Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Help Against The Gerd! (reflux)


allison

Recommended Posts

allison Rookie

Please guys, it's so bad! I went to the ER last night b/c my chest hurt so bad--and it was the GERD again. (Apparently both acid from my stomach and bile from my small intestine).

I'm on prevacid--it's OK.

But what do you take over the counter for immediate relief? (Opinions on the best ones are welcome!)

And I know there are all these foods that you are supposed to avoid, but I'm having trouble doing that given a)my lack of an appetite and b)the fact that I'm already on a celiac diet. Does anyone know what the worst triggers are (other than alcohol, caffeine, chocolate)--like is cheese really all that bad?

Heeeeelp.

Allison


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Ruth52 Newbie

I take Pariet (proton pump inhibitor) for reflux and my dr told me not to take any ant-acid over the counter stuff because it would stop the Pariet from working properly. So when reflux rears its ugly head I usually drink lemonade - it seems to calm everything down. Though I find that the Pariet will calm the reflux in about 30 minutes.

I avoid onions, tomatoes and anything really spicy. I also drinks loads of water.

Hope this helps.

Ruth

trents Grand Master

Try 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 8 oz. of water. Works better than any over the counter antacid. Might not be a good idea if you have high blood pressure because of the sodium content, however.

Steve

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular

Make VERY sure that you avoid citrus and tomatoes (especially tomato sauces--very acidic). For that matter, ANY fruit juice should be avoided (they all have vitamin C added--which is citric acid); sodas are also highly acidic). For some weird reason, bananas also gave me bad reflux, never figured out why, as I can't think of anything blander than a banana. Eat half as much twice as often--do not eat a full meal, as half of it just might end up coming up your esophagus! Don't let your stomach get completely empty, as then you will have an empty stomach full of acid. Plain white rice always seemed to help me--maybe it absorbs some of the acid?

Guest Norah022

I am on Aciphex and it works decently. I had to come off of it for 2 weeks and had reflux 24/7. I also take 150 mg over the counter zantac. I take the Aciphex to reduce the acid production in my stomach and the zantac is to take care of any heartburn symptoms that may appear.

Ellen Newbie
Please guys, it's so bad! I went to the ER last night b/c my chest hurt so bad--and it was the GERD again. (Apparently both acid from my stomach and bile from my small intestine).

Check with your doctor about Eosinophilic Esophagitis. It's a type of reflux associated with food allergies that alot of people with celiacs have. It is untreatable with the typical GERD medicines...it's not caused by the proton pump so taking a proton pump inhibitor doesn't help. I'm waiting for the biopsy on mine now. :unsure:

ravenwoodglass Mentor
Please guys, it's so bad! I went to the ER last night b/c my chest hurt so bad--and it was the GERD again. (Apparently both acid from my stomach and bile from my small intestine).

I'm on prevacid--it's OK.

But what do you take over the counter for immediate relief? (Opinions on the best ones are welcome!)

And I know there are all these foods that you are supposed to avoid, but I'm having trouble doing that given a)my lack of an appetite and b)the fact that I'm already on a celiac diet. Does anyone know what the worst triggers are (other than alcohol, caffeine, chocolate)--like is cheese really all that bad?

Heeeeelp.

Allison

Since my GERD is definately celiac related I avoid scripts, by the time most act the gluten reaction for me is over anyway. I use pepto bismal, it relieves the pain and the nausea almost immediately and I rarely need a second dose. It does darken the stool for a day or so, that's normal.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Guest cassidy

Gaviscon is the best over the counter medicine. I don't take any of it anymore. If I have heartburn I take apple cider vinegar capsules. I never thought that would work but I tried gulping some vinegar when I was desperate and my heartburn went away. I was on aciphex twice a day at that point.

Tomatoes, chocolate and citrus really get to me. I know it is hard to avoid things but I'm pregnant, I don't want to eat anything but I'm constantly hungry, and craving things with gluten, and I still don't eat the things that set my heartburn off. You must have been in a lot of pain to go to the er, so maybe it is worth it to try a bit harder not to eat bad stuff. I truly know how hard it is.

Nancym Enthusiast

If you're eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates (starches and sugars) you could be making your problem worse.

