Help with reflux

[1968ade]

Does anyone take apple cider vinegar to help with reflux? I came across the advice on a facebook group and tried it, I must admit it has worked very well for me in a very short time.

[haward]

a new one on me! I will try this. It must be better than Gaviscon

[Hidden]

Apple cider vinegar can, apparently change the acid:alkali content of our system, so that may be why the effect feels beneficial. I would not knock anything that you feel does you good, and it might well be a good short term remedy, but the underlying issue might also be to try and reduce the acid content in the first place because it is that corrosive effect over the long term that damages the lining of the oesophagus and it is that issue that we need to have in mind.

[liz_crisp]

Have to be carefull with your teeth it is highly corrosive my mother in law used it every day for a year and had big teeth problems apparently you need to rinse your mouth well after or brush your teeth if possibile!

[1968ade]

Hi all thanks for the comments,

Haward, its not nice taking but has settled me better than gaviscon which I took several times through the night.

Alan, it seems to balance the acid levels, I was very sceptical about trying it but there are many long term issues with prescribed medications so I thought it was worth a try at least.

Liz, I certainly take on board your comments, unfortunately for me I've had 30 years of acid reflux already taking its toll on my teeth. I was advised to use mouthwash 1st then brush, if you brush 1st it brushes the acid into your teeth.

Ade

[gutlesswonder in reply to 1968ade]

I believe your OP was within the last 12 months ?

If you had an Ivor Lewis (gastro-eosophagectomy with pull-up) then your ability to produce acid

may be drastically curtailed .

If so then the new reflux you now experience might be composed mainly of Bile (alkali) and other Pancreatic juices from the Duodenum. [ nobody knows whether these two reactants are more or less or equally to blame as Hydrochloric Acid in inducing Displasia in the lining cells at the bottom of the Oesophagus ]

Taking Apple Cider Vinegar could as you hypothesize balance the alkali.

I myself have trialed ACV, good old Malt Vinegar and Lemon juice. I haven't persisted enough yet to form a view but first impressions were definitely positive.

It's hard to see what harm it could do --- provided you rinse your teeth and for good measure the throat/cervical anastomosis.

This is a subject that deserves thorough investigation.

[1968ade in reply to gutlesswonder]

Yes my op was last April.

Prior to using the Apple Cider Vinegar my sleep patterns were non existent, now i feel i will be able to get back into a reasonable sleep routine although i know it will take time to settle.

As you say the subject does deserve thorough investigation and if any side effects are far less than the PPI's it will be worth it. I for one will be persisting with it.

[Magpuss]

I've been taking apple cider vinegar for a couple of months now and I haven't had reflux once. I only used to get it occasionally so it may just be a coincidence but I'm sticking with it anyway. I take 10ml in a cup of hot water with half a teaspoon of honey - it's the one hot drink that I can enjoy that isn't followed by either persistent burping and/or feeling sick & bloated. I don't worry too much about my teeth, I figure that at 75 they'll probably be on their way out soon, anyway.