HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Trying to recover

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/6/2006 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a bit of a bad relapse lately and the burning and pressure (and gas, and spasms) are back... I'm trying so hard to maintain my weight, but my esophagus needs to heal too. It feels like when I ask people about high calorie foods that wont set off my GERD they tell me about stuff that are too abrasive, and when I ask for soft foods they tell me stuff that doesnt have enough calories, or when I do find stuff that is nice and soft and has calories, it's got a low calorie to volume ratio and I'd have to eat more than my body could handle without refluxing (even in small meals across the entire day). Right now, even just simple rice milk is setting me off to a certain degree.

I can do an alkaline diet, I know I can, but can I do it without starving to death? I can only seem to take in about 8 ounces per meal (less than that if it's solid) and they're frequent throughout the day, and I need at least 2000 calories a day because I am very very thin and don't want to get worse. as it is I've been feeling shaky and disoriented sometimes because I hadn't been taking any vitamin/mineral supplements...

I really just want some peace, please if anyone can help.

Post Edited (Closetfire) : 12/6/2006 10:36:51 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/6/2006 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
HI..

  Isnt this gerds thing a real trip?

People that dont have this condition, really dont understand.  They think its just heartburn!

  I get spasms too....I feel like my esophagus is squeezing.  Usually after I eat, but it doesnt always have a rhyme or reason to these symptoms.

  The whole alkaline/acid diet thing confuses me.  I checked on an online table today and found out that tomatoes and oranges are alkaline...Hmm....Now there is no way I can eat tomatoes.  I jsut dont get it sometimes.

  And pasta is acidic.  Now, I have no problem eatting pasta unless it has tomato sauce on it.  So, I am not sure why, this doesnt make sense to me at all.

  What I have found that agrees iwth me when Im feeling bad is macaroni and cheese...but, if you go by the alkaline acidic tables, both of those are acidic.  So, Im not sure if you want to go that route.

  I also eat yogurt inbetween meals if Im feeling hungry at all.  Ive had this gerds condition for abaout 2.5 months now.  I am able to eat a bit larger amounts of food now than at first.  But Im still not feeling 100%, and not sure if i ever will again.

  I have heard people drinking milkshakes when their gerds is acting up.  I guess it is all trial and error to see what works for you.

  I know I havent been much help...but at least you know you are not alone.

  Good luck to you.

Rose

Posted 12/6/2006 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
See now that's the kinda stuff thats messing with me, so much conflicting info. Oranges are most DEFINITELY acidic, citric acid is baaaaad, so are tomatoes as far as I know, why anyone in the world would label them as alkaline i have no idea. I don't think anyone really knows what theyre doing with this disease and the only experts are those who are experts at their own diet and symptoms... sucks but it might be true =p
Posted 12/6/2006 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I think I may have found a food that works, is a combo of rice milk and gerber rice cereal, but I have to ask, even with fairly innocuous foods like that, is it still normal to have a certain small amount of burn and gas until the healing process really starts? Because I still have a small bit but its nowhere near what I get with other foods.
Posted 12/7/2006 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Closetfire and others,
You have to understand that some foods are listed as alkaline because when they reach the stomach they become alkaline (for example, lemon juice). For GERD sufferers any acid food, even ones that become alkaline in the stomach, are to be avoided.

The problem with GERD is the food going down the esophagus must not be acidic at all costs. It will only continue to erode the esophagus and create horrible symtoms.

That is why I was successful with the DGL licorice. It coated and protected my esophagus (taken 20 minutes before a meal or anything eaten) everytime I swallowed food. Therefore, the food going down did not damage my esophagus further.

Sorry if you can't use this form of treatment. It worked for me though, I'm 100% cured.
Wishing you good luck.
Danie
Posted 12/7/2006 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
The licorice bottle I use says to use the licorice 3 times daily, but if I'm eating like 8 to 12 meals a day is that a problem? Or is that just the recommended thing for non-GERDies? Can you stop taking it once the esophagus heals or its it still pretty much mandatory?

Post Edited (Closetfire) : 12/6/2006 5:20:08 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/7/2006 1:27 AM (GMT 0)

Danie,

I actually like the taste of the DGL licorice, but quit it after the first day when I got burning in my stomach (my stomach is usually fine).  I'm afraid to take it again.

Posted 12/7/2006 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
Lonibel,

Maybe you had an allergic reaction to the licorice?  Try it again another time just to make sure it wasn't an isolated incident.

Closetfire,

You would have to take it when you specifically eat anything that might be considered more acidic I guess since you have so many small meals.

I would take it 3-4 times a day before I ate larger meals. 

I no longer use the DGL since I don't need it.  My esophagus is totally healed and have no GERD symptoms.

Believe me, I know what you are all going thru.  I had horrible symptoms but I would not let drugs take over my life.  At times I thought of going back to the drugs but I REFUSED and just stuck to what I thought was the best direction.  I was right for myself.  Hope you will all find a solution.

Posted 12/7/2006 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
I'm beginning to think the bipolar medication I was put on just over a year ago may be what kicked this whole thing off in the first place, and why I'm having so much difficulty improving even with the help and advice of others. The voice problems began about 2 months after I started it (oct 05) and the relfux has steadily worsened over the year as the dosage has been increased. I checked the possible side effects and it includes reflux, I'll be discussing it with my doc today.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply