New GERD Diagnosis

Newb to this site today as well. Have had diagnosed GERD for ten years. If you have any questions or need to just vent I'm here. Just reading and chatting with others I find does help. Am waiting to see a Gastroenterologist myself to help with is likely a hiatal hernia now caused by long-term gerd

Hey you know one time I'd tweaked my back and that pain aggravated my gerd for some bad flare ups. I went to the chiropractor for a few visits. As the back heeled my gerd reacted better to my nexium and it heeled up.

I remember when I got diagnosed I'd had heartburn everyday all day with only limited hours in the week where I felt okay. Then it took a major lifestyle change. Cut out all smoking, caffeine, spicy tomato based foods and all citrus. And after months of those changes combined with taking meds daily the healing finally occurred. And it got so much better I'd only needed meds on a as needed basis for months. So it can turn around early on especially if changes are made and kept.

My side feels feels better after buying a wedge pillow and sleeping differently. I still having nasty persistent heartburn and indigestion. My doctor didn't recommend any meds or over-the counter items. I asked the pharmacists about something and she recommended the generic Zantac. I've taken both a Zantac and Tums to try and sleep. It helped a little. The doctor's office has a MyChart system for messaging them but so far no one has responded about a referral to a gastroenterologist. I went to some website called RefluxMD and had a guy trying to sell me a diet program from Medifast that would cost $345 (??!!) a month. My BMI is about 33-34 and know I should ideally be under 27 for a real change. It's hard to get motivated to exercise. I've also been diagnosed with sleep apnea and I'm not sure if that makes a difference but it probably doesn't help to be breathing through my mouth at night because of a restricted airway. My doctor scheduled my a consult with a sleep study place. I was balling my head off after work yesterday for a while, I've been so depressed about all this.

Wilm,
For me laying on my stomach with a couple pillows wedged under zyvis bone upper abdomen helps me too. Same as laying on my side can help with the pain also.

Your not alone with your feelings of despair. It's hard to give up so many things you like and still the pain comes back. But understand it is a process that takes weeks and months, but you will gain back control and feel good again. Faith and hope each day is an opportunity to be better and feel better.

Don't beat yourself up about the weight issues, just adjust your diet and over time it will pay off. Just ten pounds might tip the scale in your favor getting gerd under control again. The diet mentioned above is critical to the elimination of the symptoms. That's exactly what I had to do for about 3 months, before I felt good and could slowly introduce coffee back into my daily routine. Try green tea or for me peppermint tea worked instead of coffee.
Good luck Wilm, keep me posted your not alone.

Yes repeatly bending over can be an added cause of the symptoms for me as well. Which put more emphasis on shedding a few pounds.

You've probably heArd this already but it works. Raise the head of your bed 4 inches or even 6 if possible. Gravity will help keep the acid in place in your stomach.

Cheers. I'm having a good day and evening today so hope springs eternally!

Gonna try a leafy greens diet starting today add more fiber. Embarrassing but I started to feel better after a good bathroom break. Wondering if I hAve is and gerd.

May have IBS and gerd together.

FYI: I had a bad gallbladder for 3 years (and lived on a low fat diet to avoid surgery as long as I could). HIDA scan never picked up my problem, but it did eventually have to come out. MRCP was the only test that showed any issue at all, and was still debateable enough result that no one could decide for sure if it needed to come out (until it did get acute and need to come out).

But do NOT LET THEM removed your gallbladder unless you're sure it must be removed. It isn't a useless organ. Some people live ok without it, but others have lifelong problems. My digestion has never been the same. I have more reflux without it. Having no GB can cause bile reflux since there's no where to store concentrated bile anymore. I struggle with weight (extra 20-30 lbs) and never ever had a weight problem before. It changes your digestive system, do not be fooled into believing it's normal to live without it.

So be educated and be SURE before it comes out... please