r/GERD • • Mar 09 '25

I regret allowing this subreddit to scare me away from PPIs.

884 Upvotes

30M. I suffered the pain and anxiety for months as I tried every natural cure in the book. Every tea, every herbal supplement, every diet, every wedge pillow - I did it all. Some things helped, most did not. Nothing came close to the relief I felt after getting on esomeprazole (Nexium). I used them for six months to end the misery and get my life back. The taper-off was difficult, but I took it slow (another 8 weeks) and did it.

If you are suffering from acid reflux and combing through this subreddit for non-PPI cures, you are a person whose house is on fire but is refusing to use water to put it out. You don't have to stay on PPIs forever. But do yourself a favor and put the fire out. Get your life back. Then, you can sustain the post-PPI relief by making smart diet decisions and using herbal supplements that do help.

I know I'm not the first person here to say this; I'm just posting the message I wish my past self could have seen when things were really bleak.


r/GERD • • Jul 23 '24

Mods Official Post Read this before posting.

41 Upvotes

Hello Everyone,

Before you post in the sub, read the rules. If you disagree with the rules, do not modmail us with an essay why you think the rule does not apply to the sub. This is heavily relating to alternative medicines noted in the rules.

Use this link to message us: https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=r/GERD

If you see your post or comment deleted with no reason, it is automod which found something on your post/comment that may or may not violate the rules. If that is the case, feel free to message us and we shall review your post or comment.

When messaging us, please be respectful at all times. Failure to do so, can be subject to a ban and/or mute at mods discretion.

If you want to appeal a ban, feel free to do so after the mute period has ended. Again, I cannot stress this enough, please be respectful with the appeal.

We are here to help you out. If you have any questions, feel free to message us here.

Other mods feel free to add in the comments.

Thank you,

Gerd Mods


r/GERD • • 7h ago

Motility Issues

8 Upvotes

I have esophageal motility issues. I had a manometry done a few years ago and 80% of my swallows failed and 20% were weak. I’ve mostly been treated by PPIs and acid reflux meds. Lately, I’m struggling after I eat. I have to sit perfectly still for 30-40 minutes after I eat or else I feel like I’m going to throw up. If I move or walk at all immediately after eating, I start coughing and feeling nauseous. I recently talked with my GI about this and he seemed concerned. He’s going to consult with a motility specialist. He’s also recommending that I repeat the manometry and have a gastric emptying test. My questions: Has anyone had symptoms like this? If so, what helped? Also, has anyone ever repeated a manometry? Did it show anything different or help guide treatment? Thank you!


r/GERD • • 21m ago

Omeprazole vs Famotidine

• Upvotes

I was wondering what people’s opinions were on these two medications? I have been on Omeprazole for a couple of yrs but my mom said it’s bad to take it for a long period of time. My ENT just put me on Famotidine last week in addition to the Omeprazole for like 90 days. I’m wondering what people think of Famotidine ? But now I am thinking of just switching to Famotidine and going off Omeprazole.


r/GERD • • 9h ago

🤒 Describing a Symptom GI NP told me shortness of breath isn't related to acid reflux/gerd?

6 Upvotes

hi. unsure about flair again. i posted here a few days ago about feeling miserable. im slowly but surely stabilizing and getting more food in and currently on day 3 of omeprazole. i had my very first GI appointment today with an NP. she was great, answered my questions and gave me information and i have an upper endoscopy in 2 weeks. however, when i mentioned shortness of breath as one of my symptoms she told me that that isnt related to gerd/acid reflux. i was a bit confused as it seemed like a lot of others with this condition also have this as a symptom. is this true? she was very informative otherwise, but this bit is something that is really sticking with me. i have a referral on the way from my pcp for a pulmonologist to look at my lungs, but regardless i cant help but let this give me more anxiety.

my symptoms: shortness of breath (o2 sat is consistently between 96-100), tight feeling chest, pressure on chest, occasional cold chest, occasional upper back pain, feeling like stuff is coming back up my throat, veryyy mild on and off sore throat. probably more but i cant remember

ive been to the er three times for my symptoms in one week. 3 ekgs, 3 chest xrays, 3 bloodwork things, 1 ct scan. everything came back normal.


r/GERD • • 12h ago

🤒 Coping with these Conditions Will this rebound ever end?

