Hi, I have a burning sensation in my throat and I know it is because of acid refluxing. I also have a small ulcer. Currently I am seeing a nutritionist/naturopath and am taking Aloe Gel, probiotics, essential EFAs and I am drinking cabbage juice for the ulcer. Also I have dramatically altered my diet. I am eating lots of vegetables and fruits, as well as nuts/seeds. I have completely eliminated dairy, red meat as well as yeast/flour products.
I have been doing this since end of September. Well, the cabbage juice was only added around beginning of December. But anyhow, my acid reflux doesn't seem to have gotten much better.

My main problem is the burning of my throat.
I also have a white tongue because of this.


Any suggestions anyone?

I am only 20 and this has dramatically changed my life. I have lived relatively healthy. By that I mean I didn't smoke, drink, or drink coffee,etc...Not too much fast food, etc...But I did experience major stress. Anyhow, I refuse to take any antacids as they will make things worse but I am afraid of the major damages that reflux can cause.


Also I have read somewhere that the cause of acid reflux is that the LES muscle is too weak. But my question is if that is so, then what causes it to be weak in the first place? And why wasn't it weak before? I don't want to undergo surgery for it.


Please someone help me. I would be soooooo thankful. I just want my life back.

I found out I had and ulcer last year (I was 23). Because it went untreated for a long time I also developed acid reflux and gastritis. I had to get an EGD, where they stick a tube down your throat to take pictures and a biopsy of your stomach. I saw a gastointesonal specialist before we finally found out a solution that worked. Here's what I had to do:

I took 2 30mg prevacid a day
I stoped taking asprin and advil (they're often a cause of an ulcer)
I stoped eating anything spicy, greasy or extremely acidic (oranges etc.)
I stoped having ANY caffeen
I stoped drinking all alcohol

It was a huge lifestyle change for me too. The caffeen was really hard. That means no coffee, no soda (except sprite) no chocolate.... all kinds of stuff. I developed major headaches from not having any caffeen and I could only take tylenol. Food wise the doctor basicly said only bland food. I had to do things this way for nearly four months but it all cleared up. I have to keep my stress level down now. As far a herbal remedies I don't know. You should seriously check out prevacid. It's a life saver. I hope you start feeling better soon!

If I don't keep my diet "alkaline", I get this as well. So if I overeat things like animal protein; only eat turkey/chicken lx/wk/fish lx/week, spicy foods, carbohydrates (wheat products)........anyway, find an acid/alkaline list so you know what aggravates it.

Funny, just had an attack..........I ate turkey 3x back to back, along w/cranberries (also acidic).

My remedies are the diet, Rescue Body Tea (alkalines), Acid-Ease, l/2 tsp baking soda in some filtered water, keeping "all" stress down. Oh, and DGL (from health food store) is great!

Off to get some now as I make my Rescue Tea........................

carole

Since I use my cup of caffeine to get my brain in motion, I add "tamers", which cuts the acid, and I mix in a soy vanilla protein drink as well.

Ahhhh, the "tricks".........

'c' :bouncing:

I should add that although I am mostly "cured" I still get "flare ups" and I do have to watch what I eat.

I've been fighting acid reflux since August, had the endoscopy done in Sept which showed Barrett's non cirular. I've tried prevaced, prilosev, aciphex, protonix and now nexium, nothing has helped to compensate for their high cost. I don't want to have to have the surgery which is next if this doesn't work. Yesterday I went out and bought Yogi Tea digestion aid, drank three cups throughout the day and today it is 90% better than when I was taking the pills. Stuff tastes like crap but I drank it anyway, I'm desperate for this to end, I already have barret's esophagus without the cell changes and I want to keep it that way. So I will see how this goes, I will drink more tomorrow, since I was feelin so much better today I went crazy with the New Year junk foods and Im sure it will flare up again. you can buy this stuff at any health food section of the grocery or health food store, comes in individual tea bags.

Mrs.Lewis - I am very skeptical of using "antacids" but I'm glad it has all cleared up for you now :) I am also avoiding chocolate, pop and all the other things you mentioned.

My nutritionist recommended a good Naturopath so I am going to go give him a visit and see what happens.

Caroleye I will definitely try the Rescue Body Tea and I have heards lots off good stuff about the DGL so I really want to try that out. On Monday I am going to see my nutritionist so I will see what she says about it :) Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Hi MrsLewis I have a question.

I was wondering when was it that you took those 2 prevacid pills?

is it one in the morning before breakfast? And one before going to sleep?

Thanks. :)

Oh and after how many days were you seeing results?

I am on my 4th day right now and I'm not seeing much change so I was just wondering. Also I was wondering if perhaps you could e-mail me? My e-mail address is [ please carefully review the posting rules - no emails ]

Hope to hear from you. Thanks.

NancyH
What is in Yogi tea digestion aid? I am allergic to a lot of things --- Balsam of Peru being one of them and was told to stay away from plant extracts also as a precaution. However, with my uncontrollable acid reflux/gastritis with 30 mg Prevacid AM, 30 mg PM and 300 mg Zantac PM and no relief (nocturnal reflux and all the time stomach pain) and Crohn's disease that I can not take anything for except Librium/Librax (allergic to most drugs) I would love to go alternative. I was thinking about aloe vera also as I do not want the fundo. Please let me know. I am glad it is helping you.

Thanks.
Suggi

GailC
What exactly is homeopathic? Is it herbs or what as I was told to stay away from plant extracts because of the balsam of peru allergy. Please let me know.

Thanks
Suggi

I have been meaning to ask whether stress can cause Acid Reflux .. glad I found these posts which tell me YES! I am the caregiver of my 96 yr old Alzheimer's Disease mother, so stress is a natural component of my present life. I have been using TUMS ..many times a day ..but I appreciate any alternative methods.

Martha

Some homeopath products work some don't, just like conventional meds. I tried several and they didn't help me, in fact I ended up with other issues as well, they are not for everyone. A friend of mine has no problem with them. I found prilosec to work the best, it helped my breathing problem. In Sept of 03 I had a pulmonary function test that showed I had major decreased lung function, when I had it again a year later after being on a PPI for 6 months the pulmonary function test showed I had no decrease of lung function and the only thing different was I got the acid reflux under control with PPI. All meds carry the potential for side effects and some very severe, this also is standard when taking homeopathic meds, their dilution is extreme and you pay big bucks for very little so you need to research the pharmacy or naturopath and check their credentials. the potential for scams is alot higher in naturopathic med than in conventional as they are NOT under the same safety or quality regulations, (( - removed - )) and it can get darn screwy just like conventional and even more so. Alot of it is bunk from back in the snake oil charmers days. Alot of herbs are very good but you need to know what you are taking and the potential for interactions with other drugs and or foods. What is the dilution ratio, which can be 1 part herbal to 10 parts water and who needs to pay for water so check the credentials, many of the nomeopathic drugs on the shelf are more water than medicene and that has been on many expos in the news and magazines. Again check the products manufacture and the dilution ratio.