Experience with GERD?

Eliana · 12-07-2009, 05:59 PM

When I did Southbeach, a big benefit was that my GERD went away. If I eat low carb, the GERD takes care of itself.

I've been eating 1200 calories a day for a month and I keep expecting the GERD to go away, but it doesn't. I still have to take an over-the-counter generic form of prevacid (is that right?) about every 3-4 days.

Does anyone have any experience with this? It seems like 6 mini meals of 200 cals each would keep the GERD monster at bay, but it doesn't.

Eliana · 12-10-2009, 05:12 PM

I take it no one has any issues with this?

Ruthxxx · 12-10-2009, 05:17 PM

Why did you switch from South Beach if it was helping avoid GERD?

Eliana · 12-10-2009, 05:19 PM

Good question! LOL! I didn't really switch from South Beach. I gave up while on South Beach. I failed to break a plateau. Basic stupidity. Two years and 40 pounds later, I saw my cousin who's lost 100 lbs by counting calories. So I thought I'd give that a try. It's working faster than South Beach did and it feels more like something I can live with. For instance...I can eat pizza! Not so good for the GERD though.

JulieJ08 · 12-10-2009, 05:31 PM

I had terrible GERD that all but disappeared when I lost weight. However, I found that even at a low weight, if I go back to eating junk, the GERD comes back.

But I'm sure you're not eating junk. So I think you just must have a particular trigger that you're going to have to figure out

Things don't have to be unhealthy to cause a particular person a particular problem. Although for me, carbs per se didn't cause it.

JulieJ08 · 12-10-2009, 05:36 PM

New posts appeared while I was writing mine ...

So I thought you were doing South Beach again, and still having the heartburn. But yeah, pizza will do it.

Diet sodas are a biggie for me.

LeslieLou · 12-10-2009, 06:05 PM

I dont have GERD when I do low carb either. I've been reading about gluten and wonder if I have a gluten intolerance. I feel better when I dont eat bread or cereals. This could possibly be your problem too. I take Prilosec daily and it helps.

Eliana · 12-10-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeslieLou

I dont have GERD when I do low carb either. I've been reading about gluten and wonder if I have a gluten intolerance. I feel better when I dont eat bread or cereals. This could possibly be your problem too. I take Prilosec daily and it helps.

I do too, but it's so expensive, and I don't like medication when I can avoid it with diet. It does work though, doesn't it?

Shannon in ATL · 12-10-2009, 09:22 PM

Mine decreased considerably as I improved my diet, added veggies and cut out processed foods, etc, and now that I've eliminated artificial sweeteners, Splenda was my main one, it is essentially gone altogether. Even a small amount of Splenda crashes it right back down on me.

Eliana · 12-11-2009, 08:42 AM

All artificial sweeteners give me migraines so I just have to be good about sugar.

You guys are giving me hope that with time, perhaps this problem will take care of itself. Perhaps there's something about the fat around whatever valve it is that doesn't work properly. Just a guess. As my weight decreases, hopefully this shall too.

canadianwoman · 12-11-2009, 11:18 AM

When I eat certain foods I get really bad heartburn and acid reflux. I have learned to avoid those foods even if many of them are my favourites. I prefer feeling better over being in agony.

Shannon in ATL · 12-11-2009, 11:23 AM

There are some meds that are advertised as being able to heal the damage done to the esophagus by GERD and other conditions. I believe that if there are medicines that can heal some of the damage that there absolutely other things that can add to that as well, particularly dietary changes. Don't know what makes the difference, but I think there is definitely hope that yours will get better with time.