Thank you. You too.
Why I like your premise behind this, would the LES not need time to heal? Such as, if someone were overweight, the pressure on the LES would be almost constant, thus never allowing it to heal. Also, I would think it would take more than 2 days to strengthen a muscle. I like the idea though.
What about this:
What if a person were to eat sort of a heavy meal once every other day or so, and then the next day eat, like half as much, reducing the pressure on the LES allowing it to re-heal stronger?
Hi Eric: In my opinion, I don't think eating exercizes the LES. Over eating may raise the level of acid right up to the LES, like filling a bottle to the top. The carbonated water allows you to put upward pressure on the LES without any acid touching it, and reinjuring it. I believe that this is the only way to strengthen the LES. Otherwise, doctors can only suggest surgery. Which often only lasts a few years before weakening again. And surgery has its own list of bad side effects, such as not being able to swallow properly or burp. The carbonated water is just another option.
That's a good point about the acid re-injuring it from food. I would like to try this carbonation trick, but right now I think I may have a hiatal hernia and esophagitis (the hernia most likely caused by coughing from reflux into the lungs causing asthma), so I wouldn't be able to have carbonation just because of the esophagitis getting irritated. I'm on Nexium 1 pill a day, and I seem to be improving, but I certainly don't want to take it for life. Maybe another a week or so, and I'll taper off the Nexium for a week and give this a try.
Did you take any days off in between "exercising" the LES and not drink the carbonation to allow it to "re-heal" strengthened? Thanks.
I try to do this every day. I think my LES is weak or has some problem that reverts to weakness. So I may have to continue this for a long time. But, its worth it. My esophegus was getting so injured at night that every morning I was nauseated just from drinking water. And my stomach was sore from taking Nexium. I was very sick all the time. Now, I just feel a bit sore in my stomach in the morning because my stomach makes acid while I sleep. So I am working on that now. Hopefully, without Nexium, as it took four tries to get off Nexium. Rebound acid.
Hi did any of you suffering from acid refulx and/or a hiatus hernia find that your symptoms come and go. For instance when I first had symptoms it was roughly this time last year. I had an exam that week and 3/4 days before I had a glass of wine when I was out at dinner next day I could not eat a thing. My throat felt inflammed but I had no cough or cold. When I ate something there was a sever pain in my chest at first I thought maybe just a bad hangover but my parents sat with me at dinner I could not finish it and they just watched me practically cry my way through the pain. I desperately wanted to eat but physically could not I went to the doctors out of curiousity as I really do not like any fuss. He gave me omiprazole to take incase it was an ulcer along with gaviscon and a drink of some kind. Nothing helped I lived with hit for 5 days I believe and then it just went so when I saw my gastrologist he did not understand what was wrong. I wen tout clubbing on tuesday woke up yesterday feeling the usual sickness and now today my throat is again feeling swollen, tight chest no appetite. Honestly I am not stressed about my next exam now, always happens at exam time. I have had no sign of acid reflux for a year and here it is again. I have taken my omiprazole today and also a rantidine tablet. Anyone know how to help? WIll your solution help with this John or did you not have this symptom?
My symptoms were not that severe. My symptoms were progressively worsening. Have you had an endoscopy? If so, what did they see? I'm leaning toward an ulcerated esophegus. Possibly triggered by alcohol. But, the root cause could be acid reflux or H.Pylori.
Wondering what you think about this idea john03683 & emrose2. I have had a recent major flare up, and I wonder if it is more than coincidence that it has occurred following more major dental issues - I get really stressed when facing dental treatment even tho I am not thinking about it, worrying about it, dwelling on it at all. It's almost as if the stress is at a physiological / cellular level and now by-passes the cognitive worry level - I 'know' in my head that the dental treatments aren't that big a deal but my body hasn't 'got it' yet. So I'm wondering if that could be the case for emrose. I was aware when during previous more severe episodes in what has bcome an ongoing condition, that I brace my tummy quite a lot of the time, and logic would tell me that would 'squeeze' the contents upwards. And also science tells us that when we are stressed, our digestive system becomes much less active, less blood flow to it etc, so less is going to be flowing through the system.
I have yet to find a solution to this 'unconscious' stress but am considering hypnosis. Am also going to try your recommendation john03683 as soon as I get to town and by some carbonated mineral water.
Would be really interested to hear what you think.
