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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/7/2014 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there, first post on here, thanks for taking time out to read this!

First of all, I've had SEVERE Acid Reflux for 7 years now, I'm a 26 year old man and my health due to Acid Reflux has been pretty poor. I understand that there isn't a cure for Acid Reflux but ways to control it which I am yet to do.

Due to having anxiety and panic attacks in the past, the doctors focused on this aspect of my life only and put everything down to that, giving me the basic PPI's and sending me on my way. I did have an endoscopy in 2008 which showed little signs of Acid Reflux.

Now, the problem I'm having is; I don't have heartburn (I think I've had it for 30 seconds twice in my entire life), I don't even bring up too much acid into my mouth BUT I do feel it in my throat and it burns, only when I've ate really crappy things. I've never smoked, I drink alcohol once in a blue moon (Twice this year), I cycle a lot for fitness (900 miles in the last 12 months) and I'm 175 pounds which isn't that much for my age!

My symptoms start with pressure on my chest, ALOT of burping, usually throat burping (And oh boy, do I burp... I'm talking sometimes 10 times a minute ALL day long), I have a major dry throat and usually hear my throat "croaking" like it's being relieved from some type of gas. My throat is that dry, I usually have to swallow my saliva to stem the feeling of like I'm going to choke or something. I don't get any relief from burping, it just continues all day long. I have trouble swallowing alot (I was at a really expensive restaurant and basically couldn't eat my steak because I had no saliva and I was in a fear of choking), I've literally had 0 hour sleep all night (been awake 8 hours) and haven't been able to breath properly and constantly swallowing saliva, it's scary!

I went to the doctors on the 4th July, he gave me some new PPI's to try which have honestly been worse than the last ones I had and I'm just feeling helpless and lost.

IF Anybody can give me some advice on what I can do/try, that'd be great.

Thanks for reading and apologies for my long post!

Post Edited (Dannnnboy88) : 7/6/2014 10:01:14 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/7/2014 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

I would suggest you talk with your Dr if your symptoms are worsening. People with acid reflux must control their diet and i don't just jean not smoking or drinking, i mean so spicy, garlic, onion, and so on diet. You could try the FODMAP diet and see if its any help, i know its used for irritable bowl syndrome but you can have visceral hypersensitivity not only in your stomach but also in osophagus and bowls. But i would try stay away from foods of complex, fermentable crabs such as pizza's MacDonald and move to low fat and preferably lactose free dairy products. No coffee and no caffeinated drinks, peppermint is good though. Basically i am saying vary your diet and experiment to find something that works. Don't eat at night but also make sure you don't go sleep hungry. Wedge your bed up by 20cm see if that helps but your diet could be your biggest help. You want to go onto a low fat diet for a while but don't cut fats completely, basically avoid overly fatty foods, like pizza, burgers, deep fried chips, take away foods and so on. You want to eat clean, maybe 2xperiment with eating with smaller meals but more frequently.

I would seriously try fixing your diet first before relying on PPI long term for quick fix. anyway its best to discuss all this with your doctor and get his opinion. Also you can ask your doctor about trying Domperidon, it basically empties your stomach quickly and maybe you might find some relief. please discuss with your doctor.

also stress will just compound your problems, that is the first thing to get in control and your first step in overcoming this.

Post Edited (James_a) : 7/7/2014 5:32:15 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/7/2014 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Agree with James. Re-evaluate your diet and get off these PPI's as soon as you can.

Get rid of the following:

Junk foods, fried foods, alcohol, coffee, smoking, milk chocolate, pop soda.

Stick to the Oriental foods if you can. Accupuncture is great as well.

Supplements that may help are DGL, GastroVen. (mixed with hot water, drink 20 min before meals)
Posted 7/9/2014 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Dan, a couple of things, first I know what you mean about anxiety and panic attacks, doctors like to brush this all off on that, but here's the truth ANYONE with our LPR, throatburn issue is going to have a lot of anxiety, especially when it feels like we are dying and nobody can explain why, anxiety is a natural reaction, really, doctors need to STOP making people feel bad for being anxious! I have LPR and understand the fire in throat pain well! A couple of things:
1) for emergencies try aloe vera juice (100%, no citric acid added), I have just recently started using this and it seems to help heal the burn a little.
2) Ginger tincture, put about 10 drops in warm water, what this will do is help increase your saliva and saliva protects the throat.
3) Buy Dr. Jonathan Aviv's book "Killing me Softly from Inside", and follow this book as closely as you can!
I hope that helps!
Posted 7/9/2014 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
oh, and yes, the other commenters are correct, NO onions, NO garlic, NO mint, those 3 foods open up the LES. and no caffeine, tomato, coffee, chocolate, try almond milk instead of cow's milk, almonds help cut acid
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