GERD - losing the will to live

[Treeoflife21]

I am desperate. I work full time with a lot of teams, I am having horrible symptoms, particularly revolting breath and I’m at a complete loss what to do about it. Can anyone please please give me advice. Has anyone successfully controlled these symptoms? What’s the best way you have controlled them?

Lifestyle changes (weight loss, avoid alcohol/caffeine/smoking, dietary changes etc), medications (PPI, gaviscon advance), or get referred to discuss surgical options.

Weight loss

I have gerd, I went to the GP he thinks I have a small haiatus hernia. He prescribed Omeprazole and it seems to have worked, I occasionally have to use Gaviscon tablets but not often.

Best way now is to go to your GP and ask for a prescription to control the reflux symptoms. I had a gastroscopy which revealed a haiatus hernia so the medication acts to inhibit the backlow of acid which as well as hurting, can damage your oesophagus which you need to avoid.

If you need to, weight loss. Smaller portions eaten slowly and drink water while you do. Find your trigger foods and avoid them. Avoid eating later at night and have a good supportive pillow. Rennies are surprisingly effective to take the edge off.

Best way for me omeprazole and gaviscon plus. See your GP.

Dh was diagnosed with a small hiatus hernia and prescribed omeprazole. But what made a life changing difference was losing weight. He couldn’t believe that no one advised him it was a factor. Very occasionally now, such as after a run of rich meals on holiday, he gets some symptoms. But nothing like what he was living with,

There are loads of ways to control symptoms, but you also need to get to the root cause if it's not being relieved by lifestyle changes such as diet. stress management, losing weight (if relevant, but by no means are all GERD sufferers overweight). The PPIs (omeprazole) are not a magic pill and they are not good to take long term so you do need to be able to control the reflux yourself.
Look up Dr Aviv Acid Watcher Diet and Molly Pelletier.

I have a hiatus henia and take BP drugs that increase GERD. I get some relief from symptoms when not at their worst, with chewing gum. Basic and simple but works for me and no side effects.

I do have a hiatus hernia and am on 40 mg omeprazole a day. I don’t know what else to do, I try and eat healthy but also with iBS if I eat too much fibrous food I end up later problems. I just can’t find a balance.

IDK if this will help but when recovering from a stomach ulcer I found drinking water was the only thing that didn't cause more acid to come. Plain water just diluted whatever acid was already there and gave me some relief from symptoms. Any type of flavour seemed to cause some acid to come, so short term relief but adding to the problem too, same with food. So if you haven't already I'd try sipping a glass of water whenever you feel symptomatic.

I feel your pain OP, it's miserable. I changed to pantoprazole after being on omeprazole for some time and it just stopped working! Maybe ask your GP for an alternative.

If it is weight related losing weight can resolve it, I’ve stopped my daily prescription omeprazole I was on for 8 years after losing significant weight with the support of weight loss injections.

I am now dealing with the B12 deficiency long term omeprazole caused and the nerve damage the B12 deficiency caused.

Gavison Advance (not the double action one) is good for keeping acid down. The advance one is thicker and creates a stronger raft to keep acid more contained.

Slippery elm and marshmallow capsules with meals.

For me it's being very strict about not eating after 630pm. No coffee, tomatoes, chocolate or citrus. (Now it's under control I can have a coffee, but tomatoes are always an issue). And always sleep on my left hand side to stop stomach contents washing back up.

I had GERD, but it turned out to be due to sleep apnea. Using a CPAP machine has fixed it. I've been surprised by this. Apparently quite a lot of people don't follow through with the cpap treatment, but I am very much motivated by the elimination on GERD.

I take 40mg Esomeprazole daily and frequently have gaviscon.
Avoid onions,garlic,pastry,tomatoes and greasy food as they can trigger it

Op, do you snore? I was a terrible snorer my entire adult life and struggled with GERD constantly, often ending up with agitating stomach contents into my lungs. . Got a cpap when I was diagnosed with sleep anpnea and within 3 days my GERD had reduced by about 80%. These days i just take OTC things like gaviscon as and when, i don’t even need the omeprazole anymore.

Me too! All of my drs are very dubious about me claiming this is it but my sister was exactly the same and she started cpap 2 months ago and had the exact same results as me.

I love it when doctors deny your lived experience.

Are the symptoms or sleep apnea and GERD similar? I think I have one or the other.

I'd say the symptoms are quite distinct, but it is possible to have both at the same time.

@AnotherEmily sleep apnea carters pauses in breathing during sleep. The side effects are tiredness, brain fog, feeling “off” etc and can also include very vivid dreams and nightmares with reflux/gerd.