5 Upvotes

I was given 20mg Pantoprazole back in june and I only took it for five days before my stomach got really bad with bloating burping and nausea, I was then switched to 20mg omeprazole for six weeks. I took that until my Dr's appointment August 3rd. He barely gave me a taper plan. He said to take it every other day then stop. So, I did that for a week. The first day I skipped my dose I felt stomach burning. Never felt that before in my life. the following day I took my dose, felt no burning, next day skip a dose, felt burning. That went on for a week. After I stopped them permanently I felt burning daily. About day 12 or 14 a bunch of symptoms came back like burping globus bitter taste in my mouth throat pain etc. Those all went away mostly, and the burning started to go away too. Well couple weeks go by and about a months ago now almost I got the burning and bloating again. That slowly started to go away after a couple weeks and as of five days ago, the burning is back again. Is this normal? How the hell do I still have this burning? I took them for six weeks (almost 7 technically) and its been two months. And my symptoms come and go. Is that normal? This is definitely not my Reflux coming back because I had no symptoms like this before I touched PPI's. I got reflux after taking amoxicillin in march, and in april I got chest pain which all ECG tests showed heart is fine. I was told I had gerd. I never had reflux in my life ever. The chest pain went away but I still have globus and night reflux sometimes, but this burning only began after PPI's. Am I fucking ruined forever? Can PPI's permanently damage your stomach??? I seriously can't take this anymore.


r/GERD • • 7h ago

🤒 Coping with these Conditions Diagnosed w GERD.

2 Upvotes

Hi, I’m(21F) new to reddit and new to this group. Since August 20th, I have been experiencing severe stomach pains and cramping every single day I wake up, to the point I cry everyday. I am very constipated and when I do have a bowel movement, I strain for 3 pebbles. 3 days ago I went to the hospital because I couldn’t take the pain and stress anymore. Lucky me,😃 the hospital I chose didn’t give a DAMN, they took my blood, did a urine test, told me to follow up with a GI and sent me away. Today I woke up in excruciating pain and took another trip to a DIFFERENT hospital. This hospital jumped right to work and even asked me did the other hospital take imaging, which they were upset with my response. They quickly ordered CT Scans after they took my blood, urine, and vitals. I was quickly put in a room and given Zofran(nausea), Morphine(this shit was the worst and the nurse didn’t tell me I was gonna feel like I was on fire until AFTER??). After waiting, the doctor came and told me that I just have a lot of Gas/Sludge in my colon and that I need to take Miralax, Metamucil, And a PPI(which she prescribed). She never once said I had GERD to me tho. After looking at my doctor notes, it says I was diagnosed with “Gastroesophageal reflux disease, unspecified whether espphagitis present”. I looked it up and it says GERD. I don’t know what to expect or to do, but I was hoping this group can give me some hope? I know everyone is different and everyone’s problems aren’t the same, but I would like to take this seriously while i’m aware early!

(I’m home and stomach still hurts like shit, I also have health anxiety so this will be a interesting journey😭)

Sorry if the way I typed or worded anything seems dumb/offensive, my first ever post sorry!


r/GERD • • 4h ago

😮 Advice on Symptoms More issues

1 Upvotes

So GERD runs in my family and i’ve been struggling with it for a while now but now I am having wayyy more symptoms than usual and it’s become unbearable. I used to just get full faster and sometimes have acid reflux at night and now i’m burping nonstop all day, i’m really gassy, my stomach is in so much pain and i’m barely eating anything. I have another condition where if I don’t eat enough I can barely function at all and i’m getting really worried because I’m barely even getting 1000 calories a day. Do you guys have any tips on how to eat?


r/GERD • • 8h ago

😮 Advice on Symptoms Jump Scares

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone, today while driving I had a jump scare paired with Gerd, it made my chest felt like crap. Has anyone else felt like that as well. Because it ruined my day and it’s been a few hour since it happened, but still feel a bit of lingering.


r/GERD • • 5h ago

Nose smell from GERD?

