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How to recover from stress-induced GERD

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Posted 1/11/2012 9:12 AM (GMT 0)
Just want to share my experience on how to recover from GERD caused by stress. I hope you find this post useful. There are many possible causes for GERD. Stress is one of them. If you are under stress, your brain secretes a chemical that can disrupt your digestive process. Unfortunately the standard treatment for GERD is to push for acid-suppressant medicine such as PPI for as long as 4 to 8 weeks. This treats the symptoms and does not solve the underlying problem.

I first got my GERD because of intense stress from my work. It was accompanied by indigestion, bloating, gas in stomach, etc. The doctors I saw prescribed me PPI. It only helped to alleviate the symptoms. Certain PPI, like Nexium, added diarrhea and constipation to my list of problems.

I then found this forum and started taking natural supplements. Among the supplements I tried, I find these three most helpful: probiotics (daily after breakfast), apple cider vinegar (diluted with water, during meals) and Ensure LIfe nutritional supplement (I need this because I was underweight). I also adopted a balanced diet. It really took some time for my stomach to return to normal. The other thing I did was to stay away and relieve myself from stress, I find the tips in
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206
very helpful. I also did acupuncture, standard meal splitting strategy and sleeping on a slanted bed.

Despite the therapy I tried, I was still not doing well. Because when I was still taking PPI, it suppressed the acid needed for digestion. When I ate too much, I still got heartburn because of indigestion.

I finally met a doctor who recognized the root cause of my illness. He looked at my endoscopy report and decided my stomach anatomy is normal. He asked me a few questions on how I got my GERD. He immediately took me off regular dose of PPI and put me on a mild dose of anti-depressant (Lexapro). He has also given me a stomach tranquilizer - Librax (Chlobax) and PPI (Controloc) to take as when needed. It was an unconventional treatment plan, but it worked. Since then I have progressively recovered from GERD.

I now have a new battle to fight: anxiety disorder and insomnia, but I no longer experiences the kind of painful heartburn every night. The healing wasn't perfect, I still experiences mild heartburn when I am under stress, but better than before.

If you got your GERD after a stressful event, not because of some big hiatal hernia or esophageal motility issue, and your doctor put you on 4 weeks PPI treatment, it's time to question the treatment plan, seek a second opinion or explore alternatives.

Post Edited (WJF) : 1/11/2012 5:26:11 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/11/2012 10:49 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice, you have raised several good points. What is the "stomach tranquilizer" you mentioned?
Posted 1/11/2012 10:51 AM (GMT 0)
I beleive you and I share the same underlying source to our problems, stress, as this time my GERD was not the same as 20 years ago.

I found great releif from Proviva which i already said a million times :) anyway it contains Probiotics and comes in liquid form and it contains the healing bacteria "Lactobacillus plantarum 299v"

I am taking a glas in the morning and the evening and it has helped tremendously as it's obviuosly healing my problems, also it relaxes the stomach and makes the stomach feel better overall.

Back in October, 2011, i was desperate to get around my problems as i couldn't tolerate any PPIs or H2s like WJF so i started to look for natural cures, i tried everything and i knew i have used Proviva before for some stomach problems and it helped.

My gastritis was killing me and i couldn't sleep feeling the intense burning in my upper abdomen and not to mention the intense soar throat as soon as i laid down, Proviva helped, it takes time for it to make some effect, i would say after 2 days you could see a huge improvement after that it has improved every week, it cost alot of money to buy it but i don't care as it makes me good.

Also i eat porrige to breakfast each day, that helps the stomach to work as it should.

It's bad for the stomach to suppres acid as it is there of a cause and the acid is not the cause of GERD, people get addicted to PPIs and the healthcare wants this as they make money on you the longer you use them.

As you WJF i also sometimes now experience mild gastritis and heartburn but is much much milder and i can actually live with it without too much complain.

When i did the endoscopy my GI told me as well everything looked pretty good and he could see that the stomach had healed in several areas.

I have to thank the bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum 299v for all of this.

