Is there any hope to be symptom free again? People who become cured probably don't come to this board any more. That is why there isn't a lot of people who are hopeful.

Does anyone know of others that are symptom free of this condition without having to take medications any more? All the health sites imply that it is possible to be 100% cured from GERD and it CAN BE temporary.


Kevin

I have LPR, so I'll only touch upon that, and not GERD. From my experience, my doctors inputs, and every medical journal article I've read about LPR, it appears to be a permanent condition.

However, it is possible to achieve such complete relief with PPI therapy that many people would probably stop visiting the board at this point. I achieved that, but I keep coming back to evangelize the 2 dose a day PPI regimen that saved my life after the blackest, worst period of my life when I was looking for a diagnosis.

My gastro told me I had acid reflux and that it was a permanent condition and to continue taking my meds and to eat bland foods. I haven't taken any since Feb. and I don't think I have reflux anymore (I have no symptoms anyway). I'm eating spicy foods again too. I had it for over 2 years so I know something about the pain and frustration.

One of my friends was diagnosed with moderate GERD and after 6 weeks of prilosec (5 years ago) he felt good and still does not have any issues.

I have LPR, so I'll only touch upon that, and not GERD. From my experience, my doctors inputs, and every medical journal article I've read about LPR, it appears to be a permanent condition.

However, it is possible to achieve such complete relief with PPI therapy that many people would probably stop visiting the board at this point. I achieved that, but I keep coming back to evangelize the 2 dose a day PPI regimen that saved my life after the blackest, worst period of my life when I was looking for a diagnosis.

I have a million questions. If you could answer them I would be greatful.

Does "complete relief" mean symptom free? Are you still taking PPIs? Were you on Nexium 40 MG twice a day? That is what I am taking. Did you take them both at once or one in the morning and one at night and for how many months?

Did you have the symptom of bad breath? That is what I am battling most now. My throat doesn't bother me as much since I have been taking the PPIs for the past month.

About my diet. If I eat pasta with tomato sauce once a week is that going to have a major effect on my ability to recover? Do I need to completely remove chocolate, pizza, orange juice, etc from my diet in order to recover? I don't eat a lot of that stuff, but people are saying they don't eat that at all any more. I can't see how eating a slice a of pizza once a week could hurt.

I know you probably are :eek: with all my questions.

Kevin

KevinLA,

The Nexium gives me 95% relief from my symptoms, of which chronic cough was the most troublesome. I have been taking Nexium 2 times a day (40 mg per pill) for 4 years. I still take it, and I take my 2 doses in the morning, together. Taking them apart doesn't work for me.

I have experimented taking them apart (for 1 month, and my symptoms come back). I have also tried Prilosec (up to 8 pills a day) and Protonix (2 pills a day) and on both of those meds my symptoms also came back.

Like you, I have bad breath, but I always have, and I don't know if it's related to the reflux. I have really nasty tonsilloliths (white chunks coming out of my tonsils) due to deep crypts in the tonsils. I think the bad breath is mostly from that. However the acid that got into my mouth has damaged my teeth and I have quite a bit more enamel erosion than most people my age (32).

I think diet plays a role, but even following the most sensible diet won't get rid of the reflux entirely. I've found that eliminating fried foots and really fatty foods helps me the most. Carbonation is a no-no. More importantly, eating infrequently, and keeping meals small helps me the most. But I'm a foodie, and I love tomato sauce, pineapples, chocolate and coffee. I eat no-nos every day and I'm OK as long as I don't abuse them and take my medecine. Love pizza!

aswanderer,

What doe sthe anamal erosion look like? Is it teath getting black spots? Where on the teeth are you seeing the erosion?

IS

No black spots on my teeth - I don't really know what it looks like but I guess my dentist does. She first asked me if I was bulemic, but I've never been - but then I mentioned that I had developed a severe reflux problem and that was the cause. Acid erodes enamel with both bulemia and reflux. I think one of the obvious pieces of evidence was that my molars are severely ground down, even though I'm not a teeth grinder. Much of the enamel is just gone. My dentist told me that as the enamel disappears on the teeth, I'll need root canals and caps.