Struggling with gerd

I hate that you are feeling that way! I have GERD and I was diagnosed at 18. It was also difficult being so young and not being able to function like a normal 18 year old - meaning I couldn't eat what they ate, etc. I have managed my symptoms pretty well in the past several years. They also blamed it on an ulcer for a while, because I was only 18.

I take Omeprazole twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening (20mg each). It took about 30 days to REALLY start working, and when it does, you will be so relieved! I also avoid almost all acids and liquor in my regular diet, but I will obviously eat/drink it if I really want it. I also altered my cooking, as too much pepper and certain seasonings really don't settle well with me (FH seasons his own food now)! I was so bad for a while even water gave me indigestion.

Hang in there and give the medicine time to work!

*Edit: have you talked to your doctor about bumping your dosage? Mine started me at once a day, but it didn't do hardly anything. I would suggest speaking with him/her and see if you are able to take it twice a day. It made a world of difference for me!

I don't have any experience with this, but I'm really sorry you're having this issue. I hope they can find a treatment that works better for you

Heh there darling, I hear you in the frustration dept! They’re still figuring out what I have, and I take donnatal elixir and cars fare daily along with high fiber no sugar diet. The FODMAP diet has helped immensely but it’s frustrating because my weight has fluctuated terribly! I’m nervous to buy a dress because I go between 170 and 230 lbs Every few months, and I feel like I should buy two dresses so I have one no matter my size during the wedding. It’s tricky planning a wedding when you’re so preoccupied planning your daily living. Chin up and keep going, it’ll get better with time!

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Wow, 18! By the way you are GORGEOUS!.

How did you deal and stay positive when you found out and when did you start introducing some regular diets foods and liqour/wine?( I loved my wine now im scared to drink anything because I am afraid anything will just make it worse. I am scared of most things I have to digest now :/)

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Yes deep in the frustrated dept. I have heard of that diet seems really detailed so many things have sugar I could imagine that it would confuse anyones body on what to burn for energy. I would be nervous to buy a dress to and worry about it being too big or small. Maybe when youre at the weight you want to be would you be able to change that diet to only manage your weight ?

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Hi Steph-

I really appreciate your response on this still. Thank you I hope something will end up working for me soon.

View Quoted Comment Yeah, the FODMAP Is hard at first but there is an app that makes it really easy. Unfortunately i’ve Been struggling for about 3 years now and when I try to change diets/ exercises to balance out my weight I end up in a stomach tail spin of not being able to eat solid food for two months (hence the major weights fluctuations). It’s really unfortunate but thankfully I have another year before I say I DO so maybe it will get sorted out by then. Here’s to being hopeful

Have you considered trying gluten-free? I kept having terrible stomach acid pains where didn’t feel like heartburn, my stomach felt like it was churning acid and I couldn’t eat anything spicy or fun. I was also having massive bloating issues, and I suspected gluten. I went gluten-free and have been gluten free ever for 6 years. I still have issues with food, but going gluten free largely eliminated the horrible acid feeling.

I sincerely hope you’re able to find an answer soon. It can be such a struggle to have food issues and it is hard for people to understand if they’ve never experienced it. I have the weirdest list of things that I can’t eat, but my caterer did a great job accommodating at the wedding!

View Quoted Comment Awh, thank you so much!

I stayed positive in the beginning because I knew it could be a lot worse. It could have been so many other things, so I’m thankful it’s just GERD! Albeit, it doesn’t make it any easier or discredit how you’re feeling!

For foods, it took me a while to reintroduce my normal diet. By that time, blander food was my new normal! I think I survived on turkey sandwiches for a month 😂 I can’t lie, it has made me a MUCH better eater. I couldn’t drink sodas, fruit juices, eat pasta sauces, pizza, or drink margaritas without being miserable for hours. It would be so bad that I would feel like I had a fist in my chest (it wasn’t even a burn really, it was this clenching pain like I was having a heart attack). I started to reintroduce slowly, starting with milk products (horrible for me), then red meats (steak also killed me), then acidic foods (like some fruits and pasta sauces). To this day I really have to keep everything in moderation. I still don’t drink soda or eat very much candy!

For liquor, I stay away from most hard liquors like tequila and vodka. White wine was always easier for me than red wine. I didn’t start reintroducing anything until I was on a double-dosage of Omeprazole, because that really really helped me. I still carry Rolaids everywhere just in case! Have you seen those memes about chapstick? How people keep it in their cars, work desk, night stands, etc? That’s me with Rolaids 😂

Push to get your gallbladder checked, if you haven’t already! Your symptoms sounds very similar to what I had. It began when I was in the 7th grade, but the serious heartburn, and overall ill exhaustion symptoms took over when I was a senior in hs. I did not have gallstones, but my gallbladder was no longer functioning (I think I was at 16%) - let me tell you though, not having a gallbladder sucks (serious bowel problems 5 years later, which i initially began about a year after removal) but there are medications to help - but I don’t know how much longer I could have dealt with my gallbladder attacking me to the point where even water made me have serious heartburn/vomiting.

