GOOD RESULTS

Hi Everyone!

 

I saw the questions re the red wine and found this...

"Avoid fatty foods, milk, chocolate, spearmint, peppermint, caffeine, citrus fruits and juices, tomato products, pepper seasoning, and alcohol -- especially red wine."

http://www.pcca.net/GERD.htm

Apparently, there are certain foods that tend to relax the LES so that is when the reflux occurs.  Hope this helps!

Hugs, Teri

Thanks Searchin and others for your kind comments.

Teri,
Just a not on the red wine. Like other alcoholic beverages I have found (and corroborated with many others trying this approach) that wine does not have any impact on acid reflux / heartburn as long as it is a dry wine. The same goes for white wine - just drink the dry varieties because the carb count is only 2-3 grams per glass. As I stated previously, I reject the whole notion of the LES relaxing and think this is an incorrect view of what is really happening. There is evidence in the literature (previously missinterpreted) that it is not LES relaxation but microbially produced gas that drives reflux. Alcohol has no effect on this process as it does not provide the needed carb food for the microbes. Alcohol gets the bad wrap, in my opinion, because it is often consumed with many carbs. High carb beer, sweet mixes in many mixed drinks, sweet wines, etc. Rum and diet coke, dry wines, brandy, wiskey, vodka, etc are fine as they have little or no carbs.

Norm
Opinions based on my experience and research on GERD

Hi Dee, You have really had a tough time of it lately. Glad the Pariet seems to be helping. I hope you manage to get going with the low carb regime. I know what you mean about missing the pasta. My weakness is mashed potato.

Teri, most of the foods mentioned in your list never give me heartburn. Fatty foods and caffeine have never been a problem to me. I know that pastry, bread, etc are my problem. Always have been.

8 days now and I am down from 45 mgs of prevacid to 15 mgs. I seem to be doing ok but I did cheat a little yesterday because I went to 2 parties. An afternoon one for my 5 year old granddaughter and a night time one for my 50 year old sister. Had to have a sandwich. The only thing that happened was I coughed more in the night. No heartburn yet. I think maybe once I get off all the meds and my body stabilizes then perhaps add a little carb gradually to see how much I can tolerate. I am sure the doc will let me know the best way forward.
Good luck to everyone who is trying this approach and keep informing us of your progress.

Dee share your diary of food experiences, I would love to read them. Let us know everything thats going on. The same to all of you.

Take care. Vanessa

Hello Jocaste, Thanks for the suggestion, sounds good. I will have to try that. I seem to be doing ok at the moment, with my low carb regime. Hope everyone else is doing well. Keep us informed all of you that are trying this approach. As you say Jocaste, we all need to keep each other going. Take care, Vanessa

Dmom,
So glad you are willing to try controlled carb. In place of pasta, try some spinach or egg plant -based casserol dishes with plenty of meat and cheese. Go ahead with some (not too much) tomato sauce if you like.

Jocaste,
Yes, the sweet wines are a whole different story. I also like a nice port but realize I can't have it and stick with cabs, merlots, zins, etc.

Vanessa,
Watch the cheating!

All,
Keep up your great efforts!

Dr. Norm

hello all,

Norm, I was just about to place my sp replacement findings in the food thread. But I see it isnt catching on so I'm just going to start a hand written list for home. I will look into the spinach and eggplant. I was also told about another pasta substitute - spaghetti squash...apparently you bake it  and it becomes stringy like spaghetti. As for the sauce, mine is a meatsauce, with lots of hamb., muchrooms, green peppers etc. You never said anything about my emailing you my food intake...so I take it its okay. I've already found a bunch of substitutes for my favs like bread and rice etc. Im really eager to see any results with the reflux. Im getting some positive feedback from inlaws who have been on this diet for close to a year or more. Plus, my hubby said he would join me with the diet, however, his purpose is to lose weight...he never gets heartburn lucky him. Im sure I will be making some mistakes in food choices, but Im also sure I will learn the ropes with time. I sure hope I get to come back and offer you huge thanks in a week or so. Meanwhile, thank you for at least sticking by me and offering some advice and support.

