Advise for newbies

I'm sure most of you are confused and desperate for answers, which is why you are here. The good news is, you have come to the right place, the bad news is....well you needed to come here. Let me start by saying, for most of us there is no magic pill, drink, food, etc.. that is going to resolve your gerd/lpr. However there are things you can do that may help with some of the symptoms and offer some relief.

Surgery....Please pump the brakes! There are those who need surgery, however just because you ate tacos and had beers all night and now your stomach feels like it is on fire doesn't mean you need surgery. This should be viewed as a last resort to resolve gerd/lpr. There are several things you can and should try first.

PPI's and H2 blockers....Yes, they are evil and bad for you but sometimes they become a necessary evil. You have to weigh the pros and cons, if you get some relief it's better to take them vs suffering and letting acid run wild.

Carafate or DGL....only coats, protects and may allow healing. It will not cure gerd/lpr.

Tums & Gaviscon....It's just a quick fix, kind of a bandaid but if you get relief it's better than nothing.

Aloe vera or manuka honey....both great stuff and may help heal damage but again they will not cure gerd/lpr.

Supplements....B vit, mag/cal, fish oil, digestive enzymes, probiotics.....all good for you and may offer some relief of symptoms and help control gerd/lpr but will not cure.

Diet.....take a good long look! Avoid spicy, greasey, deep fried, fast food, red sauce (any kind), alcohol, cidic fruits, red meat, pork, choc, soda, chips, pizza....all junk food. Some here avoid wheat, dariy, glutten as well. Try to introduce more green veggies, lean meat (fish, turkey, chicken), protien shakes...things that are good for you and easy to digest.

I hope this helps you all, as true gerd/lpr can be a life long struggle so it's very important you make changes in your life! Good luck to all of you, stay strong and have faith.

Doggbones: Great post! I woud like to add that it is a trial and error thing and you have to be patient with figuring it out. Make sure you sleep on a bed wedge or something similar as well, chew your food well and eat small meals.Chewing non mint gum also helps me. I also discovered that I can not tolerate raw vegetables very well, and that was something my GI suggested (IBS symptoms) most likely from the long term use of the PPI. I am currently weening down on my PPI and hope to be able to control my GERD with an H2 Blocker. The ween down process has been for a few months to avoid rebound.

I avoid the above food (I can have coconut rum mixed with water in moderation) as well as gluten and dairy (I can tolerate small amounts of cheese because it is already partially fermented). I have been able to enjoy treats (soy ice cream, gluten free dairy free cookies/cupcakes) and have added some things back in my diet over time while also being able to go from a prescription PPI down to a OTC dose PPI, which I will start cutting in half. All these changes took a year or so to figure out and this site really helped me learn and cope.

There are many natural remedies and theories/diets for GERD/LPR and you may need to experiment. What works for one may not for the other. I would also search for a GOOD Gi doctor, one who thinks outside the box and is open minded. That can be difficult, I am afraid.

I feel like I made a mistake. I thought I'd be able to lay down sooner after eating thanks to the surgery. That was part of the reason I did it. I never felt a lot of heartburn, but my gastroenterologist suggested the Nissen. So lost...

Good idea to keep this current