Dr. Eades has a lot of good articles in his blog about GERD. You might read them over and see what you think. I think this one was particularly good: Open Original Shared Link

Mr J Rookie
... If I have heartburn I take apple cider vinegar capsules. I never thought that would work but I tried gulping some vinegar when I was desperate and my heartburn went away. ....

an endocrinologist once explained to me that just about every regulatory mechanism in the body is based on the principle of a "feedback loop"

so whats happening there is that you are adding some new input for the acid production feedback loop to adjust itself.

the acid in apple cider vinegar enters the small intestine and this causes 2 things to happen

1. the pancreas releases bi-carbonate into the small intestine to neutralise it. This is necessary to allow the pancreatic enzymes to survive and digest.

2. A signal is sent north to the stomach to say ok we have plenty of acid down south, turn that acid production down.

a remedy of one or two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with some honey was given to me by a friend who recommended it for all sorts of things. For me it works to prevent gerd as opposed to calm a bout of gerd, and therefore needs to be taken on a completely empty stomach before eating a complex carb meal. I do this once a day before one of my carb snacks.

cheers,

Mike

Mr J Rookie
If you're eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates (starches and sugars) you could be making your problem worse.

......

everyone has their unique set of digestive idiosyncrasies so i'm no going to dispute someone who says that carbs calm their gerd.

i've certainly got my own unique set of digestive misery - currently unknown cause. However the above statement from Nancym applies to me. If I say take a mix of protein and complex carbs eg. eggs and rice, I am asking for heartburn. What happens to me I think is that the amylase carb enzymes in my saliva get started on the rice, then sensors in the stomach figures out there are eggs in the mix, so releases lots of acid and pepsin to try and break down the protein. The pepsin is happy in the acid but the amylase gets prematurely destroyed. Then in a desparate attempt to deal with the confusion my stomach seems to produce even more acid. I think what happens in a normal person is that the destroyed saliva amylase is not a problem coz the pancreas has amylase too and will finish off the incomplete digestion job on the carbs. But I've got unknown malfunctions happening in my small intestine.

anyway whatever is happening I cope better if I take no acid reduction methods and eat a meal thats protein with no carbs. Protein needs acid to break it down and the pepsin which gets breakdown of protein going in the stomach actually requires the acid for activation. So in that situation my stomach seems to produce the right amount of acid.

cheers,

Mike

bluejeangirl Contributor

I agree with alot of what Mike said. Whenever I lower my carbs I start to feel better. I don't have alot of acid type fruits and veggies like tomatoes. I also had to give up wine which was hard and I only had about 5 oz. with my evening meal. I hope I can have that again. I have a hard time eating liquid meals like protein shakes and soup. It just sits and wants to migrate up.

I'm having about 10 to 15 carbs a meal and 5 carbs a snack. Three meals and three snacks. Try and go complex carbs since you need the fiber and you can subtract the fiber from the carb total to come up with the net carb.

I have found these great tortillas from french meadow bakery. Here's the ingredient list. Organic sunflower seed, filtered water, organic flaxseed, organic pumpkin seed, organic hemp flour, orgainc hemp seed, organic amaranth flour, organic unrefined sunflower oil, organic sesame seeds, organic arrowroot, unrefined sea salt, guar gum non'aluminum baking powder, organic cayenne.

It crazy but I love these things, I make alot of pizza's with them and roll up sandwiches or just spread almond butter on them. So the net carb is only 2 grams. That fiber really gives your stomach acids something to wrap around in. I'm feeling so much better eating like this and don't have to take the acid reducers as often.

Check them out I think its FrenchMeadowbakery.com or google if not.

Gail

Ksmith Contributor
I have found these great tortillas from french meadow bakery. Here's the ingredient list. Organic sunflower seed, filtered water, organic flaxseed, organic pumpkin seed, organic hemp flour, orgainc hemp seed, organic amaranth flour, organic unrefined sunflower oil, organic sesame seeds, organic arrowroot, unrefined sea salt, guar gum non'aluminum baking powder, organic cayenne.

Gail

Have you had the "Woman's tortillas "with soy flour? I'm curious if those are good...Thanks!

allison Rookie

Thanks guys! I am definitely going to try the apple cider vinegar fix...

I have a doc who told me to try taking little bits of mylanta every hour, and I think that is also helping.

