. I will say that paying for all the supplements is more expensive than for my prescription for the medication. My prescription cost was about $7 a month where all the supplements are around $50 a month. But you can't put a price on your health.

I also tried the ACV thing but that ended up giving me more heartburn. I also try lemon water every once and awhile because that is supposed to help some but it also gives me more heartburn still. Baking soda in water seems to help me though. My wife doesn't like the idea of me raising the head of the bed either so I sleep with a wedge.
Posted 10/25/2013 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
The magnesium is once a day and the b12 and citrical are seperate suppliments but you can take them at the same time. Try and take the Magnesium in the morning and the calcium at night, for some reason I have heard to not take them at the same time (i forget why, something about how they cancel each other out).
Posted 10/25/2013 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
I've found milk thistle and DGL to be really helpful (reduce symptoms but do not cure or allow for reduction in medication). Recently I've stopped my PPI (can't cope with the horrendous dry skin any longer and had normal pH and manometry). I've been taking Iberogast and Zantac for the last month. My symptom level is the same as that on PPI, exactly no better or worse, and no rebound so far, so I consider that progress but am hanging on to a cupboard full of Lansoprazole just in case!!

MMM
Posted 10/25/2013 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I would recommend drinking aloe vera juice is and taking papaya I feel those really helped me more than PPI's would.
Posted 10/25/2013 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I just bought the combo vitamin that has d3, Zinc, Calcium, and magnesium. Should be fun
Posted 10/26/2013 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for all your advice and comments, I really appreciate them. Just getting online to order magnesium, enzyme and probiotics!
Will start with one and then add in the other 2..
Thanks!
Candy
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