Acid Reflux

I have TERRIBLE acid reflux. I've had it since I was about...12 or 13, though I didn't figure out what it was until I was 15 or so. (I thought it was normal for people to feel sick all the time...) I am a singer, and when it gets really bad, the acid come up and actually burns my vocal chords, making me lose my voice for a bit. I've tried everything to stop it, and while it's definitely a lot better than it used to be, there are still times when I do everything right and it's still really bad. (By everything right I mean I don't drink soda or eat spicy foods, I wait two hours before I lay down after eating, my bed is slightly propped up, all that good stuff.)
Not only does it make me sick, but it really effects my singing, and frankly I'm just really tired of it. I used to be on medicine, but I stopped taking it because I realized it just helps with the heartburn (and causes other side effects,) but doesn't help the actual reflux. I'm also kind of afraid because I'm very young to have it so bad...I know a lot of people end up with it when they get older and I'm afraid of what that means for me! I'm afraid it's going to cause a lot of health problems for me down the road, with the constant acid wearing away at my tummy. Does anyone know any natural remedies that could help me? I'm really desperate for some relief and would love some help. Thank you in advance!

-Neth Rana

[psychoslice]

Hi Neth Rana, have you been diagnosed by a doctor for this condition ?.

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Hi Neth Rana, have you been diagnosed by a doctor for this condition ?.

Yup. Went to the hospital and had to drink this gross liquid while they put this thing on my stomach and watched how I digested it and everything...oh so pleasant. lol

Originally Posted by Asrais

I suffer with chronic indigestion and I find that peppermint is the best thing for it. Meadowsweet is also mean to be good, but I don't like the taste of it. I take them as teas.

Peppermint, really? hmmm interesting...i'll have to try it. What is meadowsweet?

Originally Posted by Neth Rana

Yup. Went to the hospital and had to drink this gross liquid while they put this thing on my stomach and watched how I digested it and everything...oh so pleasant. lol

Did the doctor mention WHY you have reflux? Hiatal Hernia is a common cause and can be repaired. There HAS to be a reason that the valve at the top of your stomach is not staying tightly closed. Common foods such as coffee, and chocolate are known reflux triggers, especially at night before bed. It is also possible that there are foods in your daily diet that you are sensitive to, if not allergic to. Keeping a food diary might be helpful. Were you given the breath test for h.pylori?

http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-...bacter-pylori/

Do you use nsaids like ibuprophen and aleve regularly? They are known to cause reflux too.

I had a bout of reflux over a period of months. I finally traced it to the aleve I was taking at night for back pain.

Originally Posted by SunMist

Do you take in chocolate or coffee? If you do try cutting them out completely (yes, agony I know) for a month. Have you tried googling for all things that weaken the esophageal sphincter? There's a list of foods that do this. Also did they rule out hiatal hernia when they did your tests? I've have problems with acid reflux mainly triggered by coffee and chocolate, dark chocolate is the worst - it's a shame because I love those foods above all.

I do from time to time, but I had to cut back big time. They do really hurt me Which sucks, because I LOVE both of them! But yeah, I cut back on them both severely so. Idk.

Originally Posted by Spiritlite

Have you been to see a ENT specialist? In this case I would go the medical way because this is a very serious thing :(
Spiritlite.

I have actually. I’m a singer and I went through a three month period where I couldn’t sing when I was 15. After going to several places and doctors, they finally sent me to an ENT. They did the camera up your nose and down your throat thing, and he said my vocal chords were red and inflamed. He’s the one who sent me to the hospital to get the yucky stomach test.

Originally Posted by norseman

Hi Neth ! I suffer with that condition too. Anyway, one simple thing you can do is to prop up your bed. I use thick shopping catalogues and put them under the bed's legs at the head-end..
The medical recommendation is to raise the bed by 8 inches but that is excessive IMO.
There is a medication for this which cuts back on acid production - Lansoprazole is the generic name [prescription only in UK]

Actually, my bed is propped! You’re right, it does help a lot. But it still doesn’t always prevent it. :(

Originally Posted by iolite

Did the doctor mention WHY you have reflux? Hiatal Hernia is a common cause and can be repaired. There HAS to be a reason that the valve at the top of your stomach is not staying tightly closed. Common foods such as coffee, and chocolate are known reflux triggers, especially at night before bed. It is also possible that there are foods in your daily diet that you are sensitive to, if not allergic to. Keeping a food diary might be helpful. Were you given the breath test for h.pylori?

http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-...bacter-pylori/

Do you use nsaids like ibuprophen and aleve regularly? They are known to cause reflux too.

I had a bout of reflux over a period of months. I finally traced it to the aleve I was taking at night for back pain.

I’m pretty sure it’s not hiatal hernia. I’ve cut back and cut a lot of those kind of foods out completely…not sure about allergies though. I’ve never been tested for food allergies…What’s the breath test? And yes, I used to take TONS of advil all the time. I get really severe headaches that can turn into migraines, and I used to take advil to help with the pain. But then I started getting really bad nose bleeds, and someone told me they hurt acid reflux, so I stopped taking it. I try not to take any pills at all because they do make it worse. (though sometimes I have to take Excedrin because I can’t handle the pain..)

Thank you so much to everyone’s suggestions! I really appreciate your all’s input!

[Asrais]

I suffer with chronic indigestion and I find that peppermint is the best thing for it. Meadowsweet is also mean to be good, but I don't like the taste of it. I take them as teas.

[Asrais]

Meadowsweet is a herb - you can get it as a tea in most natural food stores. It pretty much tastes like grass:)

Originally Posted by Asrais

Meadowsweet is a herb - you can get it as a tea in most natural food stores. It pretty much tastes like grass:)

Oh how...yummy...lol So as a tea with lots of honey?

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Yes but what was the diagnoses, what is the cause ?.[/color]

They said I have acid reflux disease.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001311/

"Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents (food or liquid) leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This action can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms."

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by psychoslice
Hi Neth Rana, have you been diagnosed by a doctor for this condition ?.

Yup. Went to the hospital and had to drink this gross liquid while they put this thing on my stomach and watched how I digested it and everything...oh so pleasant. lol

Yes but what was the diagnoses, what is the cause ?.

[psychoslice]

TIF (transoral incisionless fundoplication) is the latest treatment for safely and effectively treating chronic acid reflux disease, or GORD. A completely incisionless procedure, TIF reconstructs the antireflux barrier to provide a solution to the anatomical root cause of GORD. The procedure is for patients who are dissatisfied with current pharmaceutical therapies or are concerned about the long-term effects of daily use of reflux medications.

http://www.treatreflux.com.au/TIFprocedure.htm

I thought this sounded good, see what you think.