Does anyone have any positive encouragement?

I had been struggling with GERD from 2015-2019. I was having 8-10 episodes of heartburn per day while taking 40 mg omeprazole, 300 mg ranitidine, and 3 gaviscon pills before bed. I had tried every natural remedy out there: DGL licorice, D-limonene, digestive enzymes. I had had 2 upper endoscopies, the first showed gastritis and esophagitis and the second one looked ok.

Finally I saw a gastroenterologist in April 2019. He did another upper endoscopy, which showed that everything was ok. He switched me to pantoprazole 40 mg 30 minutes before breakfast and instructed me to have a high protein breakfast. I remained on ranitidine 150 mg. He scheduled me for a pH and manometry test in July 2019 and told me I had to get off all GERD meds for those tests. I was terrified.

I should also mentioned that I gave up sugary sweets 4/1/19 and did a whole 30 (strict paleo diet) in May 2019 and a gut cleanse from Myfeelgoodfoods. So when I got off the meds in July 2019 for the test, I had almost no heartburn. I passed both the pH and manometry tests with flying colors and was diagnosed with functional dyspepsia. I have remained off of pantoprazole and ranitidine and just got off gaviscon and I haven't even taken a tums once. I have only occasional heartburn like once per week on no meds.

I thought I would be on a high cocktail of GI meds for the rest of my life, but I have been off for 5 months. I take each day as it comes and am grateful, knowing I could require meds at any time. I have not remained on the paleo diet and eat sugary treats once per week. The main dietary change that I made is that I almost never overeat. It was a combination of treatment from my gastroenterologist and lifestyle changes that really changed things for me.

I posted on your request for positivity with gastritis, so same advice, really look at your diet/lifestyle and do talk to your dr. try not to eat late in the e evening and and find out what your triggers are.

Hi Joycy: One good thing I can share is that Acid reflux does not have to be a lifetime issue. There are answers. Some people do well with a healthy diet and avoiding spicy foods, chocolate , coffee, donuts, beef, french fries, cake, and so on. I did research and came up with some answers.

1. bad bacteria in the gut causes bloating and can push acid back up. 2 Low fiber diets cause slow transit time. And a weak lower esophageal sphincter allows acid to go upward into the esophagus and cause pain.
2. So eat some probiotic yogurt 4 times a day, on an empty stomach.
3. eat a large salad every day with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
4. Try to reduce stress, if possible.
5. Do my exercise for strengthening the lower esophageal sphincter.

   Buy 5 large bottles of carbonated water. Do not refrigerate. Drink 10oz on an empty stomach. Then hold down the burp. Start with 5 minutes. Then burp. Do this 4 times a day. This can take practice, because your lower esophageal sphincter is weak and it may be uncomfortable at first. But will get easier in time.

   Add 5 minutes to each session each week so by the fourth week you should be up to 20 minutes.

   I suffered for years with reflux but now I no longer have it.