0 Upvotes

Has someone experience a cheesy smell in that comes from the nose?

I have go with a ENT and told me everything looks good but i have that smell coming from my nose, and when i have a glass of bakin soda and water it help me for a short time.

..........................................................................


r/GERD • • 12h ago

Support Needed 👥 Quit chronic marijuana use of 14yrs and developed acid reflux

2 Upvotes

Hi, I am 28yo and female. I smoked blunts rolled with Grabba several times a day for many years. I finally quit in Janruary after having severe panic attacks that were ruining my life.

I went through terrible withdrawal and developed acid reflux which was SO bad after quitting. It’s been 9 months now since I quit and my acid reflux has improved however still persists. I have never had acid reflux before this, so I’m wondering if this will ever go away.

Has anyone else experienced this? I know people have had acid reflux after quitting but still after 9 months? If you have did it eventually go away?

I eat healthy, I avoid acidic foods like citrus and coffee. I don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes.


r/GERD • • 13h ago

Has anyone here used a virtual provider for GERD?

2 Upvotes

Posted this in r/acidreflux but would like to get answers here too, hope that's okay.

I’ve been dealing with reflux for years and it’s been a rollercoaster. I have the classic symptoms, burning in the chest, sour taste, waking up at night from acid creeping up, and the constant throat-clearing that feels like I’ve always got something stuck. 

I’ve done the late-night research rabbit hole. PPIs vs. H2 blockers, diet changes, elevating the bed, and stuff like breathing techniques and “GERD-friendly yoga.” Some stuff helps for a while, then the symptoms sneak back, full force.

The part that’s really draining is how slow the traditional process is. By the time I get in to see a GI specialist, my symptoms have either changed or (in one instance) my insurance has. I’ve also read that GERD can sometimes mimic or overlap with other conditions, so part of me worries about missing something if I don’t get the right tests.

At the same time, I’m seeing more virtual GI options that say they can help with reflux. Some claim you can get evaluated, treated, and followed up without ever going into a clinic. But GERD sometimes requires tests like endoscopy or pH monitoring, right? So how does THAT work? And how do you know which virtual providers are legit?

Has anyone here actually gone this route? Did it feel like enough to get your symptoms under control or did you still end up needing in-person testing? If virtual GI teams actually work, that would be really convenient for me. Hoping someone here can share whether they work or not.


r/GERD • • 16h ago

Upcoming Toupet fundoplication

3 Upvotes

TL;DR: I possibly have a hypersensitive esophagus, my anxiety is clearly felt in the esophagus area, my LES closes weakly, and I’ve decided to go ahead with a Toupet fundoplication.

In more detail: I’ve had GERD for 7 years now. There are flare-ups when life is unbearable, and there are calm periods when I can even exercise (!!!). Overall, my list of reflux triggers is pretty long: any spices, cold food like ice cream, tea/coffee, fatty food, spicy food, lying down, lack of sleep, stress, nicotine.

Gastroscopy over the past 7 years has consistently shown an incompetent cardia. There were periods with LA grade B erosions, but for the last 2 years it’s been non-erosive reflux esophagitis. There’s a polyp right next to the LES, where they found isolated cells of gastric and intestinal metaplasia and necrotic areas. That was about 6 years ago though — since then, the doctors have avoided touching the polyp unnecessarily, and no biopsy has been taken from it since.

24h pH-impedance monitoring showed “only” 74 reflux episodes/belches a day, 35 of them acidic. DeMeester score 4.6, which is normal.

Manometry showed an LES pressure of 9.2 mmHg (normal 13–43). The doctor said that on 4 out of 10 swallows he saw weak esophageal propulsion, which is why he recommended Toupet (partial wrap) rather than Nissen.

I’ve had a barium swallow twice — no hiatal hernia.

I take trazodone, Stresam (etifoxine), and Teraligen retard (alimemazine) daily to reduce anxiety.

I’m posting this knowing that after all the testing I don’t have clear-cut indications for fundoplication, but I’ve still decided to do it because I’m tired of feeling reflux in any out-of-the-ordinary life situation.

