GERD/Acid Reflux

[lakergal16]

Anyone dealt with or is dealing with this? I'm in my 20s and have never had any medical problems.

I've been feeling really gross after meals the last week and a half and finally decided to see my doctor and he diagnosed me with reflux.

I was initially prescribed metoclopramide and famotidine, but my body didn't react well to it after 3 days and doctor switched me over to omeprazole and simethicone for 30 days (take one omeprazole daily).

How long before I really feel the full effect of the meds and actually "feel" like I'm on the road to recovery and return to "normal?" Can you even make a full recovery?

Thanks for the helps fellas!

[KobeRe-Loaded]

That's pretty young to have acid reflux problems.

Did the Doctor suggest you switch up your diet?
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[Nordvader]

I've been dealing with it for about 9 years now and I was diagnosed in my early 20's as well. I'm not sure if you are but I was also diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus, I don't want to scare you but you honestly never go back to normal.

But everyone's experience is different the best I can tell you is to make sure you eat right and try your best not to stress yourself out. When I say it eat right it doesn't mean eat fruits and vegetables either because there's plenty of them that can trigger acid reflux.

http://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/diet-nutrition#1

At the time I was diagnosed I was working two jobs and about 80+ hours a week because I had just started at a new firm and had a plan of retiring early.

Pushing yourself to the limit really isn't worth it, a couple of years ago I was at the point where drinking water would burn, you don't want to be at that point.

[UAdevil]

I've had acid reflux since my mid 20s. I take a daily proton pump inhibitor (Prilosec) that really knocks it down unless I'm really bad (i.e. late night drinking and overeating).

[C M B]

Did your doctor order an upper GI X-Ray series and an endoscopy? If not, demand it...just to rule out other things like peptic ulcers.

Are you overweight? Losing weight will help the mechanics of your esophageal sphincter.

Did you take antibiotics recently? You may have eliminated a natural bacterium (h.pylori) in your stomach, the absence of which has been associated with increased risk of developing GERD.

Do you eat a lot of crappy foods (simple sugars, fat)? If you do, try cutting down or out and see if that helps. More fiber and fruit, less donuts. This is a universal cure-all, although you should talk to your doc about which foods, specifically, could act as triggers.

Do you eat on the go? Eating fast = stomach doesn't get a chance to empty before it tops off, which creates a food and acid backup into your esophagus that looks like the eastbound George Washington Bridge under Chris Christie's watch.

Did your doctor say anything to you about diaphragm exercises? Puff out your belly upon inhale; suck it in when you exhale.

All of these might bring you back to "normal". Maybe you just had a really stressful week and in combination a bunch of factors gave you heartburn. Full recovery is possible if your lower esophageal area isn't physically defective.

Your doctor has already tried acid blockers/proton inhibitors and a motility agent (reglan). Reglan empties your stomach...when you say your body didn't react well to it, what does that mean?
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[tlim]

1) If you're not sleeping regularly and have a regular schedule, it affects you.
2) Do not eat 3 hours before you go to sleep. That aggravates it.
3) Reduce intake of fatty and sugary food. You don't have to cut it all out.
4) Go exercise regularly to drop the stress!

Finally, my GI doesn't like the inhibitors due to reduction in motility. He, and other GIs basically say to take fiber, and lots of it. I take Konsyl 2 times a day, and it will immensely help your GERD overall. Be careful drinking it though. Ramp up slow if you are going to go this process, as all that gunk that's been built up in you will get pushed out. (Also helps with future possible colon cancer.)

Been dealing with this issue for 15 years now, and that's all I do. No drugs is the safer way. Take the drugs for acute problems, but for the long term, those drugs aren't what should be done.

[lakergal16]

[Fallout]

I've a friend in his 40s who had bad acid reflex. And after going to numerous doctors and specialist he discovered his acidity level was too high. So he got an alkaline filter and watch out for high acidity food and he is better now.' That filter is expensive tho.
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[JoJo Dancer]

[Nnamdi21]

Have you been under any type of stress? Stress can wreck havoc on your digestive system.

Hope you feel better soon

[Gimme_the_rock]

Thanks for posting this and thanks CMB for the pro bono chime in.

My girlfriend is experiencing similar symptoms and so far, they've just told her to keep a diet log and to cut out grains, etc.

I'm going to show her so she has a better understanding of what to inquire about during her next visit.

Thanks again and good luck all you folks with digestive issues.
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[lakergal16]

[nickuku]

[The Thief]

Try getting an H-Pylori test. I had bad reflux out of nowhere a few years ago. I hadn't had issues prior to that and it ended up being H-Pylori which you can treat with an antibiotic and prilosec/nexium. I think it took a couple weeks for it to clear up.

