gerd and dietary supplement

[steph83]

Hi, for those who have reflux and take everyday Omeprazole, do you take any dietary supplement, vitamins. Which of them please ? ThanKs

[TimeMachine]

Friend told me kratom helps gerd a lot. 

[Graham Smith]

I was advised by a consultant ENT that taking Omeprazole long term is bad for you. His advice was to take liquid Gaviscon for a safer and just as effective option.

[Lacessit]

Night-time GERD can be avoided or minimized by changing eating habits. I was taking pantoprazole for years.

I do not go to bed until at least 3 hours after my last food consumption.

About half an hour before going to bed, I have half a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water.

I still keep a bottle of water by the bed to wash down any reflux. However, I have not needed it for several years.

IMO soda bicarb is a lot cheaper than medication, with much less risk of harmful side effects.

 

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/ask-the-doctors-you-should-know-the-long-term-side-effects-of-taking-ppis

 

[mstevens]

Omeprazole absolutely should not be taken long-term. Omeprazole simply masks the problem but doesn't deal with the root cause.

 

Agree with the previous comments about changing your diet and not eating for a few hours before going to bed (or simply laying down).

 

While it may sound counterintuitive, one way to deal with GERD is to take Betaine HCL when you eat which increases stomach acid and helps to break down your food. Just don't take Betaine HCL is you have a stomach ulcer.

 

[sotonowl]

4 hours ago, steph83 said:

Hi, for those who have reflux and take everyday Omeprazole, do you take any dietary supplement, vitamins. Which of them please ? ThanKs

First of all i'd make sure you're properly diagnosed. PPI's work by shutting down the Proton Pumps which pump out the stomach acid which enables digestion. I was put on them. Turns out it was a lack of stomach acid was my problem which in fact produces the same symptoms as gerd. I was in effect throwing petrol on the fire.

If you lack stomach acid the food doesn't gets processed in the gut as it should and it rots and gives off gases which produce the same symptons as the gases go upwards.

Have a search of hypochlorydria which is low stomach acid and you can even do a home test using using baking soda. You just mix the baking soda with water in the morning, drink it and wait. Start burping right away you may have too much acid. No burps? Chances are you're low in acid and taking PPI's will make matters worse. Be careful and get a proper diagnosis if you haven't already. I can say they made me really bad.

You may well be correctly diagnosed, all I would say if you're still having problems, consider hypochlorydria. Read up on it and search out a health professional who would at least consider it as normal GP's are just way too quick to dish out the PPI's.

I of course am not a Doctor or health care professional, I just speak from experience and i'm just pointing out there's two sides to this coin.

 

[xylophone]

14 hours ago, steph83 said:

Hi, for those who have reflux and take everyday Omeprazole, do you take any dietary supplement, vitamins. Which of them please ? ThanKs

I had reflux (GERD) for a number of years, and the more stressful my job became as I climbed up the corporate ladder, the worse the reflux became.

 

I was on omeprazole for a while which seemed to help, until it didn't, and after a gastroscopy, my doctor/surgeon said that I had Barrett's oesophagus and that I needed to do something about it because in some cases it can turn cancerous.

 

I tried just about every proton pump inhibitor, along with Gaviscon and others, but to no avail. Eventually I quit my job and got out of the rat race and came here to relax and heal, stressfree.

 

It didn't happen immediately, and the one thing that did really help was a supplement called d-limonene, and although it gave me a sensation of an orange burp, I took it every other day for a month and my reflux stopped.

 

I went back to NZ to see friends and the same doctor/surgeon did a gastroscopy as well as a general "once over" and he was amazed because all traces of Barrett's oesophagus (scarring in the oesophagus) had gone completely. He was so amazed that he got on the Internet, found the pills and ordered some for a friend of his whose reflux he had been treating for some time, but without much success.

 

My particular brand was readily available on the Internet, however now one has to search for d-limonene.

 

It was almost literally a "lifesaver" for me and I've never had to take any other form of medication for reflux for around 10 years now.

