Hi Momzell, my situation is similar, it came on quickly and it affects my vocals-- I talk normally but after talking a bit, I get tired and out of breath and a slowed swallow so it affects my eating. If I don't talk for a long period of time, I feel almost normal! They think it's silent reflux irritating the chords. I do get anxiuos about it thinking that I won't be able to complete a swallow but that has not happened yet. I also get real tired after talking as if my whole body is directing energy to my vocals just to talk.
Hello John, I really appreciate your advice and will try sparkling water from trader joes but which brand do you use? I have been suffering from acid reflux for 3 years. I am not currently on any medication except Calcium citrate powder at night. I have been on and off Prilosec for some time. This time however I took one 20 mg per day for 4 days but stopped due to dangers of PPI. I am scared that I might now be suffering from cancer due to my symptoms. I am now experiencing popping in my ear when I swallow, painful and stiff tongue, swollen lymph nodes under neck, ear pain every now and then. I don't currently have health insurance due to previous unemployment. I am really scared because this isgetting out of hand. I am considering going back on ppi in hopes that it might save my life. I prefer to lose my stomach acid than to die from cancer. I also only experience reflux when I lay flat, I try not to but I slide off the wedge and sometimes even forget to use it. I will try the sparkling water but please tell me of a good brand??
Hi Nimbus22, This may sound silly, but try eating an apple for the reflux. Avoid milk and milk products if you can as it creates too much mucus, though a drop in tea or coffee won't do much harm.
HI, yes I have heard of apple. Also kiwi and pineapple lowers acid. It sits well with me. Chewing gum really helps me too quite drastically!
I dropped off tea and coffee though - read that was a huge no no.
But for a coffee lover try Camp coffee made with chickory which contains inulin and is a natural acid suppressor. Hope this helps.
G.
Hi Nimbus: You can use Trader Joes brand, I have used many brands with good results. I was able to get rid of my wedge using this method. You need to start doing this right away.
Anyone with a weak esophageal sphincter needs to prevent acid aspiration. Anything coming up from the stomach and being inhaled can stop breathing. It's very dangerous.
If you can, stick to antacids. PPi drugs are habit forming and can cause many other problems. Can you raise the head of your bed 7 or 8 inches? It can prevent the sliding down and falling off the wedge problem, which only makes things worse.
If you need to use an acid blocker and have access to Walmart, try using this chewable tablet called Equate Complete Dual Action Berry Flavor Acid Reducer, it is very mild and has fewer side effects. I use this now for night time protection or if I get the occational stomach burn. I can break it into four pieces and just use one piece per night.
I don't have reflux anymore but I still have gastritis which makes my stomach feel burny occationally.
Gaviscon comes in liquid or tablets and has a protective effect to stop acid from going up the esophagus.
It would be good if you could focus on this problem while you are not employed because this issue can be disabling and it is more difficult to treat when a person is working.
Keep in touch. John
I have stopped the Nexium on my own. It wan't helping anyway. I don't have any carbonated water at present, but will get some also.and try your exercises. My cough and throat clering have been at their peak for the past week. I'm supposed to adhere to the reflux diet, but I find that I don't really eat much of anything at all now. I doo try to drink a lot of water. It seems my throat is worse when I get dry. I do worry about this because I lost a nephew two years ago to esophageo cancer. He lived for about about 8 mo. after it was discovered.
I think I will pass this info on to our older son. He has spells at times when he can't swallow probably HH. At an ER visit about a year ago it was discovered he had a condition known as rings on his esophagus. I'd never heard of it before. The Doctor on duty stretched his esophagus and told him he was lucky to have it found in this early stage. He is supposed to take Prilosec when needed.
Hi jules like you I have had a sore ear for more than 5 years. Also now suffering from persistent coughing first thing in the morning is worst time or after eating and phlegm with a feeling of tiredness and nausea sometimes. Been back and forth to the doctors without any joy. So I think I will try the elimination of some trigger foods which I love such as peppers onions tomatoes argh which I love.
I have got rid of onions and peppers, chilli flakes, lemon, apple cider vinegar which now hurt. Tomatoes I am ok with. I also have dropped the half fat milk to skimmed or almond. Plain organic bio yoghurt also hurt me.
I have dropped several different vitamins as they burn. I have not dropped alcohol (smooth red wine) but don't go near fizzy anything.
I have had reflux esoph and HH for 7 months now and it was very painful up the chest - like an elephant sat on my chest and in the throat and pain in the back. Fluttering in lower chest and feeling like slight asthma. No cough and little mucus. Specialist went straight for PPI high strength. I am not going on them unless my life depends on it (Barretts) so asked for a different script of Zantac.
