Diagnosed with GERD

lillymay88
lillymay88 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Connected
edited November 5 in Talk about your impairment

Hello, hope everyone is doing well :)

I have recently been diagnosed with GERD (I think I remember seeing a few posts about it here). For those of you who have it or know someone who does, what sort of things have been put in place to help with the symptoms? I have been put on medication and will be seeing a dietitian for guidance.

Thank you! :)

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  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Online Community Member Posts: 394 Empowering
    edited November 4

    Hi @lillymay88

    Of course I can't give you medical advice, as I'm not a medical professional and I don't know your situation details, so I'm just speaking from experience....

    I have had GERD for....omg I just calculated about 30 years. Sheesh I'm old and that's a long time! Fortunately, over the years more and more lifestyle changes have been discovered. At this point I'm actually off medication for GERD and have it controlled by following all the lifestyle measures described on these two pages - as best as I can. These are fabulous resources. If you can do these - or even some of them - you'll be so grateful to yourself. So here you are. Good luck!

    https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/9-ways-to-relieve-acid-reflux-without-medication

    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/gerd-diet-foods-that-help-with-acid-reflux-heartburn

  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,847 Cerebral Palsy Network

    Hi @lillymay88

    Acid reflux and GERD can be associated with cerebral palsy (CP) because sometimes cerebral palsy affects the muscles and function of the gastrointestinal tract, the pathway through which food and drink enter and move through the body.

    I have lived with reflux most of my life, and I manage it by taking an over-the-counter medication every other day,

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 7,193 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @lillymay88, I've also had GERD for many years due to a couple of different conditions affecting my stomach. I've found it's a case of just working out what's helpful for you which can take a little while but once it clicks things become much more manageable.

    I've found sleeping raised up on a wedge pillow has been helpful for reducing symptoms overnight. I have a mattress topper and the wedge is underneath that. It makes for a more gentle incline and I find it more comfortable than being directly on the wedge itself. You can also get bed raisers or put something sturdy underneath one end of your bed.

    Dietary changes have also been helpful. For me it was very much just trial and error to work out what makes it worse, but I definitely notice a difference if I've not been careful with what I eat.

    Hope you get some relief from your symptoms soon ☺️

  • Zippy1983
    Zippy1983 Online Community Member Posts: 269 Empowering

    GERD…. Something that’s my arch nemesis! I’ve lived with it for 42 years, since birth. I’m on a very high dosage of Lansoprazol which is a PPI or Proton Pump Inhibitor. Alongside this I’m also on a drug called Sucralfate which in liquid form which is an MPA - Mucosal Protective Agents.

    It’s because of not being able to keep food down as a prem baby that led to me being diagnosed with s*****c cerebral palsy in 1983. Which is what led to my GERD.


    I had to have my gallbladder out 3 years ago and it’s left me with Bile Reflux on top of Acid Reflux.

    Living with it is a nightmare at times as with me the tolerance I have for certain foods is as narrow as a string of silk.

    Caffeine, Coffee, Tea, Fizzy Drinks, Cheese, Crisps, Chocolate, Spices, Seasoning, Fried or Fatty Foods, Cucumber, Onions, Pickles, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Garlic, Tomato based Foods - eg lasagne, pizza etc are a no go, cake, ice cream, take away, dairy etc and other items are a no go area for me.

    I’ve not eaten meat or fish for coming up to ten years, my base diet is either porridge followed then by - a jacket spud with baked beans, or a blend of quorn chicken pieces, Mediterranean Veg, Mushrooms, Spinach, Mushy Peas and Rice. A fairly bland diet to say the least.

    If I do venture down that path when I’m not in a good place mentally and I’m physically exhausted then I end up ordering a take away or two or three or four over a period of days, which can lead to me binge eating which in turn leads to me being sick 🤒 or ill be asleep during the night and get woken up with bile burning my throat and blocking my airway which means I have to take four dosages of both of my inhalers. If I can’t get my breathing under control it can lead to an ambulance job after pressing my care link button.

    With GERD it’s all about having to make lifestyle choices, such as planning ahead and what you’re going to eat with a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy body weight and a host of other things.

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