topic For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc... in Community Chat

For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

Susan Louise — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 04:24:13 GMT

I have been taking a perceription for this for years and as of last year have been able to switch to an OTC medication which works for me just as well...Prevacid.

I just read an article today which really concerns me and my DH...

Most if not all similar drugs to treat these conditions are linked to increasing the risk of getting dementia...OMG!!!

HERE is the article...

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

Noel7 — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 04:46:45 GMT

@Susan Louise wrote:
I have been taking a perceription for this for years and as of last year have been able to switch to an OTC medication which works for me just as well...Prevacid.

I just read an article today which really concerns me and my DH...

Most if not all similar drugs to treat these conditions are linked to increasing the risk of getting dementia...OMG!!!
HERE is the article...

*************************

Prevacid is also a PPI. Same issues.

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

traveler — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 04:51:47 GMT

I;m in the same boat since I've been taking Nexium. Back to Tums.

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

Susan Louise — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 05:07:55 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
@Susan Louise wrote:
I have been taking a perceription for this for years and as of last year have been able to switch to an OTC medication which works for me just as well...Prevacid.

I just read an article today which really concerns me and my DH...

Most if not all similar drugs to treat these conditions are linked to increasing the risk of getting dementia...OMG!!!
HERE is the article...

*************************

Prevacid is also a PPI. Same issues.

@Noel7 Which is exactly why I said "'OMG!"

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

GingerPeach — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 05:42:15 GMT

@Susan Louise

If you haven't already, I would try food combining, monitor what you are eating by not eating anything past noon or so that could cause irritation (such as tomatoes, coffee, vinegar, acids like lemon, or whatever else you have found that aggravages the problem).

Food combining means no meats with starches, meats only with veggies, or starches only with veggies, preferably fruit alone. After some time, this may or may not be as critical. At the very least, it can't hurt.

You may have tried these things already or you may not, but being careful of what you eat, especially past noon, is a good start to weaning yourself off medication. All the best!

ETA: Also, look at taking digestive enzymes. Serracor-NK is a good one, but feel free to do your own research and find what works for you. The medical community seems to only want to cut down our stomach acids, but what they ought to be doing is aiding digestion.

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

on the bay — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 05:26:49 GMT

@traveler wrote:
I;m in the same boat since I've been taking Nexium. Back to Tums.

I thought the reports said that Tums was included in this?

Am I wrong about that?

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

Kachina624 — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 05:59:20 GMT

@on the bay After taking prescription Prevacid for close to 25 years, my doctor and I decided I'd been on it too long about a year ago. There are other potentially dangerous side effects. An alternative is one of the acid inhibitors like Tagamet, Pepcid, and Zantac. So I've been taking Ranitidine which is generic Zantac twice a day. I find that it's not quite as effective as Prevacid but I can live with it. Then I heard that these three drugs can also have side effects but haven't looked into that yet.

It doesn't matter if you take a prescription or OTC PPI, they are equally dangerous.

Something like Tums is just for mild indigestion you might get after eating a spicy meal. It won't do anything for serious acid reflux. No Tums was not included.

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

on the bay — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 06:12:20 GMT

@Kachina624

thanks for your reply

I don't take them- luckily don't have gerd but one of the news bites had included tums so thats why I was wondering. And because Traveler said she was taking tums. It does have totally different ingredients so that was surprising to hear. Maybe they just mistakenly threw them all in there.

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

DiAnne — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 06:16:07 GMT

I am just starting to get occasional reflux. I am trying to pay attention to what I had to eat prior to my episodes and hopefully get a handle on it that way.

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

Montana — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 09:34:42 GMT

@GingerPeach, I found Serracor-NK at Amazon and it gets great reviews but is mostly used for lung problems. Has this helped you with digestive problems?

If you have this, would you mind listing the ingredients? I am looking for digestive enzymes but need one without protease - very hard to find.

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

GingerPeach — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:35:33 GMT

Hi @ Montana

Here's the label (below) as well as what it says on the brand's website. It can be used between meals for improving systemic circulation, or with meals as a digestive aid. I've done both. It does have protease, however.

There's more info on the biomediclabs site. (just add the .com)

You got me to do a bit of searching and I found that Ness Formula enzymes contain only lipase, and have good reviews. They are on the pureformulas site (with .com) - also on amazon. I'd check the website first before ordering on amazon since amazon's site doesn't show the ingredient label part of the bottles. (I have not tried this one.)

You've probably done plenty of searching already and know of other brands. I found others also but haven't tried any of them personally.

SERRACOR-NK

Enteric Coated Nattokinase and Serrapeptase ~ The Original Formula ~
Formulated to maintain fibrin metabolism and support a healthy cardiovascular system*

Heart and Circulatory Health*
Fibrinolytic Activity and Normal Blood Viscosity*
Healthy Blood Pressure* Blood Cleansing*
C-Reactive Protein Reduction*
Healthy Response to Inflammation*
Normal Immune Function*

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

Montana — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:51:37 GMT

@GingerPeach, thanks so much for the information. I really appreciate it. :-)

Re: For those that suffer with GERD, heartburn, etc...

Meezerpleezer — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:55:45 GMT

After suffering with GERD for years, I went to the doc who prescribed omeprazole 20 mg for 6 mos. Then, she put me on a 10 mg dosage for 6 mos. Last, month, she weaned me off the rest of the pills by alternating the 10 mg pill one day and a dose of 1 T apple cider vinegar + 1 t of honey + a very small amount of water mixed together the next day until I ran out of pills. I have been using just the vinegar/honey mix each morning and waiting an hour (just like the omeprazole) and haven't had a real return of the GERD symptoms. So far, so good and no problems.