Living With Gerd

Many Individuals suffer with GERD. I thought it was an important subject to address because it can happen at any age. I would like to introduce you to my friend David who has been suffering with this disorder since the age of 18.

Hello, my name is David and I recently was diagnosed with GERD, after many years of being miss-diagnosed by two different ENT’s, which in layman’s terms is a nose and throat specialists. These doctors diagnosed me with having post nasal drip, which they thought may have been caused by allergies. I was given a neti pot to take home, and rinse out my nasal passages. It seemed to help my nasal drip, but I was still feeling an uncomfortable lump in my throat, which was causing me to gag, and I was constantly clearing my throat. I made an appointment with a third ENT, who diagnosed me a third time with post nasal drip. I told him that the last two ENT’s that I saw diagnosed me with the same thing, but it wasn’t helping. After hearing my story, he recommended that I see a Gastroenterologist. It is alarming how many doctors cannot admit when they do not know what is wrong with you, yet they prescribe medicine or provide steroid injections anyway. It is dangerous to take medication unless it is known for a fact what the medicine is treating. It is good to ask many questions, and if your doctor seems annoyed then get another doctor. An ethical doctor will let you know if he is stumped, and will recommend another specialist for you to see, as my last ENT did.

Once I found the right doctor a Gastroenterologist, he prescribed Prescription Nexium which kept my GERD under control. Prescription Nexium was great, but as I did some research on the drug, I learned that it just masks the symptoms, it not a cure. There are people out there suffering with GERD who have been taking Nexium for 10-20 years! Most insurance companies do not cover this medication and I did not want to spend $300 every month in order to cover up my symptoms. I wanted a cure.

After many trials and errors with food and exercise, I learned that I had to stay away from dairy, sugar, acidic fruits and spicy foods. I have always been the type to never take drugs, even for a headache, I always toughed it out. I did not want to be dependent on Prescription Nexium, and I was determined to find a way to cure my GERD naturally.

I found that by eating properly and with the right exercise, my GERD can be controlled. Walking, yoga or meditation works for me because I can easily get stressed and that can trigger an episode. Heavy exercise makes it worse, such as lifting weights intensely with cardio. Instead Focus on breathing exercises and try to focus on your lower esophageal sphincter because this muscle is weak for patients with GERD. I Hope this this helps, David!

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