I hope I am not jinxing myself now but I am soo much better this last month - this is what I have been doing - quite simple really.
One 150mg Zantac at 9am and one 150mg at 9pm - 4 Mastic Gum also at 9pm. Raised the bed 7 inches and also an extra pillow. Plenty of warm water all day and sugar free chewing gum to reduce acid.
I feel so much better with just these measures. Docs can keep the PPIs.
Seen loads of great info on here - some things work some don't (one that did not for me was Slippery Elm) phew that one hurt so binned it.
Thought I would post this as I do feel a lot better - and I was bad - so bad that anyone walking passed me with perfume or aftershave, hurt my chest. And don't get me started on hair laquer or deodorant!!!!!!!
Keep trying things guys.
p.s. Another thing I have just added is Coffee made from Chickory (dont think I can name it here) it contains inulin which reduces acid.
G.
Hi Gwen I know how you feel I have had this persistent cough and phlegm since September 2015 and feel worn out with it. I have been to the doctors about 6 or 7 times and each one has a different thought. I myself do think it has something to do with reflux and things that I eat. I am now trying to stay away from dairy food and do the soda drinking thing ha. It is going to be difficult as I love all things dairy. Like you my family are getting fed up with me and my answer is you trying having it and then you would know how it feels. So keep your head up and maybe eliminate a food that you eat a lot of. Hope this helps
Hi Anne and thanks for the reply. It is really hard to deal with isnt it. And so hard hoping people understand - they dont!!
I have come off semi skimmed milk and have either skimmed or unsweetned almond. I have bought some Quark as this reduces acid and is a natural probiotic and it is not bad at all - like creme cheese. So that helps in the dairy department - also stopped the bio yoghurt and have soya. My reflux does not seem half as bad so maybe it is helping.
I did post yesterday how much better I was feeling and what I was taking but it has gone for moderation - I don't know why though - I thought it was helpful.
Looks like we will have to live with this and just keep trying.
Hug to you.
G.
Hi john , you know you said 3 times A day you drank sparkling water .. Was that 3 bottles worth or just one bottle that you would drink . I've started doing it today and I'm on my third bottle but keep needing a wee 😂
Just drink 10oz of carbonated water or seltzer, and sit down and relax. You need to be focused because we naturally will burp, but don't burp. It may feel uncomfortable at first, because the sphincter muscle is getting a workout. Do this 4 times a day and once before bed for 5 minutes. Work up to 20 minutes per session. You will notice a difference in a few days, but it may take 30 days before the sphincter is back to normal. When you can lay flat without any reflux then you can reduce down to one session per week.
Yes thanks Gwen I suppose different things work for different people. It is very hard as when I think oh I shouldn't eat that then I want it more ha. Hoping things will get better soon and for you too x
Thank you John
I gotta same problem hate it
Well Anne, I should have kept my mouth shut!!!! I had being feeling so much better taking 150mg Zantac am and pm and Mastic Gum at night. I had porridge and pineapple for breakfast yesterday and home made cabage and brocolli soup for lunch, both sat fine and comfy. Then I decided to take some liquid Gaviscon (I thought it would be added insuance to keep my feeling good) oh boy, it was immediate pain in the throat and esophagus that lasted hours. Today I am back again in pain even with pain in my shoulders which I have not had for about 3 months. If anyone reading this can identify with me, please let me know. Now I don't knw what to use if I have reflux pain during the day in between my Zantac. Flippin annoyed to say the least.
Strange because whenever I suck a Gaviscon tablet t is fine.
Arrrgggh.
G.
Well my test didn't go too well . I found that when I did finally burp my throat was killing I think it's the acid coming up in the burp .. It's still sore now 😢😢. I don't actually reflux I think it is just vapours
I'm sorry to hear that you got that reaction. But, your throat should not be that sensitive. I think you have silent reflux, and your esophagus is already sore from the nighttime acid.
If you want to try again, go a bit slower. On an empty stomach, just drink 6oz of carbonated water. Hold down the burp for 5 minutes. Then make sure you are in a sitting position when you burp. And just try to release the burp slowly with no noise. Just do this once per day to start, until your esophagus heals up.
If you are sleeping in a flat position, you should elevate the head of your bed 8 inches or sleep on a wedge.
Keep me updated.
What about chickory coffee - I have just started on that, it contains inullin and is an acid reducer.
I tried the chickory coffee and do not think it is a substitute for coffee. But it is healthy and I would agree to recommend it.