HI again,

Well Norm, you are right about finding it easier than I would think, so far...but its only been a half day. My daughter had a tripple decker sandwich for lunch...hubby and I sat down with her and we had same thing..minus the bread and mayo LOL. Just rolled up our slices of ham, cut a couple of cheese slices, cucumbers, tomatoes and place on a plate and washed it all down with a glass of water. (We normally drink water with every meal so that isnt a change). Hope it remains this easy .

Hi Vanessa

You're doing really great and your posts are helping to keep me on track! I have had no reflux during the night and last night I had two glasses of dry red wine--pinot noir!I couldn't believe that it did not effect me.At last my oesophagus is going to be able to heal.It's nice to know that in a social gathering I'll be able to drink, enjoy it and not suffer adverse effects in the night.Finding this site is beginning to feel like a miracle! 

By the way, have you determined how many carbs you can have in a day before the acidy feeling comes back.I think my limit is about 30gs but I hope as I progress that this will increase.I'm not a great meat or fish eater, I just eat normal amounts, I have upped my consumption of salad and green veg and I know that in a balanced diet you should try to eat all the different colours of veg.I have very small amounts of red and orange things like peppers and pumpkin--as it's the season. For breakfast yesterday I really wanted some toast so I had half a piece of whole rye with cheese.-about 11gs.I had to be careful for the rest of the day by sticking to salads but it worked.

I've decided that as long as I'm balancing my diet over a weekly period such as making sure that in a week I do manage a tiny bit of grain and fruit and eventually a spoon of beans (considering I'm having no junk and especially no sugar),this is a good way for me to carry on both in terms of cotrolling reflux and eating healthily! 

Take care

Hi Vanessa

I'm sorry you're still having some discomfort.I have to remind myself that even though I'm no longer having reflux my stomach and oesophagus and everything else still needs to heal.I shouldn't be having wine yet because it does burn going down so I'm going to not have any more for as long as possible just to let everything heal.We're no cured yet!

Are you writing everything down that passes your lips?This is helping me a lot and is the reason why it's working for me now.I can't take gaviscon it upsets my stomach the next day.I find zantac better for me if I eat the wrong thing but I haven't needed to take it.

As for carb counts in wine.I did find a site that listed them--dry white lke pinot grigio seems to be very low-

When you overdo the carbs it takes a few days to get back on track--I've decided it's not worth it any more and I'm resigned to this way of eating now.I'm drinking loads of water too and I hope to be able to take a multivitamine and mineral supplement soon.At the moment they cause me problems...my stomach must be very delicate...

take care

Hi everyone,

Im happy to report that I am on day 2 of low carb diet and havent even taken one pill today. I am so thrilled and only hope it lasts. I made sure that I had no more than 20g of carbs yesterday and today. Now tomorrow I will allow myself a little more....like 30g. I plan on trying to keep my carb intake at about 40g.

Just a little note to Jocaste re drinking loads of water. Keep in mind that you CAN drink too much water. It can mess up your electrolytes. I know it sounds weird but it actually happened to me 5-6 years ago.

Following low carb diet is easier than I thought, however, I sure do miss my chips ! Which reminds me...what is a woman to do whenever that time of the month comes...you know, the one where we gorge on chocolate, chips etc???? I'm afraid I'll be sucking the Splenda straight from the box  LOL.

And one final thing...I was told by a friend that 1 tablespoon of vinegar per day keeps the heartburn away...any truth to this??? And if so, how many carbs in a tbls of vinegar LOL

dmom,
Off he meds today? Wow. Let us know how it goes. Great work.

Norm

hi everyone,

I guess I have my very own diet thread now LOL. So as to not repeat myself, I will just post on the other thread..called Dee's diet. Im still doing great and still no meds and no heartburn. I think my body can tolerate more than 40g of carbs. I must add I was a huge carb consumer...had pasta almost everynight...no kidding. Im glad to read I am not alone in getting a better quality of life with regards to the heartburn. Not ready to say thanks yet NOrm....but getting much closer to that place. Meanwhile, just waiting for something bad to happen...that's the pessimistic side of me that has been dealing with heartburn since a teenager and tried it all to no avail...Im now about to be 36 years old. Good luck to everyone.

Well done Dee. That`s great news, keep it up. I am doing well too. Hope you are all keeping up the good work. Vanessa