Gerd acid reflux.

[Mrteddycat]

Anyone any tips on this as well

[Mandevilla]

I started to get issues with acid reflux shortly after getting the asthma diagnosis. I've found that keeping my weight down, avoiding anything that squeezes my middle (so either losing weight or sizing up trousers, belts etc), not eating large meals, especially later in the evening, kneeling rather than bending over from the middle to do weeding etc, and sleeping with a wedge-shaped pillow all helped. I don't really get any issues now unless I ignore my 'rules'.

But if you have GERD, that is more serious and needs medical help - has your doctor diagnosed this? If so, they should be dealing with it. If not, and you think you have it, then you really need to speak to your GP about it.

[runcyclexcski]

Ask the GP about proton pump inhibitors. Helped my sleep big time, less waking up during the night gasping for air.

[Oldandgray in reply to runcyclexcski]

I have recently had a PPI added to my lansoprazole and it certainly helped. Currently I am on two weeks with NO stomach medication as having a gastroscopy on Saturday. These two weeks have shown how much I need the pills!

The PPI did have a good result in reducing the mucus in my throat,

[runcyclexcski in reply to Oldandgray]

I feel like when my asthma is well controlled I do not need the PPI, but when it's flared up PPIs certainty helped sleep better. I also noticed that not having big meals before sleep helps (and it was pointed out by Mandevilla above).

[Oldandgray in reply to runcyclexcski]

I’m now on lansoprazole and famotidine. I believe the second is a H2 receptor whatever that means!

[Orangatang]

I started taking calcium carbonate and within 3 weeks my severe GERD went and I don't use inhalers now. It is harmless as in food but stick to recommended dose as a supplement.good luck

[Itswonderful]

I had it. It was causing me awful breathing problems and was just miserable. I decided to take matters into my own hands and get rid of the vast majority of ultra processed foods that somehow have made their way into our lives. So, I changed what I ate, how much I ate and when I ate and added in homemade bread sauerkraut ( my choice of a fermented food) to increase the helpful bacteria in my gut. I was on proton pump inhibitors because it was so bad but I do not need them now and feel sooooo much better all round. More energy and happier. Losing excess weight was a huge benefit to me too. This is just my experience. I was advised to lose weight by the consultant leading the Sleep Study I had been referred to after being unable to breathe (frighteningly) at night. He was clear it would help, so I did. I was only around a stone overweight but it was all on my middle and things are much better without it. Hope you find what works for you.

[Hikingfan in reply to Itswonderful]

That's really useful. That sounds like me. I'm only at max 2 stones overweight but I'm a tall man so don't look too fat but the weight is all right in the middle as you describe. It's the upper part of my stomach and I have a hiatus hernia.

[Hikingfan]

Most of the asthma issues I have had throughout my life have been related to GERD. The revelation came about 25 years ago when I went to the GP with acid reflux and a test showed I had a small hiatus hernia. They put me on omeprazole and suddenly my asthma almost completely stopped. So much so I forgot about asthma. But whenever I stopped the omeprazole the asthma started again to some degree so have had to be on omeprazole most of that time. I've tried various things to stop acid reflux with varying success but very recently my GERD has been much harder to control and my asthma is back. It appears that my lungs are also partially damaged in the upper airways due to all this. I still hike and stuff but it's an irritant. Anyway in terms of stuff I tried that had some impact:* ginger - was pretty good in settling stomach and reducing problems

* live yoghurt - helped me if I had some each day

* avoiding bread and pastry - for me personally white bread was especially bad

* coffee/caffeine - this was especially bad for me incl coca cola

* spicy curries seem to trigger more reflux

* losing weight - I'm slightly obese and end up wearing tight trousers, makes it worse

* exercise helps - walking, being active etc - possibly strengthens chest and stomach and reduces hiatus hernia or releases the right chemicals in body etc

* not eating late at night helps

* propping up in bed at night can help, certainly you will find acid reflux is worse lying down

* eating fruit - counterintuitively seems to help, as does lemon juice in water

* recently, because things got worse again, I've tried a mixed herb tea of chamomile, thyme, turmeric and lemon which seems to help

Hope some of this might help. Everyone varies but if I had to summarise, probably lose weight, exercise regularly, adjust your posture and avoid some foods. Even then you may need PPIs like omeprazole and your inhalers.

[Patk1]

I've gerd and take omeprazole.at times,top up with rennies x

[Mrteddycat]

cheers for replies ! Omezprazole safe enough? Lots of negatives about it online ?

[Poobah in reply to Mrteddycat]

I think the main concern is absorption of dietary vitamin D, calcium & vitaminB12. If you couple that with inhaled steroids and systemic steroids, then it's storing up potential bone & teeth health problems over time. It's possible to get special lamps that assist with VitD exposure or there are VitD sprays available that are absorbed in the mouth. VitB12 sprays are also available.

Weight bearing exercise is a good idea, in order to counter bone density loss through the known side effects of PPIs.

I've found that I've had to do my own research as we don't get advice on how to counteract these side effects when PPIs are prescribed. Ideally, GPs should be monitoring patients for vitamin and mineral deficiency, but if you meet with resistance, there are companies that undertake these tests privately...chose a provider used by the NHS. I think I paid around £30 for a vitamin D test. But you can get combination tests, for a little bit more.

[Hikingfan in reply to Mrteddycat]

It's hard to get clear info on the safety of Omeprazole long term. Have read negatives on-line but Consultants have said it's fine to me. They have done a camera down my oesophagus to check but I think that's largely because long term acid reflux can cause oesphagal cancer. The problem I've got is if I come off omeprazole my acid reflux and asthma get worse and I get oesphagal spasm. I have to be careful as I seem to have ended up with some upper airway obstruction or muscle inflexibility (which I don't fully understand as I still hike and they say its asthma and not copd) so all in all I feel I can't risk not taking the omeprazole. Ideally I would like to come off it in case the negatives are right.

[Aquariel]

I have Gerd and EhlorsDanlos so no drug works on me. I get around it by not eating after 4pm, it does have a major effect on it. I have to watch out for bread which worsens it. Also I make sure I have a good gut throughput. I eat one fried onion and a can of peas a day. I have small bowel neuropathy so the latter may not apply.