Acid Reflux - A Thing Of The Past?

[ArtGirl]

I'm hoping that the problems I've had with acid reflux and stomach pain have been "cured".

First of all, let me say that I've not had an official, MD diagnosis of GERD, but my symptoms were:

Stomach pain (at the top of the stomach) relieved immediately after eating, then returning about a half hour later

Acid reflux - made my lower esophegus sore and painful - felt like there was something down there

Heartburn - a burning feeling most of the time in the lower esophagus.

Also, was unable to tolerate digestive enzymes - made symptoms worse.

I have always rejcted the current medical fad of taking something to reduce stomach acid if one has heartburn, thinking that if I'm having digestive problems, reducing stomach acid was self-defeating. Besides, I'm 59 now and most probably I'm not producing enough stomach acid as it is.

I also discovered that drinking a weak mixture of applecider vinegar and water actually relieved the pain in my stomach for at least a half hour. (I know, it bothers some people, but for me it was soothing).

So, I started drinking the vinegar/water before every meal (about 1/2 tsp vinegar in about 1/3 cup water - I added stevia to make it not so harsh on the throat).

After about a week the acid-reflux and other symptoms started diminishing. With this successful trend, I reintroduced a low-level digestive enzyme (Whole Foods brand) but took only a half dose after only one meal, working up to a half dose with every meal.

Three weeks later I stopped drinking the vinegar but kept up with the enzymes. I've not had any pain or heartburn since.

In addition, I also stopped eating corn a month or so ago which turns out to be a big issue for me. I think that, with the treatment listed above, has allowed for healing. Whatever the reason, I'm very glad. I've been struggling off and on with this for several years - never getting so bad that I felt I needed to see a doctor, but well aware of the possibility of irreversible damage to the esophagus if I didn't get this under control.

I hope this helps someone else who has had this kind of problem and can tolerate vinegar.

Edit: I take back about it not getting too bad. I remember now that when I was in my 30s I went to a clinic thinking I was having chest pains and it turned out to be gastritis. I've had this kind of severe, radiating pain several times over the years - usually after taking any kind of anti-inflamatory for more than a few days - which WAS doctor prescribed! (Another point to make is that most medications, and especially tablets, contain a corn derivitive, if not cornstarch)

[Guest ~jules~]

I too have suffered from reflux for 3 years now. My reflux seems to be completely gone since I went gluten-free. I haven't had one single case of heartburn.....

[queenofhearts]

I've always had a sort of craving for vinegar-- I tend to add a splash to lots of foods, to me it just makes them taste better. Always mixed my salad dressings very heavy on the vinegar by classical standards! I've never taken it medicinally, but I just have lots of it in my diet. So I'm delighted to know it's good for me!

[ArtGirl]

I love the taste of vinegar, too, and find it really refreshing as a beverage.

Queen - do you put it on your cooked greens, too? (spinach, kale, etc.) My mother always did this and added (real) bacon bits. Yummy!

[queenofhearts]

I love the taste of vinegar, too, and find it really refreshing as a beverage.

Queen - do you put it on your cooked greens, too? (spinach, kale, etc.) My mother always did this and added (real) bacon bits. Yummy!

Yes, yes, yes! I love greens with vinegar! And I love all greens-- collards, mustard, kale, chard-- this is making me hungry! Raw arugula is probably my all-time fave though. I grow it in my garden year-round. Balsamic is my favorite "splash", but I like cider vinegar too.

[nikki-uk]

My husband was on stomach acid reducers for around 2 years before finally being dx with celiac disease.

His mouth and throat used to 'burn' so much he found it hard to swallow and just before his dx lost his voice for 6 weeks.

He has no reflux/gerd whatever it was now-no drugs needed (they never seemed to help anyway)

BTW-My son has just had positive bloods for celiac disease and gets fits of the hiccups.

The only thing that stops it is a teaspoon of vinegar!

[jknnej]

Unfortunately for me, going gluten free did nothing to reduce my reflux, not even when I was eating totally strict, no sugar, soy, corn, etc. So, I take Nexium and it helps.

[mouse]

When I went gluten-free, my acid reflux stopped and I was able to stop all medication for it.

[elonwy]

Going Gluten free got rid of my Gerd, and my hiccups. I used to hiccup constantly, which is cute when you're a kid, but not great when you're in a meeting at work and trying to be professional. Don't miss that at all.

Elonwy

[jayhawkmom]

Interesting.

I do have a medical dx of GERD.... but I had no apparent and obvious symptoms. I never had heartburn. I never had hiccups (or...rarely anyhow), no problems with indigestion. But, the endoscopy showed that I have scarring from reflux issues.

So, now I'm gluten-free and I'm taking Prevacid. Since I didn't experience any problems that I'm aware of.... how in the world will I know if I can stop taking the Prevacid?

Ahhhh.

Oh, and vinegar makes me ILL, just the smell sets me off. =(

[ArtGirl]

All the responses have been interesting. So, most have "recovered" from GERD simply from going gluten free. I didn't, but then corn has also been a major issue. Perhaps finally going corn-free was the operative factor and the vinegar "treatment" was irrelevant? Guess I'll never know for sure.

Diet sure can have a major impact on so many parts of the body!

jknnej - so sorry you've not had any improvement going gluten-free.