OT - any gerd cures?

Janknitz wrote:Dr. Steven Park says exactly that. When the airway is closed, the struggle to breathe creates a negative pressure gradient, and that suction pulls stomach contents up into the airway.

The other big surprise in GERD is that it's not excess acid in the stomach that causes GERD, but it may be that lack of adequate acid is a contributor.

Continuing with that thought: . . . ?Consequently, at least some (if not most) patients placed on PPIs, which supposedly reduces their stomach acid, may actually not be helping and may worsen the reflux up through their esophageal sphincter?

Janknitz wrote:

Continuing with that thought: . . . ?Consequently, at least some (if not most) patients placed on PPIs, which supposedly reduces their stomach acid, may actually not be helping and may worsen the reflux up through their esophageal sphincter?

Yep, I think that's the theory. People who supplement itch HCL or apple cider vinegar often get relief of symptoms.

herefishy wrote:Regarding the bed wedge - would it work just as well to just put the head of the bed up on bricks or such. How much? 8" or so?

Janknitz wrote:

Most people on this forum don't want to hear about nutritional cures when they can use their insurance to buy high priced doctors to convince them to take expensive drugs that will make their problem worse so they can pay the really big bucks doing surgery to remove part of their stomach.

Dream stalker, I agree with your premise but . . .
Even when doctors give dietary advice, it's usually very wrong with respect to GERD. They tell people to avoid chocolate, coffee, wine, and spicy foods, while suggesting plenty of fiber and "healthy whole grains"--lousy advice for many medical conditions, particularly GERD. How can people believe in nutritional cures that simply don't work? Too few doctors advise reducing carbs and cutting out grains. It doesn't leave GERD sufferers with many choices.

And then you have doctors like Reflux MD who are selling a procedure and come off as an authority saying that there's no way to get non-surgical improvement. There may be some cases that require surgical intervention, but I'd guess that given the CORRECT diet, MOST people would get complete and immediate relief--drug and surgery free.

I had only occasional daytime heartburn, but my reflux issues were severe during sleep. Sleeping on a wedge pillow (my bed can't be raised) was not helpful at all. If I fell asleep sitting straight up or only slightly reclined, I'd STILL have reflux with in 10 minutes or so of falling asleep without CPAP. (CPAP stopped almost all my reflux). Now, on a grain free, low carb diet, I don't have reflux anymore with or without CPAP unless I make the mistake of eating/drinking some dairy too close to bedtime.

herefishy wrote:Regarding the bed wedge - would it work just as well to just put the head of the bed up on bricks or such. How much? 8" or so?

idamtnboy wrote:

herefishy wrote:Regarding the bed wedge - . . . Ours is raised 4 1/2" to 5" . . . The single biggest problem we have is the mattress likes to slide downhill about 2" to 3"! Every night before I go to bed I push it back up! Haven't figured out a good way to prevent that. . . .

Papit wrote:A Foot Board for your bed that is as tall or taller than the height of your mattress should do it.

OR You could order the mattress retention bar from personalcomfortbed.com and figure out how to fasten it to the foot of your bed beneath your mattress. That's what I did. See the foot of the bed(s) in the split king bed here: http://www.personalcomfortbed.com/?gcli ... OgodzgsAXA

idamtnboy wrote:

Papit wrote:A Foot Board for your bed that is as tall or taller than the height of your mattress should do it.

OR You could order the mattress retention bar from personalcomfortbed.com and figure out how to fasten it to the foot of your bed beneath your mattress. That's what I did. See the foot of the bed(s) in the split king bed here: http://www.personalcomfortbed.com/?gcli ... OgodzgsAXA

We have just a frame with no headboard or footboard, so that good idea doesn't quite make it! That link takes me to a winter sleep sale. I can't find the retention bar on the site and there is no search box that I can see. Any better link to offer??

Papit wrote:Hi idamtnboy. Go to that linked site again and look very carefully at the foot END of the two beds in the lower row, center image. See the two curved rods now? One on the end of each bed?

idamtnboy wrote:

Papit wrote:Hi idamtnboy. Go to that linked site again and look very carefully at the foot END of the two beds in the lower row, center image. See the two curved rods now? One on the end of each bed?

I see that now. Should've read your post above more closely! Are those bars an accessory for the bed? I don't find them anything about them on that site. Did you make yours completely from scratch or adapt something you bought? What I read above you adapted the bar, but where did you buy the bar? It gives me an idea about what I might do. Thanks.

Second, doctors have NO training in nutrition (at least not those with an MD on the end of their name) ... in fact, most dieticians and nutritionist are trained with outdated information based on studies funded by big pharma and big agra -- you know the dietary fat phobes who push whole GMO frankengrain gluten diets.

Janknitz wrote:

Second, doctors have NO training in nutrition (at least not those with an MD on the end of their name) ... in fact, most dieticians and nutritionist are trained with outdated information based on studies funded by big pharma and big agra -- you know the dietary fat phobes who push whole GMO frankengrain gluten diets.

Unfortunately that does not stop MD's and RD's from parroting the usual hackneyed dietary advice for GERD, and most people put their trust in the doctor's advice. So when it doesn't work, they think they have no choice but medications or surgery.

Those of us smart enough to do our own thinking and determined enough to make major lifestyle changes are the outliers. What I don't get is how professionals can continue to give out advice that they can see with their own eyes does not work (a plus for surgeons--when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail, but for primary care physicians, it's time to wake up!)