Dietitian for acid reflux

[Duck33]

Can anyone recommend a private dietitian who can help with acid reflux. I've read a few books - the Acid Watcher and Dropping Acid - and have been eating a low acid diet for the last year, but not sure whether to stick to this diet (it's not helping so much, now) and try GF or low fodmap instead. If anyone has experience of someone who can help via diet route, it would be great to hear, thanks.

[RoadRunner44]

Hi, You have obviously had a diagnosis of acid reflux but you don't mention you take any medication for example, Omaprazole, for it. Has your doctor ever suggested you try some appropriatetreatment such as this? It certainly can help. Thereagain, perhaps you are trying to deal with your problem through diet. Perhaps a short course of Omaprazole would help combined with a low acid diet. Perhaps others will reply with some further suggestions.

Good .luck in trying to help yourself.

[Duck33 in reply to RoadRunner44]

Hi, thanks so much for your reply. Yeah, I’m on omeprazole but it never makes me feel good, so I’m still trying the diet thing too. The low acid diet was helping for quite a few months, but now I’m in the middle of another bad flare up and thinking of maybe trying low fodmap. I know it’s probably clutching at straws, but maybe worth a go. Thanks again for replying. I really appreciate it.

[RoadRunner44 in reply to Duck33]

Hello again, Reading your profile it looks as if your acid problem is a possible side effect of your main health condition. I would get in touch with your consultant about your very real discomfort and ask for more support and advice.

We all deserve to have a reasonable and comfortable life so push for more help, you deserve it.

X

[Duck33 in reply to RoadRunner44]

Thanks so much. Unfortunately my consultant has no answers with regards the gastro side of my condition other than to recommend permanent ppis. Not to worry. Thanks again for getting in touch. So kind. And all the best to you. X

[ParkSchool5 in reply to Duck33]

Hi, have you been tested for Celiac disease? This can be done by a blood test and confirmed by a biopsy during Endoscopy. I only mention it because this is what I have and acid reflux is my main symptom as wheat damages the villi in the upper GI lining.

[Duck33 in reply to ParkSchool5]

Oh, thanks so much for the message and the suggestion. I had an endoscopy two years ago and I think they checked for Celiac disease with a biopsy and said it was negative . But good suggestion and much appreciated. Thanks again and hope you're keeping well and your condition is being well managed. Very best wishes .

[Cat551]

I’ve had acid reflux for well over 20 years, probably much longer. I was on omeprazole for at least 15 and as a result developed osteoporosis. Like you, omeprazole never made me feel better. I always had burning in my stomach. During my last bad bout of acid reflux and reflux cough my GI doctor put me on Prevacid 30 mg x2 day, it didn’t help either. I weaned myself off very slowly over a month or so. If you don’t come off PPI meds slowly they cause rebound acid, which can be worse. When I was still on a small bit of omeprazole, I started taking famotidine (Pepcid 20 mg a day). Once I was off the omeprazole. I took Pepcid 20 mg 2X a day and eventually cut it down to 10 mg 2X a day. I raised the back of my bed up about 6 inches. I stopped eating 3 hours before bed, cut out onions, garlic, chocolate, tomatoes and coffee and all tea except camomile. I starting drinking a half a glass of alkaline water before bed. I haven’t been on a PPI’s in almost a year. I take Pepcid as needed and feel so so much better. I hope this will help. Also, no alcohol, that make my acid reflux so much worse. Good luck.

[Duck33 in reply to Cat551]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. Very much appreciated. And so great to hear such a positive story. I’ve been following your diet for the last year - low acid, no caffeine, alcohol, chocolate etc, and it made a big difference until this latest flare -up, when Ive gone back on the PPIs. But the PPIs just make me feel so awful. I think I’ll try to come off them again, slowly, like you say, then try Pepcid as and when needed. I haven’t heard of that one. Is that an H2 blocker? A mate who is a medic suggested trying them. I’ll definitely give it a go. I was also thinking of trying a relaxation app, as well. Or maybe deep breathing exercises. Oh, and maybe limiting wheat intake and trying more GF foods. Just an idea. Thanks again for sharing your experiences. It’s so heartening to hear. All the best and stay well. Thanks again.

