Are ant-acids the only solution?

[fingerprint]

I have been diagnosed with GERD (Moderate) and have since done a lot of reading; including this site.

No where have I found any clues as to:

Why the LES loses it's tone?

What can be done to regain the tone of the shpincter?

How does one digest one's food without HCL?

Wouldn't prolonged use of HCL inhibbitors lead to malabsorption and malnutrition or perhaps IBS?

Can having had the stomach flu- with violent vomiting- cause a Hiatal hernia and GERD?

thanks

Shoona

[mamaterri]

I was diagnosed with GERD several years ago.  The only options the doctors offered me were medication to completely stop the production of stomach acid (Prilosec) or surgery.  Because I was in so much pain, I did the Prilosec for about a year.  But, like you, I was worried about the effect of that on total nutritional health.



I no longer take Prilosec, and with rare exceptions, I'm symptom free.  The main thing that I did to help was to raise the head of my bed.  I NEVER sleep laying completely flat.  Also, I used an herbal preparation called Rezyme.  In theory, it helps the digestive tract regain the proper balance of enzymes (something I'm sure the Prilosec really messed up).  I did the Rezyme for 30 days, and I've never had to use it since.



I don't know why the sphincter weakens, although I suspect in my case it's related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which weakens all the muscles in the body.