Post Edited (lanab) : 1/11/2012 3:58:55 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/11/2012 10:54 AM (GMT 0)

aeshleyrose said...
Thanks for the advice, you have raised several good points. What is the "stomach tranquilizer" you mentioned?

Knowing where you are located Ashley you should walk down to your supermarket and buy Proviva, it's available in your country, it is really a miracle drink, you have to wait a few days to get effect but it usually comes after 2 days.

I can't guarantee releif as GERD is very specific to each indidivual having it as the root cause is very different from person to person.
Posted 1/11/2012 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
I will try it out, thanks a lot! :)
Posted 1/11/2012 12:21 PM (GMT 0)

aeshleyrose said...
Thanks for the advice, you have raised several good points. What is the "stomach tranquilizer" you mentioned?

Updated my post with the medication names.
Posted 9/25/2014 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
WJF, thank you for this. I recently had a very stressful experience and my body just completely broke down - I've been having pretty bad abdominal pains and my reflux set off over the past couple of weeks.

I've had episodes of reflux before, but this has been the worst due to the stress. It's good to know there's a way from the brink.

Thanks,
Paul
Posted 1/13/2015 7:44 PM (GMT 0)

WJF said...
Just want to share my experience on how to recover from GERD caused by stress. I hope you find this post useful. There are many possible causes for GERD. Stress is one of them. If you are under stress, your brain secretes a chemical that can disrupt your digestive process. Unfortunately the standard treatment for GERD is to push for acid-suppressant medicine such as PPI for as long as 4 to 8 weeks. This treats the symptoms and does not solve the underlying problem.

I first got my GERD because of intense stress from my work. It was accompanied by indigestion, bloating, gas in stomach, etc. The doctors I saw prescribed me PPI. It only helped to alleviate the symptoms. Certain PPI, like Nexium, added diarrhea and constipation to my list of problems.

I then found this forum and started taking natural supplements. Among the supplements I tried, I find these three most helpful: probiotics (daily after breakfast), apple cider vinegar (diluted with water, during meals) and Ensure LIfe nutritional supplement (I need this because I was underweight). I also adopted a balanced diet. It really took some time for my stomach to return to normal. The other thing I did was to stay away and relieve myself from stress, I find the tips in
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206
very helpful. I also did acupuncture, standard meal splitting strategy and sleeping on a slanted bed.

Despite the therapy I tried, I was still not doing well. Because when I was still taking PPI, it suppressed the acid needed for digestion. When I ate too much, I still got heartburn because of indigestion.

I finally met a doctor who recognized the root cause of my illness. He looked at my endoscopy report and decided my stomach anatomy is normal. He asked me a few questions on how I got my GERD. He immediately took me off regular dose of PPI and put me on a mild dose of anti-depressant (Lexapro). He has also given me a stomach tranquilizer - Librax (Chlobax) and PPI (Controloc) to take as when needed. It was an unconventional treatment plan, but it worked. Since then I have progressively recovered from GERD.

I now have a new battle to fight: anxiety disorder and insomnia, but I no longer experiences the kind of painful heartburn every night. The healing wasn't perfect, I still experiences mild heartburn when I am under stress, but better than before.

If you got your GERD after a stressful event, not because of some big hiatal hernia or esophageal motility issue, and your doctor put you on 4 weeks PPI treatment, it's time to question the treatment plan, seek a second opinion or explore alternatives.


WJF, I am having similer issues like you for 2 months- heatburn, burning sensation in abdomen, dysespia. My doctor has prescribed me mild dose of antidepressant (25mg of Sertraline ) for 30 days. I have been taking them for 7 days. Slightly feeling better. But I want to know how long did it take you to recover from this.
Posted 2/25/2015 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all. I am looking for medical citations or a doctor who can confirm that stress is a source of GERD. I got the condition as a result of extreme stress through my work, forcing me to take an early retirement. Can any of you tell me where I might find such a citation or the name of a doctor who has expertise in this? I need this in support of my pension application. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance. Clemens.
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