GERD/Reflux/bloating

[Josiesmum]

Wondering if anyone has found a miracle cure for this? So far tried grain, free dairy free diet, lowish FODMAPs, probiotics, HCL with Betaine & Pepsin, digestive enzymes. Anything else worth trying? Would be great if my daughter's guts would settle down in time for her A levels. TIA.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

GERD/Reflux could be low stomach acid. I see you've tried Betaine HCl & Pepsin. I tried that without success. What helped me was organic apple cider vinegar with Mother (ACV) ethicalsuperstore.com/revie...

Worth a try as you can get it quite easily from Boots and supermarkets. Whichever brand you buy make sure it is organic and has the Mother (that's the important bit) and shake the bottle before using.

A very palatable way to take it is dissolve some honey in a cupful of warm water, add one tablespoonful of ACV and drink before a meal. I have it before breakfast and again before my main meal in the evening. Build up the amount of ACV over a few days, maybe start with one teaspoonful and gradually increase. The honey sweetens it and it doesn't taste like 'chippy' vinegar.

Also, with probiotics, did you get one with a large range of different strains of bacteria? There are so many bacteria each doing a different job. If you go for something like Bio-kult it has 14 strains amazon.co.uk/Bio-Kult-Advan... and might be better. Also, when taking probiotics it's a good idea to take prebiotics. Probiotics provide the good bacteria and prebiotics feed the probiotics.

[Josiesmum in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for that Seasidesusie, will definitely try ACV. She takes Biokult but she wonders if this might be contributing to bloating, as it's slightly better when she takes a break from it. Thanks again.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Josiesmum]

OK, she could try a probiotic specifically for bloating instead of the Bio-kult. Check out bloatingtips.co.uk/article/... Scroll down a bit and it mentions a couple of strains that help with bloating.

[Josiesmum in reply to SeasideSusie]

Great, thanks.

[LuxN]

I did a bit of research into probiotics when I took them via yoghurt drinks, and multivits at the same time, and my gerd symptoms got drastically worse. It is important to take the right ones. In my case, the ones in the Yakult drinks caused me huge probs.

It is also worth researching which brand of probiotic did best in a test to see if the bacteria make it to the bowel alive. I haven't researched extensively but a test in a major newspaper showed that Multibionta were the only ones that did. Don't know if other research came to the same conclusion, or if someone is giving the newspaper a few sneaky quid, but I do know that my stomach is much improved on them. All of the gurgling has stopped. I still need to take something to help with the low stomach acid, but the bowel related part of my gerd problem is much better.

I think my gerd continues only because I have to keep taking a medicine that is known to cause stomach issues/reflux. Healing my sore eosophagus with aloe vera and taking a probiotic was all I needed to do last time. Now I am on the tabs, I need to take HCI or ACV with every meal.

[Beverleyb]

I have been taking Mastic Gum recommended by Margo, it has really helped my sore stomach, i have acid reflux, a hiatus hernia and gastritis. As mentioned by SeasideSusie ACV helped too.

[Josiesmum in reply to Beverleyb]

Thanks for that. I actually bought some mastic gum but my daughter's test for H. Pylori was negative so she didn't take it. Not sure if it has benefits beyond H. PYlori?

[Beverleyb in reply to Josiesmum]

I don't and haven't had H Pylori, but the Mastic gum has helped with inflammation I was getting in my stomach. Hope you find something to help her problems.

[Josiesmum in reply to Beverleyb]

That's good to know, will give it a try, thanks.

[Hidden]

Hi, I have the same problem and think mine is a candida overgrowth in my gut. I have now purchased some raw Apple cider vinegar and some digestive enzymes. Like yourself I have gone gluten free and it did nothing. You take a nasty shot of Raw apple cider vinegar before each meal and I can honestly say even after 2 days there has been an improvement. Aparently the vinegar breaks down any overgroth in the gut. I am not as bloated.

[Josiesmum in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Actually going grain free was great for other symptoms but disappointingly hasn't helped gut issues. Trying ACV and no reflux so far today so looks promising!

[dina7]

Kiki's Body Biotics are the only thing that stop my bloating, no other probiotic seems to do much for me. You have to build up gradually, and it's expensive while on the full dose, I take 4 a day now and get from Amazon a bit cheaper.