Has anyone survived GERD without relying on medication?

[whitecat09]

I'm a 26 year old female and I've been diagnosed to have GERD November of 2011. I have acid reflux; my symptoms are stomach hyperacidity, heartburn and nausea after eating. The doctor put me on Omeprazole for 21 days and after that the symptoms came back and they put me in for Esomeprazole (Nexium) for another 21 days. After the Nexium I still have the symptoms nausea and hyperacidity though I haven't had heartburn since then, just the feeling of tightness on my chest sometimes.

My question is has anyone survived GERD without relying on medication?

Because i do not want to rely on medication and am prepared to do away completely with the food recommended for GERD sufferers to stay away from (coffee, chocolate, citrus fruits, sour food, spicy, dairy etc., including meat and fatty food) and am also willing to take natural aid such as aloe vera juice.

Has anyone (or is it possible to) have any success in recovering just from lifestyle changes or is medication a permanent part of being a GERD sufferer?

I'm hoping that I can stay away from using GERD medication because of the long-term side effects of it's use on the kidneys and such.

Replies would be very helpful.

[FurballsMom]

A good natural remedy that works and is something everyone needs anyway is magnesium.  It sounds odd, but those with vitamin D deficiency would recognize this, since it is necessary to take magnesium with the oral vitamin D supplements in order to fully synthesize the vitamin D.  While this answer appears off topic, it isn't.  It wasn't just my own personal experience.  Others have told me that they experienced the same relief while on vitamin D therapy.  Magnesium helps a lot.

[Etiean]

I have, but much worse in reality...See, My GERD symptoms come about when I have panic attacks. This is bad. Because my panic makes me fear nonexistant heart problems. So when the GERD stuff happens...well it shows up as a sudden spasm in my upper chest...you know, where the heart and esophagus overlap.

This is unpleasant. But the most medicine ive ever needed are antacids. And even those, only rarely.

[whitecat09]

Thank you again for answering. It feels relieving to have someone guiding you through this.

I finished my first week now entering my second without the Nexium. I just take the occassional Gavison ( only 5 days out of 7 days did I use it).

The stomach hyperacidity seems to have calmed down a bit, though during mornings when I wake up it still feels highly acidic and after i eat my stomach feels a bit hot. I still have the occassional minor heartburn (can hardly feel it, especially after i take blackstrap molasses) and have dry mouth. Aside from that I feel okay.

I try to distribute about 4 tablespoons of food per sitting throughout the day and that also seems to help.

[whitecat09]

Thanks for replying.

I haven't had an endoscopy done yet since the doctor hasn't said anything about it, although I am considering going back to the doctor. I just hope it doesn't cost much...

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

It is always so much better to try the natural way first and to do all the necessary dietary changes and elevate the head of your bed.

For some of us all the PPI's and diet changes, etc. just do not do the trick and the biggest complication of GERD is cancer or even just Barrets.  And you want to avoid that at all costs.

I would suggest that you avoid the use of PPI's for now.  Just do all the natural aids and changes as I've stated above and see how it goes for you.  

I trust that you've had an Endoscopy done?  If not, I suggest you do that at some stage.