[spidermike007]

I would try probiotics and sea cucumber extract. The Chinese have been using it for millennia. I use it for knee issues. It works wonders. 

 

The amino acids found in sea cucumber—namely glycine, glutamic acid, and arginine—have been shown to stimulate the creation of immune cells. These cells boost immunity and aid in the cellular response to invading infection or disease.

 

Sea cucumber is an exceptionally rich source of antioxidants. According to scientific research, key compounds found naturally in sea cucumber scavenge free radicals and limit oxidative damage. This has whole-body benefits including in the skin.

 

One of the most amazing benefits of sea cucumber is thanks to bioactive compounds called saponins. Saponins are bioactive compounds involved in the animal’s natural defenses. Research has revealed potential anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties of saponins, making sea cucumber a promising health ingredient for future study.

 

https://www.novaseaatlantic.com/blog/health-benefits-of-sea-cucumber-supplements

 

Sea cucumber, Stichopus japonicus, is used not only as an outstanding tonic food but also as a traditional medicine for the treatment of asthma, hypertension, rheumatism, anemia, and sinus congestion. The purpose of this study was to examine sea cucumber as an anti-gastritis and anti-gastric ulcer in HCl-ethanol-induced gastric and H. pylori-infected animal models. 

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276052388_The_Effects_of_Sea_Cucumber_as_an_Anti-gastritis_Anti-gastric_Ulcer_and_Anti-Helicobater

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090989615000223

 

This report suggests anti-cancer, anti-coagulation, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-hyperlipidemic activity, anti-melanogenesis, anti-osteoclastogenesis, anti- oxidation, and other health benefits. I consider this to be a miracle food. Not sure how hard it is to find here. I order it from Swanson's Vitamins in the US. It is inexpensive. We also use sea cucumber oil for sprains, muscle aches, burns, cuts, bites, etc. Amazing stuff. 

 

 

 

 

[Xonax]

16 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Night-time GERD can be avoided or minimized by changing eating habits. I was taking pantoprazole for years.

I do not go to bed until at least 3 hours after my last food consumption.

About half an hour before going to bed, I have half a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water.

I still keep a bottle of water by the bed to wash down any reflux. However, I have not needed it for several years.

IMO soda bicarb is a lot cheaper than medication, with much less risk of harmful side effects.

 

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/ask-the-doctors-you-should-know-the-long-term-side-effects-of-taking-ppis

 

Instead of drinking the horrible tasting water with baking soda, you could swallow a couple of small Sodamint tablets before bedtime. They are usually sold in pharmacies in Thailand at 150 Baht for 1,000 tablets. However be careful with baking soda (and Sodamint) if you already have a high sodium intake. I have succesfully reduced my daily salt intake, which also resulted in way fewer GERD and Heartburn situations. But a person would still have to find and avoid the foods and drinks that triggers GERD and Heartburn. 

[rwill]

Taking probiotics can help.  My wife has bad gerd.  They helped her to be able to stop taking medication.  You need stomache acid you shouldn't stop it.

She also drinks curmamax as needed.  You can find it on Lazada.

[KhunLA]

@steph83

Was the Omeprazole prescribed by a doc, or self medicating ?

 

If you tried all that's been suggested, especially diet & sleeping habit/position.  Probiotics might help, especially if you are prone to taking anti bacterials.

 

If can't seem to solve it, within a month of experimenting, strongly suggest an endoscopy, to see what the problem is, if physical/medical.  After experimenting, or NOW.

 

Could be nothing medical, something simple, easy fix, hiatal hernia for instance, or something serious that needs your attention.

 

Are you a stressed out person ? 

[swm59nj]

I have had GERD for many years.  I don’t take your specific drug but a similar one each day.  My GERD is due to a hiatal hernia. You should be taking a calcium supplement.  The class of drugs we need to take can deplete your calcium level.  Which is what happened to me.  And a gastroenterologist confirmed this as the cause. 

