Hi everyone! I just wanted to let everyone know that I found a great thread on the digestive disorders board. It is about people who suffer from GERD and that are getting relief with Magnesium. Some people say that they no longer need to take their PPI's. The name of the thread is something like GERD sufferers, I feel good...let me tell you why.

Anyone who hasn't seen it, should check it out. I may try it, when I am through with the rest of my Aciphex.

Eve, I read that thread last Friday and found it very informative. Anyone that has GERD should read it. (The thread is actually closed because it is so long but you can still read.)

I have been taking 1000Cal/500Mag for 3-4 days now and found that it has helped me with the "spasm"/pain that I was getting from Gerd. However I did stop taking Prilosec (1X daily) and the Mag does not (at least in my case) help with the acid. Don't get me wrong I am very happy to have some relief from the back pain, left chest, left shoulder pain that caused me GREAT anxiety in the past.

I have found another site that says (don't laugh) Apple cider vinegar helps with the reduction of acid. It has to be organic (mother) not the commercial stuff in the local store but it still was only 2.50 a bottle that will last a long time. Anyway you mix 2 TSP in an 8 ounce glass of water/juice anything you want and drink 3X a day. I did this for two days and found that it really worked. I didn't have any reflux (or not much) and I didn't have any pains from the GERD.

Today is my first day back to work since the Memorial day Holiday and I am having some reflux today. I drank a glass Of the above described ACV before work but did not bring any with me to work. It has been a stressful day and think that is adding to it.

The reason I'm looking for answers is that I can't get my mind around the idea that we should be taking a medication, (PPI) sometimes for years and years, that shuts down the ability of our stomach to make acid for digestion. I mean if we shut it down then how is the food digested? Doesn't that mean that the food ,which is only partially digested, moves down to the small and large intestines largely intact, where it must be harder to absorb the nutrients from it? Just doesn't seem right to me.

Anyway just thought I'd throw this out...I am not a doctor or any other health professional so take what I say with that in mind. This is strictly my opinion on matters. I'd be interested in knowing what other people think

I got no relief from Apple Cider Vinegar. I am thinking that besides GERD I could have an ulcer that reacts to the vinegar. I have read about Licorice Root which could provide relief to those of you who can't have the cider vinegar. It's called DGL - deglycerrized licorice root. Has anyone been successful with this remedy?

I refuse to take PPI's for those reasons, how can you shut off all those pumps? It makes no sense to me, I obviously need them or else they wouldn't be there. IMO meds cover up the problem, they don't fix and the side effects or possible dangers are too much.

Ok I forgot to post that I take a cal/mag everyday & I believe that it helps, I am not cured but better. Ia lso take a B-complex & C which is also helpful for digestion

Katt

Feel the same way kat, the cal/mag and apple cider vinegar are not a cure all miracle but they do work fairly well and it enables me not to use PPI. I do use the occassional tums but it's just calcium so I figure what they hey