If you have surfin’ bird stuck in your head after reading that… my work here is done!

I had GERD thrust apon me back in December of 2023. Around thanksgiving last year I randomly got heartburn and I just took an antacid and it went away. I thought maybe it was from drinking too much coffee or something I ate. Well a couple weeks went by and I was still getting it.. then it turned into a pain in my rib that got SO bad I had to go to the emergency room.

They thought based on the location of my pain that it was my gallbladder, and I was immediately taken to get a ct scan of my abdomen. My blood was taken and tested for any kind of sign of faulty organs such as kidneys and gallbladder, etc, but everything was negative. My ct scan came back normal other than a small nodule at the bottom of my right lung, but they said it was probably nothing and we would follow up a few months later.

I was then put on pantoprazole for my acid reflux and sent home with a food list. I was told it could have been caused from all the lacroix I was drinking at the time and I truly think it was part of it because I never had any issues like this before.

I work with a naturopath as well so he put me on an elimination diet for a month and it was tough. I’m vegetarian and I wasn’t allowed to have coffee, caffeine, gluten, dairy, or soy… so I basically lived on vegetable soup, coconut yogurt with protein powder in it, and hummus, sweet potatoes and broccoli for dinner. I lost around 5 pounds that month due to the lack of food I could eat but I did get better! The weight I lost was mainly inflammation and water and I gained it right back when I was allowed to eat normal again.

I also researched my brain out and found out acupuncture can help with reflux so I had it done before I took my last pantoprazole. I was cured! I thought.

Months went by and I was careful of my food choices, I still avoided coffee and switched to herbal coffee, with a real one here and there, and matcha since it was less acidic. I thought I was good… but the beginning of this month I had started getting symptoms again.

I had to get another cat scan to see if a nodule that was found in my lung in the previous one was getting better or worse, ( it was better! I’m all good there), and the dye used in the iv caused my reflux to come back WITH A VENGEANCE!

I still have it. I’m on omeprizole, I’m following a low acid/low fodmap diet, and the rules of a dietician I found who specializes in GERD/reflux/ ibs. I also had acupuncture again and it didn’t help this time. I cut out all of my favorite foods and I still have symptoms. No caffeine, carbonated drinks, chocolate, citrus, spices that are acidic, I can only eat a handful of fruits that aren’t acidic. It’s hard, but at least I can still have tofu and low fat cheese.

I have made myself a few recipes that I’ve been liking with my very small window of foods I can have that won’t trigger reflux so I will be sharing those soon. Acid reflux is no joke, it’s painful and can disrupt your whole life. My poor boyfriend has suffered from it since he was a teenager and his is finally getting better… but now I have it.

So I made an appointment with a dietitian soon to discuss my issue and see if I can get some guidance on how to properly eat to make sure I’m getting enough b12 and d3 since ppi drugs can prevent your body from absorbing those vitamins and I was already low.

If you have ever had issues with GERD or reflux, what things did you try? I know it’s possible to heal from this condition because I have seen it happen and I want to be one of the ones who do. it just takes a lot of work l, dedication, and time.

I’ll keep you posted.

Shauna