Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents (food or liquid) leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This action can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms. I not only have GERD but a hiatal hernia as well. Follow me below and we will explore these two things.
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These are the symptoms of GERD from the Mayo Clinic website and their initial treatment recommendations.
· A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), sometimes spreading to the throat, along with a sour taste in your mouth
· Chest pain
· Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
· Dry cough
· Hoarseness or sore throat
· Regurgitation of food or sour liquid (acid reflux)
· Sensation of a lump in the throat
Initial treatments to control heartburn
Over-the-counter treatments that may help control heartburn include:
· Antacids that neutralize stomach acid. Antacids, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil, Rolaids and Tums, may provide quick relief. But antacids alone won't heal an inflamed esophagus damaged by stomach acid. Overuse of some antacids can cause side effects, such as diarrhea or constipation.
· Medications to reduce acid production. Called H-2-receptor blockers, these medications include cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR) or ranitidine (Zantac 25, Zantac 75, Zantac 150). H-2-receptor blockers don't act as quickly as antacids, but they provide longer relief. Stronger versions of these medications are available in prescription form.
· Medications that block acid production and heal the esophagus. Proton pump inhibitors block acid production and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal. Over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors include lansoprazole (Prevacid 24 HR) and omeprazole (Prilosec OTC).
Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach sticks upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It is used in breathing.
So what does all this mean when you are living with GERD or a hiatal hernia or both? For me I find that the main problem is stomach pain that often wakes me up at night. I take the over the counter omeprazole at night. I will also take the lansoprazole during the day if my stomach is really acting up. I keep Tums handy at all times if the pain should hit while I’m out I have some in my purse.
In terms of eating I find that several small meals during the day help. I keep crackers or pretzels on hand. At night if it gets really bad I will drink some warm milk and eat some bread. I try and avoid highly acidic foods as I don’t want to put more acid on top of the stomach acid. Fruits, grains, and vegetables help. I do a lot with rice and pasta. Take notice of what foods trigger attacks and try and eliminate them from your diet.
I find I have fewer problems if I sleep on my side. It also helps to elevate your head. A pillow wedge is the best thing for that I have found.
I try and maintain a healthy weight since extra pounds will contribute to GERD problems.
I wear looser clothing now so that I don’t put pressure on the hernia. As a woman I have to try and keep the girls from bouncing but at the same time the bras were putting a lot of pressure on the wrong spots. My solution was to go to the one-piece supports. I recently have switched to what looks like camisoles but they are made to support. I tend to go for pants with elastic waists. They have more give. I’ll do a looser top that actually gives me an excuse to wear my Marvin the Martian t-shirts more often.
I don’t smoke but one of the things doctors recommend is that if you have GERD you shouldn’t smoke because it aggravates the problem.
Another thing that helps me is meditation. When I’m upset the acid builds up in my stomach. By using calming techniques my whole body relaxes including the stomach.
Keep a sense of humor it helps. My hiatal hernia is prominent enough that you can see it if I wear something tight. If people comment I just tell them it is a horcrux and see how many of them have read Harry Potter.
Whatever you do don’t ignore the situation. Even with my medicine and watching my diet I still have had some pretty bad problems. One evening the acid came up and I aspirated some of it into my lungs which caused me to come down with a serious lung infection. Acid has also burned my esophagus. I find that the best thing there is milk to sooth the throat.
My stomach with GERD. ;-)