You are right, many things can cause acid reflux. This used to be called acid indigestion. So, maybe your father would have said he has acid indigestion because of stress ( boss is a jerk, he is being audited by the irs, etc). It can also be a side offect of a drug, that was my situation. Like you mentioned, when you're stressed, you can feel it in your stomach. Like it's tied up in knots. So, the stomach may actually be squeezed or spasming. It is best if a person can remove the stress, but that is usually not possible. Perhaps, as you suggested, we can change our thinking so we do not react as much to the stress. But, whatever the cause, I do believe that a stronger esophageal sphincter will benefit everyone who has this condition. The truth is, the longer you have this condition, the more permanent damage is done to the esophageal sphincter. This carbonated water exercise will only help if a person can get their esophageal sphincter to seal and hold down the pressure. If the pressure does not build up, then the esophageal sphincter may have a growth on it or Barrett's Esophagus has begun. John
Just remind me about how to do the carbonated water exercise, please
Will try this ASAP. How much carbonated water do you drink? A glassful?
I buy this carbonated water by the liter and drink about 8oz per treatment.
It is sometimes sold as sparkling water.
Hi: I wanted to post an update. I am still using this method every day. I am now holding down the pressure for 30 minutes. During that time I will get strong urges to burp, but I keep holding back and eventually the urge goes away. Then I just burp out the pressure. The esophageal sphincter is designed to stay clamped shut all the time. It is only supposed to release when we eat or drink or burp. I'm not sure what happens to disrupt this process but I'm thinking it may be a nerve problem. Such as a pinched nerve between the vertabrae. But, whatever the cause, the carbonated water should help most people. Also, a side point, if you are currently taking an acid blocker, try taking it only before bed. That will prevent the acid burning when you sleep, and it allows the stomach to make acid during the daytime. That way you will get less rebound when you finally taper off the acid blocker.
How often per day do you do this? Will give it a try with sparkling water
john thank you for sharing but i am a little concerned that you are telling people
'If the pressure does not build up, then the esophageal sphincter may have a growth on it or Barrett's Esophagus has begun'. how do know what is stopping it ?what about hyatus hernias? there could loads of reasons and it is for the medical peeps to find this out surely.
Brilliant - I find a small amount of a fizzy non sugar drink has a good effect at releasing the wind and give relief but I never heard of holding it in for 3 - 5 mins but it does make sense, we use weight to build up muscles but to get inside your stomach is different. Where did you glean this info from - I wonder if any others have such a success.
Well done you.
Hi Claire - I am new on this particular forum but not to the site.
I have had chronic gastritis on and off for 5 or 6 years - camera confirmed this and PPIs followed. I altered my diet to reduce citrus and acid foods and it was so much better.
I use a high speed blender to make green juices with fresh fruit which seems to sit well.
I can go for a couple of months with no problem, I don't even take ant acids. And I am ok with alcohol unless I go too far on several night then it starts again. I have a recurrence at the moment after having some tinned salmon with cottage cheese and I used some Apple Cider Vinegar in it - boy that does not sit well - an hour after, it starting feeling sore and my mouth tastes bitter still this morning with excess saliva so I am swallowing all the time.
But I definitely have what you say on certain days, globus, just like a lump there - some say in your mind????
I am going to go through all these to look for natural ways out of this - do you know (or anyone reading) if ant acids will calm down the excess saliva - I don't want to go on PPIs again if I go back to doc which I dont want to - would rather treat myself.
Thanks and what a great site.
Gwen
Hi thanks for your reply . What puzzles me about my globus is when I wake up it is not there but as soon as I start to get up have a drink of water it is there . I often wondered if I stayed in bed lying completely flat whether it would go completely. I don't suffer from and burning or rising fluid and any acids don't make any difference , so I'm a bit puzzled as to what it causing it.
Hi - I've just come off a clinic on a site regarding excess saliva and anxiety. I am amazed that it is linked. If you have excess saliva due to GERD, the more you think of it and worry, the worse it will be as your anxious brain activates your salivary glands and produces more!!! I am a really anxious person with panic attacks etc but I would never had thought this. But it makes sense because if I am going somewhere where there is no loo, I end up in a panic and going to the loo a few times before I even get there - say like waiting on a train station with no loo, I would be in a right old state. Also, I noticed with my excess saliva when I went to bed last night with it at 11pm worrying about it, then drifted off and woke then drifted again then dreamt - yes a long night - but when I got up this morning it had gone and had not bothered me all night which you would think it would being lying down. It was fine for a few hours until I had some light breakfast which should have been ok -bio yoghurt and almond milk - and I started thinking about it again and it came back.
Now if I think I feel my throat tight, it could be catarrh - but I immediately think the worst and am sure I can't breathe. Then it gets worse - but if I think of something to do and get stuck in - it disappears. Could you be stressful about it like me, just wondering with it being ok at night.
Hope this help you a bit.