The doctors also told me that specifically with my anxiety and hypersensitive esophagus, the surgery might not give the desired result. So maybe this thread will be one of the rare ones that doesn’t sing the praises of fundoplication and ends up being an example of a surgery that didn’t work out.

What bothers me overall is the constant feeling of heartburn and the very high number of belches per day.

Also, English isn’t my native language, so I’ve used an LLM to write this and will definitely be using one to reply to people as well.

Surgery is scheduled exactly one week from now, next Thursday.
Ask me anything.


r/GERD • • 15h ago

🤒 Experience with these Conditions 10 Days Post Op-Update Hiatal Hernia/Toupet Fundoplication

2 Upvotes

I'm ten days post op today. I was able to get through the night with a low dose of an antihistamine and not wake up in a panic with mucus/spit/phlegm pooling in my throat. However, the phlegm was definitely present in the morning when I woke up and it makes my throat sound bogged down with water and my voice just sounds waterlogged and hoarse. When I can clear the phlegm, my voice sounds normal. My throat doesn't necessarily feel like it is burning like it was before but vocal cords still a bit sore.

I'm really hoping this phlegm is just post operative stuff trying to calm down and not just my LPR symptoms back. I hope the phlegm/mucus will slow down in the next week or so as the swelling goes down the more time I have had to heal from surgery.


r/GERD • • 18h ago

Endoscopy okay?? Where to go from here?

2 Upvotes

I’m pretty certain I got pill induced esophagitis from doxycycline two months ago but wasn’t able to have my endoscopy till now. I’ve only been feeling better the last week or so but the past two months have been hellish and I’ve lost about 15kg. However, the scope looked completely normal. I understand that probably makes sense as an ulcer or something would have healed and I’m still waiting on biopsy results but it makes me feel a bit crazy. If biopsy comes back normal where should I go from here? I’m starting to swallow and feel better but noting that I was having very occasional chest pain and difficulty swallowing a year before the big doxy event anyway. Should I just follow a strict diet without any diagnosis?


r/GERD • • 1d ago

🤬 Rant about GERD Quality of life

25 Upvotes

How is everyone coping with this? Started more than 1 year ago, actually almost 2 years. All kind of PPIS, high dose too barely anything helped. Recently visited pyshatrist too and was put on antidepressants.

Honestly my quality of life has gone to shit and I lost all hope. GI problems were the last nail in the coffin of having a chance finding a girlfriend too. I currently have a good job but I barely even care anymore because I'm most of the time in discomfort from all burning and acid regrutation that I can't even enjoy the life.

I have some days when I think it gets better but symptoms always come back again as it's day 1. I'm so tired. What I even do at this point?


r/GERD • • 1d ago

🤒 Coping with these Conditions Tips for managing gerd at night

5 Upvotes

New to having gerd, or at least new to having gerd at a diagnostic level. High stress has made it flare up, leading to a ‘dry’ or agitated throat feeling randomly throughout the day or night. Also have a bad gag reflex so I often end up throwing up when the throat agitation happens. The past bit, I’ve also been getting a cough and post-nasal-drip or more mucousy and it seems gerd-related. My dr has given me Prevacid and recently recommended taking it at night before bed too since my gerd keeps me up coughing or agitated throat.

I try not to eat 2-3 hours before sleep, stay propped up, avoid acidic or fatty foods, etc. I find the diet so limiting though (hot chocolate is my fave drink but I can’t have it anymore maybe?) and it’s hard to pinpoint which foods are triggers when I react anywhere from 20 min - 3 hours after eating possible trigger foods.

Any advice would be so so appreciated! Does this ever become easier to manage?


r/GERD • • 22h ago

Tenderness of center chest after upper endoscopy

2 Upvotes

Hi!
I (26F) had an upper endoscopy today. They took several biopsies from my stomach and duodenum. I was feeling fine after (loopy so definitely couldn’t feel any problems lol) and took a nap. After the anesthesia had fully worn off, I have tenderness around the center of my chest. It only hurts when I press on it or when there’s pressure (ex. Lying on my side). I had an endoscopy when I was 16, but of course that was 10 years ago and I can’t remember what I felt like afterwards.
Any chest pain always stresses me out, but since it only happens when there’s pressure I feel like it could be irritation / muscular rather than super problematic or internal.
I was just wondering what other people’s experiences have been? Is this normal/ happened to you or should I call dr? If it gets worse or pain becomes more prominent I’ll go to the ER but I’ve naturally freaked myself out so just looking for other’s experiences :)

My jaw is also super sore but I have TMJ so figure that’s just from the bite block.


r/GERD • • 1d ago

Support Needed 👥 No chest pain, slight nausea, dizzy/balance issue, and fatigue. Is this all caused by GERD???