[xylophone]

13 hours ago, swm59nj said:

I have had GERD for many years.  I don’t take your specific drug but a similar one each day.  My GERD is due to a hiatal hernia. You should be taking a calcium supplement.  The class of drugs we need to take can deplete your calcium level.  Which is what happened to me.  And a gastroenterologist confirmed this as the cause. 

A message for the OP, @steph83.......this poster and a few others I know actually suffer from a hiatial hernia and if that is the main cause of your GERD then perhaps the only cure will be surgery to repair the hernia.

 

However please peruse the links I have posted below, because I cannot speak highly enough of the supplement d-limonene and how it worked for me........

 

Few studies that have tested if d-limonene reduces GERD symptoms in humans. Many of the existing research involves animals rather than human participants.

For example, a 2019 animal study demonstrated the protective effects of d-limonene on the gastrointestinal system in rats. The authors suggested that d-limonene produces its beneficial effect by increasing mucus production and regulating the inflammatory and immune responses.

A 2022 studyTrusted Source also mentions two human clinical trials in which participants with GERD “significantly benefitted” from taking d-limonene. These trials took place under a United States patent in 2002.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/d-limonene-for-gerd#does-it-help

Does D-limonene work for GERD?
Being a solvent of cholesterol, d-limonene has been used clinically to dissolve cholesterol-containing gallstones. Because of its gastric acid neutralizing effect and its support of normal peristalsis, it has also been used for relief of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).

D-Limonene: safety and clinical applications - PubMed
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18072821/#:~:text=Being a solvent of cholesterol,and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).

Millions of Americans suffer from heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can increase the risk of certain cancers. A novel, inexpensive, all-natural extract derived from orange peel oil provides significant relief from heartburn symptoms for up to six months at a time!
Scientifically reviewed by: Dr. Gary Gonzalez, MD, in August 2023. Written by: Russell Martin.
 

[steph83]

2 hours ago, xylophone said:

A message for the OP, @steph83.......this poster and a few others I know actually suffer from a hiatial hernia and if that is the main cause of your GERD then perhaps the only cure will be surgery to repair the hernia.

 

However please peruse the links I have posted below, because I cannot speak highly enough of the supplement d-limonene and how it worked for me........

 

Few studies that have tested if d-limonene reduces GERD symptoms in humans. Many of the existing research involves animals rather than human participants.

For example, a 2019 animal study demonstrated the protective effects of d-limonene on the gastrointestinal system in rats. The authors suggested that d-limonene produces its beneficial effect by increasing mucus production and regulating the inflammatory and immune responses.

A 2022 studyTrusted Source also mentions two human clinical trials in which participants with GERD “significantly benefitted” from taking d-limonene. These trials took place under a United States patent in 2002.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/d-limonene-for-gerd#does-it-help

Does D-limonene work for GERD?
Being a solvent of cholesterol, d-limonene has been used clinically to dissolve cholesterol-containing gallstones. Because of its gastric acid neutralizing effect and its support of normal peristalsis, it has also been used for relief of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).

D-Limonene: safety and clinical applications - PubMed
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18072821/#:~:text=Being a solvent of cholesterol,and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).

Millions of Americans suffer from heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can increase the risk of certain cancers. A novel, inexpensive, all-natural extract derived from orange peel oil provides significant relief from heartburn symptoms for up to six months at a time!
Scientifically reviewed by: Dr. Gary Gonzalez, MD, in August 2023. Written by: Russell Martin.
 

Thanks for your advice Mate, i have a hiatial hernia.

[steph83]

16 hours ago, swm59nj said:

I have had GERD for many years.  I don’t take your specific drug but a similar one each day.  My GERD is due to a hiatal hernia. You should be taking a calcium supplement.  The class of drugs we need to take can deplete your calcium level.  Which is what happened to me.  And a gastroenterologist confirmed this as the cause. 

Thanks, i have a hiatal hernia too. Which drug do you use please ?

