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Melatonin for GERD?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 10/27/2015 9:09 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Andy-

I would say it took almost 6 months before things started to get better. Again, I think diet and repopulating your gut with healthy bacteria plays a roll. How was your stomach before the antibiotics? Did you have problems before taking them.

For the first month or two I lived off steamed broccoli and white rice. I lost weight and my primary care told me I was malnourished. I started introducing new foods very slowly, but I stayed away from dairy, wheat and most sugars (partially because of sensitivities/allergies)

I also used Mastic Gum in the beginning. I bought the chewables at the Vitamin Shoppe. I think it was beneficial.

Have you had an endoscope? If yes, what did it show?

Stay strong, believe in yourself and that you have the power to heal. Your body wants to be healthy...we just need to help it along.
Posted 10/27/2015 9:43 AM (GMT -5)
I had many problems before the antibiotics with chronic heartburn and lots of stomach issues/nausea but they had settled down a bit once I figured out my diet and supplement regime (many supplements were actually causing my symptoms, now I do without any).

But the antibiotics just wreaked havoc and I'm now almost constantly feeling sick, I think it is irritation in my esophagus rather than my stomach, though my stomach is very tender and when I eat something wrong I soon know about it, but I don't get much nausea from there, it feels like minor heartburn and irritation which make me want to throw up. It is so debilitating.

I am very malnourished as well, I just eat potatoes and some fish, I try new foods but then feel unwell and so am afraid to try them again. I've recently cut out sugars because I think these were causing me issues and gluten as well as bread made me feel particularly sick even when I was feeling ok.

I just cannot eat enough in terms of physical quantity without the reflux and nausea/heartburn becoming even more intolerable.

I've had endoscopies years ago which showed a hiatus hernia and some mild gastritis at the time, no hpylori. I'm due to have a 24 hour impedence monitor soon hopefully to assess the real level of my reflux, if it is high then I am seriously considering surgery because this is just the peak of a 3 year battle with reflux.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that's been through this, 6 months is a long time but at least gives me some hope. I'm on PPIs and several medications for this, and also going through an antidepressant change as my old one wasn't helping my mood, which has posed new challenges with withdrawal and insomnia, just more to deal with :(
Posted 10/27/2015 11:13 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you Ruey. I will try to find that Pickles. I tried the fermented beans NATO (Japanese) but it could be the beans that seems not going down. It just stayed on my stomach for 2 hrs. Are you taking ginger fresh or boil it like a tea? I mix mine with my food. Just want to know which works best. I had this ordeal for more than four months now. It's a blessing to have improved each day. I regain my strength back. The only thing is that the diet. My stomach is still sensitive that I probably have to eat same food over and over for few more months.

Hi Andy1986, I was taking PPI and that did not do me good for my healing. There were days I was ok but my anxiety was not getting better. Being suicidal is part of the depression which developed due to this horrible feeling. I might have anxiety first, then when I took antibiotic this had triggered the GERD. I was given few depression meds. It made my GERD worst. I had taken the Ativan as i was so down and tired. I was not eating for few weeks and was not able to sleep. The ativan made me feel better but it give me the acid attack which made me worst. So, I did not know what to do. I was scared to be alone coz I might pass out. Then last July 24 wean from PPI to Zantac to Tums to Rolaids. I battled the acid rebound from weaning myself from the PPI. Then I had to deal with delayed gastric emptying. When I eat, it will take hours for it to stay in my stomach, then it seems that the food spoils inside and gives me acid reflux. So with the help of CAGU(forum friend), I try to eat 30 mins after being hungry to give my stomach enough acid to digest my food. I mix ACV with my fish. I can't drink ACV with water or honey. It's too strong for me. The potatoes gives me acidity. Try not to eat it and see if it helps you. I also pick wild fish possible. My stomach is so sensitive that i can't eat too much chicken (even organic). Hope you will feel better soon.

Thank you TANDEM for sharing about sugar and sea salt. I avoided sugar already and now using Himalayan pink salt. Was wondering if to limit this too. I hope not, just too limited on food I can eat right now.
To all the best of you my friends.
God bless.
Posted 10/27/2015 4:00 PM (GMT -5)
If anyone is interested, there is a Facebook Group called GERD/Acid Reflux with about 8000 members.
Posted 10/28/2015 9:31 AM (GMT -5)
Yes, ACV is something that seems to help me too. Although I don't take it straight up. I usually try to have a salad with whatever I am eating for lunch and use Olive oil and ACV with a bit of pink himalayan salt.

Another thing that has been a plus is organic coconut oil. Sometimes I take a 1/4 spoon and it soothes the GERD.
Posted 10/28/2015 10:25 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you Ruey,

I use organic coconut oil to do OIL POOL, 30 minutes in the morning. Thank you for sharing that it soothes the GERD. I should resume doing it and take some. What time of the day you were taking it?

I started the melatonin last night and seems to help me slept longer. I dreamed a lot. I keep you posted on its benefits with GERD.
God bless.
Posted 10/28/2015 11:30 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Tu Wang-

Yes, when I took the Melatonin I had lots of vivid dreams too, but I have never had a problem sleeping.

If I feel the GERD is mild, I will sometimes let a small amount of the Coconut oil dissolve in my mouth and swallow it. It helps 50% of the time. Other times, I try the crystalized ginger. I use the brand, Gin Gins, that works half the time as well. I think these are useful in tweaking the acid levels.

I believe its a balancing act with the acid in the stomach. I haven't had it done, but I know there is a test to tell if the stomach acid is too high or too low.

Wishing you well!
Posted 11/3/2015 12:14 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Ruey.

My update with melatonin after 6 days was dry mouth. Therefore will stop Melatonin for now. Due to dry mouth I wake up middle of the night. The good thing is that it had helped my stomach discomfort.
I am using Biotene toothpaste to recover from dry mouth.

Hi Andy 1986,
I have GERD due to antibiotics too. It took almost three months after weaning from PPI that I feel better and most GERD symptoms went away. Had delayed Gastric emptying and acid rebound few months after weaning from PPI. I am still on my strict diet and avoiding those triggered food. I am taking probiotic, magnesium supplement, B12, D3 and drinking Boost. Food supplement is important for me to keep my weight and help malnutrition, without it, I kept losing weight and becoming weak.
It will take time to heal but you will.
God bless.
Posted 12/29/2015 4:50 PM (GMT -5)
Regarding the melatonin:
I've been taking melatonin for about 3 years now at bedtime. Started at 3mg but have been taking 5-6 mg for the last year. I'm sorry to report that I have seen NO difference what so ever in regards to reflux. It helps me sleep a little better but I still get woken up with horrible reflux at times and it certainly does not help day time symptoms either. Hopefully others have a better outcome. I just take it for sleep now and back on a PPI and zantac every day. :-/
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