Anyone have GERD?

lilo · 09-13-2002, 11:21 AM

My son has been to ER twice, a general practitioner, and a specialist. ER thought he had Crohn's disease or diverticulitus. The specialist says GERD, and will be seeing him again in 2 weeks. His tests came back clear-urine,blood, stool. He has pain in his lower abdomin that shoots up to the center of his chest and had diahrrea this past weekend. I looked online for info and mainly came up with drug ads. He is on previcid and dicyclomine. Anyone here have it that can give advice on diet and such? I am going to booksamillion tomorrow--can anyone recommend anything?

yulissa · 09-13-2002, 12:03 PM

I hope your son gets better. I am not totally sure what gerd is but if you look under gerd support....lots of websites for information as well as support groups for parents and local chapters appear.

Good luck in your search and I do hope your son get better. Bless you both!!!

soya · 09-18-2002, 02:09 PM

Hello,
I have been diagnosed with gerd about two years ago.Gerd is a functional disorder...meaning there most often is no organic pathology.One will experience hearburn,chest pains(not cardiac related....it's because your esophagus gets irritated from the acid reflux and goes into spasm)and acid reflux in your throat.It doesn't necessarily cause diarrhea unless you have ibs associated with it.Ibs is irritable bowel syndrome..a disorder that cause diffuse abdominal pain and you will alternate between diarrhea and constipation;although most people will have a predominant componant....me it's constipation.For gerd,i take losec once a day....same familly od drug as prilosec and pravacid.It has enabled me to enjoy food again.As for diet,avoid anything spicy,no tomatoes or spaghetti sauce,no alcohol,no colas,basically,if it hurt to eat it...don't.I finf I have a lot of troubles with melons and cucumbers too.For the ibs,i used to be on dicetel,but my gi specialist has recommended to stick with just bran....all bran or bran buds.I eat 1/4 bowl everyday....will prevent ibs attacks....even if your predominant componant is diarrhea.Stress reduction helps both gerd and ibs.I have heard that liccorice extract and peppermint is also very good for both disorders.Make sure your son is neg for h.pylori....the ulcer causing bacteria...a simple blood test will do.I hope you will find this helpful,private mail me if you wish.Good luck.
Soya

Inga · 09-19-2002, 04:21 AM

Dear Lilo,
Hope your son is feeling better!
I was DXd with esophageal cramps cause by acid reflux. I was told to take Pepcid AC daily and never eat or drink late, they also recommended that I raise the head of the bed a few inches higher so that I lie at a slant to keep acid from backing up and burning my esophagus and throat.

Good luck with your little boy!
Take care,
Inga

Gelene · 09-20-2002, 06:34 PM

Lilo
My best to your son.
I also have GERD. My Dr. has said to avoid things such as coffee, chocolate and alot of the same above.
I myself have found that things with alot of sugar tends to make it flare up. Such as soda pop, candy, etc. I also avoid nuts, bananas, citrus and have even had trouble with red meat and milk.

Anyhow I hope some of this helps and please let us know when your son gets better.

lilo · 09-21-2002, 02:22 PM

Thank you all for your concern and advice. Louis definitely has GERD. They did Upper GI xrays and there is no hernia and everything is where it is supposed to be. He is just young to be having this problem. He can not have caffiene, carbonated drinks, gum. fried or spicy foods, peppermint/spearment, chocolate, dairy and so--but he never ate half of these things in the first place! i am just thankful he does not have to have surgery.

Sunn · 09-21-2002, 04:42 PM

I dont have gerd but i do have chronis acid reflux. I was dx in jan 2002 because i had a very bad cold in nov 2001 and I swore it still had not gone away. So i told my ear, nose,throat doc about how i was always trying to clear my throat cuz i had cruddy and I would also lose my voice for minutes at a time when i had that feeling. I was there for thyroid biopsy. he had to put a litte probe up my nose into my throat to look at my thyroid and he asked me if i ever got heart burn. i told him all the time. he said your cold is very gone. but your stomach acid is burning your esophagus making you feel like yuou need to clear your throught. He prescribed prevacid to me. I didn't like the way it made me feel.plus we are trying for a baby so i didnt want the extra chemical in my body. So he also gave me some diet changes. No caffine, chocolate, citrus, or pepermint! Now i am able to prevent it just by how i eat. I have only had maybe 7 glasses of pop with caffine in it since jan and i feel good! I can tall th difference right away is i have any caffine or chocolate and then I just take some tums or rolaids if needed. as for peppermint i chew gum everyday and I am fine but i i know that gum makes your tummy create acid so iam careful. and lemonade is really the only cirtus that bothers me. and oj on an empty tummy. Otherwise i am doing well. I used to have diarrhia almost everyday, and when i changed my diet it stopped. Now i get it every now and then or if i have a flubug. gl!!

Anae · 09-21-2002, 05:27 PM

I was just diagnosed with GERD 4 days ago.. 9/17. Doc is trying 150mg of Zantac 2x a day. So far so good. I'd been having heart burn more often, and I hardly ever had it before. And was having breathing problems. Plus some other symptoms like sour taste in the mouth when I woke up, waking up in the night from heartburn. So... I'm going to give this a try. I've already noticed a difference in the past 4 days. But last night and this morning I forgot my pill and already the breathing problems are back. I noticed something about esophageal cramps.. I wonder if that is what's causing me to breathe funny. I'm going to look it up.

I don't know what I'd do without this place. Everyone is so honest here.. even about the embarrassing things. Ladies, your great!