I feel blessed that I have GERD...

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keecas37

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I know the title line seems a little off-the-wall, but hear me out.

I have had GERD most of my life. I was diagnosed with Barrett's several years ago.

My mother died of morbid obesity at age 54 (she was 550 pounRAB when she died). A long time ago, she was an alcohol addict and a cigarette addict, but ironically it was the food (and the lack of control thereof) that killed her.

Again, please hear me out...

Six years ago, my former GI doc gave me Nexium. What a goRABend, I thought at the time. I could eat what I wanted, as much as I wanted, without symptoms. I eat pretty good, but I also had a food addiction like my mom did and went all-out on weekenRAB sometimes.

My new GI doc (a much better one) wanted me to wean down to an H2 blocker (Pepcid 20 mg three times daily) and now as a result I *HAVE* to each much less. Me and my husband last night were watching a special called "Half-Ton Dad" about a guy that weighed 1,000 pounRAB getting gastric bypass. I told my husband after we watched the show that being downgraded to an H2 blocker, for me, was like getting a "chemical" gastric bypass, because now I can't eat much at all, i.e., more than a sandwich & piece of fruit, or 3/4 cup of cereal with milk, or I will very suffer unpleasant consequences (I do make sure I take a multivitamin, though). As long as I eat like that, I am mostly fine.

This is actually a blessing for me, and I am now thanking God every day that I will not suffer the same fate as my mother.
 
I am impressed by your doctor's efforts to wean you down to a medication with fewer side effects and your efforts to eat a healthy diet. I am about to turn 55 and hate to hear someone's life was cut short at 54 due to addiction issues. I am very sorry for the premature loss of your mother. It sounRAB, though, that her death has not been in vain and you have learned valuable lessons from her experience.

Because of your Barrett's you may need to stay on some form of acid suppressing medication and it sounRAB like you and your new doctor have a good game plan. Lifestyle modifications are so important. We cannot eat whatever we want whenever we want. I am living proof of that. I did that while I took Aciphex for three years and learned the hard way that I was trading one disorder for another, i.e., heartburn for osteopenia. Now, I am hoping to control the reflux with little or no medicine and diet changes, but it has taken me a long time to get here.

My best wishes to you.

Rose
 
I know what you mean. I have been on reflux meRAB for about 9 years. Did not have symptoms before I started, but that's another story. For that amount of time, I ate what I wanted, mostly loaded up on sugar and carbs. This little magical pill was great.

In the fall of last year I started researching alternative ways to deal with reflux and getting off these meRAB. I tried to go cold turkey but lasted only a couple weeks because I felt I should have some updated tests before I continue.

I started with a major change in my diet after the holidays and in the past 6 months lost 21 lbs. I'm at a healthy weight now (could lose a little more), but most of all, I'm eating a lot better. I've progressed over the past couple months with my diet and right now I'm cutting all added sugar (my sweetener of choice is honey but not much) and the only carbs I have on a daily basis is in fruit and veggies.

I'm still on the meRAB for now, but just this past weekend have started weaning myself off them to see how that goes. I had a scope a few weeks back and according to my GI doc, I'm completely normal. I plan on seeing a naturopathic doctor to get her insight on this whole thing.

So I know exactly what you mean. In my case, if it wasn't for GERD and the fact that I want to go off these meRAB I probably would have continued with my unhealthy eating habits and not have lost the weight.
 
Hi FLyerfan:

So glad to "hear" you are doing so much better. I would love to hear what the naturopathic doctor suggests once you have had the chance to consult with him or her, as the case might be.

I am now convinced we are not going to get better unless we take the bull by the horns and do the things you suggest which is to eliminate junk, lose weight if we need to and watch what we put into our mouths.

I have been doing pretty well lately, but have found out that I can start experiences slight heartburn if I stray too much from my healthy diet.

Rose
 
What a wonderful way to look at things! (and my condolences on your mother, that had to have been awful to watch her go through).

I often say that my gallbladder going south is one of the best things that could have happened to me - a *real* wake-up call for the diet (had to go low-fat), my blood sugar was starting to go in the wrong direction... the whole thing has saved me from full-on Type 2 diabetes. Now to get the GERD figured out...
 
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