Not saying GERD isn’t still a possible cause (I’m a teacher not a doctor lol) but it reminds me so much of what I dealt with. I am quite familiar with GERD, as my dad and grandpa both have it, but please look into this if you can! I felt like a brand new person two days post-op, and by two weeks I was finally back to functioning! I didn’t realize how bad I actually felt until then! I hope this gets better for you!

I’ve had stomach ulcers and it certainly isn’t easy. I know you’re pain. Stress can definitely cause it.

View Quoted Comment I actually have a dosage of 40mg twice a day. 😐

View Quoted Comment My primary doctor actually made a list of things we could try because the medicine wasn’t working. I was so overwhelmed by it and I am on a budget. :

Hi Shaina

Here is a list of items we can do to find what is causing the sensation of acid reflux:
1. Ct scan of the chest, no contrast. This is to rule out problems at the mediastinum. A compartment where the esophagus goes though.

If normal.
2. gallbladder sonogram to check for stones.

If no stones.
3. Hida scan to evaluate for gallbladder dysfunction (biliary dyskinesia)

If normal
4. Evaluation with ear nose and throat doctor

Can also refer to gastro enterology at northwestern chicago for a consultation

Let me know if you would be willing to do the above.

I totally understand! They didn’t make me do the ct scan - just sonogram and then the hida scan (which made me instantly sick). I’m sorry you are dealing with this, but you really have to get pushy. I think I was able to skip the ct because I came into the doctors office throwing up and my skin coloring was yellow - I was so sick!!! Again hope you get it figured out!

Hm pushy? What do you mean?

and since you had your gallbladder removed what are your stomach issues now?

View Quoted Comment I was having issues for five years - FIVE! I went to so many doctors who kept saying it was heartburn, GERD, allerigies, even mono all sorts of crap and the entire time, it was my gallbladder. I pretty much told them that I was sure it was my gallbladder after researching and speaking with people who had the same thing, and finally told the doctor that, and he went ahead with the sonogram.

I have a chronic health problem (nothing to do with my gallbladdder) and have dealt with just about every kind of doctor you can think of, and have found that most don’t want to listen, and you have to be pushy. Explain you don’t have time to do all of these expensive test, and need to figure out how to feel better asap. It might not work and they might make you go through the long list (I understand sometimes dr’s can’t help because of insurance forcing them to do the long list), but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

As far as stomach issues, I have a combination of ibs-c and ibs-d that occurs sporadically. It can be quite embarrassing at times, but I sometimes I can can months without any issues, and then sometimes I will have pain that feels like I am being electrocuted and that I need to use the restroom, however its either nothing or something they call “dumping” - sorry for too much info, but I wished someone would have warned me before, so I could get on medications to help with this problem sooner. I take a probiotic enzyme daily and a medication from my doctor, which helps tremendously. However, I sometimes can’t eat certain foods (usually hamburgers, fried foods, and salads - which I love) without causing an attack, and other times I can eat those foods, and have no issues at all.

Sorry for all of my spelling errors and long post! Lol anyways, I also recommend doing the “egg check” - I never eat eggs and it was actually what led to a major gallbladder attack, which was when I was finally able to get my dr to listen. Look up eggs and gallbladder - its not definite of course, but eggs can trigger an attack if you are having issues. Just an interesting thought to consider though...

Hello,
You should try celery everything for a week or two(celery soup, or celery sticks after eating meat). Also try a pear first thing in the morning, a glass of room temperature water. Let it settle in your stomach before the next meal.

Health issues are awful. I’m type one diabetic and have struggled with GERD and gastorparesis for years now as a result of the diabetes. Pepcid seems to be the only medicine I can tolerate, which doesn’t help much. I actually just got home from a 3 day hospital stay for a run of the mill stomach flu. My vomiting tore holes in my stomach causing internal bleeding and putting me at high risk for DKA. I’m 32 and have more specialists than friends. Lol. My newer additions are a cardiologist and rheumatoid doctor. Autoimmune disorders love to keep one another company for sure. I will say stress does a number on stomach issues. My doctor once told me, “when you cry your stomach cries.” Try to keep the stresses down. I know it’s hard during wedding planning. When I’m having a really bad flare up I go all low fat and try to keep a lot of my diet liquid. It truly sucks but it does help. I only drink water and an occasional juice (very rarely). I stay clear of spicy foods and avoid any red sauces unless I’m feeling frisky. Lol. Don’t let it effect your quality of life though. You’re about to marry the love of your life who will stand by you in any sort of health trials you go through. Good luck in your journey and I hope you find answers too. If you haven’t tried Nexium I highly recommend it. I couldn’t take it (lots of meds don’t agree with me) but for the little bit I was on it those pills were like magic.

Hey does anyone have any advice to when it comes to going out with friends with GERD when there are gonna be drinks and food ?

i have a bachelorette party to go to for one of my friends and now I’m overwhelmed with bothering them on what type of food there will be