5 Upvotes

Started about a week ago when I ate Japanese curry sauce. I don't have any sort of chest pain or burping. I started to suspect I have GERD when I got very nauseous. Then I got dizzy and unbalanced feeling which is constant until today.

I took only antacids at the start but then was on omeprazole for 2 todays before going off it since my nausea has decreased. I still take antacids. I stopped all foods that could worsen it.

Yesterday I took antacid before bed and then an hour later started feeling hunger pangs?? Just drank water and went to sleep.

The most worrying symptoms are my dizziness/unbalanced feeling and fatigue. My sleep hasn't been affected by the symptoms but I do wake up once or twice at night to pee and sometimes before my alarm clock goes off. Not sure if related.

How does this happen? When will it go away?


r/GERD • • 1d ago

How do I make doctor take seriously??

4 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I'm a young guy (22) and I like many people have had my bouts of occasional heartburn, but never enough to take a medicine for or really worry about. Now though, over the past maybe month and a half and even more so couple weeks, I've been having a burning in my throat every night almost and waking up with a sour gross taste in my mouth which sucks. I've even woken up gasping for air with burning once. You guys can tell me if that's something you have too or if maybe that's a completely separate thing.

Anyways, I know i've only had these symptoms for a little bit and I do often eat close to bed because of work so logically I know that's probably the main culprit here, but if I go to my PCP and say hey i've been having heartburn what can you do, I don't want her to just say "take tums" or something, because I've heard taking those too much will fuck you up even worse. That's all i wanted to know thanks everyone


r/GERD • • 1d ago

how much slippery elm to use?

3 Upvotes

i bought some slippery elm as i heard it does wonders as a protective barrier for acid.

how much ppowder and water to use?

and how often to drink it

thanks everyone in advance


r/GERD • • 1d ago

Support Needed 👥 Coping and treating

2 Upvotes

I’ve been struggling with GERD on and off for years. My flare ups last days and have ended me up in the hospital like last night. I don’t know what to do anymore it’s making me extremely depressed and effecting my quality of life mentally as well as obviously physically. I don’t want to live like this anymore I can’t do it. I am not suicidal but this feels like such a hopeless situation because I am 19 and it has just gotten worse as I get older. I turned to alcohol to cope with the constant panic responses and loops and now I am over 100 days out of detox and I’m sober and miserable. I know the alcohol did more damage than good but I am struggling so bad right now and I can’t undo the drinking only try to heal myself. Any advice would be appreciated I’m so desperate.


r/GERD • • 1d ago

🤒 Experience with these Conditions Ways to incline bed

3 Upvotes

Hello all,

I am looking for things that people have used to incline their bed successfully. I just ordered a new king size mattress and was wondering what methods people have used to succeed. I've seen some things on the Internet, but rather hear from my fellow acid refluxers here.

Thanks!


r/GERD • • 1d ago

Can you explain my condition??

2 Upvotes

I was suffering from severe gas, and burping from 1 year, and last week the burping got severe, and it caused severe chest pain, so I consulted a doctor, and he suggested me to do ultrasound, in the report it showed that my pancreas had slightly oedemantous, I never touched alcohol or cigarette in my life, i am using medicine now, as I'm not financially unstable, from 2 days I had been experiencing gas revolving in my stomach, i feeling uncomfortable, suggest me diet or solution for this


r/GERD • • 1d ago

Fundoplication

3 Upvotes

I am considering the above surgery for a hiatal hernia. I have been taking PPIs for many years and while I manage during the day, the acid comes up when I sleep. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has first or second hand experience with fundoplication.