[steph83]

19 hours ago, KhunLA said:

@steph83

Was the Omeprazole prescribed by a doc, or self medicating ?

 

If you tried all that's been suggested, especially diet & sleeping habit/position.  Probiotics might help, especially if you are prone to taking anti bacterials.

 

If can't seem to solve it, within a month of experimenting, strongly suggest an endoscopy, to see what the problem is, if physical/medical.  After experimenting, or NOW.

 

Could be nothing medical, something simple, easy fix, hiatal hernia for instance, or something serious that needs your attention.

 

Are you a stressed out person ? 

yes i'm and i did an endoscopy already : i have s hiatal hernia and a gastritis. I care seriously what i eat but it seems that Omeprazole and Gaviscon is not very effective for me.

[Lacessit]

On 9/4/2023 at 3:29 PM, Xonax said:

Instead of drinking the horrible tasting water with baking soda, you could swallow a couple of small Sodamint tablets before bedtime. They are usually sold in pharmacies in Thailand at 150 Baht for 1,000 tablets. However be careful with baking soda (and Sodamint) if you already have a high sodium intake. I have succesfully reduced my daily salt intake, which also resulted in way fewer GERD and Heartburn situations. But a person would still have to find and avoid the foods and drinks that triggers GERD and Heartburn. 

I don't find the  soda bicarb distasteful, each to his own. Alcohol and fatty foods I would think of as prime contributors to GERD.

[KhunLA]

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I don't find the  soda bicarb distasteful, each to his own. Alcohol and fatty foods I would think of as prime contributors to GERD.

Agree, and after a bit of a burping session, the instant relief is a welcome change.  Snoozing follows almost immediately.

 

Best advice I ever got, a bit of baking soda, mixed with warm water.  Easy, cheap, very effective ????

[NONG CHOK]

Hi there, I've tried all the information mentioned here in regards to acid reflux, so far nothing has worked. So I suppose my next step is a visit to a doctor and or hospital. So any suggestions for hospital treatment in Pattaya and the approximate cost. Thanks.

[Sheryl]

7 hours ago, NONG CHOK said:

Hi there, I've tried all the information mentioned here in regards to acid reflux, so far nothing has worked. So I suppose my next step is a visit to a doctor and or hospital. So any suggestions for hospital treatment in Pattaya and the approximate cost. Thanks.

 

 

You will likely need an endoscopy, and with it they can test for h. pylori.

 

While normally more expensive tan most, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital has a promotion price of 15k for this until the end of the month  https://bangkokpattayahospital.com/product/gastroscopy-colonoscopy-packages/

 

Unlikely to get it for less at a private hospital

 

Depending in results of endoscopy you might be best advised to see a doctor in Bangkok but wait till you have endoscopy results then re-post.

 

 

[proton]

On 9/3/2023 at 4:51 PM, Graham Smith said:

I was advised by a consultant ENT that taking Omeprazole long term is bad for you. His advice was to take liquid Gaviscon for a safer and just as effective option.

Took it for 15 years, almonds got me off it, and gaviscon

[steph83]

14 hours ago, proton said:

Took it for 15 years, almonds got me off it, and gaviscon

Do you take Gaviscon after every meals ?

[NONG CHOK]

24 minutes ago, steph83 said:

Do you take Gaviscon after every meals ?

May I ask how many almonds do you eat per meal. Thanks.

 

[steph83]

18 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

May I ask how many almonds do you eat per meal. Thanks.

 

you should ask to Proton

[proton]

7 hours ago, steph83 said:

Do you take Gaviscon after every meals ?

no

[GroveHillWanderer]

Newly published study comparing turmeric and omeprazole.

 

Quote

A natural compound found in the culinary spice turmeric may be as effective as omeprazole—a drug used to curb excess stomach acid—for treating indigestion symptoms, suggests the first study of its kind, published online in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

Could Turmeric Be As Good As Omeprazole for Excess Stomach Acid?

