GERD, Bile reflux, Barrets esophagus, and hiatal hernia

Have you tried changes to your diet? I have significantly changed my diet (i.e. no caffeine (coffee or chocolate) or other trigger foods) and it helps a bit. For some people it seems like eliminating diary helps but this entire process is trial and error. I have tried most of the natural remedies without much impact but for now papaya enzymes are helping me as well as tums. I have also begun drinking alkaline water which I think is better for me.

There are a lot of really good resources for diet and I've found it does help a little to follow them. Completely understood about caffeine - I drank 3-4 cups of coffee a day plus chocolate in the pm(for my entire life). Not easy but worth it.

Re: diet http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/Handouts/pdfs/gerd_diet.pdf
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=1203728

No answers and feeling cr said...
I haven't changed my diet but working on changes. I am trying to research and see what all I need to change. I know no red meat and fried foods. I am having an issue with the no caffeine. I only drink maybe 1 12oz soda a day an 2 cups of coffee a day at most. I was drinking water water water but I was told to cut my water intake back to only 8/8 oz cups a day. So I don't know what to drink

I have a very similar diagnosis as you. Definitely get rid of the soda and coffee. It's making your condition worse. Carbonation irritates the esophagus as well as your stomach lining. The caffeine in coffee and most sodas are also irritants and they also relax your LES (lower esophageal sphincter). It's not optional, even if you don't feel pain after you drink it.

I haven't drank coffee in over year and I quit all sodas for health reasons (diabetes runs in my family and I don't want to push my luck).

After years of experimenting with different foods I can only share with you what has worked for me. I found that keeping a food journal extremely critical in helping me pinpoint the exact foods to stay away from and which ones to continue eating.

I would stay away from all dairy and gluten for at least 90 days, then slowly introduce one of each per week to see how your body responds. Eliminate all caffeine and carbonated drinks. Stay away from all alcohol. Stay away from tomatoes and tomato-based sauces.

As far as what to drink, I only drink filtered water, coconut water, and camomille and ginger teas. I drink ginger tea about once a day.

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do for the pain in the short term. I remember there was a period of time where I was in agony for about 3-4 weeks and in pain for about 6 weeks total. The only thing that brought me SOME relief was meditating (yes, very challenging when you're in pain), eating homemade applesauce (the store stuff has acid in it, don't buy it), eating small pieces of bananas, eating slices of peeled apples, and boiled vegetables.

It's a very tough way to live, especially if you have to do it for a few months, but I have found it to be worth it because the medications that I was taking weren't as effective.

Also stay away from foods with MSG in it; MSG is one of the biggest causes of inflammation, so I have learned to basically cook all my own foods. You may find after a few weeks of changing what you eat you might be able to tolerate fish either cooked or raw as in sushi.

I have some strong opinions about apple cider vinegar and bed wedges. Now apple cider vinegar seems to help people who have GERD because they are NOT producing enough stomach acid. However, as a word of caution, for someone like me who has both gastritis and esophagitis, taking apple cider vinegar would probably send me to the emergency room. So don't take any unless you know exactly what your diagnosis is and that you've been specifically tested for how much acid your stomach produces.

Though bed wedges do seem to help some people, some of them might cause you to put undue pressure on your stomach. At least for me, I find it far more effective to elevate the head of my bed using adjustable bed risers. This way the entire bed is at an angle and you are not putting any unnecessary pressure on your stomach.