I am already avoiding the chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, tomatoes and citrus. Definitely a good idea, but not helping me at all--since it's worse than ever and I haven't had those in a while!

I'll check out the carb thing too!

bluejeangirl Contributor
Have you had the "Woman's tortillas "with soy flour? I'm curious if those are good...Thanks!

Yes those are good to but in the freezer they broke in half so you have to be careful to lay them flat.

gail

key Contributor

Are you on any other medications that heartburn could be a side effect of? I am very frustrated about having heartburn. It doesn't seem to matter what I do I have been having it. I have decided to try yoga and exercise more. I am SICK and tired of being miserable. I was taking Prilosec, but it does seem to make my stomach hurt and cause indigestion for me. I think from what I have read, that fat is the very worst thing for heartburn. I haven't gived up caffeine, because it doesn't seem to make a difference and I just refuse to give up the last "pleasure" in my life. Although, I have tried to cut back. Also try digestive enzymes and probiotics. This may help. Sorry you are so miserable. It does stink@

Monica

rez Apprentice

coffee kills me!!!! anything deep fried, no way! Peppermint is bad too!

allison Rookie

i find the peppermint particularly odious. it helps so much with nausea, and now i can't have it!!

coffee kills me!!!! anything deep fried, no way! Peppermint is bad too!
Ksmith Contributor

My GERD has been incredibly painful lately...to be honest, it made me realize that I had it when I was eating gluten. It went away for a couple years and now it's back worse than ever. Is there a link between gluten consumption and GERD? Thanks!

par18 Apprentice
My GERD has been incredibly painful lately...to be honest, it made me realize that I had it when I was eating gluten. It went away for a couple years and now it's back worse than ever. Is there a link between gluten consumption and GERD? Thanks!

I like to think so since my chronic reflux/indigestion went away along with the lower GI issues as soon as I went gluten free last year. It has never returned. Just as well as I think I had enough Gavicon before Dx to last me 2 lifetimes. Thankfully just another thing I don't need to use anymore. I bet there are a lot of people out there with just refllux that would improve being gluten free. Fat chance of ever getting any of them to try it though.

Tom

allison Rookie

Hi guys, hope you had a good thanksgiving!

I think celiac and GERD is very much related. That's what I've read...This doesn't explain why it's so bad now for me, because I've been off gluten for a long time (unless I'm accidentally CCing). Anyway, I've been having horrible diarrhea every morning for a few weeks, and I'm starting to wonder if it is related to antacid drugs with magnesium? I read that they can cause it...any one have any experience with this?

Allison

I like to think so since my chronic reflux/indigestion went away along with the lower GI issues as soon as I went gluten free last year. It has never returned. Just as well as I think I had enough Gavicon before Dx to last me 2 lifetimes. Thankfully just another thing I don't need to use anymore. I bet there are a lot of people out there with just refllux that would improve being gluten free. Fat chance of ever getting any of them to try it though.

Tom

Ksmith Contributor

Allison,

Are you really stressed? I haven't has acid reflux since I was eating gluten (3 years ago)--and now I'm gluten free but got some major stress...the GERD kicked in after I was in a bad car accident and because I have a fairly stressful career, it just doesn't want to go away! I know they say alcohol is bad for the GERD, but a glass of wine with dinner actually helps me relax and my food digests with less discomfort. Of course exercise is a good way to relax also...

azmom3 Contributor

If prevacid doesn't do the trick, you should ask your doctor if it could be eosinophilic esophagitis (Ellen mentioned this, too). The symptoms mimic GERD, but it does not respond to treatment. It's believed to be caused by allergies. Cases of this are on the rise since the mid 90's. It can get a lot worse if it's left untreated if this is what it is. Good luck!

Guest Norah022

My acid reflux appeared after going gluten free having never had it before. So it doesn't always get better once going gluten free

chrissy Collaborator

allison, i think i have heard that the antacid meds can cause the runs if you take alot of them. i just recently had a scope and was told i have severe reflux esophagitis. i knew i had reflux, i've had it for over 15 years----but i did not realize it was as bad as it is---my symptoms just didn't match. i am now on prevacid as are two of my celiac kids. this stuff costs a fortune and i don't really want to be on meds the rest of my life for it. surgery is sounding better to me all the time.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.