My experience weaning off PPI's

The ACV pills worked good for me too, but I decided to have the Nissen surgery anyway. I'd like to start up the ACV again because it has many benefits.

There is a packet of beads, prescription only, > Mine were 40 mg packets. I usually sprinkled the beads on yogurt or applesauce and swallowed without chewing. I would divide the packets in decreasing amounts as the weeks went by to gradually decrease by daily dose. I found Betaine Hydrochloric acid was necessary to digest my food especially a protein meal. I had to do it very gradually over 5 or 6 months to avoid being uncomfortable after eating. It was not easy but very much worth it in the end. I have been totally off PPIs for over a year. I still take HCL Betaine with every meal. And probably will forever. I find if I burp after a meal that means I need to take a little more HCL betaine. I use Source Naturals brand. I now never have acid indigestion, my eczema is totally gone and I feel so much better.

Be proactive and research for yourself as I did. PPIs and products like Zantac stop all stomach acid production. You need acid to properly digest food. My problem was and always has been too little acid. Gastros either don't understand this or think we as patients won't understand. It is very complicated and just now being understood by the medical community. Look at clinical studies not what other people (like me experience ) You are a unique case and may be different from me or my solution.
It has been a mistake to rely on my doctor blindingly without good reasons to know they are right. I don't do that any more no matter how good I think they are or what school they went to.

I transitioned to Betaine Hydrocholric acid pills because they are stronger and work better for me to digest my meal. I hated the taste of vinegar too!

When I researched this topic, I found that the reflux you think is acid is really acid from fermenting bacteria of undigested food in your stomach. When I take Betaine Hydrochloric acid it is the right kind of acid to digest food. Your stomach is made to withstand a lot of the right kind of acid. It is naturally made by your body in response to eating. I did not have enough at an early age because if also have Celiac disease which has that side effect. Everyone produces less acid as they age. It is normal by the time you are middle aged to have much less acid and it is beginning to be a problem and people start taking things like antacids. That masks the symptoms and pain of heartburn, but does not solve the problem.

When you take antacid, h2 blockers or PPIs you reduce and stop you natural acid production. You stomach can't digest your food. So, your stomach says , uh oh I need more acid and produces more acid pumps in your stomach. Gradually over the years you have to in crease the dosage to get relief. By the time I understood this, I was taking 80 MG of Protonix, which is 4 times the recommended dose. The company even says it is not meant to be taken for more than 6 to 8 weeks. Docs seem to ignore this and just keep giving it out. I was on everything for 35 years starting in my 20's. You need to research and see for yourself what is really happening. THere are a couple of conditions that do need them for longer periods of time but not ordinary Gastro Reflux disease.

Do you if it is bad to take hcl if you have gastritis with your gerd.

HCL relieved my acid re-flux symptoms from the very beginning. I had to discover the right amount for what I was eating. I take 4 or 5 650 MG pills of HCL with every meal and less with a snack. I don't seem to need as much if the snack is just a carb like crackers. If I have any burping or reflux I take another HCL and eat a cracker. It works for me every single time. I never even think about indigestion any more.
I eat comfortably each day now and have no symptoms. If I had discovered HCL Betaine supplements earlier in my attempt to decrease my dosage of Protonix, it would have been so much easier.