[Alfish46 in reply to Cat551]

Thanks for posting this information 🙂 I'm on Pantoprazole 20mg & want off of it. I've already been diagnosed with Osteopenia and don't want it to get worse. So, wien off of it and then add Pepsid over the counter? I'm going to tighten up my diet too. I'm still having stomach burning that I've had checked out already. I'm excersizing way more too on the tred machine. I'm also going to check out acid Reflux diet changes. When I eat wrong, it causes diarrhea too, plus acid reflux and I feel so awful for days 😭I'm thankful for groups like this to help each other.🙏

[Duck33 in reply to Alfish46]

Aw, yes, the folk on here are lovely. So sorry to hear the tough time you're having. It really is a struggle sometimes. Really hope you can get on top of it all soon. You definitely sound like you're doing all the right things. Good luck and really hope you get some relief. Take care.

[Cat551]

And no citrus. Except for some reason a little lemon juice doesn’t bother me.

[Cat551]

Famotidine is the generic name and yes it’s a H2 blocker. If you’re lowering the omeprazole, you may want to take famotidine at the same time to replace it. At least that worked for me. I also, don’t eat red meat, just some poultry and fish. I think it’s hard to digest some meat for me. I know the suffering you have, I’ve been there for so long and considered surgery. I even had an ulcer years ago. And if I have a really bad bout, I know I can take omeprazole for 14 days ‘as recommended’ and then come off of it. I feel good now, and if I start burning, I quickly address it. I wish you the best of luck. Please send anything you find to be helpful and I will do that same.

[Duck33 in reply to Cat551]

Thanks so much. I will do. I really appreciate it. Take care and all the best.

[Cat551]

One last thing and I hope it helps someone. I found alcohol sugars aggravate my GERD.

Xylitol.

Erythritol. - in most, not all Stevia products

Sorbitol.

Maltitol.

[SussexBoy]

My dietician in the Uk, has written books etc but also does individual help, very informed about reflux. connectwithnutrition.co.uk/... me…I hope it helps you too!

[Duck33 in reply to SussexBoy]

Thanks so much for the link. I really appreciate it. I'll look into it. Thanks again and all the best.

[AHG123]

Interesting about Coeliac disease connection. I often have peculiar symptoms on waking-headache, dry throat, tingling, anxious stomach. I have mainly kept off gluten for a few years but have got a bit lax recently. I mostly control my reflux (which is evident through coughing and short term throat ‘ulcers’ ) with frequent glugs of Gaviscon Advance having weaned myself off Lansoprazole.Good wishes

[Duck33 in reply to AHG123]

Thanks so much for your message. Gaviscon really is so useful! Thanks again and all best wishes.

[Crafty99 in reply to Duck33]

Be careful with the Gaviscon as like the tablets it can cause health problems taking it long term and it can raise your BP as its full of salt. I only take it if I am really bad but I would not take it daily. I heard from a couple of Dr's that raising your bed helps and also taking apple cider vinegar with mother (2 teaspoons in a glass of water) helps to keep the acid at bay. I have only been taking the vinegar a few days so cannot say if it works or not.

[Alfish46 in reply to Crafty99]

I was told to take apple cider vinegar too. I hope it helps us 😊🙏

Amy

[Duck33]

Thanks so much for your reply. Much appreciated. Hope you’re getting some relief. All best.

[Alfish46]

Did you find someone to help you with your diet? I'm interested in knowing what is the best way to eat too. Thanks In Advance 🤗

Amy

[Duck33 in reply to Alfish46]

Hi Amy,

Yeah I carried on with the diet I was trying at the time - using the Acid Watcher's Diet Book by Dr Jonathan Aviv, and I was able to come off the PPIs. So long as I stick to the diet it's all okay. Occasionally if I try something different - adding spice to a recipe or something, or maybe eating out where I can't control what's in a dish, then I have to take some Gaviscon. But by sticking to this diet I'm currently free of all meds. The diet is fairly restrictive. No chocolate/citrus/coffee/tomato sauce/alcohol etc. Plus it advises not eating in the evening. So I don't have anything after dinner. It's hard sometimes. There are a lot of foods I miss. But generally I feel for me it's a trade off with not having to be on medication. The other thing I've been trying is a product for dry mouth called Xyli melts, which helps create more saliva in your mouth. I take one after dinner and it seems to make my reflux better. Hope this is helpful. Acid reflux is awful! All my best to you.

[Alfish46 in reply to Duck33]

Thanks for your response 😊 I do take a chocolate calcium supplement and am trying hard to get off decaf coffee so that may be it. I so want off Pantoprazole 20mg. Thankfully, I've only been on it for 3 months. Uuuuug, our poor bodies. Seems it is all good/chemical related 😢

Amy

[Duck33 in reply to Alfish46]

Aw, yes, It's such a hard condition. I'm so envious of people who can eat anything and never get reflux. Best of luck. And I'd definitely recommend checking out the Acid Watcher's Diet book. It's been very useful for me. Take care of yourself.