What helped your reflux? Trying everything before PPIs

[Anonymous]

Could really use some help. This reflux is killing me but I want to try aggressive lifestyle changes to avoid meds.

[Anonymous]

Cutting out alcohol and losing weight

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I rarely drink. I am about 15 lbs over. That is probably enough to be a factor, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. I rarely drink. I am about 15 lbs over. That is probably enough to be a factor, no?

It was for me.

[Anonymous]

Cut out:

1. Alcohol (as above)
2. Smoking (if you do)
3. Spicey foods
4. Fatty foods
5. Acidic foods (citrus)
6. Take NSAIDS only on a full stomach, or consider switching to Tylenol.
7. Eat smaller portions more often.
8. Do not eat/drink 2 hours prior to lying down.
9. Be mindful of what foods trigger your symptoms: for me it is yogurt.

In addition to the above, what about trying Tums as needed?

[Anonymous]

Thanks, pps.

For me, the reflux causes my mouth to burn. And I have an unpleasant bitter taste in my mouth too. Others have this?

[Anonymous]

OP, read this link. There is a condition actually called "burning mouth syndrome" similar to what you describe.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/basics/symptoms/con-20029596

[Anonymous]

From the link above:

"Symptoms of burning mouth syndrome may include:

A burning sensation that most commonly affects your tongue, but may also affect your lips, gums, palate, throat or whole mouth
A sensation of dry mouth with increased thirst
Taste changes, such as a bitter or metallic taste
Loss of taste"

[Anonymous]

For myself and DH, cutting out wheat/gluten, meant going medication free.

My boss experienced it as well, when he went on Atkins and a light bulb went off over his head.

You don't need to go full on paleo for it work, although there is nothing wrong with doing that as you will feel so much better on many levels. Once we cleared up the chronic symptoms, we found we could eat small amounts of bread, pastries, etc., as long as it was part of a meal rich in protein, healthy fats and a ton of veggies. Give me a croissant the first thing in the morning without anything else and I'm in pain all day.

[Anonymous]

I cut out gluten from my diet. It made a huge different. Reflux had been constant. Eliminating gluten reduced it by eighty or ninety percent. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I have occasional flares of reflux but only take ranitidine on an as needed basis.
My symptom is severe epigastric pain. It usually occurs if I eat late at night right before going to bed.
Occasionally I have burning in my throat if it refluxes that far.
I have never had an issue with burning in my mouth or odd tastes.

[Anonymous]

We used the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for two weeks for DS. Reflux gone and has not returned for two years. I can't say everyone has a similar outcome, but that is our story.

[Anonymous]

You can also try H2 agonists which are a different class of drugs than PPIs - OTC names include Zantac and Tagamet. I know they're meds but they don't have as many side effects or rebound reflux after discontinuation as PPIs.

[Anonymous]

Going gluten free due to Celiac's diagnosis made all my reflux symptoms go away

[Anonymous]

I cut out my triggers (tomatoes/acidic foods and chocolate) and all food or drink after dinner. No more reflux.