[leor_77]

Dealing with it for years. The crappy part is when you want to jog/run, are totally amped up to do it, but then can't because of reflux.

[HisAirness24]

I've dealt with this as well. I've gotten better going the natural route. I've been eating papaya digestive enzymes before/after meals which truly does help with the digestion and generally alleviates any reflux. Some enzymes are more potent than others, you just have to find your correct personal dosage. There are plenty of options at any Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or Sprouts markets. You'll find a lot of options there. Some examples of ones I've taken are:

Now Foods Papaya Enzymes

American Health super Papaya Enzymes

Country Life Papaya Enzymes

The Now Foods was tremendous when I was really suffering from chest pain or indigestion, it's pretty powerful stuff. Took 2 after meals, then 1 once I felt better and then moved to the Country Life one. The Country Life works well for me now that my condition has improved, I only need one after my main meal (recommended dose says 4).

I also take this right before my meals: NESS Digestible Enzymes. Has a variety of natural, beneficial ingredients for digesting meats and other fats.

I used to take something called Antisid, check it out at this LINK. Took it for several years but I haven't had a need for it in a while. Its ingredients are fantastic natural remedies for things like heartburn. If you google them, you should be able to find how beneficial things like licorice, cabbage powder, and slippery elm are. Its effects are pretty immediate. I used to take 1-2 after my main meal of the day.

One very key thing that has helped with my overall health is Probiotics - specifically, the ones by Enzymatic Therapy called Pearls Immune: LINK. It works wonders for gut healing...I can truly vouch for this. It restores the stomach's good bacteria (which remember, when taking typical over-the-counter antacids or meds, the good bacteria is lost with the bad, and you always need good bacteria in your gut for proper digestion), and it also seriously boosts immunity. Says to take one daily, I usually do it on an empty stomach...I believe these pearls have done the trick in helping me take less and less supplements with my meals. I highly recommend this for anyone in need of gut healing, with GERD, or even with weak immune systems.

Ginger is WONDERFUL for nausea. The greatest reliefs have come from ginger powder as well as ginger snaps (like ginger candy, most are coated with sugar which is why I stick to the powder). I put some of the powder in my tea and sometimes even in water. For me, it does the job within minutes in those times I feel really full or just need some relief.

I was prescribed Gaviscon, Prevacid, Raglan, and Nexium. Though they did a temporary fix, none of them were long lasting and even created more problems via their side-effects. After years of frustration and trial and error, turning to those herbal remedies has helped a ton, and they have had almost no side effects, if any. I no longer suffer from frequent heartburn or reflux, except sometimes in cases of high stress as has been mentioned, but I feel the pearls have lessened the severity of reflux over the time that I've taken them, stuff really works. I now thankfully hardly ever experience severe gas, bloating, or nausea thanks to the above remedies. I can eat pizza, burgers, etc. pretty comfortably (except spicy foods, obviously stay away from those). Sorry for throwing a bunch of product names out there, but I wanted to be as specific as possible, because there are a lot of different companies producing the same type of supplements and it's easy to get overwhelmed, but the ones I've mentioned have really helped me, and I'm sure they can be of help to all of you. I highly suggest checking them out!
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[JoJo Dancer]

[lakergal16]

[K2]

^Papaya enzymes are available at Whole Foods. They're also available through Amazon and local Vitamin Shoppe stores (sometimes they'll match their Vitamin Shoppe web prices).

Hope that you'll be feeling much better soon.

[kcxiv]

It sucks, i have it now. I got it about a year ago, im 37. I used to be able to eat anything, acid reflux and Milk have turned against me! lol It happens. My mom deals with the same thing. It happens.

[tlim]

[dont_be_a_wuss]

A close friend of mine has it, and it has been worsened by taking benzo's. They take omerperazole and within a few days are doing well.

For them, if they drink more than 1 day in a row, it gets worse. No drinking and a good diet, very rare.

[GoldenChild]

I used to have it many years ago, but it went away. I cook with coconut oil, but I really can't verify if that helped with the acid reflux or not.

Acid reflux/Gerd can be triggered by taking too much aspirin or if you have been taking antibiotics and not probiotics at the same time. This messes up your digestive tract.

[Surfitall]

I've had it for years. I've been taking Prilosec every day for years. It works for me, but I've heard there are potential long term side effects. Sometimes when I don't take it, I will wake up in the middle of the night practically choking on my own bile which is coming up like throw up. So, yeah...I take the Prilosec and have no issues when I do.

[Dladi Vidac]

Get off gluten for a week and see what happens. I'm not a celiac but many people, if not all people, have some sort of gluten sensitivity.

Best I've felt in years after removing the devil's grass from my diet.

The mental clarity or sharpness you'll most likely feel is pretty freakin' wonderful as well.
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