[rumak]

On 9/5/2023 at 6:46 PM, KhunLA said:

Agree, and after a bit of a burping session, the instant relief is a welcome change.  Snoozing follows almost immediately.

 

Best advice I ever got, a bit of baking soda, mixed with warm water.  Easy, cheap, very effective ????

i have some new advice ( i used to go to baking soda as well .... before :::)  

i saw some videos about Apple Cider vinegar AND .......gerd, etc...... .

My links probably not welcome here ,  but i can pm anyone interested.

A google search for ACV  ...you tube....Dr Berg ..... and others.... 

if one wants to check by themself

[rumak]

On 9/4/2023 at 2:15 AM, mstevens said:

Omeprazole absolutely should not be taken long-term. Omeprazole simply masks the problem but doesn't deal with the root cause.

 

Agree with the previous comments about changing your diet and not eating for a few hours before going to bed (or simply laying down).

 

While it may sound counterintuitive, one way to deal with GERD is to take Betaine HCL when you eat which increases stomach acid and helps to break down your food. Just don't take Betaine HCL is you have a stomach ulcer.

 

first part absolutely agree with ( do not take omeprazole) ..........  I take Apple Cider vinegar every day and it has eradicated all "gas problems"  ....( which as you say is really not enough acid ) .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EIHwsL4tKQ

NOTE:  most folks on this forum are not believers of "alternatives" to the mainstreet pharmaceuticals given as "the science" .   Personally I have been on the alternative path and done very well,  but this is just my experience.    Actually FIXING a medical condition does take more time and effort than just popping a pill every day .   

 

[Sheryl]

7 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Newly published study comparing turmeric and omeprazole.

 

Could Turmeric Be As Good As Omeprazole for Excess Stomach Acid?

 

Actually with GERD the problem is not excessive stomach acid. It is weakness of the lower esophagal sphincter. This in turn can be due to aging, obesity, eating too much at once (even if not obese), caffeine intake, smoking, alcohol, hiatal hernia .  Anything that increases pressure against the valve will worsen it - such as overeating and also lying down after eating.

 

PPIs like  omeprazole reduce acid production. This does not stop the reflux at all, it just renders the contents less acidic so the reflux is less painful .

 

Short-term PPI use is unavoidable in conditions like gastric ulcer and gastritis, where it is necessary to lower gastric pH to allow the mucosa to heal.

 

For GERD it does nothing to correct the problem (though it will usually decrease the burning sensation) and  long term  use does carry some costs health-wise. Thus it is preferrable  to try to address the causes of the reflux as the primary approach, with occasional antacid use if necessary (gaviscon, sodium bicarb etc).

 

The following measures are recommended and will usually suffice if followed:

• lose weight if at all overweight (this alone will cure it in many cases)
• smaller amounts at a time- avoid overfilling stomach.
• take nothing more than sips of water for at least 2 hours before lying down
• avoid or minimize caffeine (coffeee, tea, chocolate)
• stop smoking
• minimize alcohol
• elevate head of bed or use special GERD pillow

Sometimes if there is a severe hiatal hernia underlying the reflux surgery is required but this is rare.

 

Some people recommend d-limonene as a supplement, it acts by supporting peristalsis (movement of foods through the GI tract). Hard to find in Thailand but iHerb has it. I haven't tried it personally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rumak]

4 hours ago, rumak said:

i have some new advice ( i used to go to baking soda as well .... before :::)  

i saw some videos about Apple Cider vinegar AND .......gerd, etc...... .

My links probably not welcome here ,  but i can pm anyone interested.

A google search for ACV  ...you tube....Dr Berg ..... and others.... 

if one wants to check by themself

And.... the informative videos by some Dr's  , regarding Apple Cider Vinegar make it very clear that the problem is not too much acid in the stomach.   Also there are explanations as to why the "acid refux" is most likely happenning .  ( food not digesting properly) .

Glad that someone else mentioned the "not too much acid"  misconception.